Line organizer

• US 5,336,179 A
• Filed: 11/22/1993
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard M. Ryan
• Original Assignee: Richard M. Ryan
• Inventors: Ryan, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilkens, Frank
• Application Number:
  US08/155,297
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 128/DIG. 6, 128/DIG. 26, 604/80, 604/81, 604/250, 604/258, 604/283, 604/284, 604/261, 604/189, 604/191, 248/65, 248/68.1, 248/70, 248/72, 248/74.2, 248/205.2, 248/206.5, 248/228-230, 248/231.5, 248/213.8
• US Class Current: 604/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1418 Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/223 each support having one transverse base for supporting the pipes F16L3/23, F16L3/237 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/06 Intravenous injection support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

An organizer for organizing and maintaining a plurality of lines in a specifically arranged manner. The organizer is to include a clamping arrangement to facilitate securement to an exterior structure. The lines are fixedly mounted at appropriate spaced-apart locations on a block with this block being pivotally mounted on the clamping apparatus so as to position the lines at a desired orientation relative to an exterior structure upon which the clamping apparatus is mounted. Identifying indicia is to be placed on the organizer which is to correspond to identifying indicia on the lines so as to organize the lines and avoid confusion between the different lines mounted on the organizer.

Claims

1. An organizer for a plurality of flexible lines comprising:

a clamping apparatus defining a clamping section adapted for secure mounting onto an exterior structure, said clamping apparatus being movable between an unsecured position and a secured position, said secured position being when said clamping apparatus is fixed to the exterior structure, said unsecured position being when said clamping apparatus is not attached to the exterior structure, said clamping apparatus comprising a pair of jaws, a handle connected to each said jaw with there being two in number of said handles, a biasing means connected between said handles exerting a continuous biasing force tending to locate said clamping apparatus in said secured position; and

a block mounted by mounting means on one of said jaws, said block being spaced from said clamping section, said mounting means permitting pivotal movement of said block on said clamping apparatus so as to be pivotable to various angular positions relative to said clamping apparatus, said block having a plurality of spaced-apart slots, each said slot to connect with a said line in a removably engaged manner.

2. The organizer as defined in claim 1 wherein:

each said jaw having a handle, said mounting means being mounted on one of said handles.

3. The organizer as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said mounting means including a ball and socket arrangement which permits the pivoting of said block relative to said clamping apparatus.

4. The organizer as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said mounting means further includes a dovetailed bracket assembly, said dovetailed bracket assembly being locatable in an engaged position and a disengaged position, said disengaged position resulting in separation of said block and said ball and socket from said clamping apparatus.

5. The organizer as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said dovetailed bracket assembly including a locking detent to securely connect together said block and said clamping apparatus when in said engaged position.

6. The organizer as defined in claim 5 wherein:

a biasing means located between said handles, said biasing means exerting a continuous force tending to locate said clamping apparatus in said secured position.

7. The organizer as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said biasing means comprising a leaf spring.

8. The organizer as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said block including a series of differentiating indicia with there being a specially different indicia for each said slot, said lines including a similar series of said indicia, a said line to be located within a slot with their indicia corresponding.