GB2308237A - Cabling clip - Google Patents

Description

CABLING CLIP This invention relates to a cabling clip.

Within the automobile sector it is necessary to lay out the wires and cables for the electrical systems thereof and to form a sleeve around such for multiple cables, terminals, connectors and other electrical and electronic elements. The aim of which is to provide an assembled electrical system to be installed in the automobile.

For the construction of such a sleeve the basic need is for a working surface or board which irs equipped with various elements for assembling the cables as well also as a series of securing elements or clips which hold everything in the required alignment whilst the sleeve is fixed in place.

These elements or clips must be capable of some type of adjustment of their position as well as their fixing with respect to the working surface or board. This adjustment should be simple because the sleeves and cabling will be subject to alterations for different types of sleeves for different vehicles.

Various types of clips are available whose function is to act as a securing element for the cables and their attachments and which also provide for small movements which may assist the operator in positioning and constructing the sleeve. Basically, all the clip systems comprise some means or way of connection to the board and working surface and some means or way of connecting the various cable parts and attachments to said clips, to enable construction of the sleeve. Nevertheless, the majority of existing clips are prone to certain defects which do not permit small variations in position once connected to the board.

According to the invention there is provided a clip for cabling of the type designed for connection to a board or working surface for use as guide, bearing and support elements for cables, sleeves and their attached elements, in which the clip comprises at its upper part support means whilst at its lower part it comprises a fixing system formed of a rail of substantially rectangular cross section, over the upper part of which a support may slide to be adjustably fixed to the rail.

With a clip according to the invention, these small variations in position are possible after the clip is connected to the board. Typically small variations. in position of around + 10cm can be achieved which, considering there may be more than 50 clips installed in one board, provides the system with great versatility and adaptability to the different cabling configurations and geometries, as well as to the various elements or parts thereof, since, as explained above, as well as the conductor or cable proper, small electrical and electronic components, terminals and the like are connected to parts thereof.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a transverse, elevational section of the clip envisaged and its system for fixing to a conventional board; Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2, of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a lateral, elevational view of a clip connected to a conventional board and comprising a supporting element in inclined position.

Figure 4 is another embodiment of the clip, in which the supporting element is a small rod bent at its lower end and connected to an angular profile or support; Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a lateral, elevational view of an embodiment of the clip, in which the supporting element adopts the form of a straight, vertical rod which is extended at its upper end by another rod bent in the form of a U; and Figure 7 is a front view of the clip shown in Figure 6.

The clip 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed by a plurality of elements for securing the clip proper to a board 17 and a plurality of supporting elements or means which may be used for cables, terminals, small electronic devices and the like which fit the various sleeves.

The elements for connecting the clip 10 to the board 17 are formed of a support or angular profile in the form of an inverted U-shaped member 13 which is mounted over a rail 12.

The rail 12 is provided with a series of holes 18 by which it is connected to the board 17 by a pair of screws and nuts 15.

The series of holes 18 allows the rail 12 to be fixed to the board 17 at a selected by thereafter fixed position. By contrast the rail has a central slot or series of holes and the member 13 can be adjustably fixed to the rail 12 along its length by means of a~nut and screw 14. The support 13 may itself have a series of holes to allow adjustment.

In this way, owing to the possibility of positioning the member 13 in different positions with respect to the rail 12, the supporting element may vary its relative position with respect to the rail by approximately 10 cm.

The supporting element 11 can be of various configurations as may be seen by comparing Figures 1, 3, 4 and 6.

Figure 1 shows a clip 10 where the supporting element comprises a cylindrical zone 11 whose upper part is extended along another cylindrical zone 11a of larger diameter. Such a clip uses the zone lla for connecting various elements of the sleeve.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the element 16 is inclined and designed to support an electronic component 19 suspended by the element 16, as may also be seen in Figure 4.

In another embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the supporting element 20 is formed by a cylindrical rod which is extended at the upper part by another cylindrical rod bent in the form of a U so having two arms 20a, whose function is to support various cables between its two branches 20a.

As has been described above, although the supporting element for fixing the cables and sleeve can vary from one embodiment to another, the clip 10 may comprise a variety of upper supporting elements. However, all variations enjoy the possibility of displacement backwards or forwards or to the right or left, suitably by 10 cm or similar amounts.

Claims (9)

1. A clip for cabling of the type designed for connection to a board or working surface for use as guide, bearing and support elements for cables, sleeves and their attached elements, in which the clip comprises at its upper part support means whilst at its lower part it comprises a fixing system formed of a rail of substantially rectangular cross section, over the upper part of which a support may slide to be adjustably fixed to the rail.

2. A clip for cabling as claimed in Claim 1 in which the rail has a series of holes or slots at its upper and lower faces for adjustably fixing the rail to the board and to the support.

3. A clip for cabling as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the support is formed of an angular profile of substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section.

4. A clip for cabling as claimed in any preceding claim in which the clip is connected to the board by means of matching screws and nuts

5. A clip for cabling as claimed in any preceding claim in which the relative position of the support is located with respect to the rail by matching screws and nuts.

6. A clip for cabling as claimed in any preceding claim in which the support means comprises a cylindrical zone, the upper part of which is extended in a cylindrical zone of smaller diameter.

7. A clip for cabling as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the support means is formed of a rod bent at an angle to the board.

8. A clip for cabling as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the support means is formed of an upright rod extended at its top by branches formed by a rod bent at its central part.

9. A clip for cabling substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 to 5, or Figures 6 and 7, of the accompany drawings.