TWO-SHOT TUBE RETENTION POCKET TUBE CLAMP, MOLD AND PROCESS

• US 20150377387A1
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: DIEP, Tien T., MEYERS, Jason A., PILON, Roger E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,541,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1418 Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/1673 injecting the first layer, then feeding the insert, then injecting the second layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0017 moulding interconnected elements which are movable with respect to one another, e.g. chains or hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/12 using two or more fixed moulds, e.g. in tandem B29C45/076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1418 the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1675 using exchangeable mould halves
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2628 with mould parts forming holes in or through the moulded article, e.g. for bearing cages
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0002 insulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0046 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/727 Fastening elements bolts B29L2001/002; nuts B29L2001/005; screws B29L2001/007; slide fasteners B29L2005/00; buttons for haberdashery B29L2019/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/00 Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets anchors for holding pipes on or under the ground F16L1/06; sound-damping supports F16L55/035; supports for insulated pipes F16L59/135
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/02 partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing bands or chains F16L3/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/08 substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/22 specially adapted for supporting a number of parallel pipes at intervals
• 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: F16L 55/035 : in the form of specially adapted hangers or supports
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 : Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/30 : Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/32 : using mounting clamps

Abstract

A first shot body member includes a pair of side walls, a semi-circular sleeve positioned between the pair of side walls to define a portion of a longitudinal pocket, and a pair of deflecting wings. Each deflecting wing is coupled to one of the side walls at a corner. A second shot isolation member of an elastically resilient second material is bonded to portions of an interior surface of the longitudinal pocket defined by each of: the semi-circular sleeve, each of the pair of side walls, each of the pair of corners, and each of the pair of wings. Mold members can include supporting surfaces to support interior and exterior portions of the wing during the second shot molding operation, while leaving an exposed interior bonding surface that defines a portion of the second shot molding cavity. Related methods are further disclosed.

Claims

1. A tube retention fastener, comprising:

a body of a first polymeric material, the body including;

a pair of side walls;

a semi-circular sleeve positioned between the pair of side walls to define a portion of a longitudinal pocket;

a pair of deflecting wings, each of the pair of deflecting wings being coupled to one of the pair of side walls at one of a pair of corners, respectively, each deflecting wing extending toward a central plane passing through a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal pocket in a non-deflected position;

wherein the pair of side walls, the semi-circular sleeve, the pair of corners, and the pair of deflecting wings together define an interior surface of the longitudinal pocket;

an isolation member of an elastically resilient second material bonded to portions of an interior surface of the longitudinal pocket defined by each of;

the semi-circular sleeve, each of the pair of side walls, each of the pair of corners, and each of the pair of deflecting wings.

2. The tube retention fastener of claim 1, wherein each one of the pair of corners defines a hinge point for both an isolation member portion and a body portion of an adjacent one of the pair of deflecting wings.

3. The tube retention fastener of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of deflecting wings has a deflected position in which a wing portion of the isolation member that is bonded to each deflecting wing along a first span between an adjacent one of the pair of corners and a distal end of the deflecting wing, contacts against a side wall portion of the isolation member that is bonded to an adjacent one of the pair of side walls along a second span between the adjacent one of the pair of corners and the semi-circular sleeve.

4. The tube retention fastener of claim 1, wherein a wing longitudinal end face of the isolation member is interiorly offset from a wing longitudinal end face of the body adjacent each of the pair of deflecting wings.

5. The tube retention fastener of claim 4, wherein the wing longitudinal end face of the isolation member is interiorly offset from the wing longitudinal end face of the body adjacent an entire wing length of each of the pair of deflecting wings from the respective first and second corner to the respective first and second distal ends.

6. The tube retention fastener of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal end face of the isolation member is interiorly offset from a longitudinal end face of the body adjacent an entire longitudinal pocket length from the first corner along the first side wall, the semi-circular sleeve, and the second side wall to the second corner.

7. The tube retention fastener of claim 1, wherein the resilient member further comprises a plurality of longitudinal ribs within the longitudinal pocket, and wherein a pair of opposing longitudinal ribs define an entry throat that is narrower than a diameter defined by the plurality of longitudinal ribs.

8. The tube retention fastener of claim 7, wherein each of the pair of deflecting wings has a deflected position in which a distance between outer surfaces of each of the deflecting wings is larger than the entry throat.

9. A two-shot tube retention fastener molding method, wherein the tube retention fastener includes a first shot body member having a pair of deflecting wings, with each of the pair of deflecting wings extending angularly toward each other from one of a pair of side walls, and a second shot isolation member bonded along an interior surface of each of the pair of deflecting wings, the method comprising:

molding the first shot body member, including the pair of deflecting wings;

molding the second shot isolation member while;

supporting an exterior wing surface of each of the pair of deflecting wings against a first mold surface;

supporting a first interior wing surface portion of each of the pair of deflecting wings against a second mold surface and leaving a second interior wing surface portion of each of the pair of deflecting wings unsupported to define a portion of a mold cavity of the second shot member extending from a distal end of the deflecting wing to the pair of side walls.

10. The two-shot tube retention fastener molding method of claim 9, wherein the supporting the first interior wing surface portion comprises supporting an edge of the interior wing surface adjacent a longitudinal end face of each of the pair of deflecting wings.

11. The two-shot tube retention fastener molding method of claim 9, wherein the supporting the first interior wing surface portion comprises supporting an edge of the interior surface adjacent each opposing longitudinal end face of each of the pair of deflecting wings.

12. The two-shot tube retention fastener molding method of claim 9, further comprising providing the first mold surface and the second mold surface on a single integral mold member.

13. The two-shot tube retention fastener molding method of claim 9, wherein the supporting the exterior surface and the supporting the portion of the interior surface comprises supporting a longitudinal end of each of the pair of deflecting wings in a groove of a single integral mold member.

14. The two-shot tube retention fastener molding method of claim 9, wherein the first shot member further has a semi-circular sleeve positioned between the pair of side walls, and the second shot member is bonded to the first shot member along an interior surface of the each of the pair of side walls between the deflecting wings and the semi-circular sleeve, the method further comprising molding the second shot isolation member while supporting a first interior wall surface portion of the each of the pair of side walls and leaving a second interior wall surface portion of each of the pair of side walls unsupported to define a second portion of the mold cavity of the second shot member extending from each pair of deflecting wing to the semi-circular sleeve.

15. The two-shot tube retention fastener molding method of claim 14, further comprising molding the second shot isolation member while supporting a first interior sleeve surface portion of the semi-circular sleeve and leaving a third interior sleeve surface portion of semi-circular sleeve unsupported to define a third portion of the mold cavity of the second shot member.

16. The two-shot tube retention fastener molding method of claim 9, wherein the molding the first shot body member comprises forming the first shot body member of a polymeric material, and the molding the second shot isolation member comprises forming the second shot isolation member of a relatively more flexible material than the first shot body member.

17. A mold for a two-shot tube retention fastener comprising:

a first mold member;

a second mold member that in combination with the first mold member defines a first shot member cavity defining a first shot member having a pair of deflecting wings, each of the pair of deflecting wings extending angularly toward each other from one of a pair of side walls and a semi-circular sleeve positioned between the pair of side walls to define a longitudinal tube-holding pocket;

a third mold member that in combination with the first mold member and the first shot member defines a second shot member cavity partially defined by an exposed bonding surface of the first shot member continuously extending from a distal end of a first one of the pair of deflecting wings, over the first one of the deflecting wings, over a first one of the pair of side walls, over the semi-circular sleeve, over a second one of the pair of side walls, over a second one of the pair of deflecting wings, to a distal end of the second one of the deflecting wings;

wherein, when the first and third mold members are positioned with the first body shot member for the second shot, the first mold member comprises;

first mold surfaces supporting an exterior wing surface portion of each of the pair of deflecting wings of the first shot member;

second mold surfaces supporting an interior wing surface portion of each of the pair of deflecting wings of the first shot member while allowing for the continuously extending exposed surface over each deflecting wing.

18. The mold for a two-shot tube retention fastener of claim 17, wherein the first mold member further comprises grooves defining the second mold surfaces and partially defining the first mold surfaces.

19. The mold for a two-shot tube retention fastener of claim 17, wherein the first mold member further comprises third mold surfaces supporting an interior surface portion of the pair of side walls while allowing for the exposed bonding surface to continuously extend over the first one of the pair of side walls.

20. The mold for a two-shot tube retention fastener of claim 17, wherein the first mold member further comprises a fourth mold surface supporting an interior surface portion of the semi-circular sleeve while allowing for the exposed bonding surface to continuously extend over the semi-circular sleeve.

21. The mold for a two-shot tube retention fastener of claim 19, wherein the first mold member further comprises a fourth mold surface supporting an interior surface portion of the semi-circular sleeve while allowing for the exposed bonding surface to continuously extend over the semi-circular sleeve.

22. The mold for a two-shot tube retention fastener of claim 21, wherein the first mold member further comprises a groove defining each of the second, third, and fourth mold surfaces, and partially defining the first mold surface.

23. The mold for a two-shot tube retention fastener of claim 17, wherein, when the first and third mold members are positioned with the first body shot member for the second shot, the third mold member comprises:

corresponding first mold surfaces supporting an exterior wing surface portion of each of the pair of deflecting wings of the first shot member;

corresponding second mold surfaces supporting an interior wing surface portion of each of the pair of deflecting wings of the first shot member while allowing for the exposed bonding surface to continuously extend over each deflecting wing.

24. The mold for a two-shot tube retention fastener of claim 23, wherein, when the first and third mold members are positioned with the first body shot member for the second shot, the first member comprises:

third mold surfaces supporting an interior surface portion of the pair of side walls while allowing for the exposed bonding surface to continuously extend over the first one of the pair of side walls; and

a fourth mold surface supporting an interior surface portion of the semi-circular sleeve while allowing for the exposed bonding surface to continuously extend over the semi-circular sleeve; and

the third mold member comprises;

corresponding third mold surfaces supporting an interior surface portion of the first one of the pair of side walls while allowing for the exposed bonding surface to continuously extend over the first one of the pair of side walls; and

a corresponding fourth mold surface supporting an interior surface portion of a second one of the pair of side walls while allowing for the exposed bonding surface to continuously extend over the second one of the pair of side walls.