US 6,550,233 B2Granted

Energy guiding chain

AssigneeIgus Spritzgussteile fur die Industrie GmbH

InventorGünter Blase

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Energy guiding chains serve to guide cables, hoses and the like from one connection point to another, at least one of the two connection points being movable, the energy guiding chain having a plurality of plastic chain links that are, or can be connected to one another in articulated fashion, each of which includes two side straps and two cross-members, where at least one of the cross-members is connected to the side straps in detachable fashion and a snap mechanism is provided, which interacts with a snap ridge provided on each end of the cross-member. In order to also make it possible for the snap mechanism to be easily released by hand, it is designed as an elastic hook, which is located in the center of the cross-member when the respective cross-member is mounted and protrudes beyond the outside surface of the cross-member, so that is accessible by hand. In the area in front of the hook, the outside surface of the cross-member has a grip extending from the snap ridge towards the center of the chain link.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An energy guiding chain for guiding cables and hoses from one connection point to another, where at least one of the two connection points is movable, the energy guide chain comprising a plurality of plastic chain links (1) connectable to one another in articulated fashion, each link comprising two side straps (2, 3) and two cross-members (4, 5), wherein

at least one of the cross-members (5) is detachably connectable to the side straps (2, 3),
the at least one of the cross members (5) having projections (7-8) arranged parallel to one another on both sides and extending in a longitudinal direction of the at least one of the cross members (5), the projections (7, 8) being provided with transverse, cylindrical bearing pins (9),
an inside space formed between the projections (7, 8),
a snap ridge (11) provided between the projections (7, 8),
the side straps (2, 3) having two parallel slits (14), which are engaged by the projections (7, 8) of the cross-member (5),
the side straps (2, 3) having groove-shaped bearing areas with undercuts (18), into which the bearing pins (9) can be snapped,
the side straps (2, 3) having a snap mechanism (6) designed as an elastic hook (12),
wherein the elastic hook (12) is centrally located between the projections (7,8), extends through the inside space (10) between the projections (7, 8), interacts with the snap ridge (11) and is accessible by hand to disengage the elastic hook (12) from the snap ridge (11) when the at least one of the cross members (5) is mounted.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/982,441Filed 18 Oct 2001 · continuation
Priority: DE 199 19 07619 Apr 1999
Published: US 2002/0056336 A116 May 2002
Granted: 22 Apr 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F16G 13/16
Hauling- or hoisting-chains so called ornamental chains: with arrangements for holding electric cables, hoses, or the like
H02G 11/006
Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts: using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring
Y10T 74/20534
Foot operated: accelerator
F16G
Belts, cables, or ropes, predominantly used for driving purposes