US3689974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cable clamp and apparatuses for attaching and for detaching the clamp
Assignee: PRELUDE CORP
•
Filing: 1970-11-02
•
Granted: 1972-09-12
•
Expires: 1990-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A releasable and lockably closing cable clamp has two clamp elements movable relative to each other between a release position and a cable-clamping closed position, and has a latch member movable between an unlatch position where the clamp elements are free for said relative movement and a latch position where it locks the clamp elements in the closed position. An attacher of the clamp to a moving cable has a carriage for moving a clamp with the cable into engagement with a clampclosing cam that closes the clamp onto the moving cable, and into engagement with a clamp-locking cam that moves the clamp latch element to the latch position. A detacher for releasing the clamp from a moving cable has an aligner that selectively orients the cable-carried clamp and feeds it to a guide passage. A follower engages the clamp in this passage and is moved by the advancing clamp to move a latchreleasing member to shift the latch member on the moving clamp from the latch position to the unlatch position, thereby allowing the two clamp elements to separate from each other and release the cable.
Inventors
- 👤 William D Whipple
- 👤 Howard W Gifford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:27
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/04; B63B21/08; F; F16; F16G; F16G11/00; F16G11/10; F16G11/101; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53526
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for the automatic unlatching of a clamp moving along a third axis orthogonal to first and second mutually orthogonal axes and having first and second clamp elements movable relative to each other along said first axis between a release position and a closed position and having a latch member movable along said second axis between an unlatch position where the clamp elements are free for said relative movement and a latch position where the latch member secures said clamp elements in said closed position, said unlatching apparatus comprising: A. guide means for receiving the clamp advancing along said third axis and for guiding it along guide surfaces extending in planes parallel to said first and third axes and parallel to said second and third axes for further advancement along said third axis on a known path, B. a first follower normally disposed in a retracted position where it protrudes at a first location into said path of the clamp advancing along said guide surfaces, and movable longitudinal to said third axis from said retracted position under engagement by the advancing clamp to a second location where it is out of said path, and C. a first latch-release member linked to said follower and moved by said movement of said follower from a retracted position out of said path longitudinal to said second direction into said path for engaging the latch member of the advancing clamp and moving it to said unlatch position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for the automatic unlatching of a clamp moving along a third axis orthogonal to first and second mutually orthogonal axes and having first and second clamp elements movable relative to each other along said first axis between a release position and a closed position and having a latch member movable along said second axis between an unlatch position where the clamp elements are free for said relative movement and a latch position where the latch member secures said clamp elements in said closed position, said unlatching apparatus comprising: A. guide means for receiving the clamp advancing along said third axis and for guiding it along guide surfaces extending in planes parallel to said first and third axes and parallel to said second and third axes for further advancement along said third axis on a known path, B. a first follower normally disposed in a retracted position where it protrudes at a first location into said path of the clamp advancing along said guide surfaces, and movable longitudinal to said third axis from said retracted position under engagement by the advancing clamp to a second location where it is out of said path, and C. a first latch-release member linked to said follower and moved by said movement of said follower from a retracted position out of said path longitudinal to said second direction into said path for engaging the latch member of the advancing clamp and moving it to said unlatch position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
Automatic unlatching apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising cam means disposed proximal along said third axis to said latch-release member and for urging the advancing clamp against a first guide surface parallel to said second and third axes and simultaneously urging said first and second clamp elements in the direction from said release position to said clOsed position to relieve the clamping load between them concurrent with the movement of said latch-release member in said second direction from said retracted position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
having a pair of opposed second guide surfaces each of which extends along said first and third axes and together forming with said first guide surface a passage for guiding the advancing clamp along a known path longitudinal to said third axis, B. a clamp unlatcher
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
having a pair of opposed second guide surfaces each of which extends along said first and third axes and together forming with said first guide surface a passage for guiding the advancing clamp along a known path longitudinal to said third axis, B. a clamp unlatcher
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
mounted for rotation of said arm members adjacent said first ends thereof about a common axis parallel to said first axis and in different planes parallel to said first guide surface,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
mounted for rotation of said arm members adjacent said first ends thereof about a common axis parallel to said first axis and in different planes parallel to said first guide surface,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
having a retracted position where the other end of said first arm member extends into said path for engagement by a clamp advancing along said path and where the other end of said second arm member is out of said path,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
having a retracted position where the other end of said first arm member extends into said path for engagement by a clamp advancing along said path and where the other end of said second arm member is out of said path,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Automatic unlatching apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said cam means includes a circular member rotatable about an axis parallel to said second axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Automatic unlatching apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said first guide surface includes a roller platform opposite, along said first axis, said cam means for passage of the advancing clamp between said roller platform and said cam means, said roller platform comprising plural rollers successively spaced along said third axis and each rotatable about an axis parallel to said second axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
rotatable about said common axis, from said retracted position, by the engagement of said first arm member with an advancing clamp to move said first arm member with the advancing clamp and to move the other end of said second arm member into said path for moving the latch member of the advancing clamp to said unlatch position, and C. restoring means for biasing said unlatcher into said retracted position thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
rotatable about said common axis, from said retracted position, by the engagement of said first arm member with an advancing clamp to move said first arm member with the advancing clamp and to move the other end of said second arm member into said path for moving the latch member of the advancing clamp to said unlatch position, and C. restoring means for biasing said unlatcher into said retracted position thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
Automatic unlatching apparatus as defined in in claim 1 in which said follower includes an arm extending in a plane parallel to said second and third axes from a first end disposed in said path to a second end mounted outside said path for rotation about an axis parallel to said first axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Automatic unlatching apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising restoring means resiliently urging said follower and said latch-release member to said retracted positions thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
Automatic unlatching apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said latch-release member includes an arm elongated in a plane parallel to said second and third axes and mounted at one end outside said path for rotation about an axis parallel to said first axis and with the other end out of said path in the retracted position thereof and movable with said rotation thereof into and along said path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
Automatic unlatching apparatus as defined in claim 1 A. in which said first follower and first release member are disposed alongside said path, and B. further comprising a second follower and a second latch-release member, each of which is disposed on the side of said path opposite said first follower and said first latch-release member, respectively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for the automatic unlatching of a clamp moving along a third axis orthogonal to first and second mutually orthogonal axes and having first and second clamp elements movable relative to each other along said first axis between a release position and a closed position and having a latch member movable along said second axis between an unlatch position where the clamp elements are free for said relative movement and a latch position where the latch member secures said clamp elements in said closed position, said unlatching apparatus comprising: A. guide means
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for the automatic unlatching of a clamp moving along a third axis orthogonal to first and second mutually orthogonal axes and having first and second clamp elements movable relative to each other along said first axis between a release position and a closed position and having a latch member movable along said second axis between an unlatch position where the clamp elements are free for said relative movement and a latch position where the latch member secures said clamp elements in said closed position, said unlatching apparatus comprising: A. guide means
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
Unlatching apparatus as defined in claim 9 A. in which said first guide surface is parallel to the Horizontal and said second guide surfaces are vertical, B. further comprising an aligning chute in line with said guide means along said third axis for engaging the advancing clamp prior to entry into said guide passage and for orienting it with said first axis vertical and said second and third axes horizontal, C. further comprising cam means for engaging the clamp advancing in said guide passage and for urging it against said first guide surface with the clamp elements thereof urged into said closed position, to relieve clamping stresses in the latch member, concurrent with the rotation of the unlatcher second arm member into said path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for the automatic unlatching of a clamp moving along a third axis orthogonal to first and second orthogonal axes and having first and second clamp elements movable relative to each other in a direction transverse to said second axis between a release position and a closed position and having a latch member movable along said second axis between an unlatch position where the clamp elements are free for said relative movement and a latch position where the latch member secures said clamp elements in said closed position, said unlatching apparatus comprising: A. guide means for receiving the clamp advancing along said third axis and for guiding it further along said third axis on a known path, B. a first follower normally disposed in a retracted position where it protrudes at a first location into said path of the clamp and movable longitudinal to said third axis from said retracted position under engagement by the advancing clamp to a second location where it is out of said path, and C. a first latch-release member moved in response to said movement of said follower from a retracted position out of said path longitudinal to said second axis into said path for engaging the latch member of the advancing clamp and moving it to said unlatch position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for the automatic unlatching of a clamp moving along a third axis orthogonal to first and second orthogonal axes and having first and second clamp elements movable relative to each other in a direction transverse to said second axis between a release position and a closed position and having a latch member movable along said second axis between an unlatch position where the clamp elements are free for said relative movement and a latch position where the latch member secures said clamp elements in said closed position, said unlatching apparatus comprising: A. guide means for receiving the clamp advancing along said third axis and for guiding it further along said third axis on a known path, B. a first follower normally disposed in a retracted position where it protrudes at a first location into said path of the clamp and movable longitudinal to said third axis from said retracted position under engagement by the advancing clamp to a second location where it is out of said path, and C. a first latch-release member moved in response to said movement of said follower from a retracted position out of said path longitudinal to said second axis into said path for engaging the latch member of the advancing clamp and moving it to said unlatch position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
Automatic unlatching apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising cam means disposed proximal along said third axis to said latch-release member and urging said first and second clamp elements in the direction from said release position to said closed position to relieve the clamping load between them concurrent with the movement of said latch-release member in said second direction from said retracted position thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said cam means includes a member rotatable about an axis parallel to said second axis and having a peripheral bearing surface extending circumferentially relative to said rotation axis, said bearing surface engaging said clamp during the engagement thereof with said latch-release member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3098289A
Cited
US3368267A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |