Gated retainer

• US 6,953,175 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jose Francisco Carrera
• Original Assignee: Jose Francisco Carrera
• Inventors: Carrera, Jose Francisco
• Primary Examiner(s): Baxter, Gwendolyn
• Application Number:
  US10/355,815
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 248/74.2, 248/71, 248/65, 248/316.5, 248/74.1, 248/58, 241/32.R, 244/82, 245/09, 244/87, 245/12, 245/13, 24/305.R, 269/131
• US Class Current: 248/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/01209 Details

Abstract

A quick acting gated retainer for wire, cable, or other elongated material requiring a permanent or temporary mount. The device features one or a pair of spring biased gates on one or both sides rotating and concurrently translating inwardly, during both the insertion and removal process of cable from the guide cavity formed to hold the inserted cable. This provides a clear line for both insertion and removal of cable or similar elongated objects from the guide cavity and prevention of damage to the inserted object from the gates which will naturally retract from contact with the inserted wire since the gates translate as well as rotate in their engagement. The nylon structure with the internal reinforcing guarantees a long lasting, rigid device that will not damage wires, cables or ropes held within the guide cavity.

Claims

1. A gated retainer comprising:

a first support member extending to a distal end from a base;

a second support member extending to a distal end from said base;

means of attachment of said base to a surface;

a first gate, said first gate having a first end and an tip end opposite said first end;

a guide cavity defined by the area between said first support member, said second support member, said base, and said first gate;

a first means for rotation of said first gate on said distal end of said first support member, said first means for rotation of said first gate providing concurrent rotation of said tip to toward said guide cavity and lateral translation of said tip end toward said distal end of said first support member, to an insertion position;

a second means for rotation of said first gate on said distal end of said first support member, said second means for rotation of said first gate providing concurrent rotation of said tip away from said guide cavity and lateral translation of said tip end toward said distal end of said first support member to a retraction position;

means to bias said first gate away from said distal end of said first member to a default position placing said tip immediately adjacent to said distal end of said second member; and

whereby said first gate, when in said default position, will rotate on said first means for rotation toward said guide cavity and concurrently translate toward said first member when force is exerted on a top side edge of said first gate and said first gate will rotate on said second means for rotation away from said guide cavity and concurrently translate toward said first member when force is exerted on a bottom side edge of said first gate, and said first gate will return to said default position when force on either of said side edges ceases.

2. The gated retainer of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a second gate, said second gate having a first end and an tip end opposite said first end, said tip end of said first gate positioned adjacent to said tip end of said first gate when said first gate is in said default position;

said guide cavity defined by the area between said first support member, said second support member, said base, said first gate and said second gate when said first gate is in said default position;

a third means for rotation of said second gate on said distal end of said second support member, said third means for rotation of said second gate, providing concurrent rotation of said tip of said second gate toward said guide cavity and lateral translation of said tip end of said second gate toward said distal end of said second support member, toward said insertion position;

a fourth means for rotation of said second gate on said distal end of said second support member, said fourth means for rotation of said second gate providing concurrent rotation of said tip of said second gate, away from said guide cavity and lateral translation of said tip end of said second gate toward said distal end of said second support member;

means to bias said second gate away from said distal end of said second member to a default position placing said tip immediately adjacent to said tip end of said first gate; and

whereby said first gate and said second gate, when in their respective default positions, will rotate on said respective first means for rotation and third means for rotation, toward said guide cavity and concurrently translate toward said first member and said second member when force is exerted on a top side edge of said first gate and a top side edge of said second gate and said first gate and said second gate will respectively rotate on said second means for rotation and said fourth means for rotation, away from said guide cavity, and both concurrently translate receptively toward said first member and said second member, when force is exerted on a bottom side edge of said first gate and said second gate, and both said first gate and said second gate will return to their respective default positions when force on either of their respective side edges ceases.

3. The gated retainer of claim 2 further comprising:

said second means of rotation of said first gate to said retraction position comprises;

a primary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said primary axis pin engaged in a first slot in said first gate;

a secondary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said secondary axis pin engaged in a second slot in said first gate; and

said secondary axis pin biased to one end of said second slot while said first axis pin laterally translates in said first slot when force is applied to said bottom side of said first gate;

said fourth means of rotation of said second gate toward said retraction position comprises;

a first axis pin attached to said distal end of said second support, said first axis pin engaged in a first slot in said second gate;

a second axis pin attached to said distal end of said second support, said second axis pin engaged in a second slot in said second gate;

said second axis pin biased to a first end of said second slot in said second gate while said first axis pin laterally translates in said first slot in said second support when force is applied to said bottom side of said second gate, and

whereby one or both of said first gate and said second gate will rotate toward said retraction position when force is allied to there respective bottom sides.

4. A gated retainer of claim 2 wherein said guide cavity is sized to accommodate a plurality of wires inserted therein;

and

a plurality of said gated retainers used as a kit and are attached to said surface in a pattern to form a wire harness from said wires inserted into said guide cavity of each of said plurality of said gated retainers.

5. The gated retainer of claim 2 further comprising:

said first means of rotation of said first gate to said insertion position comprises;

a primary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said primary axis pin engaged in a first slot in said first gate;

a secondary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said secondary axis pin engaged in a second slot in said first gate;

said primary axis pin biased to one end of said first slot while said secondary axis pin laterally translates in said second slot when force is applied to said top side of said first gate;

said third means of rotation of said second gate toward said insertion position comprises;

a first axis pin attached to said distal end of said second support, said first axis pin engaged in a first slot in said second gate;

a second axis pin attached to said distal end of said second support, said second axis pin engaged in a second slot in said second gate;

said first axis pin biased to a first end of said first slot in said second gate while said second axis pin laterally translates in said second slot in said second support when force is applied to said top side of said second gate, and

whereby one or both of said first gate and said second gate will rotate toward said insertion position when force is allied to there respective top sides.

6. The gated retainer of claim 5 further comprising:

said second means of rotation of said first gate to said retraction position comprises;

a primary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said primary axis pin engaged in a first slot in said first gate;

a secondary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said secondary axis pin engaged in a second slot in said first gate; and

said secondary axis pin biased to one end of said second slot while said first axis pin laterally translates in said first slot when force is applied to said bottom side of said first gate;

said fourth means of rotation of said second gate toward said retraction position comprises;

a first axis pin attached to said distal end of said second support, said first axis pin engaged in a first slot in said second gate;

a second axis pin attached to said distal end of said second support, said second axis pin engaged in a second slot in said second gate;

said second axis pin biased to a first end of said second slot in said second gate while said first axis pin laterally translates in said first slot in said second support when force is applied to said bottom side of said second gate, and

whereby one or both of said first gate and said second gate will rotate toward said retraction position when force is allied to there respective bottom sides.

7. The gated retainer of claim 5 further comprising

said first gate being generally triangular in shape;

and

said first and second slots being generally arched in shape and extending adjacent to said top and bottom sides respectively from said first end to said tip;

said second gate being generally triangular in shape; and

said first and second slots of said second gate being generally arched in shape and extending adjacent to said top and bottom sides of said second gate from said first end of said second gate to said tip of said second gate.

8. The gated retainer of claim 1 further comprising:

said first means of rotation of said first gate to said insertion position comprises;

a primary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said primary axis pin engaged in a first slot in said first gate;

a secondary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said secondary axis pin engaged in a second slot in said first gate; and

said primary axis pin biased to one end of said first slot while said secondary axis pin laterally translates in said second slot when force is applied to said top side of said first gate.

9. The gated retainer of claim 8 further comprising:

said second means of rotation of said first gate to said retraction position comprises;

a primary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said primary axis pin engaged in a first slot in said first gate;

a secondary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said secondary axis pin engaged in a second slot in said first gate; and

said secondary axis pin biased to one end of said second slot while said first axis pin laterally translates in said first slot when force is applied to said bottom side of said first gate.

10. The gated retainer of claim 8 further comprising:

said first gate being generally triangular in shape; and

said first and second slots being generally arched in shape and extending adjacent to said top and bottom sides respectively from said first end to said tip.

11. The gated retainer of claim 1 further comprising:

said second means of rotation of said first gate to said retraction position comprises;

a primary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said primary axis pin engaged in a first slot in said first gate;

a secondary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support, said secondary axis pin engaged in a second slot in said first gate; and

said secondary axis pin biased to one end of said second slot while said first axis pin laterally translates in said first slot when force is applied to said bottom side of said first gate.

12. A gated retainer of claim 1 wherein said guide cavity is sized to accommodate a plurality of wires inserted therein;

and

a plurality of said gated retainers are used as a kit and attached to said surface in a pattern to form a wire harness from said wires inserted into said guide cavity of each of said plurality of said gated retainers.

13. A gated retainer comprising:

a first support member extending to a distal end from a base;

a second support member extending to a distal end from said base;

means of attachment of said base to a surface;

a gate, said gate having a first end and an tip end opposite said first end;

a primary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support member and engaged in a first axis slot of a said gate;

a secondary axis pin attached to said distal end of said first support member and engaged in a second axis slot in said gate;

a pivot point located on said distal end of said first support member in-between said primary axis pin and said secondary axis pin;

said gate having an insertion position, and a retraction position opposite said insertion position and having a closed position in-between said insertion position and said retraction position;

means to bias said gate away from said pivot point and maintain said primary axis at a first end of said first axis slot and said secondary axis pin at a first end of said second axis slot thereby maintaining said gate in said closed position with said tip end adjacent to said distal end of said second support member;

said gate rotatable to said insertion position wherein said primary axis is engaged at said first end of said first axis slot and said secondary axis pin is laterally translated away from said first end of said second axis slot and said tip end is translated toward said axis point;

said gate rotatable to said retraction position wherein said secondary axis is engaged at said first end of said second axis slot and said primary axis pin is laterally translated away from said first end of said primary axis slot and said tip end is translated toward said axis point; and

whereby said gate defaults to said closed position and is rotatable to said insertion position and said retraction position by pressure applied on opposing side edges of said gate.