Cable retainer gate for retaining cable on wire basket and method of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10448534-B2
Application number	US-201715418210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2017
Priority date	Jan 30, 2016
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A cable retainer gate and associated methods. The cable retainer gate has an attachment portion for selectively and removably attaching to a cable basket. A retainer portion of the cable retainer gate is configured for retaining cables on the cable basket. The cable retainer gate is movable between open and closed positions to permit placement and removal of cables on the basket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manipulating a cable retainer gate on a wire basket, the method comprising:
snap-fit connecting first and second snap-fit connectors of an attachment portion of the cable retainer gate to respective spaced apart first and second wires of the wire basket such that a retainer portion of the cable retainer gate cantilevers over the wire basket, wherein the second snap-fit connector is connected to the second wire by pivoting the cable retainer gate about the first snap-fit connector connected to the first wire to move the retainer portion toward a closed position with respect to the basket, and applying force to the retainer portion to snap-fit connect the second snap-fit connector to the second wire; and
positioning at least one cable on the wire basket to be retained by the cable retainer gate before attaching the second snap-fit connector to the second wire and then pivoting the cable retainer gate about the first snap-fit connector connected to the first wire to move the retainer portion toward the closed position with respect to the basket, and applying force to the retainer portion to snap-fit the second snap-fit connector onto the second wire.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 , further comprising applying force to the retainer portion to disconnect the second snap-fit connector from the second wire, and pivoting the cable retainer gate about the first snap-fit connector connected to the first wire to move the retainer portion toward an open position with respect to the basket.

3. A cable retainer gate for retaining cables on a basket at least partially formed by a wire lattice, the cable retainer gate comprising:
a gate body having an attachment portion and a retainer portion, the attachment portion configured to selectively and removably attach the gate body to the wire lattice of the basket, the attachment portion having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, the retainer portion configured to cantilever from the attachment portion when the attachment portion is attached to the basket to retain one or more cables on the basket, the retainer portion extending outward from the attachment portion in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the attachment portion;
wherein the attachment portion includes first and second snap-fit connectors spaced apart from each other along the attachment portion, each snap-fit connector configured to snap-fit connect to respective spaced apart first and second wires of the wire lattice;
wherein one of the first and second snap-fit connectors is configured to permit the gate body to pivot about said one snap-fit connector when said one snap-fit connector is snap-fit connected to the wire lattice.

4. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 3 , wherein the first and second snap-fit connectors extend in a direction opposite the direction of the retainer portion.

5. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 3 , wherein the retainer portion includes a finger opening for engagement by a finger of a user to pivot the gate body about the at least one snap-fit connector when connected to the wire lattice.

6. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 3 , wherein the first snap-fit connector comprises a pair of opposing jaws defining a channel therebetween, at least one of the jaws being resiliently deflectable away from the other of the jaws for forming the snap-fit connection with the wire lattice.

7. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 3 , wherein the second snap-fit connector is disposed at the proximal end of the attachment portion and the first snap-fit connector is disposed at the distal end of the attachment portion, wherein the retainer portion extends from the distal end of the attachment portion.

8. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 7 , wherein the first and second snap fit connectors are spaced from each other by a distance of about 1 inch.

9. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 8 , wherein the retainer portion extends from the attachment portion a length in the range from about 3 inches to about 4 inches.

10. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 3 , wherein the first snap-fit connector is configured to permit the gate body to pivot about the first snap-fit connector when the first snap-fit connector is snap-fit connected to the first wire to move the second snap-fit connector toward the second wire to make a snap-fit connection with the second wire.

11. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 10 , wherein the retainer portion includes a finger opening for engagement by a finger of a user to pivot the gate body about the at least one snap-fit connector when connected to the wire lattice.

12. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 6 , wherein the second snap-fit connector comprises a pair of opposing jaws defining a channel therebetween, at least one of the jaws being resiliently deflectable away from the other of the jaws for forming the snap-fit connection with the wire lattice.

13. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 12 , wherein the gate body is generally L shaped, the attachment portion forming a first leg of the L shape, and the retainer portion forming a second leg of the L shape.

14. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 13 , wherein the attachment portion leg of the L shape is shorter than the retainer portion leg of the L shape.

15. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 12 , wherein the cable retainer gate is formed as one piece.

16. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 12 , in combination with the basket, the basket including a base and a side wall extending transversely with respect to the base, the base and side wall at least partially forming a basket channel for receiving cables therein, the wire lattice of the basket forming at least part of the side wall of the basket, the first and second snap-fit connectors snap-fit connected to wires of the side wall, the retainer portion cantilevering from the attachment portion over the basket channel to at least partially close the basket channel.

17. A cable retainer gate for retaining cables on a basket at least partially formed by a wire lattice, the cable retainer gate comprising:
a gate body having an attachment portion and a retainer portion, the attachment portion configured to selectively and removably attach the gate body to the wire lattice of the basket, the attachment portion having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, the retainer portion configured to cantilever from the attachment portion when the attachment portion is attached to the basket to retain one or more cables on the basket, the retainer portion extending outward from the attachment portion in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the attachment portion;
wherein the attachment portion includes first and second snap-fit connectors spaced apart from each other along the attachment portion, each snap-fit connector configured to snap-fit connect to respective spaced apart first and second wires of the wire lattice;
wherein the first snap-fit connector comprises a pair of opposing jaws defining a channel therebetween, at least one of the jaws being resiliently deflectable away from the other of the jaws for forming the snap-fit connection with the wire lattice.

18. The cable retainer gate set forth in claim 17 , wherein the first and second snap-fit connectors extend in a direction opposite the directio

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Jost Henry D
• Latino Richard M
• Sandoval Lorena E
• Rau Joseph

Classifications

• B62B2301/05

  Details of the attachment of the wheel assembly to the chassis · CPC title

• B62B2205/006

  dismountable · CPC title

• B62B3/02

  involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible · CPC title

• B62B3/005

  Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks · CPC title

• A47B96/20

  Furniture panels or like furniture elements · CPC title