Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Plastic band
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-14
2002-10-15
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Plastic band
C248S068100, C248S074400, C024S271000, C024S272000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06463631
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a binding tool for binding and fixing a bundle of cables.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, there are widely used binding tools for binding bundles of cables and fixing them to support members such as chassis and panels.
Some of such binding tools comprise two parts: a main member and a lateral member. In such a binding tool, the main member is provided with a laterally extending bottom portion, first and second arm portions extending upward from right and left ends of the bottom portion, respectively, and first and second sawtooth-like notch portions provided on the first and second arm portions, respectively, as longitudinally continuing notched parts. The lateral member is provided with a lateral bar bridged between the first and second arm portions and first and second engaging pieces provided on right and left ends of the lateral bar, respectively, and constituted to be engaged with the first and second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively.
The binding tool is used, for example, in the following manner. Firstly, the bottom portion of the main member is fixed to a support with a bolt or the like and a bundle of cables are mounted on the bottom portion. Secondly, the lateral bar is bridged between the first and second arm portions, and the first and second engaging pieces are engaged with the first and second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively, so that the cables can be clamped between the bottom portion and the lateral bar (lateral member). Consequently, the bundle of cables are bound and fixed to the support.
Specifically, in this binding tool, when the lateral bar is bridged between the first and second arm portions and the lateral member is pushed down relative to the main member with a force larger than a predetermined value, the first and second engaging pieces can be respectively moved downward along the first and second sawtooth-like notch portions with the lateral bar being elastically deformed. And by engaging the first and second engaging pieces with the first and second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively, at the positions in which the bundle of cables are clamped between the bottom portion and the lateral bar, the bundle of the cables can be bound and fixed to the support.
On the other hand, in order to release the bundle of cables from binding and fixation to the binding tool, the engagements of the first and second engaging pieces with the first and second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively, are released by elastically deforming the lateral bar with an operator's hand and the like (in more detail, by elastically deforming a part of the lateral bar near the first engaging piece and a part of the lateral bar near the second engaging piece). Then, the lateral member can be removed from the main member.
When this binding tool is used, the bundle of cables can be bound and fixed certainly by varying the distance between the bottom portion and the lateral bar, even if the number or the thickness of the cables to be bound and fixed is changed.
However, as for such a conventional binding tool, there is a problem that use of the tool is occasionally inconvenient because the lateral bar is sometimes slanted off from the lateral direction when the lateral bar is bridged between the first and second arm portions.
Specifically, for example, when the left and right ends of the lateral bar are not pushed down equally to the bottom portion (main member) and the lateral bar is slanted off from the lateral direction, the lateral member is caught on the main member (that is, a frictional force exerted between the first engaging piece and the first sawtooth-like notch portion or a frictional force exerted between the second engaging piece and the second sawtooth-like notch portion becomes too large), and it occasionally becomes difficult for the strength of the operator's hand to push down the lateral member to a desired position. In some other cases, the bundle of cables can not be bound and fixed with a sufficient force because the engagements of the first and second engaging pieces with the first and second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively, become unstable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is presented to solve the above-mentioned problem and the object of the present invention is to provide a binding tool in which left and right ends of a lateral member can be equally pushed down relative to a main member.
A binding tool of the present invention comprises a main member provided with a bottom portion extending laterally, first and second arm portions extending upward from two positions on the bottom portion laterally spaced out by a predetermined distance, and first and second sawtooth-like notch portions provided on the first and the second arm portions, respectively, as longitudinally continuing notched portions, and a lateral member provided with a lateral bar bridged between the first and the second arm portions for clamping a bundle of cables with the bottom portion and first and second engaging pieces disposed on both left and right ends of the lateral bar, respectively, for engaging with the first and the second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively, so as to bind and fix the cables between the main member and the lateral member, wherein at least either on the main member or the lateral member, there is provided a slant preventing portion for preventing the lateral bar from being slanted off from the lateral direction, when the lateral bar is bridged between the first and the second arm portions.
According to the binding tool of the present invention, a bundle of cables can be bound and fixed by setting the cables (or the bundle of cables) on the bottom portion fixed to a support member by a predetermined method, bridging the lateral bar between the first and the second arm portions, and engaging the first and the second engaging pieces with the first and the second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively, so that the cables are clamped between the bottom portion and the lateral bar.
And according to the binding tool of the present invention, even when the thickness or the number of cables is changed, the cables can be bound and fixed certainly by changing engaging positions of the first and the second engaging pieces with the first and the second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively, to adjust the distance between the bottom portion and the lateral bar.
Moreover, in the binding tool of the present invention, since the slant preventing portion is provided at least on one of the main member and the lateral member, the left and right sides of the lateral bar can be equally pushed down relative to the main member.
Specifically, since the lateral bar is prevented from being slanted off from the lateral direction by the slant preventing portion when the lateral bar is bridged between the first and the second arm portions, the left and right sides of the lateral member can be equally pushed down relative to the main member.
As a result, when the lateral member is pushed down relative to the main member, the lateral member is prevented from being caught on the main member and so the lateral member can be easily pushed down to a desired position with respect to the main member. Furthermore, engagements of the first and the second engaging pieces with the first and the second sawtooth-like notch portions, respectively, do not become unstable and so the cables are bound and fixed with a sufficient force.
In another aspect of the present invention, the slant preventing portion comprises a first engaging protrusion extending longitudinally either on the first arm portion or on the lateral member and a first guide groove provided either on the first arm portion or on the lateral member, on which the first engaging protrusion is not provided, such that the first engaging protrusion can be longitudinally slidably engaged with the groove, and both left and right faces of the first engaging protrusion are guided in the groove when the first engaging protr
Davis & Bujold P.L.L.C.
Kitagawa Industries Co., Inc.
Sandy Robert J.
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