Brake line isolator

A bracket includes a clip member having a U-shaped base. One of the clip member legs terminates in a lateral extension projecting away from other clip member leg and the other of said clip member legs terminates in a second normally oriented to extend beyond and spaced from that lateral extension. That other leg is flexible to allow second extension to be moved into engagement with said lateral extension in which orientation a releasable interlocking engagement between the two extensions. A generally U-shape liner is nested within the clip member and has spaced legs extending generally along respective ones of the legs of the clip member. When the second and lateral extensions are in engagement the clip member and liner are interengaged so as to be held against relative movement in X, Y, and Z directions. The lateral and second extensions are constructed to accommodate mounting the bracket to a mounting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to bracket devices for holding elongated elements 
securely and compactly in their operational environment. 
It has been a long recognized need in the area of assembling elongated 
control elements, for example, brake cables and the like, that they be 
securely and compactly mounted in their operational environment by a 
releasable bracket. Numerous arrangements of elements and bracket 
constructions have been proposed. Brackets for mounting elongated elements 
are customarily used in operating environments wherein they are required 
to endure millions of repetitive stresses. For example, brackets used in 
automotive applications to hold brake lines, brake cables and fuel lines 
are constantly subjected to engine and road travel induced by vibrations. 
Therefore, it is known that such brackets must be made of a strong 
material to provide a required rigidity and structural strength over a 
life of many years. However, such strong durable bracket materials do not 
compress and conform to the shape of the elongated element or elements to 
be held. To solve this conformity problem it has been the practice to 
precisely configure the holding space within the bracket to conform 
exactly to the shape of the elongated element or elements to be held. Such 
conformity is necessary because if the elongated element or elements are 
not tightly held they will vibrate within the bracket which results in 
noise and rubbing which produces wear that can damage and destroy the 
elongated element or elements being held especially those conveying 
liquids. While precisely configuring the bracket is one satisfactory way 
of holding the elongated elements such precise configuration results in 
the bracket being only usable for the specific control element that it was 
designed to hold. Whenever the shape or the number of elongated elements 
to be held is varied a new bracket is customarily designed and this 
increases the expense of the bracket members. 
Therefore, in spite of extensive research and development in the field of 
brackets for holding elongated elements there exists a need for a bracket 
which is more universally adaptable and lower in cost to releasably hold 
elongated elements of different numbers and shapes secure against wear and 
noise producing vibration while providing a rugged assembly which can be 
quickly and easily installed by an assembler. Known brackets while 
addressing some of the encountered problems do not offer adequate 
solutions from the standpoint of being adaptable to a large number if not 
all operational applications. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is among the objects of this invention to provide a bracket construction 
which is universally adaptable to a variety of applications and yet is of 
simple and versatile construction. 
A more specific object of this invention is to provide a basic bracket 
construction which is capable of securely holding a number of elongated 
control elements effectively with a minimum of parts while affording 
selection of the size and/or number of such elements. 
For the achievement of these and other objects this invention purposes a 
bracket construction wherein a clip member has a U-shaped base defined by 
a web and spaced legs extending from said web, one of the clip member legs 
terminating in a first lateral extension projecting away from the other 
clip member leg and the other clip member leg terminating in a second 
extension having a normal orientation extending generally beyond and 
spaced from the first lateral extension. The other leg is flexible to 
allow the second extension to be moved into engagement with the lateral 
extension. 
The extensions are configured to form a releasable interlocking engagement 
therebetween when they are engaged. A generally U-shaped liner nests 
within the clip member. The liner has a web engaged with the web of the 
clip member and spaced clip legs extending generally along respective ones 
of the legs of the clip member. When the extensions are in engagement the 
clip member and the liner are held against relative movement in one plane. 
Means is also provided which is engageable between the clip member and the 
liner to hold the clip member and liner against relative movement in a 
direction generally normal to that one plane. 
Preferably the bracket includes a clip member and a liner nested within the 
clip member. The clip member includes a generally U-shaped base having a 
web and first and second relatively spaced clip legs extending from said 
web. A receiving member is attached to and extends laterally from the 
first clip leg and away from the second clip leg. The second clip leg 
extends beyond the area from which the receiving member extends from the 
first clip leg and terminates in a locking member. The second clip leg is 
flexible such that it can be turned or folded over the web of the U-shaped 
base to engage the locking member with the receiving member. There is 
means on the locking member and the receiving member which forms an 
interlock to hold the locking member in engagement with the receiving 
member. The liner is also generally U-shaped including a liner web in 
engagement with the clip member web and first and second liner legs 
extending from the web along the first and second legs of the clip member. 
The one of the liner legs extending along the first clip member leg 
terminates short of the extension of the receiving member that projects 
from the first clip member leg, and the other liner member leg has an 
extension beyond the terminal end of the first liner member leg and short 
of the locking member of the second liner leg and is flexible along with 
the second locking member leg to fold into engagement with the terminal 
end of the first liner leg. In that construction the liner and the locking 
member are movable between a first position whereby both present an open 
end spaced from their respective web portions for receipt of elongated 
elements in the liner and a second position closing the end of the U's to 
hold the elongated elements captive in the liner. 
More specifically, the engagement of the locking member and the receiving 
member hold the clip member and the liner against relative movement in X 
and Y directions and means engaged between the clip member and the liner 
holds the clip member and the liner against movement in a Z direction. The 
arrangement for holding the clip member and the liner against movement in 
the Z direction includes spaced tabs on one of the clip member or liner 
which engage edges on the other of the clip member or the liner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With particular reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the 
bracket 12 of this invention is illustrated mounted and supporting a 
number of control elements 10, 14. The invention will be described in use 
supporting a number of brake line control cables. It will be appreciated, 
however, that it is applicable to the support of any type of elongated 
element. 
In FIG. 1, four elongated brake control elements 10 are illustrated as 
supported in the bracket 12. For illustrative purposes a fifth tubular 
element 14 is also shown supported in the bracket 12, demonstrating the 
adaptability of the bracket construction. The bracket 12 includes a clip 
member 16 and a liner 18 nested within the clip member. The clip member 16 
includes a means such as apertures 76, 78 by which the bracket 12 can be 
mounted to the surface 20 of a mounting portion 19. In the brake line 
application, surface 20 will be part of the structure of an automobile and 
the attachment is accomplished by means of a nut and bolt attachment 22 to 
ledge 24 projecting from surface 20. The construction of the bracket 12 in 
this regard will be described more completely hereinafter. 
At this point it will be noted that with the two piece bracket 12 a 
considerable degree of versatility is achieved but without sacrificing any 
security in the installation. More particularly the clip element 16 is a 
single universal component that can be used with any one of a plurality of 
the liners 18 that are custom sized and configured internally as required 
to accommodate the various sized elements and number of elements to be 
supported. That is, the inner surface which actually engages the elongated 
elements 10 and 14 being supported can be any desired configuration and 
define any desired inner area while the outer surface which engages the 
clip member conforms to the clip member for a tight, secure nesting fit. 
The bracket 12 relies on the clip member 16 for its structural integrity 
while the liner 18 insures secure capture of the supported elements. This 
construction also allows selection of different materials for the clip 
member 16 and the liner 18 so that materials particularly adaptable to 
each function can be selected. For example, the clip member 16 can be made 
of a high impact nylon for the necessary rigidity and structural 
integrity. The liner 18 can than be made of a softer more flexible or 
compressible material such as a nitrile rubber to conform to the nested 
pattern of the elements 10, 14 being supported. That combination will 
result in a desired structurally strong reliable mounting bracket which 
securely holds the elongated control elements in place. 
With that general description of the bracket 12, and its intended use, a 
more specific description of a preferred embodiment will now be made. 
As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the clip member 16 includes a generally 
U-shaped base defined by a web 24 and two, relatively spaced first and 
second clip legs 26 and 28. The upper end of leg 26, as viewed in the 
drawings, carries a lateral projection 30 extending from an area A 
thereof, which extends generally parallel to the plane of web 24 and 
defines a lock receiving member as will be pointed out later. The other 
leg 28 extends beyond the upper extension of leg 26 and terminates in a 
specially formed end 32, which forms a locking member as will be apparent 
as this description progresses. Leg 28 includes a reduced thickness 
section 34 which provides a flexible portion serving as hinge section 
about which leg 28 can be bent. 
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the edges 36 and 38 of receiving member 30 
are pointed and together comprise free and inner ends, respectively. The 
edges are defined by angular surfaces 36a and 38a and horizontal surfaces 
36b and 38b. The edges 36, 38 extend the length of the lock receiving 
member 30. Locking member 32 includes edges 40 and 42 (comprising locking 
member free and inner ends, respectively) which also extend the length of 
the locking member and are hooked shaped to be generally complimentary to 
and mate with edges 36 and 38. Edge 42 includes angularly related surfaces 
42a and 42b corresponding to the angular relation of surfaces 38a and 38b. 
Edge 42 can then fit snugly with edge 38. Edge 40 although configured 
generally complimentary to edge 36 is not an exact fit. Instead it has a 
generally straight extension 40a from the main body 44 of the locking 
member 32. Extension 40a terminates in a hook shaped tip 40b which will 
fit over and under edge 36. 
As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, leg 28 can be bent or folded on hinge 34 
to bring locking member 32 into engagement with lock receiving member 30. 
Edge 42 slides along surface 38a until the hook shaped end 42a engages 
both surfaces 38a and 38b. Continued movement brings end 40 over edge 36 
until its hook tip 40b is engaged under surface 36b. The straight 
extension 40a of edge 40 leaves some clearance between the respective 
surfaces of edges 40 and 36 which allows edge 40 to move onto and off of 
edge 36 more readily as compared to a close fit such as that between the 
other two mating edges. 
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, liner 18 is generally U-shaped as is the 
clip member 16. The liner 18 includes a web 46 and relatively spaced first 
and second liner legs 48 and 50. The liner 16 is configured to be 
positioned within the clip member 16 with its legs 48 and 50 extending 
generally along clip member legs 26 and 28 and its web 46 in engagement 
with web 24 so that the liner nests snugly within the clip member. The end 
52 of liner leg 48 terminates short of (below) the area A at which 
receiving member 30 is attached to and extends from leg 26. This provides 
clearance for the locking member 32 to move into and out of engagement 
with the receiving member 30. 
The other liner leg 50 has a terminal end 54 extending beyond (above) the 
end 52 of leg 26 and receiving member 30. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, 
when clip member leg 28 is bent or folded on hinge 34 toward receiving 
member 30 liner it contacts and causes end 54 to bend with it bringing its 
edge 56 into engagement with edge 58 completing the closure of the liner 
18 onto or over the elongated elements 10 and 14. 
The clip member 16 is provided with indentations 60 and 62 extending the 
length of clip web 24. Liner web 46 is provided with protrusions 64 and 66 
(FIG. 4) fitting into indentations 60 and 62. With reference to FIG. 1, 
with the liner 18 in the clip member 16 the two pieces are held against 
disengagement in the X and Y directions by the mating protrusions 64, 66 
and indentations 60 and 62 and, when closed, the locking member 32. 
As another base of structural orientation, it will be noted that webs 24 
and 46 are generally planar and their respective planes are generally 
parallel in a Z direction shown in FIG. 1. Legs 26, 28 and 48, 50 extend 
generally normal (perpendicular) to the planes of the webs. Receiving 
member 30 extends generally parallel to the planes of the webs and 
generally normal to the legs 26, 28. 
As can also be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the liner 18 is not of the same 
length as the clip member 16 in the Z direction and an engagement is 
provided between the clip member and the liner which holds the two pieces 
against relative movement in the Z direction. Engagement tabs 68 and 70 
(shown in FIG. 1) are provided along the opposite, spaced edges 72 and 74 
of the legs 26 and 28 of the clip member. The liner legs 48 and 50 fit 
between those tabs and the liner and clip member are thereby held against 
relative movement in the Z direction. 
Locking member 32 and receiving member 30 each include an aperture 76 and 
78, respectively. These apertures come into registry when the locking 
member is closed onto the receiving member to accommodate mounting the 
bracket to the surface 20, i.e. through receipt of nut and bolt 
combination 22.