Supports – Pipe or cable – Brackets
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-02
2002-06-04
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Pipe or cable
Brackets
C248S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06398169
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for installing one or more cylindrical longitudinally extending elements on a panel, for example electrical wires and/or electrical cables and/or sheathing of the said wires or cables on a vehicle panel. More specifically, this invention relates to a device designed to bind and clamp together a plurality of wires or cables and to position and maintain the latter in a defined position on this panel. The present invention also relates to a tool for mounting such a device on a bundle of electrical wires or cables or on one or more longitudinally extending elements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,613 or GM 94 01 448 for example describe a device in the form of a harness that can be wound transversely around cables to be combined, and one end of which is designed so that it can engage in a coupling head provided in the other end. This head comprises an internal coupling tongue that engages in a notch in a series of notches provided in the free end of the harness so as to ensure a clamping of the cables or bundle of electrical wires irrespective of their diameter. This harness also includes, at the head or in the proximity thereof, a fastening means shaped so as to be able to be inserted and engage in an opening previously provided in the panel, thereby securing the harness and the bundle to the said panel.
However, the installation of a plurality of such harnesses at regular intervals along a bundle is complicated and time-consuming. Furthermore, it is normally recommended to cut the surplus end of the harness projecting beyond the coupling head, which on the one hand means wasting unused material, and on the other hand runs the risk of leaving sharp exposed edges on the new end. In addition, it is time-consuming to cut off the unused material and also involves the use of cutting tools in a workshop.
Documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,766, U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,675 or EP 0 433 621 for example also describe U-shaped retainer type cable installation devices that envelop the cables and in which the ends of each arm terminate in a hook. The hooks are designed so as to engage in a pair of openings or windows previously made in the panel. The retainer according to document EP 433 621 has a plurality of coupling notches on each of the arms, enabling a plurality of electrical wires or cables of different diameters to be clamped.
However, the use of these cable retainers is also complicated by the fact that it is advisable to keep the bundle of cables clamped against the panel between the two windows before the said retainers can be installed. Moreover, the dimensions of the openings or windows in the panel should be extremely accurate so as to permit on the one hand a smooth engagement of each arm end hook during the installation, and on the other hand ensure a reliable permanent retention of these hooks. In addition this type of device can only be installed when the panel is present since it is impossible to run the cable bundle through when the retainers are in place.
Besides, it is found that the securement of these devices on a panel is often unsatisfactory since it leads to a certain amount of undesirable play, particularly in the longitudinal direction of the wires, which means that the general positioning of the bundle may become imprecise as a result of subsequent vibrations.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is an installation device that is easier to mount on electrical wires or electrical cables, or even on a sheathing of the said wires or cables with the possibility of clamping the latter, and that is also easier to secure on a panel and will remain securely and reliably in place over the course of time. In addition the installation device should be able to be mounted on the cable bundles before being transported to an assembly line.
The structure of this device should also enable it to be mass produced so as to reduce production costs, in particular by pressure injection of plastics material into a mould.
As far as possible the design of this device should also permit its use and implementation by means of a tool actuated manually but also capable of being actuated pneumatically or electrically in order to improve ease of use, this being achieved by reducing material lost in cutting surplus material and thus in generating costly waste, and reducing the use of cutting tools in the workshop. The implementation time should thus be able to be reduced to a minimum.
These objects are achieved by virtue of the fact the installation device for installing one or more longitudinally extending elements on a panel comprises:
a U-shaped retainer, each flexible arm of which has a series of externally oriented notches,
and a base having, corresponding to each arm, an inclined traversing passage whose inlet opening is located in the face opposite the retainer and whose outlet opening is located in a lateral face of the base, the face of the base opposite to that facing the retainer being provided with a fastening means for securing the base in an opening in the panel.
One of the main advantages of the device is that the dimensions and positions of the inclined passages of the base are designed and manufactured accurately, which facilitates the insertion of the arms of the retainer. Moreover, these passages guide the ends of the arms in an inclined manner so that they come to rest against the panel at the edge of the opening, thereby assisting the seating of the device. The external orientation of the notches prevents any undesirable interference in the wires or cables in the vicinity of the coupling of the retainer in the base, and prevents any harmful contact on the panel after the fastening means has been inserted into the opening.
Preferably, the retainer is initially joined to the base by means of weak rupture points.
The device may thus be produced and marketed in one piece, which facilitates its manufacture, intermediate storage and handling up to its use at the time of installation of a cable on a panel.
The inlet opening of each passage of the base preferably has a retention hook for the notch of the corresponding arm of the retainer.
The coupling of the retainer thus takes place in a very controlled manner in the region of the face opposite the base, and not in the region of the lateral face where it could all too easily become dislodged, for example as the result of rubbing of the arm against the panel. This significantly improves the long-term reliability of the installation device.
Preferably the retainer has on each side of the longitudinally extending element to be installed a pair of arms with notches oriented externally in the direction of the said longitudinally extending elements.
By virtue of the orientation of the notches in the longitudinal direction of the wires or cables to be held, the risk of interference of the latter with the coupling of the arms of the retainer in the base is reduced still further. In addition, the ends of the arms that come into contact with the panel produce a particularly stable, four-point seating for the overall device.
If desired, the fastening means may be engaged in a detachable manner in the base.
The fastening means for securing the base in an opening in the panel is conveniently in the form of a central pin provided with slanting tongues oriented towards the base. These tongues may be distributed in the form of several, preferably three or four, longitudinal series distributed uniformly around the periphery of the pin. Alternatively, each tongue may completely surround the pin.
This type of fastening means can easily engage in an opening provided in the panel whose diameter is greater than that of the pin, the width of the tongues ensuring a reliable coupling. The plurality of tongues enables any imprecisions of positioning, either of the device on
Baxter Gwendolyn
Braun Leslie A.
Henderson & Sturm LLP
Sofanou S.A.
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