Abstract:
Apparatus, systems, and methods related to an interlocking line block assembly that has a first block portion and a second block portion, each with an outer end surface, an inner end surface defining a plurality of concave receptacles, a plurality of side surfaces extending between the inner end surface and the outer end surface, at least one of the side surfaces having a retention member, and an aperture extending between the inner end surface and the outer end surface. A spacer projects from the a block support of the second block portion and through the aperture of the second block portion, the spacer configured to be slidably received within the aperture of the first block portion when the first block portion is mated with the second block portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application hereby claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/924,640, titled “Interlocking Line Block Assembly,” filed Jan. 7, 2014, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed toward line support devices, including line support blocks useable for securing selected cables, wires, conduits, tubes, rods, or other lines to a supporting structure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Aircraft and other vehicles include many cables, wires, tubes, conduits, cords, and other lines extending through the vehicle. These lines are typically supported on the frame or other support structures in the vehicle. Clamps, ties, brackets, and line support blocks have been used to help manage and organize the lines and to securely retain the lines in a selected position within the vehicle. Conventional line support devices each experience drawbacks, which can include insufficient usability, manufacturing inefficiency, elevated cost, and/or limited versatility. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention provides an interlocking line support block assembly that overcomes drawbacks experienced in the prior art and that provides additional benefits. As an example, at least one aspect of the present technology provides an interlocking block assembly comprising a first block portion having a first outer end surface, a first inner end surface defining a plurality of concave receptacles, a plurality of first side surfaces extending between the first inner end surface and the first outer end surface, at least one of the first side surfaces having a first retention member, and a first aperture extending between the first inner end surface and the first outer end surface, the first aperture spaced apart from the first side surfaces. The interlocking line block assembly further includes a second block portion having a second outer end surface, a second inner end surface defining a plurality of concave receptacles, a plurality of second side surfaces extending between the second inner end surface and the second outer end surface, at least one of the second side surfaces having a second retention member configured to releasably mate with the first retention member of the first block portion, thereby releasably mating the first block portion with the second block portion, and a second aperture extending between the second inner end surface and the second outer end surface, the second aperture spaced apart from the second side surfaces. A first block support is coupled to the first outer end surface, and a second block support is coupled to the second outer end surface. A spacer projects from the second block support, through and beyond the second aperture, and the spacer is configured to be slidably received within the first aperture when the first block portion is mated with the second block portion. 
         [0005]    Another aspect of the present technology provides an interlocking line block assembly, comprising an upper portion having an upper support member, an upper flexible body projecting from the upper support member, the upper flexible body comprising an upper retention member and an upper line-receiving receptacle, and an aperture extending through the upper flexible body. The interlocking line block assembly further includes a lower portion having a lower support member, a lower flexible body projecting from the lower support member, the lower flexible body comprising a lower retention member configured to mate with the upper retention member, and a lower line-receiving receptacle, and a spacer projecting from the lower support member, the spacer configured to be slidably received within the aperture of the upper flexible body when the upper retention member is mated with the lower retention member. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of the present technology provides an interlocking line block assembly, comprising a first block portion having a first support member and a first flexible body projecting from the first support member, the first flexible body comprising a first line-engaging portion spaced apart from the first support member, and the first flexible body comprising a male retention member. The interlocking line block assembly further includes a second block portion separably connectable to the first block portion and having a second support member spaced apart from the first support member, a second flexible body projecting from the second support member and being aligned and substantially co-planar with the first flexible body. The first and second body portions are positioned between the first and second support members, and the second flexible body includes a second line-engaging portion spaced apart from the second support member and positionable immediately adjacent to the first line engage portion of the first flexible body portion. The second flexible body includes a female retention member configured to mate with the male retention member to releasably hold the first and second flexible body portions together. A spacer is connected to the first and second block portions and extends between the first and second support members, the spacer being sized to block the first and second support members from moving closer to each other than a fixed distance corresponding to a length of the spacer thereby limiting a compression force between the first and second flexible body portions when the male and female retention members are releasably engaged with each other. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present technology provides a method of retaining a line in an interlocking line block assembly, the method comprising providing a first block portion having a first support member, a first flexible body projecting from the first support member, the first flexible body comprising a first retention member and a first line-receiving receptacle, and an aperture extending through the first flexible body. The method further includes providing a second block portion having a second support member, a second flexible body projecting from the second support member, the second flexible body comprising a second retention member and a lower line-receiving receptacle, and a spacer projecting from the second support member. The method further includes disposing the line within the first line-receiving receptacle and mating the first block portion with the second block portion such that the second line-receiving receptacle engages the line disposed within the first line-receiving receptacle, wherein the spacer is slidably received within the aperture of the first flexible body and the first retention member is releasably mated with the second retention member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an interlocking line support block assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein mating block support portions are shown in a disengaged position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the interlocking line support block assembly of  FIG. 1A  with the mating block support portions shown in an engaged, locked position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of an end portion of the interlocking line support block assembly of  FIG. 1A , with the mounting, anti-compression tubes not shown for purposes of clarity. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the interlocking line support block assembly of  FIG. 1A  substantially in the disengaged position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the interlocking line support block assembly of  FIG. 1A  in an intermediate position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the interlocking line support block assembly of  FIG. 1A  in the engaged, locked position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an interlocking line support block assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure with mating block support portions shown in a disengaged position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the interlocking line support block assembly of  FIG. 4  substantially in an intermediate position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the interlocking line support block assembly of  FIG. 4  in an engaged, locked position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The present disclosure describes releasable, interlocking line support block assemblies in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Several specific details of embodiments are set forth in the following description and Figures to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the present invention may have additional embodiments, and that other embodiments of the invention may be practiced without several of the specific features described below. Further, one skilled in the art will recognize that the interlocking line support block assemblies described herein could be configured in many different arrangements and embodiments. Such variations of the present disclosure may be utilized without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The various embodiments set forth below are described and shown with a level of detail to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. Other structures and systems that may be associated with securing mechanisms have not been fully discussed to enable a clearer presentation of embodiments of this disclosure. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of an interlocking line block assembly  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The illustrated line block assembly  10  has interlocking upper and lower line block portions  12  and  14  configured to releasably capture selected lines  19  (shown in Phantom lines in  FIG. 1A ), such as cables, wires, conduits, tubes, rods, or other lines, therebetween. The line block assembly  10  can capture the selected lines  19  to form a preassembly, and the preassembly of the line block assembly  10  and selected lines  19  can be fastened or otherwise attached as a unit to a support structure, such as during manufacture or repair of an aircraft, space vehicle, truck, train, car, other land vehicle, ship, submarine, or other marine vehicle. 
         [0019]    The embodiment of the line block assembly  10  is described herein for purposes of illustration with reference to the relative spatial orientation of the line block assembly as shown in the figures. The directional references regarding upper, lower, left, right, etc., however, are used to describe the assembly in the orientation as illustrated for ease of understanding. The directional orientation shown and described herein is not intended to limit the structure of the line block assembly  10 . The line block assembly  10  can be oriented in spatial orientations different than those shown in the figures. 
         [0020]    Each of the upper and lower line block portions  12  and  14  include a substantially rigid or stiff block support  16  connected to and supporting a flexible body portion  18 . Each block support  16  in the illustrated embodiment is a rigid U-channel having a web  20  and a pair of opposing sidewalls  22  projecting away from the web  20 . The block support  16  can be made of metal, plastic, carbon fiber, or other sufficiently rigid or stiff material. Each block support  16  captures the respective body portion  18  between the sidewalls  22  and against the web  20  so as to securely retain the block support  16  and body portion  18  together as a unit. The body portions  18  of the illustrated embodiment are made of flexible and partially compressible material, such as rubber, foam, urethanes, cork, etc. The body portions  18  are configured to engage, capture, and securely hold the lines  19  without crushing, creasing, crimping, or otherwise damaging the lines  19  between the body portions  18 . 
         [0021]    As seen in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , the upper portion  12  of the line block assembly  10  has an upper block support  16   a  fixed to an upper end portion  24  of an upper body portion  18   a . The upper body portion  18   a  has a lower end portion  26  spaced apart from the block support  16   a , and opposing side portions  28  spanning between the upper and lower end portions  24  and  26 . The lower end portion  26  has a plurality of contoured line-receiving receptacles  30   a  shaped and sized to receive and retain selected lines  19 . In the illustrated embodiment, the line-receiving receptacles  30   a  are concave, semi-cylindrical receptacles. In other embodiments, the line-receiving receptacles  30   a  can have different shapes and/or different sizes. 
         [0022]    The lower portion  14  of the line block assembly  10  has a lower block support  16   b  fixed to a lower end portion  34  of the lower body portion  18   b . The lower body portion  18   b  has an upper end portion  36  spaced apart from the block support  16   b  and configured to engage the lower end portion  26  of the upper body portion  18   a . The lower body portion  18   b  also has opposing side portions  38  spanning between the upper and lower end portions  36  and  34 . The opposing side portions  38  are configured to releasably mate with the side portions  28  of the upper body portion  18   a  to securely and releasably hold the upper and lower body portions  18   a  and  18   b  together, as discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0023]    The upper end portion  36  also has a plurality of contoured line-receiving receptacles  30   b  aligned with the line receiving receptacles  30   a  of the upper body portion and shaped and sized to receive the selected lines  19 . The illustrated line-receiving receptacles  30   b  are also concave, semi-cylindrical receptacles substantially identical to the upper line-receiving receptacles  30   a . In other embodiments, the line-receiving receptacles  30   b  can have different shapes and/or sizes, including shapes and/or sizes, different from the mating receptacles  30   a  of the upper body portion  18   a . In another embodiment, the upper and lower body portions  18   a  and  18   b  can each have only a single contoured line-receiving receptacle  30   a  and  30   b . In yet other embodiments, the upper end portion  36  and/or lower end portion  26  of the body portions  18   b  and  18   a , respectively, may be configured with portions that receive and/or securely engage the lines  19  without providing dedicated receptacles for each line  19 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 3B , the illustrated line block assembly  10  has a pair of spacers  42  spanning between the upper and lower block support members  16   a  and  16   b . The illustrated spacers  42  are hollow, axially rigid tubes that extend through apertures  44  in the upper and lower body portions  18   a  and  18   b  and that are axially aligned with apertures  46  in the upper and lower block supports  16   a  and  16   b . The spacers  42  each can be in contact with one end to the web  20  of the upper or lower block support  16   a  or  16   b  and extend through the respective body portion  18   a  and  18   b . In other embodiments, the spacers  42  are not fixed to the block support  16   a  or  16   b  and can be held in position and in the apertures  44  via a friction fit with the corresponding body portion  18   a  or  18   b . The free end  52  of the spacer  42  is positioned to axially align with and slidably extend through the apertures  44  of the other body portion  18   b  or  18   a , so the free end  52  engages or is adjacent to the other block support  16   b  or  16   a  about the aperture  46  when the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  of the line block assembly  10  are joined together. 
         [0025]    The spacers  42  are configured as anti-compression members that engage and block the upper and lower block supports  16   a  and  16   b  from moving too close to each other (i.e., less than the fixed distance corresponding to the length of the spacer), thereby preventing the upper and/or lower body portions  18   a  and  18   b  from being excessively compressed when the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  of the line block assembly  10  are joined together and/or fastened to a support structure. The spacers  42  also act to prevent the line block assembly  10  from exerting excessive compression forces on the lines  19  ( FIG. 1A ) when the assembly  10  is fastened to the support structure. 
         [0026]    The hollow spacers  42  and the apertures  46  in the upper and lower block supports  16   a  and  16   b  define fastening channels through which bolts or other fastening devices can extend to fasten the line block assembly  10  to a selected support structure. The spacers  42  prevent the line block assembly  10  from being over-compressed by the fasteners during such installation, thereby protecting the lines  19  captured between the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  while securely retaining the lines  19  in the selected position and orientation. 
         [0027]    The upper and lower portions  12  and  14  of the line block assembly  10  have deflectable interlocking retention members  54   a  and  54   b  on the side portions  38  of the body portions  18   a  and  18   b . These interlocking retention members  54   a  and  54   b  releasably engage each other and hold the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  together in a closed position ( FIG. 1B ). The retention members  54   a  and  54   b  can be deflected or otherwise positioned to allow for disengagement of the mating retention members, so as to allow the upper and lower body portions  18   a  and  18   b  to be separated from each other and moved to a disengaged position, as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0028]    The retention members  54   a  on the illustrated flexible upper body portion  18   a  have a generally chevron-shape or V-shape defined by upper and lower end portions  58  and  60  spaced laterally outward of a recessed central portion  62 . Accordingly, the upper retention members  54   a  define the female portions of the interlocking retention members. 
         [0029]    The retention members  54   b  on the flexible lower body portion  18   b  are the corresponding male portions of the interlocking retention members. The lower retention members  54   b  are configured with a mating generally chevron- or inverted V-shaped protrusion defined by upper and lower end portions  64  and  66  spaced laterally outward of a laterally projecting central portion  68 . Accordingly, the laterally recessed central portion  62  of the upper body portion&#39;s retention members  54   a  form an undercut receiving area that receives the laterally projecting central portion  68  of the lower body portion&#39;s retention members  54   b . Further, the lower end portion  66  of the lower body portion&#39;s retention member  54   b  defines an undercut region below the projecting central portion  68  that receives and engages the lower end portion  60  of the upper body portion&#39;s retention member  54   a . Accordingly, when the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  are in the engaged position with the upper and lower retention members  54   a  and  54   b  in mating engagement with each other, the laterally projecting central portions  68  block the upper retention members  54   a  from moving vertically away from the lower retention member  54   b . Simultaneously, the lower retention members  54   b  are blocked from moving vertically away from the upper retention members  54   a  by the lower end portions  60  of the upper retention members  54   a.    
         [0030]    While the illustrated upper retention members  54   a  have the female portions of the interlocking retention members and the lower retention members  54   b  have the corresponding male portions, other embodiments have the opposite configuration with the female portions defined by the lower retention members  54   b  and the male portions defined by the upper retention members  54   a . Other embodiments can have the flexible, interlocking retention members defined by different interlocking, mating shapes, such as convex/concave shapes, or shapes with multiple undercuts, such as a W-shaped arrangement. The retention members  54   a  and  54   b  can be molded features, or they can be formed by cutting or other machining process. 
         [0031]    The deflectable interlocking retention members  54   a  and  54   b  allows a user to position one or more lines  19  between the upper and lower body portions  18   a  and  18   b  in the line receiving receptacles  30   a  and  30   b  and then releasably lock the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  together via the interlocking retention members  54   a  and  54   b . The resulting subassembly can be formed before the line block assembly  10  is fastened to a support structure, such as a vehicle frame or the like. This subassembly can then be easily moved to a desired location and fastened in place without having to worry about misalignment of the lines  19  captured in the line block assembly  10 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C are perspective views of the line support block assembly  10  in three different positions. In operation of at least one embodiment, when the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  of the line block assembly  10  are separated and in the disengaged position ( FIG. 3A ), one or more lines  19  are positioned in the line-receiving receptacles  30   b  of the lower portion  14  of the line block assembly  10 . The upper portion  12  is positioned vertically above the lower portion  14  with the apertures  44  in the upper body portion  18   a  axially aligned with the two spacers  42 . The upper portion  12  is then moved vertically toward the lower portion  14 , so the free ends  52  ( FIG. 3A ) of the spacers  42  are pressed into the apertures  44  in the upper body portion  18   a . The spacers  42  act as guides to keep the upper portion  12  in proper axial and lateral position relative to the lower portion  14 , so the line receiving receptacles  30   a  and  30   b  remain aligned with each other over the lines  19 . The spacers  42  also prevent the upper portion  12  from shifting horizontally relative to the lower portion  14  during the installation and engagement process, thereby keeping the interlocking retention members  54   a  and  54   b  substantially vertically aligned with each other. 
         [0033]    The upper portion can be moved through an intermediate position ( FIG. 3B ) between the disengaged and engaged, locked positions ( FIGS. 3A and 3C , respectively). In this intermediate position, the interlocking retention members  54   a  and  54   b  of the upper and lower body portions  18   a  and  18   b , respectively, engage each other, but are not yet releasably locked together. The upper portion  12  can then be moved vertically and parallel with the lower portion  14  so that the interlocking retention members  54   a  on opposing sides of the upper body portion  18   a  contact the retention members  54   b  on the lower body portion  18   b  substantially simultaneously. Alternatively, the upper portion  12  can be canted relative to the lower portion  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3B , so one set of the upper and lower retention members  54   a  and  54   b  are approximately in the full engagement position, while upper retention member  54   a  on the other side of the upper body portion  18   a  is still positioned above its mating lower retention member  54   b.    
         [0034]    When the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  are in the intermediate position, with one or both of the upper retention members  54   a  atop the bottom retention members  54   b  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ), the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  are then pressed together and moved to the engaged, locked position. During such movement, the lower end portion  60  of the upper retention member  54   a  presses against the sloped camming surface  70  formed by the upper portion of the projecting central portion  68  of the lower retention member  54   b . The force on the camming surface  70  causes the lower retention member  54   b  to flex and bend laterally outwardly about approximately the lower end portion  66  of the lower retention member  54   b  and away from the upper retention member  54   a  (and laterally away from the adjacent spacer  42 ). This engagement between the upper retention member  54   a  and the camming surface  70  will also cause the lower end portion  60  of the upper retention member  54   a  to flex and bend laterally inwardly about approximately the central recessed portion  62 . 
         [0035]    As the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  are pressed together and move further toward the engaged position, the mating upper and lower retention members  54   a  and  54   b  continue to flex and move laterally inwardly and outwardly, respectively, until the lower end portion  60  of the upper retention member is laterally inward of the tip of the projecting center portion  68 . The mating upper and lower retention members  54   a  and  54   b  continue to move vertically into engagement and begin to flex back in the opposite direction. The mating retention members  54   a  and  54   b  snap into the engaged, locked position, shown in  FIG. 3C , with the projecting central portions  68  of the lower retention members  54   b  securely positioned in the recessed central portions  62  of the upper retention members  54   a . In this engaged, locked position, the upper and lower retention members  54   a  and  54   b  hold the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  of the assembly  10  together in firm engagement with the lower end portion  26  and the upper end portion  36  abutting or otherwise adjacent to each other with the lines  19  captured and retained in the aligned line receiving receptacles  30   a  and  30   b . The line block assembly  10  and associated captured lines  19  can then be easily and quickly fastened to the supporting structure of the aircraft, other vehicle, or other supporting structure. 
         [0036]    The upper and lower portions  12  and  14  of the line block assembly  10  can be separated and moved to the disengaged position by pulling the upper and lower portions  12  and  14  vertically apart from each other so the mating interlocking retention members  54   a  and  54   b  flex laterally until they can pass each other vertically. When the upper and lower portions are in the disengaged position, the lines  19  can be removed, repositioned, or additional lines added to the line block assembly  10 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a line block assembly  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure with upper and lower block support portions  112  and  114  shown in a partially disengaged position. The line block assembly  100  has a configuration similar to the configuration of the line block assembly  10 , so much of the detail discussed above also applies to this alternate embodiment, and only the primary differences between the line block assemblies  10  and  100  need be discussed. The line block assembly  100  has the upper and lower portions  112  and  114 , respectively, and a single spacer  142  is used between the upper and lower portions. Accordingly, the upper and lower block supports  116   a  and  116   b , respectively, each has only a single aperture  146  that aligns with apertures  144  in the corresponding upper and lower body portions  118   a  and  118   b . While the illustrated embodiment has only a single spacer, other embodiments can have a different number of spacers or other structures that works as an aligning member and/or an anti-compression member. 
         [0038]    The illustrated line block assembly  100  also only has two aligned pairs of line-receiving receptacles  130   a  and  130   b  in the upper and lower body portions  118   a  and  118   b . The illustrated aligned pairs of line-receiving receptacles  130   a  and  130   b  define substantially cylindrical holes of different sizes to snuggly receive lines of different diameters or shapes. Other embodiments can have a different number of line-receiving receptacles (including no line-receiving receptacles) of different shapes and/or sizes. 
         [0039]    The line block assembly  100  also has the interlocking retention members  154   a  and  154   b  in an inverted orientation from the above-discussed line block assembly  10 . In this illustrated embodiment, the retention members  154   a  of the flexible upper body portion  118   a  define the male portions of the pairs of interlocking retention members, and the retention members  154   b  of the flexible lower body portion  118   b  define the female portions of the pairs interlocking retention members. The operation of the interlocking retention members  154   a  and  154   b , however, is substantially the same as discussed above, just inverted, as shown in  FIG. 5A  (wherein the upper and lower portions  112  and  114  are in the intermediate position) and  FIG. 5B  (wherein the upper and lower portions  112  and  114  are in the engaged position). In other embodiments, the line block assembly  100  may have an asymmetrical configuration, wherein each of the upper and lower body portions  154   a  and  154   b  have a male portion and a female portion of the interlocking retention portions that releasably mate with the corresponding female and male portions of the other lower and upper body portions  154   b  and  154   a.    
         [0040]    The line block assembly  110  is configured to allow the upper and lower portions  112  and  114  to be easily and quickly snapped together with the lines  19  captured in the mating line-receiving receptacles in a preassembly arrangement, and the interconnected two halves and captured lines  19  can then be moved as a unit and secured to the support structure via the fastener(s) extending through the spacer  142 . 
         [0041]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.