Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/968,973, filed on Jan. 3, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a fastening device, more particularly to a fastening device for fastening cable, fiber, and wave hose to board with waterproof capability. 
         [0003]    It is important to consider connecting mean of two cable connectors when the cable passing through some interlinkage place. For example, a reciprocator in an automaton has cables for transmitting signals. The connectors of the cables will generate great abrasion when the cables move with the reciprocator, and the connectors can be wore down easily. 
         [0004]    Previously, fastening device for cable connectors in lack of proportionally sealed strength to attach to the cables or fibers. The cables or fibers will be broke off when the cables or fibers being drew out again and again, especially, the fiber has inner lines for transmitting signals by reflecting light. The inner line of the fiber includes glass, quartz and material with high rigidity, therefore the inner lines are fragile. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, an U.S. Past. No. 5,927,892 discloses a device for fastening a cable, the device includes a lock nut  10 , a washer  20 , a casing  30 , a collar  40 , metal clamp  50 , and a casing  60 . The pawls  52  of the clamp  50  engage with an annular groove  42  of the collar  40  for tightly holding the cable. This fastening device has only one narrow connecting portion for fastening the cable. The cable can not be retained well-proportioned. Only one connecting portion of the pawls  52  of the clamp  50  and the annular groove  42  of the collar  40  is used for retaining the cable, and it can not prevent the vapor from getting inside commendably. The cable fastening device must conquer the two connectors of the cable for fastening the cable, and install metal hose or other similar protecting tube at the at least one of the two connectors, and also consider waterproof. Moreover, the living environment of the human being is becoming more and more worse, causing more and more flood and stormy calamity. The fastening of the cables, fibers, hose or other connectors must be provided with high capability of waterproof and wearability. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A fastening device is provided for fastening cables, fibers or wave hoses in position with multiple ways, and for waterproof capability. The fastening device includes a first casing, an inner holding part, a waterproof screw annulus, a positioning nut, a connecting casing, a second casing, an inner buckled nut, a resilient washer, and a constricting gasket. The first casing defines a through hole. A slope and an inner thread section are formed thereon. The inner holding part includes a collar and a clamp for holding the cable. The waterproof screw annulus includes a first thread section, a second thread section, a block and a slanted portion. The block is positioned between the first thread section and the second thread section. When a fastening device is assembled to a board, the block abuts against the board. So that the first thread section and the second thread section are placed at opposite sides of the board. The positioning nut includes an inner thread section and at least one positioning slot. The connecting annulus is a hollow column. A positioning annular flange is formed at one end of the connecting annulus. An outer thread section is formed at the other end thereof An inner thread section and a slanted portion are formed on an inner side of the column. The second casing has a through hole, a slanted portion and an inner thread section. The inner buckled nut is a hollow column. The inner buckled nut has an inner wall, and the inner wall extends out to form an outer wall. A slot is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall. The resilient washer is set on the wave hose, and positioned between the second casing and the inner buckled nut. The components mentioned above are all pipe-shaped, and the section of each one is hollow. So the cable is inserted from the first casing, retaining by the inner holding part, and finally goes through the second casing. The first casing and the second casing are respectively engaged with the waterproof screw annulus and the connecting annulus. The first casing and the second casing take force to the wave hose for holding the cable or fiber in place in multiple ways, and avoid shifting or breaking off from drawing outside. The fastening device also has mult-ways for waterproof 
         [0007]    Further, the collar and the clamp of the inner holding part are set around the cable, and the constricting gasket is set around the cable for enhancing nondestructive force to the cable. The collar has a tapered portion, and an axial broken seem. The tapered portion abuts against the waterproof annulus. The collar is urged by the first casing for retaining the cable for the second time. The collar can be enlarged to guide in a cable with enlarged head. 
         [0008]    Moreover, at least one positioning tab is formed on the inner surface of the slot of the inner buckled nut for holding the wave hose rapidly. The positioning tab engages with the groove of the wave hose for avoiding slippage. A constricting gasket is further set between the connecting annulus and the inner buckled nut for clamping the cable or the fiber tightly from waterproof 
         [0009]    The explanation of the wave hose is not restricted by the embodiment of the invention. The wave hose can be helix formed or has equal intervals, or be made from metal, plastic, rubber, or other material that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0010]    According to each embodiment of the present invention, the fastening device has evenly distributed strength to retain the cable, the fiber, or the wave hose, which has two connectors, for waterproof. The fastening device can assemble the wave hose to the cable for protecting the cable. To sum up, the fastening device has multi-ways for waterproof, and high retaining capability for protecting the cable from breaking off by shifting or drawing outside to adapt to different weather conditions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a fastening device of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fastening device including a first casing  10 , an inner holding part  20 , a waterproof screw annulus  30 , a positioning nut  40 , a connecting casing  50 , a second casing  60 , an inner buckled nut  70 , a resilient washer  80 , and a constricting gasket  90 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is an assembled view in section of the fastening device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is another assembled view in section of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is an exploded, isometric view of the positioning nut  40  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the inner holding part  20  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  is a front view of a connector of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  is an isometric view of a collar  22  of the inner holding part  20 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5C  is a partial sectional view of the collar  22  of  FIG. 5B ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a partial enlarge view of the inner buckled nut  70  and resilient washer  80  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  8 A,  8 B are instructional view of the cables L 1 , L 2  and the connectors C 1 , C 2  fastened by the fastening device; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention of the fastening device; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a partial sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention of the fastening device; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a partial sectional view of fourth embodiment of the present invention of the fastening device, which the fastening device is copulated to an L-shaped board. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 1A , a fastening device includes a first casing  10 , an inner holding part  20 , a waterproof screw annulus  30 , a positioning nut  40 , a connecting annulus  50 , a second casing  60 , an inner buckled nut  70 , a resilient washer  80  and a constricting gasket  90 . The first casing  10  defines a through hole  11 . A slope  12  and an inner thread section  13  are formed therein. The inner holding part  20  includes a collar  22  and a clamp  21 . The inner holding part  20  locates at an inner side of the waterproof screw annulus  30  for clamping the cable L. The waterproof screw annulus  30  is a hollow column. The waterproof screw annulus  30  includes a first thread section  31 , a second thread section  32 , a block  33  and a slanted portion  34 . The slanted portion  34  locates at an inner side of the first thread section  31 . The block  33  is positioned between the first thread section  31  and the second thread section  32 . The first thread section  31  can engage with the inner thread section  13  of the first casing  10 . 
         [0026]    The positioning nut  40  includes an inner thread section  41 , a positioning slot  43 , and at least one waterproof flange  42  (referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 3A ). The waterproof flange is configured for an annular shape, and positioned at an axial surface of the positioning nut  40 . The positioning slot  43  is annular wedge-shaped slot. The connecting annulus  50  is a hollow column. The connecting annulus  50  has a positioning annular flange  51  at one end thereof, an outer thread section  52  at the other end thereof, and an inner thread section  53  therein. The positioning annular flange  51  has a taper-shaped section for facilitating engaging with the positioning slot  43  of the positioning nut  40 . The positioning slot  43  mates with the positioning annular flange  51  to form a sealed waterproof assembly, and the inner thread section  53  and the inner thread section  41  of the positioning nut  40  engage with the second thread section  32  of the waterproof annulus  30  tightly. The second casing  60  defines a through hole  61  therein, and has a slanted portion  62  and an inner thread section  63 . The inner buckled nut  70  is a hollow column. The inner buckled nut  70  has an inner wall  701 . One end of the inner wall  701  extends out to form an outer wall  702  which parallels to the inner wall  701 . A slot  71  is defined between the inner wall  701  and the outer wall  702  for receiving a wave hose. The inner wall  701  is resilient. At least one positioning tab  711  is formed at one side of the inner wall  701 . The positioning tab  711  is used for resiliently retaining the wave hose from an inner side thereof. The resilient washer  80  has an inner wave surface  801 , and a slanted portion  802 . The resilient washer  80  is positioned inside the second casing  60 , and sandwiched between the second casing  60  and one end of the inner buckled nut  70  for engaging with the wave hose S. 
         [0027]    Further, a constricting gasket  90  is provided between the connecting annulus  50  and the inner buckled nut  70 . The constricting gasket  90  has a slanted portion  901 . The constricting gasket  90  is used for retaining one end of the cable and provides waterproofness. 
         [0028]    The block  33  of the waterproof screw annulus  30  has a washer attached thereon. The washer  301  has at least one waterproof flange  3011  on an axial surface formed thereon for preventing seeping in the vapor directly. 
         [0029]    Referring also to  FIG. 11 , a board D is set between the waterproof screw  30  and the positioning annulus  40 . The board D may be L-shaped or T-shaped (not shown in drawings). The board D has an insert hole Dl defined therein for receiving the second thread section  32  of the waterproof screw annulus  30 . The waterproof flange  42  of the positioning nut  40  contacts with the board D, and is forced to attach thereto to form a waterproof layer with proper deformation. The fastening device can be adjusted to any proper angles for preventing the connector of the cable C from breaking off by the stress. Moreover, the washer  301  is set between the block  33  of the waterproof screw annulus  30  and the board D. The at least one waterproof flange  3011  of the waterproof screw annulus  30  not only prevent seeping water from the insert hole D 1 , but also enhance the attachment between the fastening device and the board D. 
         [0030]    Furthermore, a positioning annulus  54  is set inside the connecting annulus  50 . The positioning annulus  54  is a hollow column. The positioning annulus  54  has larger diameter at one end thereof for abutting onto the inner side of the connecting annulus  50 , so the positioning annulus  54  can receive a frail cable, such as a fiber cable, therethrough, and hold the fiber cable firmly for preventing from breaking off. The material of the positioning annulus  54  can select from resilient rubber or plastic. 
         [0031]    Referring also to  FIG. 2B , the cable L is inserted into the through hole  11  of the first casing  10 , and goes through the inner holding part  20 , the waterproof screw annulus  30 , the positioning nut  40 , the connecting annulus  50 , and the constricting gasket  90 , and passes through the inner buckled nut  70  and the resilient washer  80 , and out of the through hole  61  of the second casing by sequence. The first casing  10  engages with the first thread section  31  of the waterproof screw annulus  30 , and abuts against the inner holding part  20  to generate force F to retain the cable L tightly at one retaining portion. The second thread section  32  of the waterproof annulus  30  engages with the positioning nut  40  and the connecting annulus  50 . At the same time, the metal hose (wave hose) S is inserted into the through hole  61  of the second casing  60 , the resilient washer  80 , and the inner buckled nut  70 . The metal hose S is hold by the inner buckled nut  70 . Then the second casing  60  is engaged with the outer thread section  52  of the connecting annulus  50 . The slanted portion  802  of the resilient washer  80  is urged by the slanted portion  62  of the second casing  60  to retain the metal hose tightly. The slanted portion  901  of the constricting gasket  90  is urged by a slanted portion  55  of the connecting annulus  50  to deform inward, generating force F to retain the cable at another retaining portion. 
         [0032]    Furthermore, referring also to  FIG. 4 , the inner holding part  20  includes a collar  22  and a clamp  21 . The collar  22  is a hollow column, and is made from resilient material. The collar  22  includes a neck portion  221 , a tapered portion  222 , and a broken seam  223 . The neck portion  221  is defined in one end of the collar  22 , and has annular dent. The tapered portion  222  is formed at the other end of the collar  22 , and to be shaped as a hollow cone. The collar  22  can be enlarged by a cable C having a large head (see  FIGS. 5A to 5C ), and facilitates the cable C to get through. The clamp  21  has a plurality of pawls  211  to clamp to the neck portion  221  of the collar  22 . The cable can not store the stress drew by outer force as a result of the resilient column collar  211 . Further, the tapered portion  222  of the collar  22  abuts on the slanted portion  34  of the waterproof screw annulus  30  (referring also to  FIG. 2B ). The collar  22  is urged by the first casing  10  to hold the cable tightly and form another waterproof layer. The preferred embodiment of the invention gives better efficacy on retaining the cable and waterproof than the prior art. 
         [0033]    Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the at least one positioning tab  711  is formed at an inner wall of the slot  71 . Each positioning tab  71  extends into an inner groove of the outer wave hose for blocking the wave hose from moving out. The resilient washer  80  has wave-shaped structure  801  in the inner surface for fitting the wave hose. The wave-shaped structure  801  extends into the inner buckled nut  70  for further sealing. The wave-shaped structure  801  cooperates the at least one positioning tab  711  to tightly retain the wave hose S from shifting outside, and provide waterproof. 
         [0034]    Referring also to  FIG. 7A , the preferred embodiment of the invention can also protects connectors of a cable L 1  and cable L 2 . A waterproof screw annulus  50 ′ has extended body for receiving the connectors of the cable L 1  and cable L 2  to provide waterproof and shift prevention. 
         [0035]    Referring also to  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  8 A,  8 B, and  FIG. 4 , the fastening device also can be inserted into cable connectors C 1  and C 2  having larger heads ( FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B ). The connecting annulus  50 ′ has extended body for receiving the cable connectors C 1  and C 2 . Furthermore, when the inner holding part  20  is urged by the first casing  10  and the constricting gasket  90  is urged by the second casing, the cables are retained by the forces F. So that the cables has waterproof and shift prevention at two retaining portions thereof 
         [0036]    Referring also to  FIG. 9 , showing a second embodiment of the invention, the wave hose S has equal intervals. The inner buckled nut  70  and the resilient washer  80  in the preferred embodiment of this invention are replaced by an inner buckled nut  70 ′. The inner buckled nut  70 ′ is pipe-shaped. An annular stopper  701 ′ extends from one end of the inner buckled nut  70 ′ is used for abutting against a front end of the wave hose S. At least one tab  702 ′ is formed inside the inner buckled nut  70 ′ for buckling and retaining the wave hose S. 
         [0037]    Referring also to  FIG. 10 , showing a third embodiment of this invention, the inner buckled nut  70  and the resilient washer  80  in the preferred embodiment of the invention, or the inner buckled nut  70 ′ at the second embodiment of the invention, are replaced by an inner buckled nut  70 ″. The inner buckled nut  70 ″ is pipe-shaped. An annular stopper  701 ″ extends from one end of the inner buckled nut  70 ″ is used for abutting against a front end of the wave hose S. An “n”-shaped retaining member  702 ″ is formed on the other end of the buckled nut  70 ″. An annular tab  703 ″ is formed on the retaining member  702 ″ for buckling the wave hose S at the groove thereof. The retaining member  702 ″ can resiliently deform inward slightly. The annular tab  703 ″ has a slanted surface  7031 ″ at an outer side thereof, and a vertical surface  7032 ″ at an inner side thereof. When the wave hose S is rotated in, the wave hose S rides over the slanted surface  7031 ″, and the annular tab  703 ″ resiliently deforms back and abuts against the wave hose S. Contrarily, when the wave hose S is drew backwards, the vertical surface  7032 ″ blocks on the groove of the wave hose S for buckling and retaining the cable connector. 
         [0038]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including configurations ways of the recessed portions and materials and/or designs of the attaching structures. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

Technology Category: 5