Collapsible bundle spacer
AssigneePreformed Line Products Company
InventorsDirk Waterschoot, Benjamin Franklin Ciesielczyk, Cameron Clines, Douglas Bell, Derek Lenardos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bundle spacer that includes a first line connector to be connected to a first electrical line, a second line connector to be connected to a second electrical line, and a body interposed between the first line connector and the second line connector. The body is actuatable to provide a variable distance between the first line connector and the second line connector and the first electrical line and the second electrical line connected thereto. It is to be appreciated that the bundle spacer may be constructed/configured with more than two line connectors for association with more than two electrical lines.
Claims20
A bundle spacer comprising:
- a first line connector to be connected to a first electrical line;
- a second line connector to be connected to a second electrical line;
- a body interposed between the first line connector and the second line connector, the body being actuatable to provide a variable distance between the first line connector and the second line connector and the first electrical line and the second electrical line connected thereto;
- and
- a bias device coupled to the body, wherein:
- the bias device exerts a first force in a first direction on a first portion of the body coupled to the first line connector;
- the bias device exerts a second force in a second direction on a second portion of the body coupled to the second line connector;
- the first direction is different than the second direction;
- the body is in an unactuated state when a third force less than the first force is exerted on the first portion of the body in a third direction opposite the first direction and a fourth force less than the second force is exerted on the second portion of the body in a fourth direction opposite the second direction;
- the body is in an actuated state when at least one of third force is greater than the first force or the fourth force is greater than the second force;
- the first electrical line is separated from the second electrical line by a first distance when the body is in the unactuated state;
- the first electrical line is separated from the second electrical line by a second distance when the body is in the actuated state;
- and
- the first distance is greater than the second distance.
A bundle spacer comprising:
- a first arm to be connected to a first electrical line;
- and
- a second arm to be connected to a second electrical line, wherein;
- the first arm and the second arm are movable relative to each other to provide a variable distance between the first electrical line and the second electrical line;
- the first arm and the second arm are slidably connected to each other to provide the variable distance;
- and
- the first arm telescopes into the second arm.
A bundle spacer comprising:
- a first arm to be connected to a first electrical line;
- a second arm to be connected to a second electrical line, wherein the first arm and the second arm are movable relative to each other, and
- a bias device that exerts a bias force on at least one of the first arm or the second arm, wherein:
- relative movement between the first arm and the second arm does not occur such that the first electrical line is separated from the second electrical line by a first distance when the bias force is greater than a second force;
- relative movement between the first arm and the second arm does occur such that the first electrical line is separated from the second electrical line by a second distance when the bias force is less than the second force;
- and
- the first distance is greater than the second distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.