Abstract:
An adjustable clamping device for mechanical and electrical connection to sides of a conductor includes a first clamping member having a first base and a first arm, a second clamping member having a second base and a second arm, and a coupling member configured to adjustably couple the first clamping member with the second clamping member such that the first arm is spaced from the second arm by a desired distance. The coupling member is also configured to prevent decoupling of the first clamping member from the second clamping member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/193,912, filed Jul. 17, 2015, pending, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a grounding clamp for mechanical and electrical connection to conductors of varying lengths, such as hollow metal boxes. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an adjustable meter box grounding clamp. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventional clamping devices for providing an electrical connection to a conductor include various clamps and forms of strap connectors. Conventional clamps typically have first and second arms that extend at a fixed distance from each other from a base. The arms and base form a C-shape or a U-shape, with the arms being positioned adjacent two end surfaces of the conductor. The base can be positioned against or slightly away from a front or side surface of the conductor. The clamp can be attached to the conductor through one or more mechanisms once the clamp is placed on the conductor. 
         [0004]    In some conventional clamps, the first and second arms are rigidly fixed on a base having a fixed length, with the distance between the arms thus also being fixed. As a result, these clamps have a predetermined limited range of widths, generally equal to the length of an adjustment screw. 
         [0005]    For example, conventional C-shaped clamps include a screw-like member with an abrading tip that is threaded through one of the arms of the C-shaped clamp. The screw member is threaded through the end of the C-shaped clamp into pressured contact with the meter box, with its abrading tip shaped to cut through the outer protective coating of the meter box to establish electrical contact with the metal beneath the coating. 
         [0006]    However, conductors have many different shapes and dimension, thus limiting the utility of fixed-length clamps. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide an adjustable length clamp that provides a broad range of operational lengths. It may also be desirable to provide a meter box grounding clamp that is easily adjustable with a single hand to assist a user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to various aspects of the disclosure, an adjustable clamping device for mechanical and electrical connection to sides of a conductor includes a first clamping member having a first base and a first arm, a second clamping member having a second base and a second arm, and a coupling member configured to adjustably couple the first clamping member with the second clamping member such that the first arm is spaced from the second arm by a desired distance. The coupling member is also configured to prevent decoupling of the first clamping member from the second clamping member. 
         [0008]    According to some aspects of the disclosure, an adjustable clamping device for mechanical and electrical connection to sides of a conductor includes a first clamping member having a first base and a first arm, a second clamping member having a second base and a second arm, and a coupling member configured to adjustably couple the first clamping member with the second clamping member such that the first arm is spaced from the second arm by a desired distance. The first clamping member and the second clamping member are slidable relative to one another while being coupled together such that the desired distance between the first arm and the second arm is adjustable between a plurality of discrete predetermined distances 
         [0009]    In accordance with various aspects, an adjustable clamping device for mechanical and electrical connection to sides of a conductor includes a first clamping member having a first base and a first arm, and a second clamping member having a second base and a second arm. The device includes a coupling member configured to adjustably couple the first clamping member with the second clamping member such that the first arm is spaced from the second arm by a desired distance selected from a plurality of discrete distances, and an adjustment member configured to provide a continuous range of adjustment between the plurality of discrete distances. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary meter box grounding clamp in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary meter box grounding clamp in a first configuration in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the exemplary meter box grounding clamp of  FIG. 2  in a second configuration; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the exemplary meter box grounding clamp of  FIG. 2  in a second configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the exemplary meter box grounding clamp of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional end view of the exemplary meter box grounding clamp of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary meter box grounding clamp  10  in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure is illustrated. The grounding clamp  10  includes a first clamping member  20  and a second clamping member  30 . The first and second clamping members  20 ,  30  are coupled together to form the C-shaped clamp  10  that is attachable to a meter box (not shown). The clamp  10  may also be considered U-shaped. 
         [0018]    The first clamping member  20  includes a first base  22  and a first arm  24  extending perpendicular from the first base  22 . Similarly, the second clamping member  30  includes a second base  32  and a second arm  34  extending from the second base  32 . When the first and second clamping members  20 ,  30  are coupled together to form the C-shaped clamp  10 , the first and second bases  22 ,  32  are parallel to one another in close proximity, while the first and second arms  24 ,  34  are parallel to one another and spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The first and second arms  24 ,  34  are generally of the same shape and have first and second inner surfaces  26 ,  36 , respectively, that substantially oppose each other. 
         [0019]    The first base  22  and the second base  32  are elongated members secured to each other to form an elongated base  12  of the C-shaped clamp  10 . The first base  22  and the second base  32  are secured to each other in a manner such that the first base  22  and the second base  32  are movable relative to one another. Thus, a length of the elongated base  12  can be adjusted by moving the first base  22  relative to the second base  32  such that the first and second arms  24 ,  34  are moved closed to one another or farther apart from one another. 
         [0020]    For example, the first clamping member  20  may include a cutout  40 . The cutout  40  may include an elongated slot  42  extending in a longitudinal direction of the elongated first base  22 . The cutout  40  may also include a plurality of notches  44  in the first base  22  that are spaced sequentially along a length of the elongated slot  42  and extend at an oblique angle relative to the length of the elongated slot  42 . The notches  44  may be formed by a series of angled flutes  46  also spaced sequentially along a length of the elongated slot  42 . 
         [0021]    The clamp  10  includes at least one coupling member  50  fixedly coupled with the second base  32 . Each coupling member  50  includes a head  52  connected with a pin  54 . The pin  54  has a length selected such that when the pin  54  is fixedly mounted to the second base  32 , the pin  54  extends from a surface  38  of the second base  32  by a length that is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the first base  22 . The head  52  is thus adjacent a surface  28  of the first base  22 . It may be desirable to design the coupling member  50  such that the head  52  is slightly spaced from the surface  28  of the first base  22 . 
         [0022]    In some aspects, the coupling member  50  may be a screw or a bolt that can be removably inserted into a threaded receiving hole (not shown) in the second base  32 . In such embodiments, the screw or bolt can be removed from the second base  32 , and the first base  22  and the second base  32  can be decoupled from one another. In other embodiments, the coupling member  50  may be a rivet or other faster that is designed to not be removed from the second base  32 . In such embodiments, the clamp  10  is designed such that the first base  22  and the second base  32  are not decoupleable from one another. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the clamp  10  may include two coupling members  50  spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the elongated second base  32 . The coupling members  50  extend perpendicular from the surface  38  of the second base  32  and extend through the cutout  40  in the first base  22 . The spacing between the coupling members  50  is fixed and corresponds with the spacing between two of the notches  44  in the first base  22 . For example, the two coupling members may be spaced apart by the distance between the centers of two adjacent notches  44  or by the distance between the centers of two notches  44  that themselves are separated by one or more notches  44 . It may be preferable for the clamp to include two coupling members  50  in order to allow some relative rotation but limiting relative rotation between the clamping members  20 ,  30 , thereby facilitating installation on a meter box. 
         [0024]    The coupling members  50  couple the first base  22  and the second base  32  to one another such that the longitudinal dimension of the first base  22  and the second base  32  are aligned and the first base  22  and the second base  32  are slidably movable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the clamp  10 . The first base  22  and the second base  32  are also slidably movable relative to one another in direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the clamp  10  such that the coupling members  50  can be received by notches  44  in the first base  22  and removed from the notches  44  in the first base  22 . When the coupling members  50  are received by notches  44  in the first base  22 , the first base  22  and the second base  32  are permitted to move relative to one another in a first direction such that the first art  24  and the second arm  34  move away from one another, but are prevented from moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction. When the first base  22  and the second base  32  are moved in the first direction, the angled flutes  46  guide the pins  54  of the coupling members  50  in a transverse direction toward the elongated slot  42 . 
         [0025]    In one exemplary embodiment, the notches  44  and pins  54  are spaced apart at predetermined increments to create a plurality of discrete, predetermined lengths of the base  12  of the clamp  10 . For example, notches may be spaced at one-half inch intervals, center-to-center, from each other so that the base  10  can be adjusted at one-half inch increments. Corresponding, the pins  54  would be spaced from one another by one-half inch or any multiple of one-half inch. For example, two pins can be spaced one inch apart. To accommodate for minor adjustments between the discrete sizes of the C-shaped clamp  10  and the length of the meter box, the clamp include a set screw  60  threadedly received through a threaded opening  62  in the second arm  34 . The set screw  60  can be moved into pressure engagement with the bottom of the meter box. In some aspects, the end of the screw  60  may be pointed to minimize any torque that may otherwise be transmitted to the clamp  10  and inadvertently cause the clamp to turn. 
         [0026]    In use, the first and second base members  22 ,  32  are movable relative to one another such that the base  12  of the C-shaped clamp  10  has a length that is larger than a side of a meter box to which it is to be attached. The first and second base members  22 ,  32  should be positioned to the smallest possible length where the arms  24 ,  34  are beyond opposing ends of the meter box. Advantageously, when the first and second clamping members  20 ,  30  are coupled together by the coupling member  50  to form the C-shaped clamp, the length of the base  12  of the clamp  10  can be easily adjusted with one hand of a user while the first and second clamping members  20 ,  30  remain coupled to one another. The first arm  24  can then engage one end, e.g., a top wall, of the meter box, and the second arm  34  will be spaced from an opposite second end, e.g., a bottom wall, of the meter box. The set screw  60  can then be threaded through the threaded opening  62  to accommodate for minor adjustments between the discrete sizes of the C-shaped clamp  10  and the length of the meter box. For example, the clamp is adjustable in one-half inch increments, the set screw  60  should be sized to allow for adjustment up to one-half inch. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-6 , an exemplary meter box grounding clamp  210  in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure is illustrated. The grounding clamp  210  includes a first clamping member  220  and a second clamping member  230 . The first and second clamping members  220 ,  230  are coupled together to form the C-shaped clamp  210  that is attachable to a meter box (not shown). The clamp  210  may also be considered U-shaped. 
         [0028]    The first clamping member  220  includes a first base  222  and a first arm  224  extending perpendicular from the first base  222 . Similarly, the second clamping member  230  includes a second base  232  and a second arm  234  extending from the second base  232 . When the first and second clamping members  220 ,  230  are coupled together to form the C-shaped clamp  210 , the first and second bases  222 ,  232  are parallel to one another in close proximity, while the first and second arms  224 ,  234  are parallel to one another and spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The first and second arms  224 ,  234  are generally of the same shape and have first and second inner surfaces  226 ,  236 , respectively, that substantially oppose each other. 
         [0029]    The first base  222  and the second base  232  are elongated members secured to each other to form an elongated base  212  of the C-shaped clamp  210 . The first base  222  and the second base  232  are secured to each other in a manner such that the first base  222  and the second base  232  are movable relative to one another. Thus, a length of the elongated base  212  can be adjusted by moving the first base  222  relative to the second base  32  such that the first and second arms  224 ,  234  are moved closer to one another or farther apart from one another. 
         [0030]    For example, the first clamping member  220  may include a cutout  240 . The cutout  240  may include an elongated slot  242  extending in a longitudinal direction of the elongated first base  222 . The cutout  240  may also include a plurality of notches  244  in the first base  222  that are spaced sequentially along a length of the elongated slot  242  and extend at an oblique angle relative to the length of the elongated slot  242 . The notches  244  may be formed by a series of angled flutes  246  also spaced sequentially along a length of the elongated slot  242 . 
         [0031]    The clamp  210  includes a coupling member  250  fixedly coupled with the second base  232 . The coupling member  250  includes a head  252  connected with a pin  254 . The pin  254  has a length selected such that when the pin  254  is fixedly mounted to the second base  232 , the pin  254  extends from a surface  238  of the second base  232  by a length that is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the first base  222 . The head  252  is thus adjacent a surface  228  of the first base  222 . It may be desirable to design the coupling member  250  such that the head  252  is slightly spaced from the surface  228  of the first base  222  to avoid excessive friction between the first and second bases  222 ,  232  when the bases  222 ,  232  are slidably moved relative to one another. 
         [0032]    In some aspects, the coupling member  250  may be a screw or a bolt that can be removably inserted into a threaded receiving hole  256  in the second base  232 . In such embodiments, the screw or bolt can be removed from the second base  232 , and the first base  222  and the second base  232  can be decoupled from one another. In other embodiments, the coupling member  250  may be a rivet or other faster that is designed to not be removed from the second base  232 . In such embodiments, the clamp  210  is designed such that the first base  222  and the second base  232  are not decoupleable from one another. The coupling member  250  extends perpendicular from the surface  238  of the second base  232  and extends through the cutout  240  in the first base  222 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , the second base  232  may include an elongated slot  258  extending in a longitudinal direction of the elongated second base  232 . The first base  222  includes a coupling member  248  extending from the first base  222  in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first arm  224  extends. The coupling member  248  is spaced apart from the cutout  240  in the longitudinal direction of the elongated first base  222  at an end of the first base  222  opposite to the first arm  224 . 
         [0034]    As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the coupling member  248  may be T-shaped, having a first portion  249  extending perpendicular from the surface  228  of the first base  222  and extending through the slot  258  in the second base  232 , and a second portion  249 ′ extending substantially perpendicular to the first portion  249 . The elongated slot  258  in the second base  232  may include a transverse portion  259  at one end. The transverse portion  259  is sized such that the second portion  249 ′ of the coupling member  248  may be inserted through the transverse portion  259  such that the first base  222  and the second base  232  can lie next to one another and be relatively slidable as guided by the first portion  249  of the coupling member cooperating with the elongated slot  258 . 
         [0035]    The coupling members  248 ,  250  couple the first base  222  and the second base  232  to one another such that the longitudinal dimension of the first base  222  and the second base  232  are aligned and the first base  222  and the second base  232  are slidably movable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the clamp  210 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first base  222  and the second base  232  are also pivotably movable relative to one another in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction of the clamp  210  such that the coupling member  250  can be selectively inserted into one of the notches  244  in the first base  222  and removed from the notches  244  in the first base  222 . When the coupling member  250  is received by one of the notches  244  in the first base  222 , the first base  222  and the second base  232  are permitted to move relative to one another in a first direction such that the first art  224  and the second arm  234  move away from one another, but are prevented from moving in a second direction (i.e., toward one another), which is opposite to the first direction. When the first base  222  and the second base  232  are moved in the first direction, the angled flutes  246  guide the pin  254  of the coupling member  250  in a transverse direction toward the elongated slot  242 . 
         [0036]    In one exemplary embodiment, the notches  244  and pin  254  are spaced apart at predetermined increments to create a plurality of discrete, predetermined lengths of the base  212  of the clamp  210 . For example, notches may be spaced at one-half inch intervals, center-to-center, from each other so that the base  210  can be adjusted at one-half inch increments. Corresponding, the pin  254  would be spaced from one another by one-half inch or any multiple of one-half inch. For example, two pins can be spaced one inch apart. To accommodate for minor adjustments between the discrete sizes of the C-shaped clamp  210  and the length of the meter box, the clamp include a set screw  260  threadedly received through a threaded opening  262  in the second arm  234 . The set screw  260  can be moved into pressure engagement with the bottom of the meter box. In some aspects, the end of the screw  260  may be pointed to minimize any torque that may otherwise be transmitted to the clamp  210  and inadvertently cause the clamp to turn. 
         [0037]    In use, the first and second base members  222 ,  232  are movable relative to one another such that the base  212  of the C-shaped clamp  210  has a length that is larger than a side of a meter box to which it is to be attached. The first and second base members  222 ,  232  should be positioned to the smallest possible length where the arms  224 ,  234  are beyond opposing ends of the meter box. Advantageously, when the first and second clamping members  220 ,  230  are coupled together by the coupling members  248 ,  250  to form the C— shaped clamp, the length of the base  212  of the clamp  210  can be easily adjusted with one hand of a user while the first and second clamping members  220 ,  230  remain coupled to one another. The first arm  224  can then engage one end, e.g., a top wall, of the meter box, and the second arm  234  will be spaced from an opposite second end, e.g., a bottom wall, of the meter box. The set screw  260  can then be threaded through the threaded opening  262  to accommodate for minor adjustments between the discrete sizes of the C-shaped clamp  210  and the length of the meter box. For example, the clamp is adjustable in one-half inch increments, the set screw  260  should be sized to allow for adjustment up to one-half inch. 
         [0038]    The grounding clamp  10 ,  210  also includes a grounding screw  70  threaded through a threaded opening  72  in the clamp  10 ,  210 . It some aspects, it may be preferable to thread the grounding screw  70  through the second base  32 ,  232  so that the grounding screw  70  is easily accessible to a user for attaching a wire to be grounded. The grounding screw  70  may be provided with any conventional mechanism for connecting a ground wire. 
         [0039]    In some aspects, the first arm  24 ,  224  may include one or more projections  80 . The projections  80  may be frustoconical or pyramid-shaped with a pointed end. The point ends are sufficiently hardened to cut through any electrically nonconductive layer, such as paint, on the surface of meter box and to engage in good electrical and mechanical contact with metal surface of the meter box. Further, the set screw  60  and/or the grounding screw  70  may be provided with tips or points configured to scratch and cut through any outer nonconductive coating into the metal of the meter box when the respective screw  60 ,  70  is tightened in order to provide greater direct electrical and mechanical contact with the metal of the meter box. The projections  80  and/or the screws  60 ,  70  may prevent inadvertent movement or “walking” of the clamp  10 ,  210  relative to the meter box. 
         [0040]    The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments described herein to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the embodiments. 
         [0041]    Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims. 
         [0042]    No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.