Guide tool for guiding a harnessing device underneath a plurality of wires disposed on a harness board

• US 5,915,424 A
• Filed: 11/24/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Earley, John, Franks, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Lowell A.
• Application Number:
  US08/976,972
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 29/755, 53/589, 53/592, 100/25, 140/92.1, 269/903
• US Class Current: 140/92.1
• 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

A one-piece guide tool for use in guiding a harnessing device underneath a plurality of wires disposed on a harness board. The guide tool comprises an elongated body having a top surface on which the plurality of wires can be seated, a pair of sides and an elongated slot. The elongated slot extends down from the top surface and includes an entry end and an exit end. The elongated slot has a depth sufficient to enable a harnessing device to be guided into the elongated slot from the entry end, underneath the plurality of wires seated on the top surface and then out through the exit end without slipping out of the slot. Each of the sides of the elongated body includes a tab for mounting the guide tool onto the harness board.

Claims

1. A guide tool for use in guiding a harnessing device underneath a plurality of wires disposed on a harness board, the harnessing device being used to form said plurality of wires into a bundle, said guide tool comprising an elongated body generally U shaped in longitudinal cross-section, said elongated body having a top surface on which the plurality of wires can be seated, a pair of sides, a first end, a second end and an elongated slot, the elongated slot extending down from the top surface and having an entry end at the first end of said elongated body and an exit end at the second end of said elongated body, the elongated slot having a depth sufficient to enable said harnessing device to be guided into the elongated slot from the entry end, underneath the plurality of wires and then out through the exit end without slipping out of the slot, the guide tool further including a pair of tabs for mounting said guide tool onto the harness board, one tab being formed and extending out from each of the pair of sides of the elongated body one tab being formed at each end of the elongated body thereof so as to enable a pair of said guide tools to be mounted onto the harness board in an end-to-end relationship in which one end of the elongated body of a first guide tool abuts against one end of the elongated body of a second guide tool and in a side-to-side relation in which one side of the elongated body of a first guide tool abuts against one side of the elongated body of a second guide tool and wherein one tab from each one of said pair of guide tools is positioned underneath the elongated body of the other guide tool to create a nesting relationship between the pair of guide tools.

2. The guide tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said pair of tabs for mounting said guide tool onto the harness board includes a mounting slot for engaging a securing device.

3. The guide tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated body and said mounting tabs are a unitary structure.

4. A guide tool for use in guiding a harnessing device underneath a plurality of wires disposed on a harness board, the harnessing device being used to form said plurality of wires into a bundle, said guide tool comprising an elongated body having a top surface on which the plurality of wires can be seated, a pair of sides, a first end, a second end and an elongated slot extending down from the top surface, said elongated slot having an entry end at the first end and harnessing device to be guided into the elongated slot from the entry end, underneath the plurality of wires and then out through the exit end without slipping out of the slot, said elongated slot tapering out in width and sloping downward at an angle of about 60 degrees at its entry end to facilitate guiding the harnessing device into the elongated slot of said tool.

5. A guide tool for use in guiding a harnessing device underneath a plurality of wires disposed on a harness board, the harnessing device being used to form said plurality of wires into a bundle, said guide tool comprising an elongated body generally U shaped in longitudinal cross section and having a top surface on which the plurality of wires can be seated, bottom surface, a pair of sides, a first end, a second end and an elongated slot extending down from the top surface into which said harnessing device can be inserted, the guide tool further including a pair of tabs for mounting said guide tool onto the harness board, one tab being formed and extending out from each of the pair of sides, one at each end of said elongated body, whereby a pair of said guide tools can be mounted onto the harness board in an end-to-end relationship in which one end of the elongated body of a first guide tool abuts against one end of the elongated body of a second guide tool and in a side-to-side relation in which one side of said elongated body a first guide tool abuts against one side of second elongated body of a second guide tool so that one tab from each of said pair of guide tools is positioned underneath the bottom surface of the elongated body of the other guide tool to create a nesting relationship between the pair of guide tools.

6. A guide tool for use in guiding a harnessing device underneath a plurality of wires disposed on a harness board, the harnessing device being used to form said plurality of wires into a bundle, said guide tool comprising an elongated body having a top surface on which the plurality of wires can be seated, a substantially arcuately shaped bottom surface, a pair of sides, a first end, a second end and an elongated slot extending down from the top surface, said elongated slot having an entry end at the first end and an exit end at the second end, the elongated slot having a depth sufficient to enable said harnessing device to be guided into the elongated slot from the entry end, underneath the plurality of wires and then out through the exit end without slipping out of the slot, the guide tool further including a pair of tabs for mounting said guide tool onto the harness board, one tab being formed and extending out from each of the pair of sides at each end of said elongated body, said elongated body being shaped so as to enable a pair of said guide tools to be mounted onto the harness board in an end-to-end relationship in which one end of the elongated body of a first guide tool abuts against one end of the elongated body of a second guide tool and in a side-to-side relation in which one side of said elongated body a first guide tool abuts against one side of said elongated body of a second guide tool so that one tab from each of said pair of guide tools is positioned underneath the bottom surface of the elongated body of the other guide tool to create a nesting relationship between the pair of guide tools.