Grounding System and Stud

FIG. 1 is a front partial view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevated partial side view of the invention shown in FIG. 1 without the telephone interface box; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4--4 in FIG. 1, illustrating the conduit and power line.

Electrical power and telephone service are typically connected through overhead risers or buried underground cables to interface equipment located on the outside of a building. FIG. 1 illustrates some of the interface equipment mounted to a side of the building including an electrical utility box 10 of rectangular shape which mounts a power meter 12 for determining the amount of power consumption being utilized within the building. The box may be an elongated structure 14 extending downwardly and partially buried into the ground G through which the power cables P would be led from an underground feeder system, or alternatively, from a hollow conduit or riser extending upwardly in the case of overhead service (not illustrated).

Whether the utility box has an underground feed or an overhead feed, the metal box itself must be electrically connected to ground G through a suitable grounding system. For example, structure 14 holds a large size grounding wire 16 which is connected through a clamp 18 to an elongated grounding rod 20 sunk into the ground G. Typically, this grounding rod 20 may be six feet or more in length and is located within three feet or other close proximity to the base of the building. Ground wire 16 is then connected to a grounding bracket (not illustrated) within the electric utility box in a known manner.

Located closely adjacent the electric utility box 10 will be a telephone system interface box which is mounted to the wall of the building. The telephone interface box 22 is connected through the underground feed 24, or alternatively, overhead riser, to the external telephone company system (not illustrated). The telephone lines are connected through interface box 22 to the building phone system through conventional wiring 26. Telephone interface box 22 must also be grounded suitably to the same ground G in a manner which will not cause a potential difference between the telephone system and the electrical power system in the event that lightning or accidental electrical contact should be made to the telephone wires themselves.

The system described above is conventional and may take a wide variety of known configurations. Previously, the telephone interface box 22 has been coupled through a ground wire to a separate ground rod (not illustrated) located a short distance away from the power ground rod. This requires a separate ground rod and cable to the telephone interface box 22, and also a bond or jumper wire (not illustrated) connected between the pair of grounds rods in order to prevent any potential difference therebetween. In accordance with the present invention, the complexity of this prior system and the labor necessary to install it are eliminated by a system which can be installed by persons without specialized training and without comprising the integrity of either the electrical power system or the telephone system.

As illustrated generally in the Figures, a stud 28 is secured to an outer surface 30 of the utility box 10. Stud 28 is constructed from any electrically conductive material, preferably brass, copper, steel or the like. Stud 28 can have any suitable shape, such as the generally cylindrical shape depicted in the FIG. 2.

Stud 28 is mechanically and electrically secured to utility box 14 by any known structure, material or method. However, it is important that the means used to attach stud 28 to outer surface 30 of utility box 10 not penetrate the inside of utility box 10. Stud 28 is preferably integrally and permanently mechanically and electrically secured to the outer surface 30 of the utility box 10 by welding or brazing.

Stud 28 further includes a ground wire securing mechanism 32 in the form of a further clamping device for electrically and mechanically securing a ground wire 34 to stud 28. Through wire 34, stud 28 is therefore electrically and mechanically secured to the telephone interface box 22. Ground wire 34 is connected to telephone interface box 22. Ground wire 34 is connected in a known manner. Ground wire 34 is typically AWG size 6 through 12, inclusive.

A first bore 36 is formed in stud 28 to accept ground wire 34. A second bore 38 is formed in stud 28 and extends to first bore 36. Second bore 38 is preferably formed substantially perpendicular to first bore 36. Second bore 38 is threaded to accommodate ground wire securing screw 40, which is moveable through second bore 38 and into first bore 36. Securing screw 40 functions to secure ground wire 34 within first bore 36 to stud 28 to establish a mechanical and electrical connection therebetween.

Stud 28 provides a mechanical connection to utility box 10, and also the necessary electrical connection for grounding the telephone system to utility box 10 which in turn is grounded through ground wire 16 to ground rod 20. A separate telephone system ground rod and clamp, and a ground wire bond are avoided since the telephone system is electrically connected to the power system ground. While stud 28 is illustrated as located on the right-hand, side surface of utility box 10 in FIG. 1, alternate placements are possible at any surface of a utility box where stud 28 is mechanically and electrically securable.

While the system is illustrated in connection with an electrical utility box, it will be apparent that novel stud 28 can be used anytime an electrical and mechanical connection is to be made to a metal box enclosure. The electrical connection can be for purposes of grounding or for any other purpose for which an electrical connection is to be made to a metal, electrically conductive, box enclosure.

Further, telephone interface box 22 or any other suitable component of the telephone system is capable of being mounted directly to electrical utility box 10. Specifically, a telephone interface mounting bracket 42 is mechanically and electrically attached to the box by any conventional means, such as welding or brazing, without penetrating through the utility box 10 and without therefore compromising its integrity. Bracket 42 has feet 44 and 44', which are secured to surface 30. Legs 46 and 46', extend outward from feet 44 and 44'. Legs 46 and 46, support a platform 48, extending therebetween. Platform 48 has two holes 50 and 50' to accept bolts 52 and 52', respectively. A plate 54 is secured to platform 48. Plate 54 is secured to platform 48 with the bolts 52 and 52, through holes 64 and 64'. Plate 54 has a mounting portion 56 to which telephone interface box 22 is secured with bolts 58 and 58' through holes 60 and 60', respectively. An attachment portion 62 of plate 54 is also secured to platform 48 with bolts 52 and 52' through holes 64 and 64,

The securing of at least one component of the telephone system to utility box 10, such as telephone interface box 22, eliminates the complexity of prior systems and the labor necessary to install it by eliminating the need to mount interface box 22 to an entirely different surface, such as the wall of the building. Further, an additional ground connection is achieved between telephone interface box 22 and utility box 14 through the mechanical and electrical through plate 54 and bracket 42.

Underground telephone feed 24 is protected from the environment along at least a part of its length above the ground with conduit 66. Conduit 66, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is of substantially rectangular cross-sectional area, although conduit 66 can have any suitable cross-sectional area. Conduit 66 is constructed of any suitable material, such as hard plastic or metal, preferably polyvinyl chloride. As illustrated in FIG. 1, lower end 68 of conduit 66 is sunk into the ground along at least a part of the length of the outer surface 30. Tape 70, or alternatively, any suitable means, can be used to hold lower end 68 in position. Underground feed 24 is fed through the lower opening 72 of conduit 66, through at least a portion of its length and out of conduit 66 through upper opening 74.

Conduit 66 has an upper end 76. Upper end 76 also has an extension 78, which is essentially a side wall 80 of conduit 66 that has a longer length than the other side walls of conduit 66. Extension 78 is held between platform 48 and attachment portion 62 by bolts 52 and 52' which pass through holes 82 and 82', respectively. The combination of tape 70 and extension 78 effectively hold conduit 66 in place against structure 14.

By this arrangement, and if conduit 66 is construed as an electrically conductive material, a third ground connection is achieved for the telephone interface box 22 since lower end 68 of conduit 66 is sunk into the ground and upper end 72 of conduit 64 is mechanically and electrically connected to interface box 22 through plate 54.

While the invention is described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the appended claims.