Abstract:
Apparatus for use with a mounting panel having a mounting aperture includes a cable tie mount having a cable tie receiving passage extending therethrough, the mount having a planar central rigid portion and first and second side portions self-biased to reside in the plane of the mount central portion and supported by the central portion for deflection relative thereto and a cable tie for disposition in the mount passage, the cable tie having a self-bias to a planar condition.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of pending application Ser. No. 11/542,077, filed on Oct. 2, 2006 in the names of Maurus Logan and James J. Daley. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to securement apparatus and methods and pertains more particularly to securement apparatus using so-called “cable ties”. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For many years, the electrical cable industry has had the benefit of cable ties to encircle and ensnare groupings of conductors. Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,022,557 and 3,047,945, now expired, respectively show examples of cable ties and tensioning apparatus for use in assembling cable ties and conductor groupings. As shown in these patents, cable ties are typically molded plastic members having a head portion and a tail portion extending from the head portion to a free end. The head portion typically includes a pawl member extending into a tail portion passage extending fully through the head portion. The tail portion is routed about the conductors to be ensnared and some designs have serrations on one or both outer surfaces some designs have serrations on one or both outer surfaces thereof designed to pass by the pawl member under the pulling pressure of a person or a pulling tool, the pawl retentively engaging the serrations to form a cable tie loop tightly encircling the conductors. Some designs involve a tail with a smooth surface, which is engaged by a pawl. 
         [0004]    Where it is desired to mount a cable tie to a mounting panel, use is sometimes made of a so-called “mounting head tie”, such as are available from Thomas &amp; Betts Corporation under the trademark “Catamount”. This cable tie is formed as above described, but further includes a mounting head or boss integrally formed with the tie proper adjacent the tie head portion and defining a circular hole. Use of mounting head ties entails need for a stove bolt and nut, a flat washer and a lock washer. The stove bolt is inserted through the mounting head hole and the flat washer and lock washer are then applied to the bolt after the bolt has been inserted through an opening in a mounting panel. The bolt is then threaded into the nut and tightened. 
         [0005]    An alternative to the foregoing apparatus is seen in a “Single-Bundle Mounting Base”, also available from Thomas &amp; Betts Corporation under the registered trademark “Ty-Rap”. This device is an elongate nylon base, having end openings for receiving screws for mounting the base to a mounting panel and further openings intermediate the end openings. The end of a cable tie opposite the head portion is passed successively through the intermediate openings and the mounting screws are then applied to the base and threaded into openings in the mounting panel. Conductors are now applied to the cable tie and the tie is tightened about the conductors. 
         [0006]    From applicants&#39; perspective, use of the mounting head tie or the single-bundle mounting base is costly, labor intensive and inefficient in weight sensitive environments, such as aircraft, where lessening of the securement device weight converts into fuel saving, shortened take-off distances and extended flight mileage. 
         [0007]    Lessened cost, labor intensity and weight than provided by the mounting apparatus above described is available, e.g., through the use of so-called “Push Mount Cable Ties” also sold by Thomas and Betts Corporation under the aforesaid Catamount trademark. This device includes an arrowed structure adjacent the cable tie head portion and formed integrally therewith. The arrowed structure is inserted into an opening in a mounting panel of specific thickness and the wings of the arrow, upon emerging from the opening, spread apart, securing the cable tie to the mounting panel. From applicant&#39;s perspective, such alternative does not provide desired mounting securement strength and requires precise hole diameters and panel thickness. Another approach to cable tie mounting of lessened labor intensity is seen in O&#39;Grady U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,154, which discloses a cable tie having a head portion and a tail extending from the head portion, the tail having a self-bias to a planar configuration, and a securement member defining a single elongate slot for receiving the cable tie tail. Upon assembly of the securement member and the cable tie tail, the tail is folded upon itself and the securement member rotated into general alignment with the folded cable tie tail. The securement member is inserted into and through a mounting panel opening, whereupon the securement member, which has a length exceeding the diameter of the mounting panel opening, rotates into parallelism with the mounting panel and is urged against the mounting panel by the self-bias of the cable tie tail. 
         [0008]    Another approach to cable tie mounting of lessened labor intensity in copending, commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 10/772,909, filed on Feb. 5, 2004 and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING CABLES AND THE LIKE”, and now standing as allowed and incorporated herein by this reference thereto. In that approach, a method is provided for use in assembling conductors with a mounting panel, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a cable tie having a head and a tail extending from the head, the tail having a self-bias to a planar condition; (b) attaching a securement member to the tail using the self-bias of the tail to render the securement member portable with the cable tie; and (c) attaching the securement member and the cable tie to the mounting panel using the self-bias of the tail. 
         [0009]    In its preferred form, the securement member extends longitudinally with the tail and defines (1) first and second perimetrically bounded elongate apertures opening along their lengths into first and second opposed sides of the securement member extends the securement member and (2) a tail support portion longitudinally between the first and second apertures, the tail being deformed by the securement member from the planar configuration to have an arcuate portion facing the support portion of the securement member, first and second courses of the tail extending from the tail arcuate portion respectively through the first and second apertures and movable out of the first and second apertures, the self-bias of the tail biasing the securement member into engagement with the tail such that the securement member and the tail are attached with one another to be jointly portable. 
         [0010]    Still another approach along these lines is set forth in copending, commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 11/302,182, filed on Dec. 12, 2005 and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING CABLES AND THE LIKE”. This approach provides a securement member for mounting a cable tie to a mounting panel, the cable tie being an elongate member having a head and a tail extending from the head, the securement member comprising a rigid elongate body defining an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture being adapted to receive the tail longitudinally of the body and being of lesser dimension than a tail dimension in one of tail width and height to frictionally engage the received tail. 
         [0011]    More particularly, in one aspect, the cable tie tail has a given transverse dimension (width) and a given thickness (height), the aperture receiving the tail having a width dimension less than the tail given transverse dimension and a height dimension at least equal to the tail height. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, the cable tie tail has a given transverse dimension (width) and a given thickness (height), the aperture receiving the tail having a width at least equal to the transverse dimension of the tail and a height dimension less than the tail thickness. 
         [0013]    The securement member aperture may be preformed to have the respective lesser width or height dimensions or may be so formed after the tail receives the tie tail. 
         [0014]    In a further aspect, the body defines a further aperture extending therethrough also adapted to receive the tail, the further aperture having a height dimension at least equal to the tail thickness and a dimension transversely of the received tail at least equal to the tail given transverse dimension. 
         [0015]    Further, longitudinally outermost margins of the first-mentioned and the further apertures may frictionally engage the received tail. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention has as its primary object the provision of improved apparatus for mounting cable ties on mounting panels. 
         [0017]    In the attainment of this object, the invention provides, in combination, for use with a mounting panel having a mounting aperture: 
         [0018]    (a) a cable tie mount having a cable tie receiving passage extending therethrough, the mount having a planar central rigid portion and first and second side portions self-biased to reside in the plane of the mount central portion and supported by the central portion for deflection relative thereto; and 
         [0019]    (b) a cable tie for disposition in the mount passage, the cable tie having a self-bias to a planar condition. 
         [0020]    The foregoing and other features of the invention will be further understood from the ensuing detailed description of preferred embodiments and practices and from the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like components throughout. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a cable tie mount in accordance with the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view as would be seen from plane II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a right side elevation of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a left side elevation of  FIG. 1  with the outer portions of the mount displaced relative to the mount inner portion. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view showing the mount of  FIGS. 1-4 , assembled with a cable tie and with its outer portions displaced, prior to being inserted into a mounting panel. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a repeat showing of the mount as shown in  FIG. 5  partially inserted into the mounting panel. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the mount as shown in  FIG. 5  fully assembled with the mounting panel. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of  FIG. 7  as would be seen from plane VIII-VIII of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a cable tie mount in accordance with the invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view as would be seen from plane XI-XI of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a right side elevation of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view as would be seen from plane XIII-XIII of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  shows in section a mounting panel and the mount of  FIG. 10  assembled with a cable tie with the mount outer portions folded relative to its inner portion and with the mount partly inserted into the mounting panel. 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a repeat showing of  FIG. 14 , however, with the mount fully inserted into the mounting panel. 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is a top plan view of a third embodiment of a cable tie mount in accordance with the invention assembled with a cable tie. 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  is a right side elevation of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view as would be seen from plane XVIII-XVIII of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 19  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 20  is an elevation of the mount and cable tie assembly of  FIG. 16  with the mount outer portions displaced relative to its inner portion and partially inserted into a mounting panel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , cable tie mount  10  is a plastic body formed to have a self-bias to a planar configuration and having apertures  12  and  14  extending therethrough and aligned along axis X-X. More specifically, mount  10  has an inner portion lOa, outer portions lOb and lOc and undercuts lOd and lOe. 
         [0042]    As is seen in  FIG. 4 , undercuts lOd and lOe provide definition for outer portions lOb and lOc to be deflected relative to inner portion lOa under the influence of forces F 1  and F 2  (typically, derived from the thumb and index finger of an installer). 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows mount  10  assembled with cable tie  16  which is folded to have its tail courses  16   a  and  16   b  both extending downwardly. Prior to such folding, the cable tie tail is inserted into and through aperture  12 , passed over inner portion lOa and inserted into and through aperture  14 . As is discussed fully in incorporated pending &#39;909 application, the longitudinal self-bias of the cable tie tail to a planar configuration gives rise to frictional interengagement of the mount and cable tie tail such that the cable tie is portable with the mount. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  further shows mounting panel  18  with its mounting opening  18   a  and perimeter  18   b - 18   c  bounding opening  18   a.    
         [0045]    Turning to  FIG. 6 , mount  10  with assembled and folded cable tie is shown partly inserted into mounting panel opening  18   a.    
         [0046]    As is also discussed fully in the &#39;909 application, the mount “toggles” once it has cleared the mounting panel, i.e., is fully inserted therethrough, and the mount&#39;s self-bias forces the mount onto the rear (bottom) surface of the mounting panel. This activity also occurs in the present invention. However, since the folded mount outer portions lOb and lOc are now free of deflecting forces, the outer portions resume their coplanar relation with inner portion lOa under the mount&#39;s self-bias to assume the disposition thereof shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , i.e., in closing relation to mounting panel opening  18   a.    
         [0047]    As will be appreciated, mount  10  is shown in its relaxed state in  FIGS. 1-3 , i.e., wherein the mount defines an expanse, under the mount&#39;s self-bias to a planar configuration, which is greater than the expanse of panel opening  18   a . In  FIG. 4 , mount  10  is shown in its unrelaxed state, brought on by forces F 1  and F 2 , i.e., deformed to define and expanse which is not greater than the expanse of panel opening  18   a.    
         [0048]    Turning to  FIGS. 10-13 , second embodiment mount  20  is a plastic body having inner portion  20   a  and outer portions  20   b  and  20   c  with cable tie receptor formed below inner portion  20   a  by ribs  20   d  and  20   e  and floor  20   f . Ribs  20   g  and  20   f  extend upwardly of mount inner portion  20   a.    
         [0049]    The cable tie receptor defines cable tie receiving/retaining passage  22 . The retention aspect is effected by portions  20   d - 1  and  20   e - 1 , which are spaced apart across passage  22  by a dimension less than the width of the cable tie. In this embodiment, reliance is placed on the self-bias of the cable tie in its width direction to seek its full width, as is discussed more fully in the referenced &#39;182 application. As is also discussed therein, reliance may also be placed on the self-bias of the cable tie in its thickness direction to seek its full thickness. In this case, portions  20   d - 1  and  20   e - 1  would extend into passage  22  from mount inner portion  20   a  and floor  20   f.    
         [0050]      FIG. 14  shows mounting panel  24  with opening  24   a  and periphery  24   b - 24   c  and the mount of  FIG. 10  assembled with cable tie  26  with the mount outer portions  20   b  and  20   c  folded relative to its inner portion  20   a  and partly inserted into the mounting panel. Cable tie courses  26   a  and  26   b  are folded and grasped to insert the mount into the panel opening.  FIG. 15  shows the mount fully inserted into the mounting panel and with its portions  20   b  and  20   c  resuming coplanar relation with inner portion  20   a.    
         [0051]    Turning to  FIGS. 16-19 , mount  28  is a plastic body having inner portion  28   a  and outer portions  28   b  and  28   c , the latter being of substantially lesser thickness than the former as is seen particularly in  FIG. 17 . Mount  28  defines a cable tie receiving/retaining passage  32  bounded by arcuate surface  28   d  and cross-member  28   e . Cable tie  30  has courses  30   a  and  30   b  resident passage  32  and respectively disposed also in openings  34  and  36  situated aside cross-member  28   e .  FIG. 20  shows mount  28  partially inserted, following folding of mount outer portions  28   b  and  28   c , into opening  38   a  of panel  38 , bounded by perimeter  38   a - 38   b.    
         [0052]    Whereas, in the case of mount  10  of  FIG. 1 , where cable tie  16  is inserted into opening  34  and then manipulated by an electrician to enter opening  36  to assemble the mount and the cable tie, in the case of mount  28 , arcuate surface  28   d  performs the cable tie manipulation. Further, upon completion of the insertion step and toggling of mount  28 , shown in part in  FIG. 20 , mount  28  provides complete closing of panel opening  38   a.    
         [0053]    The retention of cable tie  30  in mount  28  is effected, as in the case of mount  10 , by force derived from the inherent desire of cable tie  30  to longitudinal planar The rear side of mounting panel  38  as in the foregoing embodiments. 
         [0054]    Various changes may be introduced in the disclosed preferred embodiments and practices without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.