Patent Publication Number: US-2023141882-A1

Title: Wire clip

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/276,768, filed Nov. 8, 2021, the entire disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for securing a twisted wire in a safe and efficient manner. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wire, such as ceiling wire, is often utilized to secure various construction components including, but not limited to, main runners on which rest, for example, ceiling panels. Typically, a first portion of the wire under tension is extended through a hole in the runner with the extruding second portion of wire wrapped partially around the first portion of wire with a remaining part of the second portion of wire left to extend out into space. This extended portion poses a considerable safety hazard as it is sharp, extends outwards and is capable of puncturing or otherwise injuring individuals in proximity to the wire. 
     What is therefore needed is an apparatus for use in such scenarios whereby the sharp end of the second portion of wire is rendered unlikely to inflict to injury. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, a wire clip comprises a longitudinal hole and a longitudinal through-channel having a generally U-shaped cross section wherein a first end of the longitudinal through-channel is in communication with a lateral opening and a second end of the longitudinal through-channel is closed. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The details of particular implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout the specification. Other features will be apparent from the following description, including the drawings and claims. The drawings, though, are for the purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective illustration of an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip. 
         FIG.  2 A  is an end view of an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip. 
         FIG.  2 B  is a top view of an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip. 
         FIG.  3    is an exemplary and non-limiting view of illustration of a wire clip in use. 
         FIG.  4    a perspective illustration of an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip showing an integrated insert. 
         FIG.  5    is a detailed illustration of an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip showing an integrated insert. 
         FIGS.  6 A- 6 C  are detailed illustrations of an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip. 
         FIG.  7    is a detailed illustration of an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used throughout this application, the word “may” be used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). The words “include,” “including,” and “includes” and the like mean including, but not limited to. As used herein, the singular form of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality). 
     As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components are “coupled” shall mean that the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly, i.e., through one or more intermediate parts or components, so long as a link occurs. As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. 
     With reference to  FIG.  1   , there is illustrated an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip  100 . Wire clip  100  is formed of a secure channel  102  extending the entire length of wire clip  100 . As described more fully below, secure channel  102 , viewed on end, extends for a non-linear extent forming a spiral shape. Secure channel  102  comprises a longitudinal through channel having a U-shaped cross section. Note that the lateral opening of secure channel  102  exhibits outwardly divergent walls acting to funnel an external wire to within secure channel  102 . As a result, when an expanse of a first portion of wire under tension is inserted into secure channel opening  104  and guided towards a terminus  106  of secure channel  102 , the first portion of wire is held snuggly in place so as to resist separation from wire clip  100 . Note that in some embodiments, channel opening  104  may be chamfered so as to increase the ease with which a first portion of wire may be guided into wire clip  100 . 
     Opposite secure channel  102  on each end of wire clip  100  and extending a distance into and towards the center of wire clip  100  are wire end receptors  108 ,  108 ′. Each wire end receptor  108 ,  108 ′ may be chamfered in order to more easily guide the insertion of a second portion of wire into one or another of wire end receptors  108 ,  108 ′. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , there is illustrated an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of wire clip  100 .  FIG.  2 A  is an end view of wire clip  100 .  FIG.  2 B  is a front view of wire clip  100  as viewed looking into secure channel opening  104 . As shown in  FIG.  2 A , secure channel  102  is shaped such that when a portion of wire is transmitted along the length of secure channel  102  into proximity with terminus  106 , the portion of wire is prevented from slipping out of wire clip  100 . This attribute is enhanced by the tension that each of the first and second portions of wire exert upon the walls of secure channel  102  and at least one of end receptors  108 , 108 ′, respectively. 
     With reference to  FIG.  3   , there is illustrated an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a perspective rendering of wire clip  100 . As illustrated, first wire portion  112  is under tension while second wire portion  114  terminates in an end  118  prone to causing injury. As illustrated, when the end of second wire portion  114  is directed into a wire end receptor  108 , wire clip  100  effectively surrounds the end of second wire portion  114  eliminating the possibility of the terminus  118  of second wire portion  114  contacting anything outside of wire end receptor  108 . 
     As illustrated, there is a tendency for first and second wire portions to diverge from parallel with each other. As a result, when both wire portions  112 ,  114  are secured within wire clip  100  as shown, the two wire portions tend to exert a force outwards from the center of wire clip  100  and away from one another. These forces work to secure wire clip  100  to both wire portions  112 ,  114  as does the force of gravity. 
     With reference to  FIG.  4   , there is illustrated an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of wire clip  100 . As illustrated, there is fabricated within wire clip  100  an insert  120 . In some embodiments, insert  120  may be formed of metal, such as stainless steel. Fabricated as residing within the interior of wire clip  100 , a terminus  122 ,  122 ′ of insert  120  may extend into the interior space forming one of end receptors  108 . While illustrated as forming a part of insert  120 , terminus  122  is not so limited. Terminus  122  may be fabricated in any manner, including forming an integral part of wire clip  100 , such that terminus  122  extends in some manner into the interior of end receptor  108  such that terminus  122  may be adapted to interact with end  118  of wire portion  114  so as to impede the retraction of end  118  from end receptor  108 . 
     With reference to  FIG.  5   , there is illustrated an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of wire clip  100  showing the interaction of terminus  122  and wire end  118 . As illustrated, a portion of terminus  122  is in communication with a crimped portion of wire end  118 . In some embodiments, wire end  118  may not be crimped and terminus  122  may be held in place by the force exerted upon it by terminus  122  pushing wire end  118  into a wall of wire end receptor  108 . In other embodiments, the insertion of wire end  118  may compress terminus  122  inwards towards the center of wire clip  100  resulting in a force being generated tending to push terminus  122  in a manner so as to interact with wire end  118  and impede the removal of wire end  118  from wire clip  100 . 
     Wire clip  100  may be fabricated via various methodologies including, but not limited to, injection molding, 3D printing, machining, and the like. As described, wire clip  100  is adapted to engage with any and all types of wire including, but not limited to, aviation wire. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  6 A- 6 C , there is illustrated another exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip. With reference to  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B , wire clip  600  comprises a generally cylindrical housing  602  open on a first end  604  and substantially closed on a second end  606 . The closed second end  606  may be fashioned as a substantially dome shaped feature or may be any geometric shape sufficient to form a general enclosure. Likewise, the housing may assume any shape sufficient to form an interior space  608  of the wire clip  600 . 
     A longitudinal through-channel  610  is cut into an outer surface of the wire clip at an angle ⊖ to the surface normal  612  of the housing  602 . With reference to  FIG.  6 C , there is illustrated a top view of a wire clip  600  showing the longitudinal through-channel  610  extending into the second end  606  of the housing  602 . As illustrated, when viewed from the top, the longitudinal through-channel appears as a V-shaped channel with an abrupt bend at an angle sufficient to permit the channel to terminate a point approximating a center point  614  of the second end  606 . 
     As a result, when a wire is inserted into the longitudinal through-channel  610 , through the V-shaped bend  616  and to the terminus of the channel, forces applied to the wire clip that are generally linearly directed in a direction approximating the surface normal will not result in a dislodgement of the wire. This results from there being to straight path between the terminus and the outside of the wire clip in the direction of the applied force. 
     In addition to the circuitous route that a wire must travel along the longitudinal through-channel to dislodge from the wire clip once the wire is positioned at the terminus, there may additionally be a protrusion  618  along the channel  610  and near the terminus that serves to maintain a wire in place at the terminus. In some embodiments, the wire clip is fabricated from a substance, such as plastic, that has some give. As a result, even is the width of the channel at the point of the protrusion is smaller than the diameter of the wire to be inserted, the housing of the wire clip may bend slightly to allow the wire to pass past the protrusion  618  and then snap back into position to secure the wire at the terminus. 
     With reference to  FIG.  7   , there is illustrated an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of a wire clip functioning as described above. Wire  700  is shown securing a support member with the end portion  702  of the wire  700  wrapped around a first portion of the wire under tension. Wire clip  700  is passed through the longitudinal through-channel  610  and secure at the terminus  614 . End portion  702  is wrapped around the first portion of wire  704  and is substantially enclosed within the interior space  608  of the wire clip  600 .