Supports – Pipe or cable – Brackets
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-09-25
King, Anita (Department: 3613)
Supports
Pipe or cable
Brackets
C024S270000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293504
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a tube holder, particularly for holding a protective tube for cables on a robot, with two mutually articulated half-shells closable by a lever provided with a spring clip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such hose or tube holders are in particular provided on robots, in order to hold in an axially movable manner protective tubes for electric cables on the outside of the robot. The tube holders are fixed by means of an open, cross-sectionally trapezoidal base to a holder, such as part of the robot, an arm or a rocker, the free ends of the trapezoidal base generally being connected in one piece with the tube holder opening in trumpet-like manner towards its free end faces. The trumpet-like opening walls of the tube holder defining the tube passage are elastic and formed from two interconnected half-shells. Relative movements of the tube holder with respect to the robot part holding it can occur and give rise to parallelogram like movements of the tube holder base. As a result of such movements and the dynamic forces acting on the tube holder, it is easily possible for damage and breakage thereof to occur.
In addition, in a known tube holder the locking lever for closing the two half-shells of the tube holder is freely positioned above said tube-guiding walls. There is consequently a risk that unintentional movements, optionally also the sliding past one another of the parts, will lead to a movement of the lever and to the opening of the tube holder. The tube can then drop out of the tube holder, which can have significant disadvantageous consequences when the robot is moving.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Thus, whilst avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages, the problem of the invention is to so further develop a tube holder of the aforementioned type that in particular an unintentional opening of said tube holder is avoided. It must also be possible to securely, firmly and stably fix the tube holder to the part holding it.
In a tube holder of the aforementioned type, the invention solves this problem in that on either side of the lever are formed radially extending protective ribs, which cover the circumferential contour of the lever in its closed position.
In that on either side of the lever are provided ribs radially projecting over it in its closed position, it is possible to reliably prevent an unintentional movement and opening of the lever through parts or elements moving along the tube holder. Due to the fact that the base is reinforced by axially parallel ribs in the vicinity of its legs, parallelogram-like movements of the base and therefore movements of the tube holder relative to the part holding it are reliably prevented.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 196807 (1877-11-01), Jolliffe et al.
patent: 2122988 (1938-07-01), Nelson
patent: 3305199 (1967-02-01), Bayes et al.
patent: 4705243 (1987-11-01), Hartmann et al.
patent: 6056245 (2000-05-01), White
King Anita
Kuka Roboter GmbH
McGlew & Tuttle P.C.
Sy Holly N.
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