Accordian fold cable with flexible clips over the folds

• US 4,034,150 A
• Filed: 02/20/1976
• Issued: 07/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Barclaysamerican/Business Credit Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Southern Weaving Company (Engineered Textile Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burnett, Jack W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Askin, Laramie E.
• Application Number:
  US05/659,775
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 174/69, 174/135, 174/DIG. 9, 191/12 R, 191/12 S, 24/115 R, 24/243 K, 24/255 R, 24/259 R, 138/110, 160/395, 160/399, 160/402, 267/144, 267/165, 312/273
• US Class Current: 174/69
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/06 Extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/08 Flat or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4406 Resilient channel or bar

Abstract

A device is disclosed for maintaining a conductor cable in an accordion fold configuration comprising a flexible clip member having opposing inclined sides terminating at a joint section receivable over the folds of the accordion cable with fastening means for securing and maintaining the apex of the fold within the clip member.

Claims

1. In combination, an accordion-fold cable having a plurality of conductor wires, said cable being folded to define an open-loop configuration at each fold thereof, a flexible clip device carried over a fold comprising:

opposing inclined side portions convergently extended and terminating at a joint section;

remote ends of said opposing side portions being spaced apart and arranged over a fold of said accordion cable with an apex of said open loop of said fold being nested adjacently within said joint section;

fastening means securing and maintaining said apex of said fold in said nested position within said joint section reducing the tendency of said fold to remove from said clip member during an expansion of said cable; and

said opposing side portions being flexible inwardly and outwardly relative to each other so as to impart a retracting force to said cable following an expansion thereof;

whereby said cable may be maintained in its accordion fold configuration.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clip member is constructed from a one piece flexible material enabling said opposing sides to flex outwardly and retract inwardly for expansion and retraction of said cable folds, respectively.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said joint section includes an enlarged head portion and a pair of inwardly extending protuberances in opposing relationship defined by the intersections of said opposing side portions and said head portion, and said head portion accommodating an apex portion of said open loop extending above said protuberances.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fastening means includes an elongated member extending through said apex portion of said open loop and securing said apex portion within said clip member.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said fastening means includes an elongated member extending within said apex of said open loop and retaining means connected to remote ends of said elongated member extending over an upper surface of said clip member.

6. The combination of claim 2 further including an inwardly extending protuberance carried by each said opposing side portion in opposing relationship, and said joint section accommodating an apex portion of said open loop extending above said protuberances.

7. The combination of claim 1 further including a pair of inwardly extending protuberances in opposing relationship carried by said opposing side portions, and said joint section accommodating an apex portion of said open loop extending above said protuberances.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said fastening means includes an elongated member extending through said apex portion of said open loop and securing said apex portion within said joint section of said clip member.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes an elongated member extending within said apex of said open loop and retaining means connected to remote ends of said elongated member and extending over an upper surface of said cable at the fold thereof.