Articulated cable protection and guide device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9368951-B2
Application number	US-201213353715-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2012
Priority date	Jan 21, 2011
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

There is provided an articulated cable protection and guide apparatus that can securely and stably guide a large number of cables and can assure durability of articulated supporting members operating between straight and bending postures for a long period of time. The articulated cable protection and guide apparatus comprises articulated supporting members which can be easily cut and connected. Each of the articulated supporting members includes a large number of synthetic resin block bodies linked with each other. A plurality of flexible belt members includes tubular storing portions formed in parallel in a belt width direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An articulated cable protection and guide apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of synthetic resin block bodies;
each of said plurality of synthetic resin block bodies includes concave-convex fittings, said plurality of synthetic resin block bodies is pivotably, flexibly and articulately connected to each other, longitudinally, by said concave-convex fittings of each of said plurality of synthetic resin block bodies, thereby forming a train of block bodies;
a first flexible belt member and a second flexible belt member;
said first flexible belt member includes a plurality of tubular storing portions;
said second flexible belt member includes a plurality of tubular storing portions;
each of said first and second flexible belt members includes a width, a length, a left side and a right side;
said first and second flexible belt members are disposed longitudinally;
said first flexible belt member includes an engaging surface, said engaging surface of said first flexible belt member is vertically wavy in cross-section;
said second flexible belt member includes an engaging surface, said engaging surface of said second flexible belt member is vertically wavy in cross-section;
said engaging surface of said first flexible belt member and said engaging surface of said second flexible belt member are engaged concavo-convexly and nested together;
said tubular storing portions of said first flexible belt member are vertically symmetric and wavy in cross-section;
said tubular storing portions of said second flexible belt member are vertically symmetric and wavy in cross-section;
said first flexible belt member and said second flexible belt member are engaged concavo-convexly and nested together and form a flexional circumferential bend;
said flexional circumferential bend includes a flexional inner circumferential side, said second flexible belt member resides on said flexional inner circumferential side of said flexional circumferential bend;
said flexional circumferential bend includes a flexional outer circumferential side, said first flexible belt member resides on said flexional outer circumferential side of said flexional circumferential bend;
said train of block bodies resides in one of said plurality of tubular storing portions of said first flexible belt member to control and support straight and bending postures of said first and second flexible belt members;
at least one cable resides: in another of said plurality of tubular storing portions of said first flexible belt member; or, in one of said plurality of tubular storing portions of said second flexible belt member; and,
said train of block bodies residing within said one of said plurality of tubular storing portions of said first flexible belt member and said at least one cable residing in said another of said plurality of tubular storing portions of said first flexible belt member or in said one of said plurality of tubular storing portions of said second flexible belt member are arranged in parallel with respect to each other.

2. An articulated cable protection and guide apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second flexible belt members is molded of synthetic resin materials.

3. An articulated cable protection and guide apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
each of said synthetic resin block bodies includes a front side surface region and a rear side surface region;
said concave-convex fittings of each of said synthetic resin block bodies include a link pin residing in said front side surface region of each of said synthetic resin block bodies and a link pin hole residing in said rear side surface region of each of said synthetic resin block bodies; and,
said link pin of said concave-convex fittings of one of said synthetic resin block bodies is concavo-convexly interfitted with said link pin hole of said concave-convex fittings of a next adjacent synthetic resin block body.

4. An articulated cable protection and guide apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
said concave-convex fittings of each of said synthetic resin block bodies further include a tapered concave cutaway fitting portion residing in said rear side surface region of each of said synthetic resin block bodies and in communication with said link pin hole of said concave-convex fittings of each of said synthetic resin block bodies; and,
said link pin of said concave-convex fittings of said one of said synthetic resin block bodies, during connection with said next adjacent synthetic resin block body, slidingly engages said tapered concave cutaway fitting portion of said concave-convex fittings of said next adjacent synthetic resin block body until said link pin of said concave-convex fittings of said one of said synthetic resin block bodies enters said link pin hole of said concave-convex fittings of said next adjacent synthetic resin block body.

5. An articulated cable protection and guide apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said synthetic resin block bodies is provided with a straight posture keeping plane for maintaining said synthetic resin block bodies in a straight condition and a bending posture keeping plane for maintaining said synthetic resin block bodies in a bending condition.

6. An articulated cable protection and guide apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of synthetic resin block bodies;
each of said plurality of synthetic resin block bodies includes concave-convex fittings, said plurality of synthetic resin block bodies is pivotably, flexibly and articulately connected to each other, longitudinally, by said concave-convex fittings of each of said plurality of synthetic resin block bodies, thereby forming a train of block bodies;
a first flexible belt member and a second flexible belt member;
said first flexible belt member includes a plurality of tubular storing portions;
said second flexible belt member includes a plurality of tubular storing portions;
each of said first and second flexible belt members includes a width, a length, a left side and a right side;
said first and second flexible belt members are disposed longitudinally;
said first flexible belt member includes an engaging surface, said engaging surface of said first flexible belt member is vertically wavy in cross-section;
said second flexible belt member includes an engaging surface, said engaging surface of said second flexible belt member is vertically wavy in cross-section;
said engaging surface of said first flexible belt member and said engaging surface of said second flexible belt member are engaged concavo-convexly and nested together;
said tubular storing portions of said first flexible belt member are vertically symmetric and wavy in cross-section;
said tubular storing portions of said second flexible belt member are vertically symmetric and wavy in cross-section;
said first flexible belt member and said second flexible belt member are engaged concavo-convexly and nested together and form a flexional circumferential bend;
said flexional circumferential bend includes a flexional inner circumferential side, said second flexible belt member resides on said flexional inner circumferential side of said flexional circumferential bend;
said flexional circumferential bend includes a flexional outer circumferential side, said first flexible belt member resides on said flexional outer circumferential side of said flexional circumferential bend;
said train of block bodies resides in one of said plurality of tubular storing portions of said second flexible belt member to control and support straight and bending postures of said first and second flexible belt members;
at least one cable resides: in another of said plurality of tubular storing portions of said second flexible belt me

Assignees

• Komiya Shoichiro
• Tsubakimoto Chain Co

Inventors

• Komiya Shoichiro

Classifications

• H02G11/006 Primary

  using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring (extensible conductors or cables H01B7/06) · CPC title

• F16L3/015

  using articulated- or supple-guiding elements · CPC title

• H02G3/0487

  with a non-circular cross-section (H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02G3/24 Primary

  Installation of lines or cables on walls, ceilings or floors by means of insulators (insulators H01B17/00) · CPC title