Assembly post

• US 4,337,934 A
• Filed: 10/20/1980
• Issued: 07/06/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Caveney, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watson, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US06/198,406
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 269/903, 269/77, 269/78, 269/74, 269/71, 29/755, 29/760, 254/390, 254/139, 254/3 RA, 298/71, 298/68 R, 298/70, 298/297.1, 298/125, 140/92.1
• US Class Current: 269/77
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 13/18 Details of, or auxiliary devices used in, bundling machines or bundling tools
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01209 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 269/903 Work holder for electrical circuit assemblages or wiring systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53243 Multiple, independent conductors

Abstract

An assembly post for holding a portion of elongate objects, such as wires to be formed into a bundle, elevated with respect to a wiring layout board and for defining a turn in the objects. The assembly post comprises means for mounting the post on the layout board and holding means supported by the mounting means for holding the elongate objects. The holding means is movable between an extended position wherein it supports the objects and a retracted position wherein it is closer to the layout board than in its extended position. The post also includes means for maintaining the holding means in its extended position during wiring of the bundle against a predetermined force greater than the weight of the portion of elongate objects whereby, after layout of the bundle, application of a force greater than the predetermined force causes movement of the holding means to its retracted position and permits application of a tying device and removal of the bundle without substantial interference from the post.

Claims

1. An assembly post for holding a portion of elongate objects, such as wires to be formed into a bundle, elevated with respect to a wiring layout board used in the formation of said bundle and for defining a turn in one or more of said objects, said assembly post comprising:

means for mounting said assembly post on said layout board;

holding means supported by said mounting means for holding said portion of said elongate objects, said holding means being movable between an extended position wherein it supports said objects as they are formed into a bundle and a retracted position wherein said holding means is closer to said layout board than in its extended position; and

means for maintaining said holding means in its extended position during wiring of said bundle against a predetermined force greater than the weight of said portion of elongate objects whereby, after layout of the bundle, application of a force greater than said predetermined force causes movement of said holding means to its retracted position and permits application of a tying device and removal of said bundle without substantial interference from said assembly post,

said maintaining means comprises a collet extending from said holding means, said collet having a bore for slidably receiving said mounting means,

said collet being formed by a curved wall having a window therein, said maintaining means further comprising a resilient finger extending into the window with the distal end of the finger frictionally engaging said mounting means.

2. An assembly post for holding a portion of wires to be formed into a bundle elevated with respect to a wiring layout board and for defining a turn in one or more of said wires, said post comprising:

a spindle adapted for mounting on said layout board;

a spool having a bore for receiving said spindle, said spool being rotatable about said spindle and slidable on said spindle between an extended position spaced from said layout board and a retracted position closer said layout board, said spindle comprising a cylindrical portion for defining a turn in a wire and a rim for supporting said wires; and

means for maintaining said spool in its extended position and rotatable during wiring of said bundle against a predetermined force greater than the weight of said portion of wires whereby, after layout of said bundle, application of a force greater than said predetermined force causes movement of said spool to its retracted position and permits application of a tying device and removal of said bundle without substantial interference from said assembly post, said means for maintaining including resilient means frictionally engaging said spindle.

3. A post as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rim is a lower rim disposed adjacent one end of said cylindrical portion.

4. A post as set forth in claim 3 wherein said spool further comprises an upper rim disposed at the other end of said cylindrical portion.

5. A post as set forth in claim 3 wherein said spool further comprises a radially extending arm at the end of said cylindrical portion opposite said rim.

6. The combination of a plurality of wires to be formed into a bundle and an assembly post for holding a portion of said wires elevated with respect to a wiring layout board and for defining a turn in said wires, said assembly post comprising:

means for mounting said assembly post on said layout board;

holding means supported by said mounting means for holding said portion of said wires, said holding means being movable between an extended position wherein it supports said wires as they are formed into a bundle and a retracted position wherein said holding means is closer to said layout board than in its extended position; and

means for maintaining said holding means in its extended position during wiring of said bundle against a predetermined force greater than the weight of said portion of wires, said means for maintaining comprising a collet having an aperture for receiving said mounting means and further comprising resilient means extending between said collet and mounting means and frictionally engaging one of said collet and mounting means.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said holding means is made of thermoplastic material, said mounting means is of metallic construction and said maintaining means is integral with said holding means.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said holding means is slidable on said mounting means and wherein said mounting means comprises stop means for limiting movement of said holding means away from said layout board.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said mounting means is elongate and comprises a mounting end, a head end and an intermediate stem portion on which said holding means is slidable.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said mounting end is in the form of a nail terminating in a pointed tip for being driven into said layout board.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said head end comprises a stop for limiting movement of said holding means away from said layout board.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said holding means comprises a spool having a cylindrical portion for defining a turn in one or more of said wires and a rim for holding said portion of said wires spaced from said layout board.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said resilient means engages said stem portion and said stem portion includes an annular groove disposed adjacent said head end for seating said resilient means.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said resilient means comprises at least one resilient finger, said groove being bounded by said head end and an annular ramp surface for outwardly camming said finger as said holding means is moved from its extended position.