EP3357849B1

EP3357849B1 - Fixing support and its use.

Info

Publication number: EP3357849B1
Application number: EP16785561.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: António Manuel FARIA MACHADO BRASIL
Original assignee: Pinto Brasil - Fabrica De Maquinas Industriais SA
Current assignee: Pinto Brasil - Fabrica De Maquinas Industriais SA
Priority date: 2015-09-29
Filing date: 2016-09-02
Publication date: 2020-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-02
Also published as: EP3357849A1; MX2018003870A; PT3357849T; WO2017055947A1

Description

Technical Domain

The present application relates to a fixing support and its use.

Background

Document US2013161067A1 discloses embodiments directed to cable storage devices and associated methods. The exemplary cable storage device includes at least one chamber and at least one chamber path. The at least one chamber path detachably secures at least one cable in the at least one chamber path. The at least one chamber is configured and or a flexible property. An alternative exemplary cable storage device includes at least one chamber and at least one coupling member. The coupling member detachably secures at least one cable in the at least one chamber path and further includes a first coupler and a second coupler having at least one of a spring-like property or a flexible property. In alternative exemplary embodiments, methods of cable storage are provided.
Document WO9823523A1 discloses a suspension rack in medical use, such as for the storage and suspension of cables (1) and/or tubes for equipment used in patient monitoring, anesthesia, and the like, said rack including a frame (2) provided with fastening means (3) for securing the frame to a substantially solid structure (4) and with frame-connected members for the suspension of cables and/or tubes. The frame (2) includes a bracket element (5). The members for the suspension of cables and/or tubes consist of a cluster of mutually parallel, side-by-side spacer elements (6), connected with the bracket element and spaced from each other by a distance which exceeds the thickness of a cable and/or tube yet is less than the dimension of a terminal element (7), such as a connector or a sensor unit, mounted on the end of a cable and/or a tube, transverse to the lengthwise direction of a cable and/or a tube, the cable and/or tube being mountable between two adjacent spacer elements with the terminal element finding its way to said two adjacent spacer elements.
Nowadays the transportation of cables and/or wires is carried out with the wires and/or cables and/or filaments rolled up, with or without a reel. This technical solution causes the wires, cables or filaments to show tendency to entangle, which causes the operators to take a significant amount of time to untangle the wires and/or cables and/or filaments before application.

Summary

The present application describes a fixing support comprising a suspension element able to be attached to a fixed or movable means, at least one upper support bar fixed to the suspension element by pressing or squeezing, at least one fixing element and a plane/separator.
In an embodiment, the suspension element comprises wheels and/or at least a suspension ring.
In another embodiment, the fixing element to the plane/separator is a ribbon, strap, band or elastic.
Yet in another embodiment, the band used in the fixing support is a magnetic band.
Yet in another embodiment, the fixing element to a plane/separator includes Velcro.
The upper support bar provided on the fixing support, is either fixed or removable.
In another embodiment, the upper support bar does not need to be horizontal in relation to the floor plane, that is, it may be provided in any position as for instance vertically.
The upper support bar of the fixing support, either being fixed or removable, comprises pegs.
In another embodiment, the upper removable support bar is placed on and removed from the suspension element with the help of at least one fast-fitting system, for instance a pegs system or a magnet.
In another embodiment, the plane/separator of the fixing support is made of textile, polymeric or composite material.
Yet in another embodiment, the plane/separator of the fixing support is made of polyvinyl chloride.
Yet in another embodiment, the plane/separator of the fixing support is made of perforated material.
The present application further describes the use of the fixing support in the transportation and storage of cables and/or wires and/or filaments.

General Description

The present application relates to a fixing support which fastens the wires and/or cables and/ or filaments by means of at least one fixing element that presses the wires against a given plane/separator.
The fixing element used may be a ribbon, strap or band that may include Velcro or yet being magnetic, or yet an elastic placed such that prevents the entangling phenomenon. In case of an elastic, the application thereof is carried out by securing a tip at the bar end, being then stretched to the other end of the bar such that the cables and/or wires and/or filaments are kept secured/pressed against the support bar.
This fixation allows to prevent the entangling or any damage on the wires and/or cables and/or filaments which might be caused by the transportation. Furthermore, a separator is used in order to allow the placement of several fixing means over the plane/separator to prevent the entangling of the wires placed in the same support, and at the same time to prevent contact/entangling with the wires of rear supports, for instance a screen, which allows several fixing supports to be placed in row, being the screen secured to the support itself, as illustrated in Figure 11 and Figure 12.
In an embodiment, the plane/separator referred above may be a screen made of textile or polymeric material, for instance polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or a mix of different materials, making up a composite material, yet being also possible to use alternatively a perforated screen in order to reduce the oscillating and friction effect due to the air mass displacement.
From the practical point of view, the fixing support may be used for the transportation and storage of cables and/or wires and/or filaments preventing the entangling thereof. This technical solution may be used within the scope of any industry, for instance electric and automobile industries.

Brief Description of the Figures

For an easier understanding of the art, figures are appended, which depict preferred embodiments that, however, are not meant to limit the object of the present application.

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the fixing support, wherein the reference numbers are related to the following elements:

1

- suspension element;

2

- upper support bar;

3

- fixing element;

4

- plane/separator.
Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the fixing support with fixed cables, wherein the reference numbers are related to the following elements:

2

- upper support bar;

3

- fixing element;

4

- plane/separator;

5

- pegs support;

6

- suspension ring.
Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the fixing support having the removable support bar coupled to the system, wherein the reference numbers are related to the following elements:

1

- suspension element;

2

- upper support bar;

3

- fixing element;

4

- plane/separator;

7

- locking part.
Figure 4 illustrates the same embodiment of the fixing support depicted in Figure 3, in which the support bar is removed from the system. The comparative analysis of these two figures shows that the upper support bar has the ability of being removable. The following reference numbers are related to the following elements:

1

- suspension element;

2

- upper support bar;

3

- fixing element;

4

- plane/separator;

7

- locking part.
Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the fixing support having support bars placed in the vertical position, wherein the reference numbers are related to the following elements:

1

- suspension element;

2

- upper support bar;

3

- fixing element;

4

- plane/separator;
Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of the fixing support having the removable support bar coupled to the system. It should be noted that a fixing profile is used and represented in this same image, which makes it easier to couple and to remove the support bar from the rest of the assembly. In order to prevent the support bar to displace horizontally when coupled to the rest of the system, two stops are used to prevent this displacement. In this figure the reference numbers are related to the following elements:

1

- suspension element;

2

- upper support bar;

3

- fixing element;

4

- plane/separator;

8

- fixing profile;

9

- stop.
Figure 7 illustrates the same embodiment of the fixing support represented in Figure 6, in which the support bar is removed from the system. The comparative analysis of these two figures shows that the support bar has the ability of being removable. The following reference numbers are related to the following elements:

1

- suspension element;

2

- upper support bar;

3

- fixing element;

4

- plane/separator;

8

- fixing profile;

9

- side stop.
Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the fixing support being empty and having the fixing means open.
Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of the fixing support having the fixing means open and being loaded with cables.
Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of the fixing support having the fixing means closed and being loaded with cables.
Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of a set of fixing supports loaded with cables and mounted in row.
Figure 12 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a set of fixing supports loaded with cables mounted in row.

Description of embodiments

Hereinafter, some embodiments will be described in a more detailed way which are not intended, however, to limit the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
The present application relates to a fixing support which fastens the wires and/or cables and/or filaments by means of at least one fixing element that presses the wires against a given plane/separator, avoiding the entangling thereof.
An objective of the present technology is to prevent any kind of entangling of the wires and/or cables and/or filaments that may cause damage during storage or transportation.
The fixing supports may have wheels, and enable the displacement by gravity or by traction, or may be fixed to other transportation means, or yet in static warehouses. The upper support bar may be either fixed to the suspension element or removable. This last possibility allows to remove the upper support bar together with the wires and/or cables and/or filaments from the system in which the fixing support is included. In order to make it easier to attach and remove the upper support bar from the separation element, at least one fast fitting system is used, for example a peg system or a magnet. In this type of system, the suspension element may have coupled to it a profile that makes the process of placing and removing the upper support bar easier.
To prevent the wires and/or cables and/or filaments to get entangled, they are fixed to a plane/separator by means of at least one fixing element, which may be a ribbon, strap or band, which may include Velcro, or yet an elastic placed such that any damage on the wires and/or cables and/or filaments that might be caused by transportation is prevented. By fixing the wires and/or cables and/or filaments against a plane/separator, the side movement thereof is prevented, avoiding entangling.
The use of a plane/separator yet enables several supports to be placed in row, and thus also preventing that the wires on the supports of the rear will entangle with the wires on the supports of the front.
The fixing element used may be a ribbon, strap or band which may include Velcro, or yet an elastic placed such that the entangling phenomenon is prevented. In case of an elastic, the application thereof is carried out by securing a tip at the bar end, being then stretched to the other end of the bar such that the cables and/or wires and/or filaments are kept secured/pressed against the support bar.
This fixation allows to prevent the entangling or any damage on the wires and/or cables and/or filaments which might be caused by transportation. Furthermore, a separator is used in order to allow the placement of several fixing means over the plane/separator to prevent the entangling of the wires placed in the same support, and at the same time to prevent contact/entangling with the wires of rear supports using for example a screen, which allows several fixing supports to be placed in row, being the screen secured to the support itself, as illustrated in Figure 11 and Figure 12.
The plane/separator mentioned above may be a screen made of textile or polymeric material, for example polyvinyl chloride (PVC), said screen being possibly perforated.
From the practical point of view, the fixing support may be used for the transportation and storage of cables and/or wires and/or filaments preventing the entangling thereof. This technical solution is epecially very interesting to electric and automobile industries.
In the illustration of Figure 1 it may be observed that the fixing support comprises a suspension element (1) attaching the support bar to a means, this means being fixed or movable, at least an upper support bar (2) and at least a fixing element (3) to a plane/separator (4).
The upper support bar (2) performs a first fixation of the wires by compression, where in the case of the presented embodiment the wires are secured by means of pegs, the suspension occurring thereof. The pegs used may be of polymeric, metallic or composite material.
Also in Figure 2 an embodiment of the fixing support is illustrated, where fixing means (3) can be observed provided against a plane/separator (4) as well as a pegs support (5) which purpose is to hold the ends of the wires and suspend them, acting as a mechanical barrier when the wires or sets of wires are secured by connectors at their tips. These pegs press the wires/filaments/cables creating friction in the axial sense of the wire preventing its displacement. Furthermore, a suspension ring (6) may be added to the fixing support with the purpose of supporting all elements on a fixed structure having, for example, hooks.
In Figures 3 and 4 another embodiment of a fixing support is illustrated. Unlike the fixing support represented in Figure 1, which upper support bar (2) is fixed to the suspension element (1), the fixing support represented in Figure 3 provides a removable upper support bar (2). Thereby, as it can be seen in Figure 4, this fixing support enables the removal of the upper support bar (2) from the suspension element. Regarding the fixation of the upper support bar (2) to the suspension element (1), this is carried out by making use of at least one locking part (7) causing the upper support bar (2) to be coupled to the suspension element (1).
As in the figures previously referred, Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of a fixing support. In this illustration, the upper support bar (2) is presented in a position that's different from that of all other upper support bars mentioned above, that is, while the previous illustrations present the upper support bar (2) in the horizontal position relatively to the floor plane, this new fixing support presents that one bar in the vertical position. Nevertheless, the most common embodiment includes the placement in the horizontal position. The upper support bar (2) presents this technical characteristic because the shape of the suspension element (1) allows the fixation of the upper support bar (2) or of the fixing profile (8) in different positions relatively to the floor plane.
In Figures 6 and 7 another embodiment of a fixing support is illustrated. This type of support operates identically to the one described in relation to figures 3 and 4. However, the upper support bar (2) coupling is not directly done to the suspension element (1) but instead to a fixing profile (8) which is fixed to the suspension element (1). To prevent the displacement of the upper support bar (2) when it is coupled to the fixing profile (8), at least one locking part is used as well as stops (9) fitted on the sides of the profile.
The present technology is not, naturally, in any way restricted to the embodiments described herein and a person with knowledge in the area will foresee many possibilities for modification of the technology without departing from the main idea, as per defined in the claims.
All the embodiments above described are obviously combinable amongst them. The following claims further define preferred embodiments.

Claims

Fixing support for fixing cables and/or wires and/or filaments comprising:
- a suspension element (1) able to be fixed either to a movable or a fixed means;

- at least one upper support bar (2) fixed to the suspension element (1) by pressing or squeezing, wherein the upper support bar (2) is either fixed to or removable from the suspension element (1) by means of a fast fitting system;

- at least one fixing element (3) responsible for fixing said cables and/or wires and/or filaments to a plane/separator (4) which is fixed to the suspension element (1) and the upper support bar (2), preventing side movement and thereof entangling of the cables and/or wires and/or filaments;
wherein the upper support bar (2) comprises pegs.
Fixing support according to the previous claim, wherein the suspension element (1) comprises wheels and/or at least a suspension ring (6).
Fixing support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the fixing element (3) is a ribbon, strap, band or elastic.
Fixing support according to the previous claim, wherein the band is a magnetic band.
Fixing support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the fixing element (3) to a plane/separator (4) includes Velcro.
Fixing support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the upper support bar (2) is in any position relatively to the floor plane.
Fixing support according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a fixing profile coupled to the suspension element (1).
Fixing support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the plane/separator (4) is made of a perforated screen.
Use of the fixing support described in any one of the previous claims in the transportation and storage of cables and/or wires and/or filaments.