US3186553A - Cut wire holder and mounting means therefor - Google Patents

Description

June 1, 1965 G. L. DECACCIA 3,186,553

CUT WIRE HOLDER AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l $210. wazw June 1, 1965 L. DECACClA CUT WIRE HOLDER AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 18, 1962 2 Shets-Sheet 2 eva egv 4 ae'C' INVENTOR.

@ awazw .47'7'02/VE V United States Patent This invention relates to a cut wire holder for use at production stations and assembly lines in manufacturing plants where electrical harness assemblies and electrical products are assembled.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact and highly efiicient cut wire holder in which lengths of cut wire of. different sizes and lengths over a wide range may be grouped in such a manner that an operator at a production station may have ready access to the cut wires for use in a given production or assembly operation.

It is a further object hereof to provide a cut wire holder unit such as described whichincludes a plurality of tubular members that are constructed to permit a plurality of cut wires to be positioned therein in a novel manner and with the tubular members arranged in a compact group affording ready access thereto and the cut wires therein.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cut wire holder assembly of the character described in which the tubular wire holders and a released skeleton basket constitute a unit wherein a pair of rows of holders are detachably joined to the tray one above the other for containing a larger number of out wires over a wide range of lengths, sizes and types in positions such that the wires readily may be reached by a production worker with a minimum of effort and movement of the worker, the tray being constructed so that a number of such trays containing the cut wire holders may be nested one upon the other for positioning upon different types of supports.

It is another object of this invention to provide in wire holder units such as described, tubular wire contacting members which may be arranged in pairs in such a manner that the cut wires when bent to U-shape, may have the leg portions disposed in the joined members and the bight portion exposed so that bent wire units readily may be removed. 7

It is another object hereof to provide a cut wire holder of the character described which is particularly constructed to be used in connection with a tray supporting frame of the type disclosed in my patent application entitled Parts Container and Mounting Means Therefor, Serial No. 203,347, filed June 18, 1962, as well as in connection with a frame structure of the type shown in my patent application entitled Production Station Unit, Serial No. 203,346, filed June 18, 1962.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cut wire holder unit embodying the present invention as it would appear when ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the cut wire supporting tubes;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

basket.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of one of the trays for supporting a group of cut wire containing tubes and the frame for supporting the tray;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation of an assembly of trays as arranged for supporting groups of wire containing tubes; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

A cut wire holder unit embodying the present invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, includes a plurality of tubular cut wire holders 1 and an elongate skeleton basket 2 in which the tubular holders may be stacked longitudinally thereof in rows one above the other and with the holders paired as shown in FIG. 4 to receive the leg portions 3 of a length of wire that is bent to Ueshape to dispose the bight portions 4 in outwardly spaced relation to the tubular holders. With this arrangement the cut lengths of wire readily may be placed into and removed from the tubular holders 1.

Each of the tubular holders 1, as here shown, is made in two tubular sections 5 and 6 telescopically joined. The section 5 is non-circular and substantially square in cross section, as at 7, for approximately half its length and merges with the cylindrical remainder of the section 5. The walls of the non-circular section 7 converge slightly from the outer end of the holders and provide a wide mouth for the holder. The section 6 is cylindrical throughout and fits over the cylindrical end of the section 5. With this arrangement it is possible, as will be apparent with reference to FIG. 8, to employ sections 6 of diiferent length, to accommodate wire of different lengts, it being noted in FIG. 8 that the two lower tubular wire holders are provided with sections 6 of greater length than the upper two wire holders there shown.

The substantially square portions 7 of the holders 1 permit of stacking of the holders 1 in abutting relation, as shown in FIG. 3, so that a large number of holders may be nested in small compass without likelihood of the turning thereofabout their axes in view of the abutting flat faces. Moreover, these square end portions provide wide mouths of the holders 1, facilitating placement and removal of the cut wires.

Each elongate skeleton basket 2 is formed of lengths of suitable wire stock and includes, as here shown, three vertically spaced horizontal side wall members 10 on each side of the basket, joined to three similarly spaced horizontal end wall members 11 at each end of the The side wall members 10 are joined by a plurality of upright members 12 welded thereto. A bottom wall member 13 extends between the lowermost end wall members 11 and cooperates with the lowermost side wall members 10 to form the bottom of the basket. In addition, each basket 2 is provided at each end with a U-shaped member, the upright and upwardly divergent legs 14 of which are welded to the end members 11, while the bight portion extends below the lowermost end member 11 to form a hook portion 15. As shown in FIG. 8, when the baskets 2 are mounted one upon the other on a support 16, the hook portion 15 on the ends of the lowermost basket serve as supporting legs while the hook portions 15 on the ends of the upper basket hook over upper end members 11 of the lower basket. As the legs 14 are upwardly divergent, the hook portions 15 on the ends of the upper basket will nest, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the mouths of the U-shaped members on the ends of the lower basket.

The skeleton construction of the basket 2 makes it possible to group a plurality of the tubular wire holders 1 therein in two horizontal rows with the holders extending transversely of the basket between the side wall members 10 and with the squared entrance ends 7 of the 3 holders abutting one another and disposed substantially flush with one side wall of each basket. Each holder is disposed above another onev so that the holders are paired to receive the legs, 3 of the folded cut wires as indicated in FIG. 4.

Means are provided for detachably retaining the tubular wire holders in place in the baskets 2 and for this purpose each holder is provided with a pair of book members 18 here shown as integral with the upper outer edge of the square end portion 7. A similar hook member 19 depending from the outer lower edge of the end portion 7 is integral therewith. The, upper hook members 18 are hooked over the side wall members 10 above the holders, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 8, whereas the lower hook members 19 are hooked over the side hook members 18 and 19 embrace the wall members 10 in such a manner that each entire holder is supported by 'porting said tubular wire holders grouped in rows extending substantially horizontally alongside eachother; said holders being open, at their. outer ends; said mounting means including a skeleton basket having wire members forming opposite sides thereof; said holders being disposed with each row extending-transversely of 'saidjopposite sides of said basket and with the open ends of 'the'holders thereof between said wire members; downwardly facing hook means on the upper side of the open end 'of each holder; upwardly facing hook means on the lower side of With reference toFIG; 6, it will be apparent that the holders may be quickly and easily hooked in place or removed therefrom by reason of the construction of the hook members 18 and 19. With reference to the hooks 18, it is seen that the outer sides thereof are provided,

with flanges 20 forming a socket for a card 21, as indicated in FIG. 3, to designate the types and sizes of wires in each holder.

Aunit consisting of the frame 2 and a plurality of the wire holders 1 mounted therein, may be more efliciently employed when mounted as shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3, on a frame structure F which is of the same construction as that shown in my application entitled Parts Container and Mounting Means Therefor, hereinbefore noted. The frame structure F is of skeleton form and consists of a series of V-shaped members 22 which extend laterally from opposite sides of themain frame unit thatincludes an inverted U-shaped center member 23 having an up right member 24. disposed centrally of the legs thereof and of the frame Fas a whole. Pairs of tray engaging members 25 are extended transversely of the legs of the U-shaped member 23 and the upright member 24 for cooperation with the V-shaped members 22 to support the baskets 2. The center member 24 is provided with a bearing 26 at its lower end so that as shown in FIG 2, it may bemounted in a socket 27 of a mounting device 28 whereby the frame P will be rotatably supported. The mounting device 28 may be mounted on a part 28' of a production station frame unit shown in FIG. 1.

As a means of detachably positioning the baskets'2 with the tool holders 1 therein as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 on the frame F, each basket is provided with downwardly facing hooks 29 projecting from one side thereof,

the hooks being formed as the down-turned ends of cross members 30 welded to the legs 14 of the U-shaped end members. As shown in FIG. 2, the hooks 29 hook over the transverse member 25 of theframe so that the bottoms of a pair of the baskets 2 may be supported on each of the 'V-shaped members extending on opposite sidesofthe center frame unit 23. FIG. 2. shows how each of the uppermost members 22 of the frame unit supports a pair of the baskets 2 thereon, with the lowermost members 22 arranged to support trays 32 for containing a number of parts to. .be used at *a production station. With the frame F supportingboth the cut wire holders and the parts containing trays, it will be apparent that the parts and wires will be conveniently positioned for use by production operators in harness assembly operations as well as in the wiring of electrical products.

While specific structural details have been shown and 'described, it should be understood that changes and forming opposite sides thereof; said holders being disposed with each row'extending transversely of said opposite sides of said basket and between a pair-of said wire' members; downwardly facing hook meanson the upper side of the open end of each holder; upwardly facing hook means on the lower side of said ,open'end of each holder;

the same wire.

said hook meanson said upper and lower sides being .de tachably engagedwith said wire members of saidbasket and supporting said holders with said outerends thereof in line and disposed in outwardly spaced relation to said one side of said basket; and the hook-means extending between the holders ofadjacent rows being'engaged with 3. A unit for containing a plurality of cutwires for use in electrical wiring operatio'ns;.comprising: a plurality of elongate tubular wire holders; mounting means sup-' porting said tubular wire holders grouped inrows extending substantially horizontally alongsideeach other; said holders being open at their outer: ends; said mounting means including an elongate skeleton wire, basket having spaced wire members on the sides thereof; said holders being extended across said basket between said wiremembers with said open ends thereof in alignment .along one side of the basket; hook members on upper and lower sides of said aligned open ends of said holders detachably engaged with. said wire members; and with saidhook members which extend betweensaid rows being'in'interlocking relation; and said aligned endsbeing enlarged to provide enlarged mouths for'insertionand removal of cutwire into said holders. 7

References Cited by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,7159 1/21 Hodges; 141-345 1,975,046 1 9/34 Larkin 211-74 2,880,262 3/59 Bell et al.- 248-27 2,881,947 4/59 Hancock 211-60 2,919,017 12/59 Weber 220 8 3,005,620 10/61 Trunnell 141334 3,023,908 1 3/62 Ramey 211-74 3,104,778 1 9/63 Leonard 211-60 X 3,131,896 5/64 lngraham-u' 248--27 FRANK'L. ABBOTT, 'l rimary Examiner. CLAUDE A. LE koYmmmm er.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,186,553 June 1, 1965 Godfrey L. deCaccia It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 29, for "released" read related column 3, lines 16 to 19, strike out "hook members 18 and 19 embrace the wall members 10 in such a manner that each entire holder is supported by the wall members 10 over which the holders extend. The book members in spaced relation to members of the" and insert instead wall members 10' over which the holders extend. The hook members 18 and l 'effibrace the wall members 10 in such a manner that each entire holder is supported by the hook members in spaced relation to members of the Signed and sealed this 22nd day of March 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. A UNIT FOR CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF CUT WIRES FOR USE IN ELECTRICAL WIRING OPERATIONS, COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF ELONGATE TUBULAR WIRE HOLDERS; MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING SAID TUBULAR WIRE HOLDERS GROUPED IN ROWS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER; SAID HOLDERS BEING OPEN AT THEIR OUTER ENDS; SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A SKELETON BASKET HAVING WIRE MEMBERS FORMING OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF; SAID HOLDERS BEING DISPOSED WITH EACH ROW EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BASKET AND WITH THE OPEN ENDS OF THE HOLDERS THEREOF BETWEEN SAID WIRE MEMBERS; DOWNWARDLY FACING HOOK MEANS ON THE UPPER SIDE OF THE OPEN END OF EACH HOLDER; UPWARDLY FACING HOOK MEANS ON THE LOWER SIDE OF SAID OPEN END OF EACH HOLDER; AND SAID HOOK MEANS ON SAID UPPER AND LOWER SIDES BEING DETACHABLY ENGAGED WITH WIRE MEMBERS FOR HOLDING THE WIRE HOLDERS SO AS TO EXTEND INWARDLY OF SAID BASKET.

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