Abstract:
A combination includes a cable tie having a head portion and a tail extending from the head portion to a free end and a securement member for mounting the cable tie to a mounting panel, the cable tie tail extending through the securement member, the securement member being rotatable relative to the cable tie tail and being portable therewith.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     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  
       [0002]     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 has 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.  
         [0003]     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 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 and the bolt is then inserted through an opening in a mounting panel. The bolt is then threaded into the nut and tightened.  
         [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     From applicant&#39;s 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.  
         [0006]     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 the mounting panel and the wings of the arrow spread apart, securing the cable tie to the mounting panel. From applicant&#39;s perspective, such alternative does not provide desired mounting securement strength.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide simplified apparatus for mounting conductors on a mounting panel.  
         [0008]     A more particular object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for mounting conductors on a mounting panel, wherein the apparatus is inexpensive, labor unintensive and efficient in weight sensitive environments.  
         [0009]     In attaining the foregoing and other objects, in one aspect, the invention provides in combination, a cable tie having a head portion and a tail extending from the head portion to a free end and a securement member for mounting the cable tie to a mounting panel, the cable tie tail extending through the securement member, the securement member being rotatable relative to the cable tie tail and being portable therewith.  
         [0010]     In another aspect, the invention provides, in combination, a mounting panel defining a mounting opening, a cable tie having a head portion and a tail extending from the head portion to a free end and a securement member, the cable tie tail extending through the mounting opening and defining a v-shaped (or u-shaped) tail portion rearwardly of the mounting panel, the securement member being disposed in the v-shaped tail portion rearwardly of the mounting panel, the cable tie tail urging the securement member against a rear surface of the mounting panel.  
         [0011]     In a further aspect, the invention provides a method for mounting a cable tie on a mounting panel defining a mounting hole, the cable tie having a head portion and a tail extending from the head portion to a free end, the method comprising the steps of: 
        a) forming the cable tie tail to have a v-shaped portion;     b) inserting the cable tie tail v-shaped portion into and through the mounting panel hole until the v-shaped portion is disposed rearwardly of the mounting panel; and     c) associating a securement member with the cable tie so that the securement member is disposed in the v-shaped portion of the cable tie tail rearwardly of the mounting panel,     the securement member being selected to have a dimension exceeding an extent of the mounting panel hole.        
 
         [0016]     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  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a plan elevation of a first embodiment of mountable cabling apparatus in accordance with the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a plan elevation of the securement device of the  FIG. 1  apparatus.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevation of the securement device of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is side elevation of the  FIG. 1  cabling apparatus assembled with a mounting panel.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a plan elevation of a second form of securement device in a second embodiment of cabling apparatus in accordance with the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the securement device of  FIG. 5  assembled with a cable tie and showing a stage of that assembly being inserted into a mounting hole of a mounting panel.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  depicts a second stage of mounting activity following that of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third form of a securement device in a third embodiment of cabling apparatus in accordance with the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the securement device of  FIG. 8  assembled with a cable tie.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an initial stage of assembly of the  FIG. 9  assembly with a mounting panel.  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is an elevation of a final stage of assembly of the  FIG. 9  assembly with a mounting panel and showing the cable tie secured about conductors.  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a partial side elevation of the  FIG. 11  apparatus as would be seen from plane XII-XII of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a partial side elevation of a modified form of the third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is a plan elevation of a further embodiment of a securement device in accordance with the invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 16  is a schematic of a further embodiment of cabling apparatus in accordance with the invention, using the securement device of  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , securement device  10  is a flat rigid member which may be comprised of metal and which defines opposed flat surfaces  12  and  14 . Openings  16  and  18  extend between surfaces  12  and  14  and through securement device  10 .  
         [0034]     End  20  of cable tie  22  is inserted into and through opening  16  and returned through opening  18  and pulled downwardly such that tail  24  of cable tie  22  is disposed in facing relation to each of surfaces  12  and  14 .  
         [0035]     Turning to  FIG. 4 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  is assembled with mounting panel  26 . In reaching the assembly of  FIG. 4 , portions  24   a  and  24   b  of cable tie tail  24  are brought into contacting relation.  
         [0036]     At this juncture, securement device  10  is rotated into engagement with either of tail portions  24   a  and  24   b  such that securement device  10  is generally aligned with the folded cable tie and has a free end portion extending outwardly of the folded cable tie. Such free end portion is now passed into and through opening  28  of mounting panel  26 . Securement device  10  now assumes the disposition thereof shown in  FIG. 4 , i.e., in facing relation to the rear surface  26   a  of mounting panel  26  aside opening  28 .  
         [0037]     Inherent spring strength in the folded cable tie urges securement device  10  into contact with rear surface  26   a , thus securing the assembly shown in  FIG. 4 . Conductors (not shown) may now be nested interiorly of the folded cable tie and the cable tie may be secured tightly thereabout.  
         [0038]     Turning to  FIGS. 5-7 , securement device  30  comprises a metal wire formed to define a central aperture  32  and wings  34  and  36  aside central aperture  32 .  
         [0039]     Cable tie  38  has tail  40  extending to a free end. Such free end is inserted into and through aperture  32  and tail  40  is folded to define a v-shaped portion in aperture  32 . Securement device  30  is now rotated relative to the folded tail to assume the orientation of the securement device shown in  FIG. 6 , i.e., to be in alignment with the folded tail. Securement device  30  is now inserted into and through opening  42  of mounting panel  44 .  
         [0040]     When securement device  30  is fully rearwardly of rear surface  42   a  of mounting panel  44 , the securement device rotates relative to the folded cable tie tail to assume its disposition shown in  FIG. 7 . In this connection, the rotation can be of selected sense, e.g., by weighting wings  34  and  36  diversely. In the example shown, wing  34  is larger than wing  36  and the rotative sense is counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0041]     At this juncture, securement device  30  is moved into engagement with mounting panel rear surface  44   a , by pulling the folded cable tie tail rightwardly in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0042]     As in the case of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , inherent spring strength in the folded cable tie urges securement device into contact with rear surface  42   a , thus securing the assembly. Conductors (not shown) may now be nested interiorly of the folded cable tie and the cable tie may be secured tightly thereabout.  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , securement device  46  is in the form of a cylinder having dependent portion  46   a  defining slot  48  extending therethrough. In  FIG. 9 , cable tie  50  is assembled with securement device  46  by passing free end  52  of tail  54  through slot  48 .  
         [0044]     At this juncture, securement device  46  is rotated into engagement with either of tail portions  54   a  and  54   b  such that securement device  46  is generally aligned with the folded cable tie and has a free end portion extending outwardly of the folded cable tie. Such free end portion is now passed into opening  56  of mounting panel  58 , as is shown in  FIG. 10 . Securement device  46  now assumes the disposition thereof shown in  FIG. 11 , i.e., in facing relation to the rear surface  58   a  of mounting panel  58  aside opening  56 .  
         [0045]     Inherent spring strength in the folded cable tie urges securement device into contact with rear surface  58   a , thus securing the assembly shown in  FIG. 12 . Conductors  60  are now be nested interiorly of the folded cable tie and the cable tie is secured tightly thereabout as shown in  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12  showing a side partly sectioned view of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , it shows the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-12  modified to include bushing  62  in overlying relation to front surface  58   b  of mounting panel  58 , the bushing having central opening  62   a  with a beveled sidewall. Opening  62   a  is of lesser diameter than the opening  56  of mounting panel  58 . Bushing  62  thus spaces the cable tie tail from possible chafing against the sidewall of opening  56 .  
         [0047]     In all of the above described embodiments, the securement devices are assembled with the cable tie tails prior to rotation of the securement devices and insertion of the securement devices into the mounting panel openings. The embodiment of  FIGS. 14-16  involves a different method and securement device.  
         [0048]     Securement device  64  is a flat rigid member having wings  66  and  68  aside a narrowed central portion defining marginal notches  70  and  72 .  
         [0049]     Cable tie  74  has its tail folded and inserted into an opening in mounting panel  76  to define a cable tail v-shaped portion below rear surface  76   a  of mounting panel  76 . Securement member is now inserted into the cable tail v-shaped portion and rotated such that the cable tie tail is resident in the marginal notches (slots) of securement device  64 , as shown for notch  70  in  FIG. 16 .  
         [0050]     As in the case of the other embodiments, inherent spring strength in the folded cable tie urges securement device  64  into contact with rear surface  76   a , thus securing the assembly. Conductors (not shown) may now be nested interiorly of the folded cable tie and the cable tie may be secured tightly thereabout.  
         [0051]     Various changes may be introduced in the disclosed preferred embodiments and practices without departing from the invention. By way of example, securement device  10  of  FIG. 1  may include a dependent member  10   a  (shown in phantom, as optional) which can intensify the v-shape or u-shape of the portion of the cable tie tail rearwardly of the mounting panel, thereby increasing the elastic force of the cable tie tail securing the securement member to the mounting panel. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.