Supports – Pipe or cable – Brackets
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-30
2001-04-24
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Pipe or cable
Brackets
C024S0160PB, C248S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220554
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to clips and other such devices for retaining wires.
Many types of clips and related devices are known for retaining and bundling wires, wire bundles, cables and the like. Examples of such clips are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,563,163 and 4,455,715. Such clips typically clamp around the wires to securely hold them in place.
Some applications require retaining clips that permit easy addition and removal of individual wires. For example, many Building Entrance Panels (BEPs), used with telecommunications equipment, use clips fixed to the BEP at various points to retain and bundle the myriad of wires within. Such clips do not tightly clamp around the wires, but form an enclosed loop-like passage which loosely retains the wires. One such clip device has two flexible arms having ends that overlap one another, one on top of the other, with space in between the two arms. Wires can be easily inserted into the clip through the flexible arms without disturbing the other wires. The arms of these known clips, however, can inadvertently release wires.
For example, when servicing telephone equipment, service personnel may need to trace and pull on various wires. Pulling on a wire in one location can cause the wire to pull against the arms of a clip in another location such as within a BEP. Unbeknownst to the service person, the pulled wire can be pulled through the arms of the clip. Once loose, the wire may move to a position where it may be severed or where it can cause damage to other items.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a wire-retaining clip which allows for the addition of wires, but which has a reduced tendency to inadvertently release wires.
Another object of the invention is to provide a retaining clip that is inexpensive to produce.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following or maybe learn by practice of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In broad terms, the object and the advantages of the present invention can be attained by providing a wire clip having a base, and first and second arms connected to and extending from the base. Each of the first and second arms have a distal end. The first and second arms are shaped to form an enclosed passage bounded by the base and the arms in which the wire is retained. Forming the distal end of the first arm is a first resilient cantilevered tine. The first tine extends towards the second arm and has a movable free end. Forming the distal end of the second arm is a second resilient cantilevered tine which has a movable free end. The second tine extends towards the first arm in a side-by-side overlapping relationship to the first tine and is movable in cooperation with the first tine to permit the wire to pass through the first and second tines.
In one particular embodiment, the distal end of the second arm further includes a third resilient cantilever tine which has a movable free end. This third tine is spaced from the second tine, and the first tine extends between the second and the third tines. Here, the first, second and third tines are movable in a cooperating manner to permit the wire to pass therethrough.
REFERENCES:
patent: 466932 (1892-01-01), Cornell
patent: 1622632 (1927-03-01), Fahnestock
patent: 3659319 (1972-05-01), Erickson
patent: 3991960 (1976-11-01), Tanaka
patent: 4023758 (1977-05-01), Yuda
patent: 4195807 (1980-04-01), Llauge
patent: 4470179 (1984-09-01), Gollin et al.
patent: 4840334 (1989-06-01), Kikuchi
patent: 4917340 (1990-04-01), Juemann et al.
King Anita M.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Ramirez Ramon O.
Synnestvedt & Lechner LLP
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