Patent ID: 7621763

Claim:
A clamping apparatus adapted to electrically connect a ground wire to a grounding member, comprising: a first clamping member defining first and second threaded holes along substantially parallel first and second axes, respectively, and having a first medial portion therebetween, each of the first and second threaded holes being configured to receive a screw therethrough in threaded engagement therewith; and a second clamping member discrete with respect to the first clamping member and defining first and second openings having a second medial portion therebetween, the second clamping member being configured to cooperate with the first clamping member such that the first and second threaded holes align with the respective first and second openings along the respective first and second axes, whereby the screws are capable of being advanced through the first and second openings to engage the respective first and second threaded holes so as to secure the second clamping member to the first clamping member and to define a clamping plane extending therebetween, the second medial portion cooperating with the first medial portion to define a grounding member receiving aperture configured to receive and clamp the grounding member therebetween, the grounding member receiving aperture further defining a grounding member axis extending therethrough substantially perpendicularly to the first and second axes, the second clamping member further including opposing first and second wall members integrally formed therewith and extending therefrom, away from the clamping plane, so as to define an open channel therebetweeen, the open channel further defining a ground wire axis parallel to the grounding member axis, the first wall member defining a threaded hole configured to receive a set screw in threaded engagement therewith, the threaded hole extending along a third axis through the first wall member and toward the second wall member, the third axis intersecting with the first and second axes, the open channel defining a ground wire ingress opening opposing and directed away from the clamping plane, the ground wire ingress opening being configured to receive the ground wire therethrough, in a substantially perpendicular direction to the clamping plane, between the set screw and the second wall member, the set screw being configured to be advanced through the threaded hole toward the second wall member to secure the grounding wire thereagainst such that the ground wire is secured within the open channel and disposed along a ground wire axis parallel to the grounding member axis, and the set screw being further configured to extend outwardly of the first wall member, when the ground wire is secured thereby within the open channel, so as to substantially impede access to the screw disposed adjacent to the first wall member and securing the first and second clamping members together.