Cable storage device

• US 7,215,867 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komax Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Komax Holding AG
• Inventors: Meredith, Zane, Noseda, Iso
• Primary Examiner(s): Font; Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney; Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US11/262,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20060110120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137, 206/499, 248/49, 248/68.1, 248/73, 248/74.1, 269/86, 269/156, 269/238, 269902-903, 298/63
• US Class Current: 385/137
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/052 with wire-feeding mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/28 for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26

Abstract

In order to keep the load on the cables in a cable storage device as light as possible during the process of storing, and furthermore in order to keep the release of the cables as simple as possible, a cable storage device is provided in which at least on one side of the storage device a shoulder of a block is provided, which during storage is pushed down by the cable gripper, and as a result of this during storage the cable or cable end is practically not exposed to any transverse or longitudinal load. In this arrangement the block with the shoulder or shoulders is pushed upward by a spring and in this way ensures reliable clamping action in the storage device.

Claims

1. A device for the storage of cables, in particular cable ends, comprising

a storage device body comprising a gap;

and

a holding means, designed as a clamping means, for holding the cables in the gap, through which holding means in the clamping state a cable space being open in the longitudinal direction of the cables is formed, by which cable space the cables are held,

wherein

the clamping means comprises a base block, which by a first spring means is pushed into a first direction that is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cables, and further comprises a locking element, wherein the block and the locking element together with the components of the storage device body form the cable space; and

wherein the base block at least on one side in longitudinal direction of the cables comprises a shoulder that protrudes beyond the storage device body.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the base block comprises shoulders on both sides in longitudinal direction of the cables.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the locking element is a snap-on device which by way of a second spring means is pushed in a second direction, which is essentially perpendicular both to the longitudinal direction of the cables and to the first direction.

4. The device according to claim 3, further comprising an operating means for opening the locking element.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein for the purpose of setting a specific spring force the first spring means is designed so as to be adjustable.

6. A cable storage device made from a multitude of devices according to claim 1, the devices being arranged one behind the other.

7. The cable storage device according to claim 6, wherein the devices for storing the cables are arranged on a rail.

8. The cable storage device according to claim 7, wherein by holding and guiding handles that are designed such that the rails with the cable storage devices can be pushed by their handles in a guide.

9. A method for the storage of cables or cable ends in a storage device, by means of a storage device according to claim 1, wherein a cable gripper, which holds a cable, pushes down the shoulders of a block of the storage device, thus enlarging a storage space;

the cable or cable end temporarily opens a locking means of the cable storage device thus enabling the cable or cable end to get into the storage space;

the cable or cable end is released by the cable gripper and the cable gripper is lifted, as a result of which the shoulders of the block are released and the storage space is reduced in size such that the cable or cable end is held by clamping action.