Apparatus for mounting relatively rigid objects
OwnerPeter G. Mangone, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for attaching a rod, pipe or tube to a support surface in a spaced relationship thereto using plastic mounting devices, each of which has a central body portion, integral spaced apart leg portions and an inner arcuate surface greater than 180 degrees and having terminal end portions spaced from end surfaces of the leg portion, in an automated process wherein the leg portions are restrained from pivotal movement relative to the central body portion so that the portions of the mounting device adjacent to the terminal end portions will deform as they move over the rod, pipe or tube and then resile to move the rod, pipe or tube into the inner arcuate surfaces.
Claims20
Apparatus for use in attaching an elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object to a support surface so that the elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object is spaced from the support surface comprising:
- a mounting device having a central body portion and a pair of spaced apart leg portions having end surfaces;
- said mounting device having at least one inner surface;
- said at least one inner surface having a first portion comprising an arcuate section having an arcuate extent greater than 180 degrees and having spaced apart terminal end portions so that a portion of said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object may be retained in said arcuate section;
- said at least one inner surface having second portions located between said spaced apart terminal end portions and said end surfaces;
- moving means for moving said mounting device over said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object while said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object is in contact with said support surface so that movement of said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object in the same direction as said mounting device is prevented;
- restraining means for restraining pivotal movement of said leg portions relative to said central body portion when said one of said mounting devices is moved over said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object;
- force applying means for moving said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said mounting device to move said portion of said elongated relatively rigid round cylindrical object into said first portion to be retained therein;
- attaching means for attaching said mounting device to said support surface with said end surfaces in contact with said support surface;
- and
- said arcuate section being spaced from said end surfaces so that said portion of said elongated relatively rigid object is spaced from said support surface.
Apparatus for use in attaching an elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object to a support surface so that the elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object is spaced from the support surface of a support member comprising:
- a plurality of individual mounting devices mounted in abutting relationship to provide an elongated row of mounting devices having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
- each of said mounting devices having a central body portion and spaced apart leg portions having end surfaces;
- each of said mounting devices having at least one inner surface;
- said at least one inner surface having a first portion having an arcuate section having an arcuate extent greater than one hundred and eighty degrees and having spaced apart terminal end portions so that a portion of said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object may be retained therein;
- said at least one inner surface having second portions located between said spaced apart terminal end portions and said end surfaces;
- tool means for moving one of said mounting devices over said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object while said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object is in contact with said support surface so that movement of said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object in the same direction as said mounting device is prevented;
- restraining means for restraining pivotal movement of said leg portions relative to said central body portion when said one of said mounting devices is moved over said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object;
- force applying means for moving said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said one of said mounting devices first to move said portion of said elongated relatively rigid cylindrical object into said first portion to be retained therein;
- attaching means for attaching said one of said mounting devices to said support surface with said end surfaces in contact with said support surface;
- and
- said arcuate section being spaced from said end surfaces so that said portion of said elongated relatively rigid object in said arcuate section is spaced from said support surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.