Spacer end clamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023112558-A1
Application number	US-202217964824-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 12, 2022
Priority date	Oct 12, 2021
Publication date	Apr 13, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

One or more line spacers for installation onto lines are provided. A spacer includes an end portion configured to transition between an open state and a closed state. The spacer includes a first mating portion. The spacer includes a second mating portion configured to mate with the first mating portion to maintain the end portion in the closed state. The spacer is installed on a line of the lines when the end portion is associated with the line and maintained in the closed state.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A line spacer for installation onto lines, the spacer comprising:
an end portion configured to transition between an open state and a closed state; a first mating portion; and a second mating portion configured to mate with the first mating portion to maintain the end portion in the closed state, wherein the spacer is installed on a line of the lines when the end portion is associated with the line and maintained in the closed state.

2 . The spacer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
the first mating portion defines an opening; and the second mating portion is received within the opening to maintain the end portion in the closed state.

3 . The spacer as set forth in claim 2 , wherein:
at least one of the first mating portion has a first surface that is beveled or the second mating portion has a second surface that is beveled to facilitate guiding the second mating portion into the opening.

4 . The spacer as set forth in claim 3 , wherein:
the second mating portion is biased to an extended state.

5 . The spacer as set forth in claim 4 , wherein:
the second mating portion is in the extended state when the second mating portion is received within the opening.

6 . The spacer as set forth in claim 5 , wherein:
the second mating portion is not in the extended state when the second surface is in contact with the first surface but the second mating portion is not received within the opening.

7 . The spacer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second mating portion is biased toward mating with the first mating portion.

8 . The spacer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first mating portion or the second mating portion comprises a linearly moving portion.

9 . The spacer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first mating portion comprises a notch and the second mating portion comprises a roller.

10 . The spacer as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a line clamp that comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first mating portion is associated with the first portion and the second mating portion is associated with the second portion.

11 . The spacer as set forth in claim 1 , comprising a second end portion configured to transition between an open state and a closed state, wherein the second mating portion is configured to mate with the first mating portion to maintain the second end portion in the closed state.

12 . A line spacer for installation onto lines, the line spacer comprising:
a first line clamp comprising a first clamp portion actuatable between an open condition and a closed condition and a second clamp portion actuatable between an open condition and a closed condition; and a mechanism to actuate the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

13 . The spacer as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the mechanism concurrently actuates the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

14 . The spacer as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the mechanism independently actuates the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

15 . The spacer as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the first clamp portion is in at least one of the open condition or the closed condition while the second clamp portion is in at least one of the open condition or the closed condition.

16 . The spacer as set forth in claim 12 , comprising:
a second line clamp comprising a third clamp portion actuatable between an open condition and a closed condition and a fourth clamp portion actuatable between an open condition and a closed condition, wherein the mechanism articulates the third clamp portion and the fourth clamp portion.

17 . The spacer as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the mechanism concurrently actuates the first clamp portion, the second clamp portion, the third clamp portion, and the fourth clamp portion.

18 . The spacer as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the mechanism independently actuates the first clamp portion, the second clamp portion, the third clamp portion, and the fourth clamp portion.

19 . A line spacer for installation onto lines, the spacer comprising:
a first end portion configured to transition between an open state and a closed state; a second end portion configured to transition between an open state and a closed state; and a mechanism to place the first end portion in the closed state from the open state and to place the second end portion in the closed state from the open state, wherein the spacer is installed on a first line of the lines via the first end portion when the first end portion is associated with the first line and in the closed state and the spacer is installed on a second line of the lines via the second end portion when the second end portion is associated with the second line and in the closed state.

20 . The spacer as set forth in claim 19 , comprising a fixing feature to keep the mechanism in a condition that maintains the first end portion in the closed state and the second end portion in the closed state.

Assignees

• Preformed Line Products Co

Inventors

• Ciesielczyk Benjamin Franklin
• Bell Douglas
• Markiewicz John

Classifications

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64U2101/00

  UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications · CPC title

• B64U2101/25

  for manufacturing or servicing · CPC title

• B64U10/13

  Flying platforms · CPC title

• B23P19/06 Primary

  Screw or nut setting or loosening machines · CPC title