GB2218462A

GB2218462A - Cable retaining device

Info

Publication number: GB2218462A
Application number: GB8907443A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roberto Cotena; Osvaldo Ghelfi; Giovanni Muratori
Original assignee: Industrie Magneti Marelli SRL; Magneti Marelli SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Magneti Marelli SRL; Marelli Europe SpA
Priority date: 1988-04-01
Filing date: 1989-04-03
Publication date: 1989-11-15
Also published as: IT8853035V0; ES1009816U; DE8903910U1; FR2629647B3; GB8907443D0; IT214817Z2; FR2629647A3; ES1009816Y

Abstract

A device for retaining one or more cables in an electrical system comprises a base (2) intended to be fixed to a support structure and a retaining clip (3). This clip (3) comprises a hub (4) which is articulated rotatably with the base (2) and from which there extend transversely two curved and elastically separable arms (7) designed to hold one or more electrical cables of the system. The clip (3) is designed to assume with respect to the base (2) a predetermined swung-out working position and a swung-back rest position where it occupies a minimum amount of space. <IMAGE>

Description

Title:Cable retaining device The present invention relates to a device for retaining cables in an electrical system and particularly for retaining electrical cables connected to an electrical generator mounted on a motor vehicle.

The retaining device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a base intended to be fixed to a support structure and a support clip comprising a hub which is articulated rotatably with said base and from which there extend transversely two curved and elastically separable arms designed to hold one or more electrical cables of the system. This clip is designed to assume with respect to the base a predetermined swung-out working position and a swungback rest position where it occupies a minimum amount of space.

Further advantages and features of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, given with reference to the attached illustrations provided by way of a non-restrictive example, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view sectioned along the line II-II of Figure 1 of a device according to the invention; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a device according to the invention; Figure 4 is a side view of an alternator provided with a device according to the invention, and Figure 5 is a front view of the alternator shown in Figure 4.

A device 1 according to the invention (Figures 1 to 3) comprises a base 2 intended to be fixed to a support structure and a retaining clip 3 rotatably articulated with the base and designed to assume with respect to the latter a predetermined swung-out working position (shown in solid lines in Figure 2) and a swungback rest position (shown in broken lines in Figure 2) where it occupies a minimum amount of space.

This clip 3 has a hub 4 which is provided at its end with aligned pins 5 and projections 6 and from which there extend transversely two curved and elastically separable arms 7 designed to hold one or more electrical cables.

The hub 4 has, moreover, an incision 14 perpendicular to the axis defined by the pins 5 and, on its lateral surface, on the sides of the incision 14, a pair of teeth 15.

The base 2 has facing separable lugs 8 in which there are formed longitudinal recesses 9 which have receiving surfaces 10 and in which aligned holes 11 open.

The base (Figure 2) also has formed in it a cavity 12 with a stopping surface 13 and a hole 16 through which there passes a member for effecting fixing to the support structure, not shown in the Figures.

The projections 6 of the clip 3 have a shape complementing that of the recesses 9 of the lugs 8 into which they must engage when the device 1 is in the working position.

The pins 5 of the hub 4 must, however, engage in the holes 11 of the lugs 8, thus allowing rotation of the clip 3 with respect to the base 2. When assembling the device 1, insertion of the said pins is assisted by the receiving surfaces 10 of the recesses 9 and the possibility of separating the lugs 8.

During rotation of the clip 3 with respect to the base 2 from a swung-back rest position shown in broken lines in Figure 2, the pair of teeth 15 of the hub 4 interacts with the stopping surface 13 of the cavity 12 of the base 2, blocking the movement of the clip 3 and defining the precise working position thereof. Blocking of the clip 3 in this position is also obtained owing to snap-engagement of the projections 6 in the recesses 9 of the lugs 8.

Rotation from the rest position to the working position of the clip 3 and vice versa, is made possible by separation of the lugs 8 following the action of the projections 6 of the hub 4 which disengage from the recesses 9, and following compression of the incision 14 of the hub 4.

The base 2 and the clip 3 are made of plastic material, preferably acetal resin. To prevent damage to this material during fixing of the device to a support structure, a cut metal reinforcing ring 17 is placed inside the hole 16, this ring allowing an adequate tightening torque to be exerted on a screw-type fixing member, not shown in Figures 1 and 3, passing through the hole 16.

Figures 4 and 5 show a device 1 according to the invention mounted on an alternator 21 of a motor vehicle.

The base 2 is mounted on the body 23 of the alternator by means of a bolt 24. The clip 3 retains a corrugated tube 26 inside which there passes a bundle of electrical cables 27 which are thus suitably held in the vicinity of the alternator.

When storing the alternator 21, however, it is possible to swing back the clip 3 into the rest position, shown in broken lines in Figure 4, thus preventing possible damage due to knocks against other parts.

This example of application thus reveals the useful nature of the device according to the invention, which may assume the most useful and advantageous configuration both in working and rest conditions.

Obviously the effects of the present invention extend to embodiments which achieve the same results using the same inventive idea.

Claims

1. Device for retaining a cable in an electrical system and particularly for retaining electrical cables connected to an electrical generator on a motor vehicle, wherein the device comprises a base intended to be fixed to a support structure and a retaining clip having a hub which is articulated rotatably with said base and from which there extend transversely two curved and elastically separable arms designed to hold one or more electrical cables of the system; the clip being designed to assume with respect to the base a predetermined swung-out working position and a swung-back rest position where it occupies a mininum amount of space.

2. Device as claimed in Claim 1, where in the base has two facing lugs between which the hub of the clip is articulated.

3. Device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said lugs of the base have respective aligned holes into which pins of the hub of the clip engage.

4. Device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the lugs of the base and the ends of the hub of the clip have at least one projection and a recess with a complementary shape, designed to couple together by means of snapengagement when the clip is in the working position.

5. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein in that the lugs of the base are separable so as to allow the introduction of the pins of the clip into the holes of said lugs.

6. Device as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the lugs of the base have respective facing recesses in which said aligned holes are formed and in that said recesses have respective receiving surfaces designed to assist insertion of the pins of the clip into the holes of the lugs of the base.

7. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base has a stopping surface and in that the hub of the clip has at least one tooth capable of coming into abutment against said stopping surface, limiting rotation of the clip and defining the working position thereof.

8. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hub of the clip has an incision perpendicular to the axis defined by the pins of the hub.

9. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base and the clip are made of a plastic material, in particular polyacetal resin.

10. Device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the base, through which a fixing member passes, has a hole into which a cut metal reinforcing ring is inserted.

11. A device for retaining a cable in an electrical system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.