Cable holder devices, systems, and methods

Devices, systems, and methods for protecting a cable from damage and holding the cable in position with respect to an opening in a machine deck can include a first body portion with a first channel portion configured to receive a cable, a second body portion with a second channel portion configured to receive the cable, a hinge connecting the first and second body portions, and one or more flange portions connected to the first and/or second body portions and configured to support the body portions on a surface of a machine deck such that the cable is positioned at a predetermined angle. The first and second body portions can be pivotable with respect to one another about the hinge between a closed position in which the first and second channel portions can be substantially aligned and an open position in which the channel portions can be separated from each other.

BACKGROUND

In powered equipment design, it is common for structural members constructed of metal or other hard materials to have holes made therein to allow for passage of cables, electrical wires, cords, or other relatively soft and/or vulnerable material there through. Such holes may have sharp edges, however, which can cause the vulnerable elements passing through the hole to become abraded or cut, or electrical insulation may break due to repeated flexing at the exit point. To address this issue, rubber, plastic, or plastic-coated metal grommets are commonly used to shield the vulnerable elements from such damage.

For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, rubber grommets10are commonly used in openings O formed in a machine deck MD (e.g., a lawnmower deck) to provide a smooth transition for a cable C passing through machine deck MD. As shown inFIG. 1B, grommet10can be configured to snap into place within opening O in machine deck MD to maintain grommet10in position and to protect cable C from the sharp edges of opening O.

Although current rubber grommets, such as grommet10shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, can provide some degree of protection from damage to cables and wires, these designs do not provide a defined direction for the cable, nor do they offer any clamping force to secure the cable in place. As a result, it would be desirable for devices, systems, and methods to hold a cable in position as it passes through a hole in a machine deck in addition to protecting the cable from damage.

SUMMARY

In accordance with this disclosure, devices, systems, and methods for protecting a cable from damage and holding the cable in position with respect to an opening in a machine deck are provided. In one aspect, a cable holder device for guiding a cable through an opening in a surface is provided. A cable holder device can, for example, comprise a first body portion comprising a first channel portion configured to receive a cable, a second body portion comprising a second channel portion configured to receive the cable, a hinge connecting the first body portion to the second body portion, and one or more flange portions connected to one or both of the first body portion or the second body portion. The first body portion and the second body portion can be pivotable with respect to one another about the hinge between a closed position in which the first channel portion is substantially aligned with the second channel portion and an open position in which the first channel portion is separated from the second channel portion. The one or more flange portions can be configured to support the first body portion and the second body portion on a surface of a machine deck such that the cable is positioned at a predetermined angle.

In another aspect, a system for guiding a cable through an opening in a surface can comprise a machine deck defining a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening therethrough. The system can further comprise a cable holder device comprising a first body portion comprising a first channel portion configured to receive a cable, a second body portion comprising a second channel portion configured to receive the cable, a hinge connecting the first body portion to the second body portion, one or more flange portions connected to one or both of the first body portion or the second body portion, and one or more couplers configured to engage the bottom surface of the machine deck to hold one or both of the first body portion or the second body portion in a substantially fixed position with respect to the machine deck. The first body portion and the second body portion can be pivotable with respect to one another about the hinge between a closed position in which the first channel portion is substantially aligned with the second channel portion and an open position in which the first channel portion is separated from the second channel portion. The one or more flange portions can be configured to support the first body portion and the second body portion on the top surface of the machine deck at a predetermined angle.

In yet another aspect, a method for guiding a cable through a surface can comprise engaging a cable with a cable holder device and positioning the cable holder device in an opening in a machine deck, wherein the cable holder device can be supported on the machine deck such that the cable is positioned at a predetermined oblique angle.

Although some of the aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein have been stated hereinabove, and which are achieved in whole or in part by the presently disclosed subject matter, other aspects will become evident as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings as best described hereinbelow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present subject matter provides devices, systems, and methods for protecting a cable from damage and holding the cable in position with respect to a hole in a machine deck. In one aspect, the present subject matter provides a mid-cable clamp-on deck transition fitting for guiding a cable through an opening in a surface. For instance, referring toFIGS. 2A through 6, a cable holder device, generally designated100, can comprise a first body portion, generally designated110a, and a second body portion, generally designated110b, connected by a hinge, generally designated120. First body portion110acan comprise a first channel portion112a, and second body portion110bcan comprise a complementary second channel portion112b, wherein first channel portion112aand second channel portion112bcan be aligned to define two sections of a substantially cylindrical channel113.

As shown inFIG. 2B, hinge120can be a living hinge composed of a plastic (e.g., a nylon such as PA 6 or PA 66) or other material that is able to flexibly connect first body portion110ato second body portion110b. Hinge120can be connected to first body portion110aalong an edge of first body portion110athat is substantially parallel to first channel portion112a, and it can be connected to second body portion110balong an edge of second body portion110bthat is substantially parallel to second channel portion112b. Regardless of the specific configuration, hinge120can be designed such that first body portion110aand second body portion110bare pivotable with respect to one another about hinge120between a closed position in which first channel portion112ais substantially aligned with second channel portion112b(See, e.g.,FIG. 3B) and an open position in which first channel portion112ais separated from second channel portion112b(See, e.g.,FIG. 2B). In particular, hinge120can be designed and configured to be biased towards the open position. For example, hinge120can be configured such that first body portion110aand second body portion110bare spaced apart by a predefined angle (e.g., about 45 degrees as shown inFIG. 2B) when in an unstressed state. The predefined angle can be selected such that it is large enough that cable holder device100can be readily manufactured (e.g., by molding), yet small enough that even with repeated flexures between the open and closed positions, hinge120can have a long service life.

With such a configuration, a cable C can be positioned between first body portion110aand second body portion110b, and first body portion110aand second body portion110bcan be pivoted with respect to one another to enclose cable C between first channel portion112aand second channel portion112b. In other words, first body portion110aand second body portion110bcan be moved with respect to one another to the closed position such that cable C is secured within channel113. Specifically, where hinge120is connected to first body portion110aalong an edge of first body portion110aand to second body portion110balong an edge of second body portion110bas discussed above, it can be relatively easy for a user to pinch the two halves of cable holder device100together onto cable C without a need for a separate alignment step. Specifically, referring toFIGS. 2A through 3A, hinge120can be connected to each of first body portion110aand second body portion110balong substantially the entire length of each body portion such that the relative movement of first body portion110awith respect to second body portion110bis substantially limited to rotation about hinge120. In addition, having hinge120being configured to be biased towards an open or semi-open position (e.g., first body portion110aand second body portion110bbeing spaced apart about 45 degrees) can also make it easy to pinch cable C between first body portion110aand second body portion110band insert it into channel113.

Cable holder device100can be configured to rest at or within opening O of machine deck MD. For example, opening O can comprise an elongated slot (e.g., 17 mm×30 mm) formed through machine deck MD (e.g., a 1.5 mm-thick steel plate). Thus, when cable C is positioned between first channel portion112aand second channel portion112b, cable holder device100can be configured to surround and secure cable C in place with respect to machine deck MD. For example, where it is desired to pass a 3/16″ diameter cable commonly used in the art through machine deck MD, first channel portion112aand second channel portion112bcan be sized such that channel113formed by their union has a diameter115(See, e.g.,FIG. 3B) that is equal to or at least marginally larger than 3/16″ (e.g., about 5 to 6 mm). To allow some flexibility in the size of cable C, hinge120can be configured such that even in the closed position (i.e., with first channel portion112aand second channel portion112bsubstantially aligned with one another), first body portion110aand second body portion110bcan remain separated by a gap116(See, e.g.,FIG. 3B) that allows for small variations (e.g., about 1 to 1.5 mm) in the spacing between first body portion110aand second body portion110b.

To help support and maintain cable holder device100in a desired position within opening O, cable holder device100can comprise one or more flange portions configured to support first body portion110aand second body portion110bon a surface of machine deck MD such that cable C is positioned at a predetermined angle. For example, referring again toFIGS. 2A and 2B, cable holder device100can comprise a first flange portion130aconnected to first body portion110aand a second flange portion130bconnected to second body portion110b. In this configuration, when first body portion110aand second body portion110bare positioned in a closed position (i.e., with first channel portion112aand second channel portion112baligned to define channel113), first flange portion130aand second flange portion130bcan be aligned to substantially surround first body portion110aand second body portion110band serve as a bearing surface that can support cable holder device100on machine deck MD.

In particular, referring toFIG. 3A, first flange portion130aand second flange portion130bcan be connected to first body portion110aand second body portion110b, respectively, such that channel113is oriented at a desired channel angle114with respect to first flange portion130aand second flange portion130b. For example, channel angle114can be selected to be an oblique angle (i.e., at an angle that is neither parallel nor at a right angle to the planar surface of the flange portion) of about 30 degrees or less as shown inFIG. 3A. Regardless of the specific angle, cable holder device100can be configured so that when cable C is positioned within channel113, it can maintain a relatively low profile with respect to machine deck MD without bending excessively at the junction through which cable C passes through machine deck MD. (See, e.g.,FIG. 6) In this arrangement, both the alignment and position of cable C can be controlled, which can in turn reduce wear on cable C, on machine deck MD, and on related parts.

To further support cable holder device100in a desired position on machine deck MD, the one or more flange portions (e.g., first flange portion130aand second flange portion130b) can be configured to define a seat to at least partially engage an edge of opening O in machine deck MD. Specifically, as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the seat can comprise a first seat portion132aextending from a surface of first flange portion130aand a second seat portion132bextending from a surface of second flange portion130b. First seat portion132aand second seat portion132bcan be shaped, sized, or otherwise configured to substantially match the shape of at least a portion of opening O. As shown inFIG. 3A, for example, first seat portion132a(and likewise second seat portion132b) can be sized and shaped to abut the edges of and substantially fill at least a portion of opening O. In this way, cable holder device100can be maintained in a desired position and orientation within opening O. In addition, where hinge120is configured to bias first body portion110aand second body portion110bapart from each other, when cable holder device100is inserted into opening O, such a biasing force can cause first seat portion132aand second seat portion132bto press against opposing sidewalls of opening O, thereby further securing cable holder device100in position. Furthermore, in addition to holding cable holder device100in a desired position on machine deck MD, one or more of first flange portion130a, second flange portion130b, first seat portion132aand second seat portion132bcan act as a seal to keep debris from passing through opening O into machine deck MD.

One or more coupling mechanisms can also be used to engage machine deck MD to hold one or both of first body portion110aor second body portion110bin a substantially fixed position with respect to machine deck MD. Specifically, for example, a first coupler140acan be connected to first body portion110aand a second coupler140bcan be connected to second body portion110b. In the particular configuration shown inFIGS. 2A through 5, for example, first coupler140acan comprise a first post141ahaving a first end that is connected to first body portion110aand a second end opposite the first end from which a first locking tab142aextends. Likewise, second coupler140bcan comprise a second post141bconnected to second body portion112band a second locking tab142bconnected to second post141b.

First locking tab142aand second locking tab142bcan be flexibly (e.g., elastically) connected to first post141aand second post141b, respectively, and can extend away from their respective posts in substantially opposing directions with respect to a center of cable holder device100. (See, e.g.,FIGS. 4 and 5) In this configuration, cable holder device100can be coupled with machine deck MD by inserting first coupler140aand second coupler140binto opening O in machine deck MD. As first coupler140aand second coupler140bare inserted into opening O, first locking tab142aand second locking tab142bcan flex inwardly (i.e., towards a center of cable holder device100) so that they can pass through opening O. Once first locking tab142aand second locking tab142bare inserted completely through opening O, they can spring away from first post141aand second post141b, respectively. In this position, first locking tab142aand second locking tab142bcan brace against a “bottom” surface of mower deck MD (i.e., a surface of mower deck MD opposite the surface against which first flange portion130aand second flange portion130bcan be configured to engage). In this way, first coupler140aand second coupler140bcan resist efforts to remove cable holder device100from its position on mower deck MD. To remove cable holder device100from this position, first locking tab142aand second locking tab142bcan be pushed inwardly so that they lie within the footprint of opening O, and cable holder device100can be lifted back through opening O.

The present subject matter can be embodied in other forms without departure from the spirit and essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments described therefore are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. This written description uses examples to disclose the subject matter, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.