Wire-and-tube-retaining pole clip

A pole clip for arranging wires and/or tubing around a pole, the clip comprising:

• a resilient, flexible, generally C-shaped body having an outer side, and an inner side configured for a snap fit on the pole with the outer side facing away from the pole;
• first and second bridging portions each extending outwardly from the C-shaped body to an outward end;
• a resiliently-flexible, generally arcuate first arm on the outward end of the first bridging portion, the first arm extending toward the second bridging portion at a generally constant distance from the C-shaped body substantially throughout the length of the arm and terminating in a free end, the first arm being substantially less stiff than the C-shaped body;
• and
• a generally arcuate second arm on the outward end of the second bridging portion extending in a direction toward the first arm and terminating in a free end closely spaced from the free end of the first arm;
• the first and second arms defining a generally elongate, arcuate wire-and-tube-retaining area between the C-shaped body and the arms, the wire-and-tube-retaining area being sized and shaped to closely receive a plurality of wires and/or tubes such that the wires and/or tubes are visibly retained in side-by-side relationship along the periphery of the pole, and wires and/or tubes are allowed to be manually introduced into or released from the wire-and-tube-retaining area by flexing the first arm but the first and second arms normally retain the wires and/or tubes.

A method of conveniently organizing elongate members around a pole, the method comprising:

• providing a clip comprising resilient, flexible, generally C-shaped body, and at least one resiliently-flexible arcuate arm extending in generally concentric relationship relative to the C-shaped body, the arm having an outside, and an inside defining an elongate, arcuate wire-and-tube-retaining area between the C-shaped body and the arm, the wire-and-tube retaining area being concentric with the C-shaped body, the arm having a free end closely spaced form another portion of the clip;
• pushing the C-shaped body unto the pole such that the body provides a snap fit around the pole to hold the clip on the pole;
• introducing a plurality of said elongate members into the wire-and-tube-retaining area by pushing or pulling the elongate members against the outside of the arcuate arm to flex the arm inwardly toward the C-shaped body so as to allow the elongate members to pass through the space between the free end of the arm and the another portion of the clip;
• arranging the plurality of elongate members in the wire-and-tube-retaining area such that the elongate members are closely received in the wire-and-tube-retaining space and are visibly retained in side-by-side concentric relationship around the pole;
• using the elongate members during medical or surgical treatment of a patient;
• and
• removing the elongate members after the medical or surgical treatment of the patient by pulling or pushing the elongate members against the inside of the arcuate arm to flex the arm outwardly so as to allow the elongate members to pass through the space formed between the free end of the arm and the another portion of the clip.