US3126183A

US3126183A - hopkins

Info

Publication number: US3126183A
Authority: US
Priority date: 1961-10-16
Publication date: 1964-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-24
Also published as: GB952425A; US3126185A; US3126184A

Description

March 24, 1964 J. H HOPKINS MOUNTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1961 INVENTOR. Joseph H. Hopkins His Af forney March 1964 J. H. HOPKINS MOUNTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16. 1961 Fig. 8

v INVENTOR. Joseph H. Hopkins H/s Attorney United States Patent 3,126,183 MOUNTING MEANS Joseph H. Hopkins, Warren, Ohio, assign'or to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,303 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-73) This invention relates to mounting means and, more particularly, to a one-piece device which can be used to carry articles such as a pipe, bar as well as conductor means adjacent to an apertured panel.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved one-piece mounting means of moldable plastic material which can embrace longitudinally extending articles free of any tape-like wrapping and which can be readily assembled into position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an allplastic mounting means including a pair of opposite though complementary hinged body portions joined by an intermediate portion and adapted to be interlocked to provide alignment of nose-like barbed lug means formed integrally with each of the hinged portions and collectively embraceable about an article to be carried thereby adjacent to an apertured mounting panel.

A further object of this invention is to provide an allplastic motmting means transversely to embrace a longitudinally extending article and having at least one pair of hinged body portions interconnected to each other by a web of reduced thickness of material such as poly propylene and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cable and conduit loop-type clamp means of moldable plastic material of relative straight as well as J-shaped hinged portions interconnected by a single web of reduced thickness to facilitate folding into a closed loop as a clamplike mounting means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of an all-plastic mounting means including complementary interlocking portions hingedly connected to each other and adapted for use in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the mounting means of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view in the direction of arrow 3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the mounting means of FIGURES l, 2 and 3 having portions folded to interlock in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of another embodiment of a loop-type clamp means.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 represent side, end and top views, respectively, of folded clamp means of FIGURE 5.

During manufacture and assembly of motor vehicles a need exists for proper positioning of various components includ'mg grouped conductor means as a wiring harness as well as tubular or pipe-like members for fuel lines and the like. Use of metal clips for mounting such components can be detrimental since metal can wear through conductor insulating material due to vibration and rubbing and. metal clips can also cause pipes made of bendable material to wear through and result in fuel leakage which can prove to be quite troublesome. Use of a Wrapped tape or covering as disclosed in Patent 2,931,- 851-Sims belonging to the assignee of the present invention is useful in some locations but otherwise can involve added expense and labor which may be impractical. The

3,126,183 Patented Mar; 24, 1964 mounting means of the present invention can be secured to single wires and possibly multiple wires as well as pipe or bar means for positioning the same in a location adjacent to an apertured mounting panel.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown a mounting means generally lndicated by numeral 10 and made of moldable plastic material in one piece to embrace longitudinally extending articles free of any tape-like wrapping or covering. The mounting means 10 includes a pair of hinged body portrons 11 and 12 symmetrically joined by a pair of identical and integral hinges 13 of reduced thickness of moldable plastic material to an intermediate portion 14. The pair of hinged body portions 11-12 and integral intermediate portion 14 can be molded in an open condition or state as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 and each of the hinged body portions 11-12 per se can be moved into a delta configuration with the intermediate portion 14. Extending longitudinally in opposite directions and integral with each of the body portions there are semi-arcuate

shank portions

15 and 16 having a rounded outer periphery but substantially flattened along a pair of slightly tapered

complementary surfaces

17 and 18 extending from the shank portions 15-16 to barbed lug means or

semiconical head portions

19 and 20 each providing a semiannular shoulder or

abutment

21 and 22, respectively. These

shoulders

21 and 22 extend laterally outwardly and the barbed lug means 1? and 20 can be flexed toward each other to a limit determined by face to face engagement of the surfaces 17-18 during insertion of the lug means 19-20 into an opening or aperture of a mounting means H outlined in FIGURE 4.

As can be seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the hinged body portion 11 also includes a J-shaped latching section 23 integral between the hinged body portion 11 and shank 15 and providing a laterally inwardly extending corner 24 adapted to engage an interlock with a complementary corner 25 of a J-shaped section 26 integral intermediate the hinged body portion 12 and shank 16. It is to be noted that the shoulders or abutments 24-25 of these J-shaped sections extend somewhat more than halfway relative to the width of the intermediate portion 14 and thus these shoulders 24 can be momentarily flexed laterally away from each other and then caused to hook into engagement with each other for holding the halves of the barbed lug means 19-2il in alignment as represented in FIGURE 4 such that partially arcuate

recesses

27, 28 and 29 in the hinged body portions 11 and 12 as well as the intermediate portion 14, respectively, form a through passage 3t) shown in FIGURE 4 adapted to receive a single or a pair of members having an outer periphery engageable by a transverse, centrally located and inwardly extending projection 31 which can either directly engage outer periphery of a single wire or which can maintain spacing of a pair of wires by being spaced or wedged therebetween as the hinged body portions 11-12 as well as intermediate portion 14 transversely embrace the wiring or other tubular articles to be mounted adjacent to a mounting panel M having a hole or aperture therein into which the shanks 15-16 extend. The semi-arcuate complementary abutments or shoulders 21-22 engage a peripheral edge on one side of the mounting panel M and on an opposite side of the panel the J-shaped sections 23-26 of the hinged body portion 11-12, respectively, engage a peripheral edge defining the opening through the panel so that conductor means or conduits indicated by a reference C and outlined in FIGURE 4 can be carried in predetermined spaced relation adjacent to the mount ing panel M. Thus, the mounting means 10 serves as a clamp for holding cable, bundle of cables, wiring harness means, conduit pipe, tubing, etc. in place when installed. The integral hinges 13 of reduced thickness of moldable plastic material are provided on opposite sides of the intermediate portion 14 as the one-piece mounting means is molded in an unfolded or open condition subject to folding and installation as represented by a view of FIG- URE 4. The pair of hinges 13 permit folding of the hinge and body portions 11 and 12 toward each other while simultaneously forming and providing complementary positioning of the barbed lug means 19-20 and interlocking or latching of the abutments or shoulders 2425 to maintain embracing relationship of the hinged body portions 1112 as well as intermediate portion 14 relative to longitudinally extending articles or members such as the conductors or conduits C. Use of two or three separate pieces with separate hinge parts therebetween would be considerably more expensive and would not be as easy and quick to assemble as the one-piece construction of the present invention which can be made of plastic material such as polypropylene and the like. When it is necessary to remove the conduits or conductors C from a position adjacent to the mounting panel it is possible to flex the semi-conical heads 19-24] or barbed lug means toward each other to a limit determined by engagement of the tapered surfaces 17-18 followed by axial movement of the shanks 1516 and barbed lug means through the aperture of the mounting panel M. The mounting means can be removed from transverse positioning on the conductors or conduits C by flexing the interlocking shoulders 24-25 away from each other to permit separation of the hinged body portions 11 and 12 for removal of the conduits or conductors C from the passage 30. The mounting means 10 can be made in a mold requiring only two parts or complementary pieces rather than a three-piece mold which is more complicated and expensive. By folding the hinged body portions 1112 and intermediate portion 14 together as permitted by the pair of transverse integral hinges 13 of reduced thickness of plastic material it is possible to embrace the conduit or conductor members C without need for any holes in the mounting means though opposite ends thereof form barbed and complementary lug means or a lateral projection collectively formed integral with the mounting means. The pair of hinges permits folding of the hinged body portions 11--12 around the conduits or conductors while at the same time bringing into position the abutments 2425 for interlock or latching to hold the mounting means 10 in place and also to align the protrusions or lug means 1920 used to assemble the mounting means in apertures or holes of a mounting panel such as M. The mounting means 10 can be used to particular advantage for one or two conductors or conduits Where provision of a wrapping or tape covering, as disclosed in Patent 2,931,85lSims, would involve unnecessary expense for material and cost of added operations.

FIGURES 5 through 8 illustrate another embodiment of a loop-type clamp means generally indicated by numeral 40. This clamp means includes a relatively straight first body portion 41 and a substantially J-shaped second body portion 42. FIGURE 5 illustrates the clamp means 40 as molded to have a single web-like hinge portion 43 joining the first body portion 41 and second body portion 42. This single hinge portion 43 is thinner than the first and second body portions 4142. The weblike hinge portion 43 in its initial condition is formed by a flat surface 45 located in a plane substantially parallel to the relatively straight body portion 41 and the moldable plastic material such as polypropylene of which the clamp means 40 is made tends to retain its initial molded shape such that the fiat surface 45 is urged to remain in such parallel relationship to the relatively straight body portion 41 so as to maintain spread of the body portions 4142 away from each other until the body portions are folded as indicated in views of FIGURES 6, 7 and 8. The web-like hinge portion 43 on a surface opposite to that indicated by numeral 43 has an arcuate or semicircular periphery 47 and folding of the body portions 41-42 into a closed loop results in alignment of holes or

apertures

48 and 49 through which suitable fastening means such as a rivet, screw, bolt and the like can be passed. The body portions 4142 form a passage 50 into which one or more conduits or conductors can be fitted to be held adjacent to a mounting panel having an aperture into which suitable fastening means can be inserted. Reference can be made to copending applications S.N. 145,358-Christman and SN. 145,39 6--Kropp both filed concurrently herewith and belonging to the assignee of the present invention and representing further modifications of structures disclosed herein.

While the embodiments of the present invention herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A one-piece mounting means of moldable plastic material, comprising, a pair of opposite though complementary body portions initially extending in opposite directions, an intermediate portion integral between said body portions, a pair of reduced thickness hinges integrally to join said intermediate portion to said body portions, complementary interlock means integral with each of said body portions and engageable with each other to maintain embracing positioning of the complementary body portions and intermediate portion around longitudinally extending articles such as conduits, conductors and the like, and barbed semi-arcuate lug means projecting from each of said body portions positionable adjacent to each other for installation in a mounting panel aperture, said hinged body portions having the same width as said intermediate portion though said interlock means has substantially half the width of said intermediate portion and has a semi-arcuate shank and semi-conical shoulder projection integral therewith to be positioned laterally face to face during installation of said mounting means.

2. A one-piece mounting means of moldable plastic material, comprising, a pair of opposite though complementary body portions initially extending in opposite directions, an intermediate portion integral between said body portions, a pair of reduced thickness hinges integrally to join said intermediate portion to said body portions, complementary interlock means integral with each of said body portions and engageable with each other to maintain embracing positioning of the complementary body portions and intermediate portion around longitudinally extending articles such as conduits, conductors and the like, and barbed semi-arcuate lug means projecting from each of said body portions positionable adjacent to each other for installation in a mounting panel aperture, each of said hinged body portions including a substantially hook-shaped latch section each having end shoulders thereof extending over halfway the width of said intermediate portion and thereby providing said complementary interlock means.

3. A one-piece mounting means of moldable plastic material, comprising, a pair of opposite through complementary body portions initially extending in opposite directions, an intermediate portion integral between said body portions, a pair of reduced thickness hinges integrally to join said intermediate portion to said body portions, complementary interlock means integral with each of said body portions and engageable with each other to maintain embracing positioning of the complementary body porions and intermediate portion around longitudinally extending articles such as conduits, conductors and the like, and barbed semi-arcuate lug means projecting from each of said body portions positionable adjacent to each other for installation in a mounting panel aperture, each of said hinged body portions having a hook-shaped latch section angularly integral therewith and each carrying an outwardly semi-arcuate shank and semi-conical barbed lug means, each said shank and lug means sharing a tapered inner face to be spaced a predetermined distance from counterparts thereof as said hinged body portions are folded toward each other over said intermediate portion 2,992,801 having a transverse projection centrally therewith. 2, 9

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,061,463 Hall Nov. 17, 1936 2,969,570 Petri Jan. 31, 1961 874,813

6 Lander July 18, 1961 Holton Aug. 15, 1961 Schmitt Jan. 2, 1962 Orenick et al May 7, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 10, 1961

Claims

1. A ONE-PIECE MOUNTING MEANS OF MOLDABLE PLASTIC MATERIAL, COMPRISING, A PAIR OF OPPOSITE THOUGH COMPLEMENTARY BODY PORTIONS INITIALLY EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION INTERGRAL BETWEEN SAID BODY PORTIONS, A PAIR OF REDUCED THICKNESS HINGES INTERGRALLY TO JOIN SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION TO SAID BODY PORTIONS, COMPLEMENTARY INTERLOCK MEANS INTERGRAL WITH EACH OF SAID BODY PORTIONS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER TO MAINTAIN EMBRACING POSITIONING OF THE COMPLEMENTARY BODY PORTIONS AND INTERMEDIATE PORTION AROUND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ARTICLES SUCH AS CONDUITS CONDUCTORS AND THE LIKE, AND BARBED SEMI-ARCUATE LUG MEANS PROJECTING FROM EACH OF SAID BODY PORTIONS POSITIONABLE ADJACENT TO ECH OTHER FOR INSTALLATION IN A MOUNTING PANEL APERTURE, SAID HINGED BODY PORTIONS HAVING THE SAME WIDTH AS SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION THOUGH SAID INTERLOCK MEANS HAS SUBSTANTIALLY HALF THE WIDTH OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION AND HAS A SEMI-ARCUATE SHANK AND SEMI-CONICAL SHOULDER PROJECTION INTERGRAL THEREWITH TO BE POSITIONED LATERALLY FACE TO FACE DURING INSTALLATION OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS.