Patent ID: 6939097

Claim:
A ground washer for attachment by a grounding screw to a grounding terminal, said washer comprising: a disc-shaped member which defines an opening for the reception therethrough of the grounding screw, said member including an annular portion surrounding said opening and being in a first plane, said annular portion being a flat surface having a first end adjacent to said opening and a second end spaced from said first end; a conical portion having a first and a second end, said conical portion being disposed concentrically around said annular portion; a raised annular ridge disposed between said annular portion and said conical portion so as to provide an engagement surface for the grounding screw, wherein said raised annular ridge extends from said first end of said conical portion to said second end of said annular portion; and an annular flange disposed concentrically around said conical portion and being in a second plane which is spaced from, but is generally parallel with, said first plane; such that when the grounding screw is tightened down, the grounding screw pushes against said annular ridge so as to cause said conical portion of said washer to be compressed between the grounding screw and the grounding terminal thereby urging said first plane towards said second plan and forcing said disc-shaped member into contact with the grounding terminal so that said annular portion and said annular flange both make grounding contact with the grounding terminal.