Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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8~3~7
BACKGROU~ OF THE INVE~TION
The present invention relates generally to an improved
device for clampingly securing a wire or cable to a work surface.
Clamping devices of this general type have been known and
utilized with varying degrees of effectiveness. The various
improvements constituting this invention were the results of
attempts to overcome problems incurred by the device inven~ed
by E. ~rant Swick, ~.S. Patent 4,1279250. That invention was
assigned to and is commonly owned with this invention by Illinois
Tool ~orks Inc. Other prior art includes the routing of cables
by staples having a compressible bridge material.
Except for the device disclosed in the patent t'o Swick
(4,127,250), there are no known wire routing devices adapted to
be used with many different supporting surfaces, including
concrete. The particular problems in fastening a routing device
to concrete are different from those which are encountered in
fastening to surfaces which have less structural integrity. The
origina~ Swick device answered the overall problem of a universal
device by providing a plastic block, of a very durable material
such as Lexan polycarbonate, with a recess crossing one surface
adapted to receive and clip to a wire and a pair of hardened
steel pins suited to be struck by a hammer and driven into the
support surface, e.g., concrete.
The set of problems that are attributable to the prior art
devices include:
(1) the plastic block often being broken due to too much
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1 energy being imparted thereto by the tool used to drive
the pins;
(2) the block only being capable of routing a single size of wire;
(3) the block breaking when one pin had been driven into concrete
and as the second pin was driven it encountered a substantially
impenetrable piece of aggregate and attempted to avoid it;
(4) the block not being seated flush with the support surface
because of spalling of the concrete as the pin began its
penetration with the problem being compounded by the down-
ward extrusion of the plastic block by the pin;
(5) the block damaging the support surface when the surface is
of a lesser structural integrity due to the large impacting
force necessary to drive the pins through the block.
The present invention has answered the above noted problems,
as will be discussed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVrNTIO~
1 The routing device of the instant invention advantageously
provides:
(1) an impact absorbing ring, which crushes on impact, for
absorbing the excess energy of the tool used to drive
S the pin;
(2) a plurality of recesses for routing of various sizes
and configurations of wire and cable;
(3) a provision for permitting th'e point of the pin to avoid
a substantially impenetrable object, e.g., a piece of
aggregate in concrete;
(4) a cylindroconical bore that has a different included angle
in the frustoconical portion relative to the included angle
of the frustoconical portion of the pin to permit the plastic
directly in-line with the end of the cylindroconical bore
to extrude upwardly around the pin as it is driven to thereby
provide a compaction of the area of the support surface where
the pin penetrates;
(5) predriving of the pins in the block with the pins being
retained in the predriven condition to thereby permit attach-
ment of the same routing device to support surfaces having
lesser structural integrity, e.g., stucco or plaster, by a
blow of less force then that required to drive ~he pins
through the block and into the support surface.
It is an object of the instant invention to provide the above
advantages in a novei configuration of the block.
It is a further ol~ject that the device be manufactured
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1 efficiently and economically and yet be a product that functions
effectively.
These objects and advantages are attained by the invention
which contemplates a clip adapted to position an elongated article
relative to a support surface which comprises a body portion
having a first side adapted to engage the support surface and
a second substantially exposed side, a recess formed in the
first side completely traversing the first side in a pre-
determined direction, at least one bore formed in the body
portion and being disposed to one side of the recess, and a
fastening means having a first end adapted to be retained within
the at least one bore by a retention fit and a second portion
extending outwardly from the exposed side of the body portion.
That first end includes a pointed penetrating end and the second
portion is adapted to be impacted to drive the fastening means
axially, and a means is integrally formed with the second side
of the body portion for absorbing energy when impacted.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a clip
adapted to position an elongated article relative to a support
surface which comprises a body portion and a fastening means
with the body portion including a first side adapted to engage
a support surface and a second substantially exposed side.
A recess is formed in the first side completely -traversing the
first side in a predetermined direction, at least one
cylindroconical bore is formed in the body portion and is
disposed to one side of the recess with the cylindroconical
bore including a frustoconical portion with an included angle
of a first predetermined amount, and with the fastening means
being substantially cylindroconical with the frustoconical
portion thereof having an included angle of a second pre-
determined amount. The fastening means is adapted to be received
within the at least one bore and driven axially into the support
surface to affix the clip relative thereto.
Many other objects, features and advantages of the present
lnvention will be more fully realized and understood from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawing. Note that like reference numerals
are used throughout the various views to designate similar
elements or components.
Case 4091
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
.
1 A routing device constructed in accordance with this invention
is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing,
wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a routing clip of the instant
invention showing a siamese cable relative thereto;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view in partial section showing the
depending aggregate avoider and a single larger cable relative
thereto;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a rectangular embodiment of
the instant invention;
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the relationship of
the pin point relative to the bottom of the cylindroconical bore;
Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the depending
aggregate avoiders relative to a cable receiving recess;
Fig. 6 is an end view of the device of the instant invention
showing the relative positions of the bores, ~ggregate avoiders,
crushable rings, and recesses;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the embodiment of Fig, 3 showing the
pins predriven relative to the block and;
Fig. 8 is a top view of a portion of the device showing a
segmented annularly disposed impact absorber.
Case 4091
~ ;7
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE I~rE?~ION
1 Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs.
1 and 3 it will be seen that the wire routing clip assembly 10
comprises basically a block member 12 having a pair of bores 14
formed therein. The block 12 has an upper surface 22 and a lower
surface 24. A pin 16, having a cylindrical portion 17 comple-
mentary in size to the cylindrical portion 15 of each respective
bore 14, is aligned with and partially received in each bore 14.
The pins 16 are adapted to be prepositioned so that their pointed
ends 18 are received within each respective bore 14 and their end
portions 20, adapted to be struck by a conventional tool, extend
above the upper surface of the block. As ab alternative to the
straight pins (as best seen in Fig. 5) the pins may be formed as
part of a U-shaped stap]e (as shown in Fig. 3). The bloc': includes
transversely extending recesses 26, 28, adapted to receive a cable
or wire therein. The recesses are preferably positioned between
the bores for reasons which become apparent from the following
in depth disclosure. The block as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are
particularly well suited for routing of cables of different
sizes or configurations wherein the routing device as depicted
in Fig. 3 is shown as being suited for routing of a single cable
of a particular size. It being understood that the rectangular
block may have a similar arrangement of recesses 26, 28 therein
and vice versa.
The recesses 26, 28 extend transversely across the entire
width of the block 12 and preferably have restricted openings,
as best seen as being protrusions 30 in Fig. 5, to aid in pre-
assembling of the clip to a cable prior to the installation of
the rou~ing device on a support surface. Each recess ideally
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Case 4091
1 includes a strain relief 32 to aid in positioning of the cable
relative to the support surface 34 by resisting movement of the
cable along its longitudinal axis.
As best seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the routing device includes
an annular, crushable, impact absorbing ring 36 disposed on the upper
surface 22 of the block 12 and protruding upwardly therefrom. The
impact absorbing protrusions 36 are positioned about the open end of
each bore 14 and are integrally molded with the block member 12.
Each impact absorber 36 is adapted to be crushed upon heavy impact
and substantially absorb the excess force that a conventional tool
may have when it is used in driving the pins 16. It is contemplated
by the invention that the impact absorbing protrusions 36 may take
many different forms including a continuous annular ring (as shown
as 36 seen in Figs. 1-3)~ a segmented annular ring 37 (shown in Fig.
8), as well as protrusions in the form of dimples, etc.
Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, there is shown a number of
shapes and sizes of transversly extending recesses 26, 28 in the
block member 12 which permits the selection of wires of different
sizes to be routed relative to a support surface 34. It can be
seen in Fig. 1 that there are parallel transverse recesses 26
particularly adapted to route a siamese type cable 38 or in the
alternative a pair of single cables side by side and as seen in
Fig. 2 there is a single recess 28 for routing a single coaxial
type cable 40. The recess 28 is shown as being substantially
perpendicular relative to the parallel pair of transversly
disposed recesses 28. While the angle of intersection of the
recesses 26, 28 may vary, the critical feature is that the
recesses 26, 28 be positioned between the pair of bores 14.
Case 4091
1 Referring to Fig. 6,here it can be seen that the parallel transverse
recesses 26 are in communication with one another for receiving
the siamese type cable 38. Parallel to but spaced from these
recesses 28 is a smaller transverse recess 42 for much smaller
cable or wire. It should be readily apparent from this that the
recesses may take any size or configuration as needed to accommodate
a particular wire or cable. Referring again to Fig. 5, the recesses
could include, as an option, inwardly directed extensions 30 for
engaging and retaining the wire relative to the block member.
Referring now to Fig. 4, it can be seen that each of the pins
16 are of a cylindroconical configuration wherein the pointed end
18 is frustoconical and each frustoconical portion 18 of each
cylindroconical pin 16 has an included angle I which is about 45
degrees and preferrably in the range of 40 to 50 degrees. Each
bore 14 in the block member 12 is also of a cylindroconical config-
uration, but has a frustoconical portion 44 with an included angle
which is substantially larger than that of the frustoconical portion
18 of the pin 16. Generally the included angle of the frustoconical
portion of the bore is in the range of 60 degrees. The advantage
of such an arrangement is that when the lower surface of the block
member 12 is juxtaposed a support surface 34, e.g., concrete, and
the pin 16 is impacted and driven through the end of the cylindro-
conical bore 14 into the support surface 34, it will be seen that
the material, of which the block member 12 is formed, cooperates
with the point 18 to form a positive compaction of the surface 34
in the area 35 in which the pin point 18 penetrates. When the
included angle of tile pin point 18 is less than the included angle
of the frustoconical portion 44 of the cylindroconical bore 14 the
initial compaction o~ the support surface 34 occurs in the immediate
Case 4091
1 area of the very end of the pin point 18. Compaction generally
increasing in a radially concentric manner relative to the point
of initial compaction to thereby control spalling of the support
surface 34. If the included angles are equal a less desirable
effect is achieved due to the material directly in line with
the end of the bore being driven downwardly at too great a rate
causing the device to be forced away from the surface. The
arrangement disclosed by the instant invention provides for a
very tight fit of the block member 12 relative to the support
surface 34.
Referring now to Figs. 2 and 5 it can be seen that the
cylindroconical bore 14 is contained within a depending sleeve
member 46. The block member has an upper wall 48 from which
the sleeve member depends and with which the sleeve member 46
is integrally formed. The sleeve member 46 is adapted to be
flexed at its point of attachment to the upper wall 48 to permit
the longitudinal axis of the pin 16, received in the cylindro-
conical bore 14, and the sleeve member 46 to shift to a point
along which the axis would be able to move. The flexing is
accomplished by the inherent flexibility of the material around
the sleeve member attachment to wall 48 of the body portion 12.
The advantage being that on installation of the routing device
10 on a support surface 34, such as concrete, where one of the
pins 14 is driven into the support surface 34 and the other pin
14 is subsequently driven and strikes a substantially impenetrable
object, e.g., a piece of aggregate, the pin point will be permitted
to attempt to avoid the aggregate. Such an arrangement permits
the pins 16 to no longer be parallel when driven thereby preventing
Case 4091
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1 breakage of the block 12 which would otherwise occur due to
stresses imparted thereto if the block 12 were solid. It is
contemplated by this invention that the sleeve 46 may be con-
tinuous in nature or segmented. A segmented sleeve would~ if
needed, permit greater deflection of the longitudinal axis at
the lower end thereof due to the fact that only a segment oE
the sleeve would need to be deflected when the axis shifts.
A segmented sleeve, which has individual depending sleeve
segments (not sho~n) may be maintained in a predetermined
pattern by a frangible ring (not shown) at the lower end. As
a pin 16 is driven through the ring it would, ideally, break,
thereby releasing the individual segments and permitting a
greater degree of shifting of the axis while being able to
positively maintain a pin 16 in a partially predeiven position.
This segmented sleeve arrangement results in a substantial
reduction in the stress in the area where the sleeve is attached
to the lower side of the upper wall 48 of the body portion 12.
Referring now to Fig. 7 it can be seen that the pins 14 in
this instance have been predriven relative to the block member
12 and that a cable 40 has been preassembled in the transverse
recess 28. The routing device 10 of the instant invention, as
seen here, can be used with support surfaces 34 that have a
structural integrity which is substantially less than that of
concrete. A typical problem encountered in installing devices
of this type on plaster or stucco is that the energy necessarily
impacted on the end 20 of the pin 16 to drive it relative to the
block 12 is substantial and more than enough to damage the
support surface 34. By predriving the pins 16 it can be seen
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Case ~091
1 that a nominal impact is necessary to drive the pins relative to
support surface of a material such as plasteT. When the clip 10
is used in this particular configuration the impact absorbing
rings 34 cooperate with the aggregate avoider sleeve 46 to permit
the pins 16 to be driven and splay as necessary within the support
surface while preventing damage to the surface of the block 12 and
the support surface 34. The method of using such a device thus
entails the predriving of the pins 16 relative to the block 12, the
attachment of the block 12 to the cable 40, the positioning of the
device relatlve to the support surface 34 and the driving of the
pins 16 into the support surface 34 by impacting the block in the
general region of the impact absorbing rings 36 and ends 20 of the
predriven pins 16.
Accordingly, this invention provides a simple and efficient
wire clamping and routing device for securement of wire and cable
to a support surface. The advantages clearly being that damage
to the block is substantially precluded by the impact absorbing
ring, the ability of the block to route cables or wires of
various sizes and configurations, and the ability of the device
to be used on a support surface that has substantially impenetrable
particles or ob~ects therein. The method of predriving the pins
and utilization of the block relative to a support surface of a
lesser structural integrity is clearly an advantage to workmen in
that the repair to damaged surfaces will be substantially eliminated.
While specific embodiments of various aspe~ts of the invention
have been disclosed it will be unders~ood that variations and
modifications thereof ~ay be affeceed without departing from the
spirit and scope of ~hP novel concepts d~sclosed and claimed herein.
