Abstract:
A ground lug for receiving an electrical wire from multiple directions to be secured within the ground lug, comprising a collar forming a receptacle for receiving an electrical wire, said collar including a first aperture for receiving a screw in an upper surface of the collar, and second and third apertures on first and second side surfaces, respectively, of the collar for receiving electrical wires within the receptacle, a threaded screw located within the first aperture for securing a wire within the receptacle when the threaded screw is tightened, and a tab extending from a lower surface of the collar, the tab including a forth aperture for receiving a screw to mount the ground lug to an electrical device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/888,525, Filed Feb. 6, 2007 the disclosure of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to generally to electrical hardwired assemblies and mountings, and more particularly, to an electrical grounding lug having both multiple electrical wire attachment ports providing access from multiple directions and multiple points on a hardwired assembly to affix the electrical grounding lug. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0003]    A ground lug is a mechanical device, usually a piece of formed copper sheet metal, with a clamping screw that is attached to a piece of electrical equipment. A typical purpose of the ground lug is to allow electrical equipment to be connected to an external wire that is electrically attached to earth-ground. 
         [0004]    A problem with conventional ground lugs is they only have two entry ports, thus allowing only two directions for a wire to enter and be secured by the ground lug. This two-port limitation is problematic during installation because an earth-ground wire is typically large in size and supports a solid core wire, which is not easily routed in an intricate manner. Additionally, any bends that are made to the wire are potential failure areas, since the wire tends to crack fully or partially at the bend. If the wire cracks fully at the bend, there will be a loss of electrical continuity and the ground path will not be completed. If the wire partially cracks, and there is no indication of a loss of continuity, the reduced cross section of the wire will cause higher electrical resistance. As a result, the ground path is compromised in its ability to function, generally resulting in a failure to the electrical equipment that is was protecting. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide enhanced flexibility, usability and overall functionality of electrical mounting assemblies. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a 4-way ground lug that accepts cable inputs from four different directions, not just two directions. This makes the 4-way ground lug of the present invention twice as flexible and user friendly as contemporary grounding lugs and methodologies. 
         [0007]    A further object of the present invention is to provide hardwired assemblies or mounting boxes that support multiple location options for securing a ground lug. By providing various locations to mount the ground lug on a hardwired assembly or mounting box, a user can configure the ground lug to the needs of his specific application. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a ground lug for receiving an electrical wire from multiple directions to be secured within the ground lug, said ground lug comprising a collar forming a receptacle for receiving an electrical wire, said collar including a first aperture for receiving a clamping screw in an upper surface of the collar, and second and third apertures on first and second side surfaces, respectively, of the collar for receiving electrical wires within the receptacle, a threaded clamping screw located within the first aperture for securing a wire within the receptacle when the threaded clamping screw is tightened, and a tab extending from a lower surface of the collar, the tab including a forth aperture for receiving a screw to mount the ground lug to an electrical device. 
         [0009]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ground lug configured in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a ground lug configured in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2   b  is a different perspective view of the ground lug illustrated in  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0013]      FIG. 2   c  is a different perspective view of the ground lug illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b;    
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hardwired mounting assembly in the open position and configured in accordance with the present invention showing five locations for mounting a ground lug; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows top and bottom views of the hardwired mounting assembly shown in  FIG. 3  in the closed position having multiple locations for mounting a ground lug; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows perspective, front and rear views in both the open and closed positions of the hardwired mounting assembly shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a ground lug  10  configured in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The ground lug  10  includes a collar  12  having an upper surface  14  and side surfaces  16  and  18 . The collar also includes a lower surface  20 . The collar  12  forms a receptacle  22  having openings  21  and  23  for receiving an electrical wire. Upper or top surface  14  of the collar  12  includes an aperture  24  for receiving a screw or bolt  26 . In a preferred embodiment the screw  26  is a machine bolt, and the aperture  24  is threaded for receiving the machine bolt  26 . Turning the machine bolt  26  in a clockwise manner to tighten the machine bolt  26  causes the machine bolt  26  to move towards the lower surface  20  of the collar  12  so as to secure an electrical wire within the receptacle  22 . 
         [0018]    The screw  26  functions as a fastener to secure a wire within the receptacle  22  of the collar  12 . Other types of fasteners may be used to secure a wire within the collar  12 . For example, a peg can be inserted through the aperture  24  to function as a fastener to secure a wire within the collar  12 . A clamp can be used to secure a wire within the collar  12 . Furthermore, a wedge can be used as a fastener to secure a wire within the collar  12  by driving the wedge into an opening  21 , 23  or aperture  24  of the collar  12  to secure the wire within the collar  12 . 
         [0019]    The ground lug  10  further includes a tab  28  attached to the collar having an aperture  30  located within the tab  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the tab  28  is formed out of the lower surface  20  of the collar  12  resulting in a unitary piece. The aperture  30  within the tab  28  is configured for receiving a screw to secure or mount the ground lug  10  to an electrical apparatus. 
         [0020]    In accordance with the present invention, the ground lug  10  is configured to enable a user to insert a wire into the ground lug  10  from any of four directions  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . To obtain this objective, the receptacle  22  includes openings  21 , 23  for receiving a wire in the direction  32  or  36 . In a further aspect of the present invention, apertures  40  and  42  are included in the side surfaces  44  and  46 , respectively. The apertures  40 ,  42  are configured to enable an electrical wire to be inserted from two additional directions  34  and  38  into the receptacle  22 . In accordance with the present invention, the apertures  40  and  42  enable the ground lug  10  to receive an electrical wire or cable from two additional directions  34  and  38 , which are perpendicular to the wire insertion directions  32  and  36  that are provided by openings  21  and  23  of the collar  12 . 
         [0021]    In this manner, the ground lug  10  enables an operator to have the choice of any of four wire insertion directions  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  for securing an electrical wire or cable to the ground lug  10 . These additional directions for securing an electrical wire to the ground lug  10  enables a user to avoid unnecessarily bending of a grounding wire or similar electrical connection, thus minimizing the chances for an electrical short circuit or disconnection. 
         [0022]    The collar  12  and tab  28  of the ground lug  10  is constructed of electrically conductive material. In a preferred embodiment the collar  12  and tab  28  of the ground lug  10  are constructed from copper. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  through  2   c,  an electrical fastener  50  is illustrated being configured in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Electrical fastener  50  is illustrated having a collar  52  which forms a receptacle  54  for receiving an electrical wire. The upper surface  56  of the electrical fastener  50  includes an aperture  58  for receiving a machine bolt or screw  60 . The upper surface  56  of the collar  52  includes an extended portion to form a throat  62  for housing the aperture  58 . In a preferred embodiment, the aperture  58  is threaded to receive a compatibly threaded machine bolt or screw  60 . By rotating the screw  60  in a clockwise rotation, the screw  60  moves downward towards a lower surface  64  of the collar  52  to secure a wire within the receptacle  54  of the electrical fastener  50   
         [0024]    In accordance with the present invention, the collar  52  includes side surfaces  66  and  68  having apertures  70  and  72 , respectively, for receiving an electrical wire within the receptacle  54 . Similar to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the electrical fastener  50  enables a user to insert an electrical wire into the receptacle  54  from any of four directions: either of two openings  51 ,  53  of the collar  52 , or either of the two apertures  70 ,  72  in the side surfaces  66  or  68  of the collar  52 . By enabling a user to have four different entry points for an electrical wire into the receptacle  54  of the electrical fastener  50 , the user avoids having to bend the electrical wire in a difficult or adverse manner so as to avoid cracking or breaking the electrical wire while securing it within the receptacle  54  of the electrical fastener  50 . 
         [0025]    In accordance with a further object of the second embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a - 2   c,  the electrical fastener  50  includes a tab  80  having a tongue  82  for inserting into the receptacle  54  of the collar  52 . In contrast to the ground lug  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the tab  80  and the collar  52  are separately formed elements. The tongue  82  of the tab  80  is inserted within the collar  52  and held in place within the receptacle  54  tightening the screw  60  to secure the tongue  82  against the lower surface  64  of the collar  52 . 
         [0026]    The tab  80  includes an aperture  84  for receiving a screw  86  for securing or mounting the electrical fastener  50  to an electrical component. In accordance with a further aspect of the electrical fastener  50 , the tab  80  is located within a plane  83  located below a plane  81  created by the lower surface  64  of the collar  52 . A step element  88  located between the tongue  82  and the aperture  84  of the tab  80  positions the aperture  84  within a lower plane  83  than the plane  81  created by the lower surface  64  of the collar  52 . In this configuration, the receptacle  54  can receive an electrical wire from any of four wire insert directions ( 90 ,  91 ,  92 ,  93 ) while being positioned on a higher elevation or plane  81  than the plane  83  of tab  80  which is holding the receptacle  54  in position. In this manner, the electrical fastener  50  provides a user with even further easy access to the receptacle  54  by elevating the receptacle  54  above other components surrounding or close by the electrical fastener  50 , thus facilitating insertion of an electrical wire within the receptacle  54 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3-5  illustrate a hardwired assembly or mounting box  100  configured in accordance with another feature of the present invention. The mounting box  100  includes a front surface (labeled mounting position 1 of 5), side surfaces (labeled mounting positions 2 of 5 and 3 of 5), a bottom surface (labeled mounting position 4 of 5), and a rear surface (labeled mounting position 5 of 5). The mounting box  100  includes a lid  110  rotatably mounted to the rear surface of the mounting box  100 . 
         [0028]    In accordance with the present invention and as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the mounting box includes multiple locations for mounting a ground lug, such as the 4-way ground lug of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the multiple mounting positions or locations for a ground lug include apertures in the front, rear, bottom, and side surfaces of the mounting box  100 . 
         [0029]    It should be understood that the above description of the present invention and preferred embodiment are given by way of description and illustration, and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention includes all such changes and modifications.