Patent ID: 7841630

Claim:
An electrical push-in fitting for removably connecting an electrical metal tube comprising: a fitting body having an inlet end portion, an outlet end portion and a bore extending therethrough, an externally threaded portion placed on said fitting body adjacent the inlet end portion, said inlet end portion including a first chamber of a predetermined diameter, a second chamber adjacent said first chamber having a diameter which is smaller than said predetermined diameter of said first chamber, and a third chamber adjacent said second chamber having a diameter sized to snugly receive an end portion of an associated electrical metal tube to be connected to said body, a resilient sealing washer disposed in said second chamber, a unidirectional locking device disposed within said first chamber, said locking device being in the form of a circular split ring formed of spring steel having a leading edge, and a connected intermediate planar portion with a trailing edge, the circular split ring having a projecting tongue on one end and a complementary notch on the other end, said leading edge including a foldline forming a substantially ninety degree angle at the leading edge resulting in a radially inwardly bent portion relative to said intermediate planar portion, said radially inwardly bent portion of said leading edge having a plurality of gripping tangs immediately adjacent thereto and circumferentially spaced about said spilt ring, said gripping tangs being obliquely offset in the direction of the outlet end portion of said body and extending completely into said second chamber and away from the first chamber, wherein the connecting intermediate planar portion is held in the first chamber against an inner surface of the first chamber and said plurality of gripping tangs extend completely into said second chamber and the radially inwardly bent portion abuts a shoulder between the first chamber and said second chamber, said gripping tangs imparting a unidirectional gripping force on an end portion of a tube that is adapted to be pushed through said inlet end portion to secure a tube thereto, said gripping tangs resisting any opposing force tending to separate the tube from said body, a backnut placed on said externally threaded portion on said fitting body, said backnut contacting the trailing edge of said locking device, wherein the intermediate planar portion transmits a force from the trailing edge to the radially inwardly bent portion adjacent the shoulder between the first chamber and said second chamber, and a center opening formed in said backnut, said center opening sized for receiving and supporting the electrical metal tube, whereby a push-in unidirectional locking arrangement for securing an electric metal tube is formed so that the electric metal tube can be rendered readily removable.