US 12,128,510 B2
Method and end assembly for welding device
Edward L. Cooper, Clarklake, MI (US); and Steven J. Hayes, Addison, MI (US)
Assigned to ELCO ENTERPRISES, INC., Jackson, MI (US)
Filed by ELCo Enterprises, Inc., Jackson, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/128,262.
Application 18/128,262 is a continuation of application No. 17/556,415, filed on Dec. 20, 2021, granted, now 11,642,738.
Application 17/556,415 is a continuation of application No. 14/667,234, filed on Mar. 24, 2015, granted, now 11,203,079, issued on Dec. 21, 2021.
Application 14/667,234 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/224,942, filed on Mar. 25, 2014, granted, now 9,950,386, issued on Apr. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0256533 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B23K 9/29 (2006.01); B23K 9/173 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 9/295 (2013.01) [B23K 9/173 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A welding apparatus comprising:
a contact tip configured to be received in an inner cavity of an end assembly of a welding system, the contact tip defining a bore extending therethrough from a first end to a second end and configured for guiding a weld wire into the first end and out of the second end during a welding operation, wherein the first end has a convex and curved outer surface;
wherein the first end of the contact tip is configured for being received into an indentation, the indentation having a concave and curved inner surface corresponding in shape to the convex and curved outer surface of the contact tip,
wherein the convex and curved outer surface of the contact tip is configured to abut the concave and curved inner surface of the indentation;
wherein the contact tip is a single piece and includes an external fastening portion extending radially outward therefrom;
wherein the contact tip includes a non-threaded end portion extending axially away from the external fastening portion of the contact tip, wherein the non-threaded end portion includes the convex and curved outer surface;
wherein the convex and curved outer surface defines a curved path through a cross-sectional plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and includes the longitudinal axis.