U.S. patent application number 09/776591 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-08 for wire comb.
Invention is credited to McGroarty, Timothy J..
Application Number | 20020104577 09/776591 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25107836 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020104577 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGroarty, Timothy J. |
August 8, 2002 |
Wire comb
Abstract
A device for combing and straightening wires or cables in an
assembly. The device includes a plurality of passages extending
therethrough each sized to receive a separate wire or cable. The
device is pulled the length of the multi-wire or cable assembly
thereby straightening the wires or cables.
Inventors: |
McGroarty, Timothy J.;
(Sacramento, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John V. Moriarty
WOODARD EMHARDT NAUGHTON MORIARTY & McNETT
Suite 3700
111 Monument Circle
Indianapolis
IN
46204
US
|
Family ID: |
25107836 |
Appl. No.: |
09/776591 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
140/147 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 13/026 20130101;
H02G 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
140/147 |
International
Class: |
B21F 001/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A comb for assembly of wires or cables comprising: a main body
including a first combing portion with a forward facing outer
surface, a rearward facing outer surface and a plurality of holes
extending through said forward facing outer surface, said combing
portion and said rearward facing outer surface, each of said holes
being sized to allow a single wire or cable to extend freely
through said combing portion, said main body further including a
portion to allow grasping for moving said main body in a direction
from said rearward facing outer surface toward said forward facing
outer surface lengthwise along said wires or cables to comb and
straighten same.
2. The comb of claim 1 wherein: said main combing portion is plate
shaped with a length, width and thickness, said length and said
width are each substantially greater than said thickness.
3. The comb of claim 1 wherein: said main combing portion is disc
shaped with said plurality of holes arranged in a pattern to space
the wires or cables apart.
4. The comb of claim 1 wherein there are at least as many holes in
said combing portion as there are wires or cables in the assembly
of wires or cables to be straightened.
5. The comb of claim 1 wherein: said main body has a first handle
and a second handle attached to said combing portion which is
located between said first handle and said second handle to allow
said main body to be grasped on opposite sides of said combing
portion to pull said main body lengthwise along said assembly of
said wires or cables combing and straightening same.
6. The comb of claim 1 wherein: said main body has a second combing
portion with a plurality of additional holes extending
therethrough, each of said additional holes being sized to allow a
single wire or cable to extend freely through said combing portion,
said first combing portion and said second combing portion are
connected together and include a handle to allow grasping for
moving said main body in a direction from said rearward facing
outer surface toward said forward facing outer surface lengthwise
along said wires or cables to comb and straighten same.
7. The combination of: a multi-wire or multi-cable assembly having
a first end and an opposite end; a wire/cable comb for combing and
straightening the wires or cables in said assembly, said comb
including a plurality of passages through which said wires or
cables extend, said comb further including a first grasping portion
for moving said comb along the length of said comb from said first
end toward said opposite end combing and straightening said wires
or cables.
8. The combination of claim 7 and further comprising: a plurality
of wraps tying together said wires or cables and located between
said first end and said comb once said comb has been straightened
by said comb.
9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said comb further includes a
second grasping portion for moving said comb along the length of
said comb from said first end toward said opposite end combing and
straightening said wires or cables, said first grasping portion and
said second grasping portion are spaced apart with said assembly
extending therebetween through said passages.
10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said passages extend
substantially parallel through said comb.
11. The combination of claim 7 wherein said comb is plate shaped
with length, width and thickness with said length and said width
each substantially greater than said thickness.
12. The combination of claim 7 wherein there are at least as many
passages extending through said comb as there are wires or cables
in said assembly.
13. A method of combing and straightening the wires or cables
respectively of a multi-wire assembly or multi-cable assembly with
the assembly having a first end and an opposite second end
comprising the steps of: providing a comb with a plurality of
essentially parallel passages extending therethrough with the comb
having a handle for grasping and moving said comb along the length
of the assembly from a first end to an opposite second end of the
assembly; locating said comb at the first end of the assembly;
extending said wires or cables through said plurality of passages;
moving said comb from said first end toward said opposite second
end of the assembly combing and straightening said wires or
cables.
14. The method of claim 13 and further comprising the steps of:
periodically stopping movement at different locations along the
length of the assembly; and, tying said wires or cables together
that have been straightened between said first end and said
comb.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein: said extending step includes
the step of extending only a single wire or cable through each
passage.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein: said moving step includes
grasping said handle and pulling said comb along the length of the
assembly.
17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising the step of:
removing said comb from the assembly once the comb is located at
the opposite second end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
devices for holding wires and cables in a bundle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] When installing wire or cable assemblies, the technicians
meticulously dress the assembly by hand as it is run through the
access allowed above ceilings or below floor access. The
technicians pull the assembly quickly through the channel or other
construction and then return to one end of the assembly to tie the
wires or cables together by tie wraps periodically along the length
of the assembly. In the event it is desired to arrange the wires or
cables in a particular pattern along the length of the assembly,
then it is necessary to unravel the wires or cables to locate and
position each wire or cable prior to tying. Considerable time and
effort is required to accomplish this task. The end result is an
assembly having a superior appearance as compared to an assembly
wherein the wires or cables are randomly located along the length
of the assembly. In addition, a further advantage is that a
particular wire or cable is easily located at the opposite ends of
the assembly. In order to reduce the time and effort required for
the technician to arrange the wires or cables prior to tying, I
have devised a comb through which the individual wires or cables
extend with the comb then being pulled along the length of the
assembly automatically locating each wire or cable in the same
position at one end of the assembly as compared to the opposite
end.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention includes a comb to straighten an assembly of
wires or cables comprising a main body including a first combing
portion with a forward facing outer surface and a rearward facing
outer surface and a plurality of holes extending through the
combing position. The holes are sized to allow a single wire or
cable to extend freely through the combing portion. The main body
further includes a handle connected to the combing portion to allow
grasping for moving the main body in a direction from the rearward
facing outer surface toward the forward facing outer surface
lengthwise along the wires or cables to comb and straighten
same.
[0006] The invention further includes a method of combing and
straightening the wires or cables respectively of a multi-wire
assembly or multi-cable assembly which has a first end and an
opposite second end. The method includes the step of moving a comb
along the length of the assembly from a first end to an opposite
second end of the assembly. The comb is initially located at the
first end of the assembly and the wires or cables are extended
through the plurality of passages. The comb is then moved from the
first end toward the opposite second end of the assembly combing
and straightening the wires or cables.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool
for combing and straightening a plurality of wires or cables in a
multi wire/cable assembly.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
method of combing and straightening wires or cables of a multi
wire/cable assembly.
[0009] Related objects and advantages will be apparent from the
following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the
wire comb incorporating the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of the combs of FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG.
4, and FIG. 6.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first alternate embodiment of the
wire comb.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second alternate embodiment of
the wire comb.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a wire cable assembly.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a third alternate embodiment of the
wire comb.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the
embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will
be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood
that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, such alterations and further modifications in the
illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles
of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would
normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates.
[0017] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is
shown four embodiments of a wire comb. Wire comb 10 in FIG. 1
receives 8 wires or cables to be tied together in an assembly and
is the preferred embodiment for an assembly having 8 such wires or
cables. Wire comb 11 in FIG. 3 is identically constructed to wire
comb 10 with the exception that a greater number of passages extend
through the wire comb 11 as compared to the wire comb 10. FIG. 4
depicts wire comb 12 having a plurality of passages extending
therethrough to slidably receive the wires or cables in a pair of
parallel assemblies. The fourth embodiment is wire comb 60 (FIG. 5)
identically constructed to wire comb 10 with the exception of the
number of passages and the handles.
[0018] A single assembly 13 of wires or cables is depicted in FIG.
5 and consists of a pair of opposite standard connectors 14 and 15,
in turn, connected to wires or cables 16-23. The wires or cables
are fragmented at location 24 since it can be appreciated the wires
or cables typically have great length as compared to the size of
the connectors. In lieu of connectors 14 and 15 the wires or cables
may be directly connected to appliances. Assembly 13 is shown as
having 8 separate wires or cables which correspond to the 8
passages 25-32 of comb 10. In use, the individual wires or cables
16-23 are individually fed through respectively passages 25-32 of
wire comb 10 prior to connecting the individual wires or cables to
the downstream connector or appliance 15. The wire comb 10 is then
pulled from connector or appliance 14 towards the right as viewed
in FIG. 5 automatically arranging the wires or cables until the
wire comb is positioned at the end of assembly to be connected to
connector or appliance 15. Connector or appliance 15 is then
connected to the individual wires or cables. As the wire comb is
pulled along the length of the assembly, tie wraps are used to tie
the wires or cables together thereby providing a neat appearance of
the assembly.
[0019] Wire combs 10, 11, 12, and 60 have a main body including a
disc shape portion. Wire comb 10 has a disc shaped main body 35
with a forward facing outer surface 36 and a rearward facing
surface 37. Holes or passages 25-32 extend through the main body
and through the outer surfaces 36 and 37 being individually sized
to allow only a single wire or cable to extend freely therethrough.
A pair of ears 39 and 40 are integrally attached to the main body
and form a handle to allow grasping for moving the comb in a
direction from the rearward surface 37 towards the forward surface
36 as the comb is moved from end 41 toward end 42 of the wires or
cables. As the comb is moved along the length of the wire or cable
assembly, the wires or cables 16-23 are combed and straightened
being located in the same position at end 41 as compared to end 42.
Wire comb 11 is identically constructed as compared to wire comb 10
with the exception that the main body 38 of wire comb 11 has a
greater number of passages or holes extending therethrough. Thus,
FIG. 2 depicts both a side view of comb 10 as well as wire comb
11.
[0020] Combs 10 and 11 may be produced from a variety of materials
including metal or plastic. In one embodiment, main body 35 has a
thickness 43 of approximately 1/8 inch to 3/4 inches with the
diameter of the main body being approximately 12 inches. Thus,
length 44 of the disc shape main body 35 is identical to the width
45 for combs 10 and 11. The length and width are each substantially
greater than the thickness of the wire comb. The holes or passages
are parallel and extend through the main body of combs 10-12 being
approximately {fraction (9/16)} inches in circumference. The
passages are drilled symmetrical around the circular portion or
disc shaped portion of the wire comb.
[0021] Wire comb 12 is identically constructed as compared to wire
combs 10 and 11 with exception that a pair of disc shaped main
bodies are integrally joined together. Thus, disc shaped main body
46 and 47 are joined together by webs 48 and 49 with main bodies 46
and 47 having adjacent contacting sides 52 and 53. The opposite
side of main body 46 has an ear 50 integrally joined thereto and
the opposite side of main body 47 has an ear 51 integrally attached
thereto. Ears 50 and 51 form a handle to allow the wire comb to be
grasped and pulled along the length of the wire or cable assembly.
The thickness of wire comb 12 may be identical to wire combs 10 and
11 with the disc shaped main bodies 46 and 47 each having a
diameter of approximately 12 inches thereby providing a length 54
of approximately 12 inches and a width 55 of approximately 24
inches. The passages extending through disc shaped main bodies 46
and 47 are parallel and may be identically sized with respect to
the passages for combs 10 and 11. Alternate versions of wire combs
10-12 are included in the present invention and may include larger
passages for larger sized cabling products. Further, the number of
passages extending through the wire comb may be increased or
decreased. For example, a wire comb having 25 passages, 50 passages
and 100 passages may be used respectively for a 25 pair, 50 pair,
or 100 pair voice and data cabling, to high voltage type cabling
use for electrical outlets. A third embodiment of the wire comb is
depicted in FIG. 6. Wire comb 60 has a generally disc-shaped center
portion 61 integrally joined to a pair of ears or handles 62 and 63
having finger holes 64 and 65 formed thereon. The handle formed by
the pair of ears provide a means for grasping to pull the comb
along the length of the wires or cables. A plurality of parallel
passages 66 extend through the center portion 61 in the same manner
as previously described for the other embodiments. The thickness of
wire comb 60 may equal that previously described. The versatility
of the wire comb may be increased by providing insertable disc
shaped main bodies between the ears to facilitate different wire or
cable assemblies.
[0022] The passages extending through the wire combs depicted in
the drawings are arranged in patterns to space the wires or cables
apart. The number of passages for each comb is at least as many as
there are wires and cables in the assembly. Wire comb 12 includes a
pair of combing portions 46 and 47 which may have equal or unequal
number of passages extending therethrough.
[0023] The method of combing and straightening wires or cables of a
multi-wire assembly or multi-cable assembly includes the first step
of locating the wire comb adjacent ends 41 of wires or cables 16-23
and feeding each end 41 through a separate passage of the wire
comb. For example, end 41 of wire cable 16 is fed through passage
25, wire cable 17 is fed through passage 26 until the ends 41 of
all the wires or cable are located in a separate passage.
Typically, the initial feeding of the wires or cables through the
wire comb occurs adjacent a wall or conduit penetrating a wall
structure. Once the comb is thereby mounted to the wires or cables,
the comb may be moved along the length of the wires or cables
allowing individual ends 41 to be connected to connector or
appliance 14. For example, ends 41 may be connected to the
Intermediate Distribution Frame, Main Distribution Frame, phone
closet, computer room, etc. with workstations connected to ends 42.
The wire comb is moved from ends 41 towards ends 42 thereby combing
or straightening the wires or cables. Periodically, movement of the
comb along the length of the assembly may be stopped allowing the
wires or cables that have been straightened to be tied together by
tie wraps 67 positioned between ends 41 and the wire comb. Other
types of tying techniques such as Velcro wrap may be utilized so
that the cabling is tied together every 12 inches to 18 inches. The
end result is an extremely neatly dressed, installed cable bundle
in the runway path from origination to the work station location.
Eventually, the wire comb is moved along the entire length of the
wires or cable, the ends 42 then passing out of the wire comb and
being connected to a connector or particular appliance 15, such as
a workstation computer terminal.
[0024] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been
shown and described and that all changes and modifications that
come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be
protected.
* * * * *