Positioning tool for separating entwined strands

Abstract

A positioning tool (12, 112, 212) is configured to engage and be longitudinally moved along a length of entwined wires. The tool comprises a spreader member (14, 14', 14") which has retainer passages (14a, 14a', 14b, 14b') spaced from each other to define a fixed distance (D) between them. The positioning tool is engaged with entwined wires (16a, 16b) to place a respective entwined wire within each retainer passage (14a, 14a', 14b, 14b') so that in the vicinity of the spreader member of the positioning tool the retained wires are separated from each other by the fixed distance (D). Fixed distance (D) corresponds to the desired distance between wires for attaching the wires to a connector clip or other connector.

Description

POSITIONING TOOL FOR SEPARATING ENTWINED STRANDS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of US Application No.63 / 579,433, filed on August 29, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

[0001] Electric and electronic detonators are connected to blasting machines with long lengths of twisted paired electrically conductive insulated wire that runs to each hole in a blast arrangement. This set of twisted or entwined wires conventionally has a lay of about 6.5 inches (about 16.5 cm) to keep the wire conductors in close proximity to each other for good communication performance. The lay is the longitudinal distance between adjacent crossing points of the entwined wires.

[0002] In electric or electronic blasting systems, connections are made to electrically conducting wires by connector clips known in the art. Such connector clips, which may con- tain a detonator, include insulation-displacing contacts, i.e., small blades, to pierce the insula- tion to ensure that a good electrical contact is made. When attaching a connector clip to en- twined insulated wire conductors, the conductors have to be temporarily separated by a fixed distance corresponding to the distance between the insulation-displacing contacts or other points of contact. For example, in known connector clips a fixed distance of about 0.2 inches (about 5.1 mm) is required in order to engage the insulation-displacing contacts contained in the connector clips. If the wires are spread apart a distance which significantly deviates from the desired fixed distance, the connection cannot readily be made. It is very difficult to man- ually spread the conductors and hold them apart the proper distance to facilitate attaching the connector clip to the wires, or to attach the wires or strands to other types of connectors. It is extremely difficult to do so when those making the connections are working with gloves, es- pecially heavy winter gloves as required in very cold weather such as is encountered in the Canadian Arctic. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Generally, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a posi- tioning tool for spreading apart by a fixed distance two or more strands, e.g., strands of insu- lated electrically conductive wires, of a set of entwined (twisted together) strands. Thepositioning tool comprises a spreader member having two or more retainer passages extend- ing therethrough. The retainer passages (sometimes herein referred to simply as "passages") are spaced-apart from each other by a fixed distance, the passages each being dimensioned and configured to slidably receive therein respective single strands which thereby become re- tained strands, whereby sliding the positioning tool longitudinally along the set of entwined strands, at least temporarily, spreads apart the retained strands by the fixed distance at least in the immediate vicinity of the tool.

[0004] Specifically, the present invention provides a tool for separating and position- ing individual strands of entwined strands, the tool comprising at least a spreader member which is dimensioned and configured (a) to engage such entwined strands at a single point of contact and (b) to longitudinally slide along such entwined strands, the spreader member hav- ing at least two retainer passages spaced-apart from each other by a fixed distance, the re- tainer passages being dimensioned and configured to respectively receive one of such indi- vidual strands, so that sliding the spreader member longitudinally along such entwined strands causes the spreader member to separate by the fixed distance respective ones of such individual strands.

[0005] Other aspects of the present invention provide for one or more of the follow- ing features, alone or in any suitable combination: the spreader member may be configured as a disc; the retainer passages may be disposed along the geometrical diameter of the disc; the spreader member may be configured to rotate during the sliding of the tool longitudinally along such entwined strands; the spreader member may be comprised of at least two disc seg- ments, each disc segment defining at least one respective contact edge, the disc segments be- ing connected or connectable to each other so as to be movable between (a) an open position in which respective ones of the contact edges are separated from other contact edges, and (b) a closed position in which the respective contact edges of the disc segments are in contact with each other, and the contact edges may have formed therein at least two partial retainer passages which are dimensioned and configured so that, with the spreader member in the closed position, respective partial retainer passages of one disc segment align with respective partial retainer passages of the other disc segment to define the at least two retainer passages. For example, the spreader member may be comprised of two half-discs and the partial re- tainer passages may comprise half-passages.

[0006] Other aspects of the present invention provide one or more of the following features, alone or in any suitable combination: the spreader member may be mounted on a handle which is dimensioned and configured to facilitate a user sliding the spreader memberlongitudinally along such entwined strands; the spreader member may have a leading end and a trailing end and may be rotatably mounted on the handle at the trailing end of the tool; and the spreader member may further comprise peripheral indents to facilitate a user holding the spreader member to prevent further rotational movement of the spreader member while the tool is held stationary relative to such entwined strands.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention provides a tool for separating and po- sitioning individual strands of entwined insulated wire strands, the tool comprising; a handle on which a disc-shaped spreader member is rotatably mounted, the spreader member being dimensioned and configured (a) to engage such entwined insulated wire strands at a single point of contact and (b) to rotatably and longitudinally slide along such entwined strands; the spreader member having at least two retainer passages spaced-apart from each other by a fixed distance, the retainer passages being dimension and configured to respectively receive one of such individual strands, so that sliding the tool longitudinally along such entwined strands causes the spreader member to separate by the fixed distance respective ones of such individual strands.

[0008] In another aspect of the present invention, the spreader member is comprised of two half-discs each having a respective diametrical contact edge, the half-discs being con- nected or connectable to each other so as to be movable between (a) an open position in which a diametrical contact edge of one half-disc is separated from a diametrical contact edge of the other half-disc, and (b) a closed position in which the respective diametrical contact edges of the half-discs are in contact with each other, and both of the diametrical contact edges have formed therein at least two retainer half-passages which are dimensioned and con- figured so that, with the spreader member in the closed position, respective half-passages of one half-disc align with respective half-passages of the other half-disc to define the at least two retainer passages.

[0009] Yet another aspect of the present invention provides that the spreader member may further comprise retainer formations such as peripheral indents to facilitate a user re- straining the spreader member against further rotational movement of the spreader member while the tool is held stationary relative to such entwined insulated wire strands.

[0010] A method aspect of the present invention provides a method for separating and positioning individual strands disposed in an entwined strands configuration with a tool com- prising a spreader member, the spreader member having therein at least two retainer passages spaced a fixed distance apart from each other. The method comprises the following steps: disposing respective individual strands of the entwined strands into respective ones of theretainer passages, sliding the tool along the entrained wires to force apart by the fixed dis- tance the individual strands, to provide adjacent the spreader member individual strands dis- posed in a straightened spaced-apart configuration; connecting the spaced-apart strands to a connector device; and after connecting the spaced-apart strands to such connector device dis- engaging the tool from the entwined strands. After being connected to such connector de- vice, the strands may be severed at a suitable location past the site at which the connection is made.

[0011] Another aspect of the method of the present invention provides that the spreader member is rotatable or rotatably mounted on a handle of the tool so that the spreader member rotates as the tool is sliding along the entwined strands. The resilience of the strands aids in imposing a rotating force on the spreader member.

[0012] Still another aspect of the present invention provides that the spreader member comprises at least two segments connected or connectable to each other for movement rela- tive to each other between an open position in which the retainer passages are open for lateral insertion therein of an individual strand, and a closed position in which the retainer passages are closed to retain the individual strand therein, the method comprising moving the spreader member to the open position and laterally inserting individual strands into respective retainer passages, and then moving the spreader member into the closed position to retain the individ- ual strands within their respective retainer passages, and then carrying out the step of sliding the tool along the entwined strands.

[0013] Another method aspect of the present invention provides for utilizing as the entwined strands, entwined strands which are sufficiently resilient to return to the entwined configuration from the spaced-apart configuration by distancing the spreader member from the spaced-apart configuration of the strands by sliding the tool longitudinally along the en- twined strands. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of electric detonator connector clips being con- nected to a pair of insulated wire conductors in accordance with the prior art;

[0015] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a tool consisting of a disc-like spreader mem- ber in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention engaged with a pair of en- twined wires;

[0016] Figure 2A is a view in elevation of the tool of Figure 2;

[0017] Figure 3A is a perspective view in elevation of another embodiment of a tool in accordance with the present invention, shown in the open position;

[0018] Figure 3B is a view in elevation of the tool of Figure 3A shown in its closed position;

[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tool in accordance with a second embodi- ment of the present invention engaged with a pair of entwined wires;

[0020] Figure 5 is enlarged relative to Figure 4 and is a perspective view of the tool of Figure 4 engaged with the entwined wires;

[0021] Figure 6 is a perspective view, enlarged relative to Figure 5, of another em- bodiment of the positioning tool of Figures 4 and 5; and

[0022] Figure 7 is a schematic representation showing the effect on entwined resilient strands of sliding a tool of the present invention longitudinally along the entwined strands. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

[0023] While well adapted for use in connecting connector clips to trunk lines in a blasting arrangement, the present invention facilitates connecting entwined strands in other uses, such as, for only one example, connecting fiber optic strands to retaining devices. For economy of expression, the following description deals with fastening detonator connector clips to twisted (entwined) pairs of electrically conductive insulated wires, but it will be ap- preciated that the present invention has utility in temporarily or permanently separating en- twined strands and holding them a fixed distance apart to facilitate connecting any type of de- vices to the separated strands in other uses, such as, for only one example, connecting fiber optic strands to retaining or other devices.

[0024] The present invention provides a reusable positioning tool designed to spread apart entwined wires or other strands, that is, wires or other strands which are twisted to- gether, usually in pairs, to facilitate connecting the strands to a connector device, such as a connector clip. After the connection is made and the tool is moved from the location where the connection is made, the resilient wires or other resilient strands return to their entwined, that is, twisted-together, configuration, thereby preserving the wire lay so the twisted pairs stay twisted together after the connection has been made. As used herein and in the claims, the term resilient means a strand which is resilient enough to return to or return close to its original configuration when the strand is released from the tool. Another aspect of the method of the present invention may comprise restoring the entwined configuration of thewire strands after passage of the tool member along the entwined strands, the individual strands being sufficiently resilient to restore themselves to the entwined configuration starting at a restored location which trails the movement of the tool, by sliding the tool to a stress-re- lieving distance from the restored location.

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a conventional prior art arrangement of a pair of trunklines 10a, 10b of a blasting arrangement, with one clamshell type detonator connector clip C1 closed about and thereby fastened to the trunklines, and a second identical detonator con- nector clip C2 in the open position about to be fastened to the trunklines. Trunk lines 10A, 10B are conventional insulated metal wire electrical conductors conventionally utilized in electric blasting systems and are sometimes herein referred to as "electrical wires". Figure 1 does not show the trunklines 10a,10b entwined but rather shows them as being disposed adja- cent to and straightened to each other. Figure 1 is a rendition of a prior art arrangement and serves merely to illustrate the connection of connector clips to a pair of separated trunklines. The conventional connector clips C1, C2 illustrated in Figure 1 have blade members spaced- apart from each other a fixed distance and these blade members must be aligned with the trunklines 10a,10b to pierce the insulation around the trunkline wires in order to establish an electrical connection. In the use of electric or electronic detonators in blasting the "trunkline" comprises a pair of electrically conductive wires which are twisted together in order to main- tain them in close proximity to each other. Properly aligning each of a twisted pair of wires or other entwined stands a specific distance from each other in order to make a good electri- cal connection is significantly more difficult than connecting straightened strands as illus- trated in Figure 1.

[0026] A simple planar, for example, disc-shaped, spreader member in accordance with the present invention may be used to separate (temporarily, in the case of resilient strands) by a selected fixed distance and position the individual wires of two or more en- twined wires to facilitate connecting the individual strands, e.g., electrical wires, to connector clips such as clips C1 and C2 of Figure 1, or to other devices. As described more fully be- low, the disc has retainer passages in which individual strands are received and the disc spins as it is moved along the twisted entwined strands to separate and hold the conductors the cor- rect distance apart, at least in the vicinity of the spreader member, to align with the electrical contact blades of a connector clip such as connector clips C1 and C2 of Figure 1, or to facili- tate making some other type of connection. This disc-like spreader member could also have a feature where it is a hinged or snap-together design, each, for example, half-disc being mova- ble between an open configuration to laterally receive the strands and a closed configurationto enclose the strands within the retainer passages. This allows the disc-like spreader mem- ber to be attached anywhere along the length of the entwined strands without having to cut the strands and thread the cut ends of the strands through the retainer passages. In one em- bodiment of the present invention a positioning tool 12 comprises a planar spreader member 14 which may be in the shape of a disc as illustrated in Figure 2. The disc-like spreader member 14 has a pair of retainer passages 14a and 14b extending through it. Retainer pas- sages 14a and 14b are spaced-apart from each other a fixed distance D, as measured center- to-center of the retainer passages. In other embodiments the positioning tool may have three or more retainer passages extending therethrough whereby a plurality of fixed distances are defined by the respective fixed distances between any two of the passages. Spreader member 14 (Figure 2A) has entwined wires 16a, 16b retained, respectively, in retainer passages 14a and 14b. Entwined wires 16a, 16b are not shown in Figure 2A for clarity of illustration.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, entwined wires 16a, 16b are twisted about each other with a "lay" L, the lay L being the longitudinal straight line distance between cross-over points P of the entwined wires 16a, 16b. Figure 2, for clarity of illustration, shows wires 16a and 16b loosely entwined. In actual practice, wires 16a, 16b would usually be wound more tightly than illustrated in Figure 2.

[0028] With entwined wires 16a, 16b respectively retained within retainer passages 14a, 14b, it will be appreciated that the retainer wires in the vicinity of spreader member 14 will be held apart the fixed distance D, as measured center-to-center.

[0029] When the positioning tool 12 is moved longitudinally along the conformable entwined strands, for example, conformable insulated electrical wires, the conformable strands will return to or close to their original distance from each other as positioning tool 12, which in this embodiment comprises only spreader member 14, is longitudinally moved along the entwined wires.

[0030] Figure 3A illustrates another embodiment of the spreader member in which the spreader member is adjustable between an open position in which the retainer passages are laterally opened to enable the strands to be laterally inserted into the passages, and a closed position in which the passages are laterally closed so that the retained strands are fully enclosed by their respective retainer passages. Spreader member 14' is comprised of two half-discs 14c and 14d which are hinged at 14e so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position. Half-discs 14c, 14d each comprises one-half of a disc and so, when in the open position shown in Figure 3A, the retainer passages 14a', 14b' are both divided be- tween half-discs 14c and 14d. In this way, spreader member 14', when placed in the openposition illustrated in Figure 3A, can laterally receive within retainer passages 14a', 14b' re- spective ones of entwined wires 16a, 16b. The half-discs 14c, 14d are then rotated about hinge 14e to the closed position illustrated in Figure 3B to enclose entwined wires 16a, 16b within respective retainer passages 14a', 14b'. The half-discs may be held in the closed posi- tion by a mechanical latch or any other suitable means. Alternatively, the half-discs instead of being connected by a hinge as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B, may be separate pieces which may be snap-fit or otherwise joined at the contact edges of the two half-discs by suita- ble attachment members (not shown).

[0031] In still other embodiments of the present invention, the positioning tool com- prises the spreader member and a handle on or within which the spreader member is rotatably mounted. In one such embodiment the spreader member is rotatable relative to the handle. In another embodiment there are one or more, for example, two, cut-outs on the spreader member to facilitate the user holding in place the rotational orientation of the spreader mem- ber. Figures 4 and 5 show an embodiment of the present invention in which a positioning tool 112 comprises the spreader member 14 mounted on a cylindrical-shaped handle 18. Handle 18 facilitates moving the positioning tool 112 longitudinally along entwined wires or strands 16a, 16b. In this embodiment, spreader member 14 comprises part of a rotating core which is supported by loose fitting ball bearings inside one end of the tube-shaped handle. These ball bearings reduce friction and allow the rotating core to rotate as the tool is moved longitudinally along the path of the entwined wires. The core rotates with the twist of the wires so the wires keep the designed lay length.

[0032] Spreader member 14 is mounted for rotation within handle 18 so that in use, the user grasps handle 18 to move positioning tool 112 longitudinally along entwined wires 16a, 16b. The user pauses at a location where a connector clip is to be attached to the en- twined wires 16a, 16b, which at or in the vicinity of end face E of positioning tool 112 are separated by the fixed distance D (Figure 2A). When the user moves positioning tool 112 longitudinally along entwined wires 16a, 16b, the separated wires formerly in the vicinity of end face E return to, or very close to, their respective positions prior to having been temporar- ily separated.

[0033] Additionally, an indexing retainer formation such as protruding members or cut-out features can be added to the spreader member to allow the user to use a thumb or fin- ger to hold the rotational orientation of rotating spreader member 14'' (Figure 6) in place to facilitate in the attachment of the spaced-apart strands to the connector clip or other connector device. Figure 6 shows a positioning tool 212 which is identical to positioning tool 112except that it contains a spreader member 14'' which is identical to spreader member 14 of Figure 5 except that it has two V-shaped cut-out portions to form a pair of indents 20a, 20b. Indents 20a, 20b enable the user to hold spreader member 14'' to prevent rotation of it while connecting a connector clip to the spaced-apart location of wires 16a, 16b (not shown in Fig- ure 6). The user grasps handle 18 to move it along entwined wires 16a, 16b and while grasp- ing handle 18 places the tips of the thumb and forefinger of the hand which is grasping the handle into, respectively, indents 20a, 20b to prevent further rotation of spreader member 14''. This enables the user to hold the spacing between wires 16a, 16b at end face E (Figure 5) while connecting the connector clip.

[0034] It is often desired to have entwined strands return to their entwined configura- tion after the tool has been longitudinally slid over the entwined wires or strands to create at the trailing end of the tool a spaced-apart straightened configuration of the wires. Restoration of the entwined configuration after passage of the tool is often desired, for example, in the case of insulated electrical wires used to make connections in blasting arrangements. In such case, the strands must be sufficiently resilient to return to their entwined configuration when the separation stresses imposed on them by the spreader member of the tool are relieved by the tool moving further along the strands. The separation of the wires into a straightened, spaced-apart configuration thus follows the longitudinal movement of the tool much as the wake formed by a moving ship follows the ship. The "restored location" along the strands is that location at which the entwined configuration is restored after passage of the tool. The restored location in a given case will vary depending on the resiliency of the particular strands and the fixed distance by which they are temporarily separated by the retainer pas- sages of the spreader member just as the length of the wake generated by a ship will vary de- pending on the shape of the ship's hull, the speed at which the ship is travelling and the condi- tion (smooth or choppy) of the water surface. Thus, the spaced-apart straightened configura- tion of the strands follows the movement of the tool and, provided that the strands are suffi- ciently resilient, the entwined configuration is restored along the traversed length of the en- twined strands except adjacent to the trailing end of tool or the strands are connected to a fixed object.

[0035] Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of resilient entwined strands 16a, 16b along which tool 112 is being slid longitudinally in the direction indicated by the un-numbered ar- row. The spreader member (not shown) of tool 112 is located at leading end E of tool 112 and serves to separate strands 16a, 16b into the spaced-apart configuration shown in segment S of strands 16a, 16b. The resiliency of strands 16a, 16b causes them to return to or veryclose to the entwined configuration of segment RT of strands 16a, 16b. Segment RT of strands 16a, 16b have not yet been encountered by tool 112 and so are in their original en- twined condition.

[0036] While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to spe- cific embodiments thereof, these embodiments are exemplary and not limiting.

Claims

THE CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A tool for separating and positioning individual strands of entwined strands, the tool comprising: a spreader member dimensioned and configured (a) to engage such entwined strands at a single point of contact and (b) to longitudinally slide along such entwined strands; the spreader member having at least two retainer passages spaced-apart from each other by a fixed distance, the retainer passages being dimensioned and configured to respec- tively receive one of such individual strands; whereby sliding the spreader member longitudinally along such entwined strands causes the spreader member to separate by the fixed distance respective ones of such individ- ual strands.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the spreader member is configured as a disc.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the retainer passages are disposed along the geo- metrical diameter of the disc.

4. The tool of claim 2 wherein the spreader member is configured to rotate dur- ing the sliding of the tool longitudinally along such entwined strands.

5. The tool of claim 2 wherein the spreader member is comprised of at least two disc segments, each disc segment defining at least one respective contact edge, the disc seg- ments being connected or connectable to each other so as to be movable between (a) an open position in which respective ones of the contact edges are separated from other contact edges, and (b) a closed position in which the respective contact edges of the disc segments are in contact with each other, and the contact edges have formed therein at least two partial retainer passages which are dimensioned and configured so that, with the spreader member in the closed position, respec- tive partial retainer passages of one disc segment align with respective partial retainer pas- sages of the other disc segment to define the at least two retainer passages.

6. The tool of claim 5 wherein the spreader member is comprised of two half- discs and the partial retainer passages comprise half-passages.

7. The tool of claim 1, claim 2, claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the spreader member is mounted on a handle which is dimensioned and configured to be held by a user to facilitate sliding the spreader member longitudinally along such entwined strands.

8. The tool of claim 7 having a leading end and a trailing end, and wherein the spreader member is rotatably mounted on the handle at the trailing end of the tool.

9. The tool of claim 8 wherein the spreader member further comprises retainer formations to facilitate a user holding the spreader member to prevent further rotational movement of the spreader member while the tool is held stationary relative to such entwined strands.

10. A tool for separating and positioning individual strands of entwined insulated wire strands, the tool comprising: a handle on which a disc-shaped spreader member is rotatably mounted, the spreader member being dimensioned and configured (a) to engage such entwined insulated wire strands at a single point of contact and (b) to rotatably and longitudinally slide along such en- twined strands; and the spreader member having at least two retainer passages spaced-apart from each other by a fixed distance, the retainer passages being dimension and configured to respec- tively receive one of such individual strands; whereby sliding the tool longitudinally along such entwined strands causes the spreader member to separate by the fixed distance respective ones of such individual strands by the fixed distance.

11. The tool of claim 10 wherein the spreader member Is comprised of two half- discs each having a respective diametrical contact edge, the half-discs being connected or connectable to each other so as to be movable between (a) an open position in which a dia- metrical contact edge of one half-disc is separated from a diametrical contact edge of the other half-disc, and (b) a closed position in which the respective diametrical contact edges of the half-discs are in contact with each other, and both of the diametrical contact edges have formed therein at least two retainer half- passages which are dimensioned and configured so that, with the spreader member in the closed position, respective half-passages of one half-disc align with respective half-passages of the other half-disc to define the at least two retainer passages.

12. The tool of claim 11 wherein the spreader member further comprises retainer formations to facilitate a user restraining the spreader member against further rotational movement of the spread of member while the tool is held stationary relative to such entwined insulated wire strands.

13. A method for separating and positioning individual strands having an en- twined strands configuration with a tool comprising a spreader member, the spreader member having therein at least two retainer passages spaced a fixed distance apart from each other, the method comprising:disposing respective individual strands of the entwined strands into respective ones of the retainer passages, sliding the tool along the entrained strands to force apart by the fixed distance the in- dividual strands to provide spaced-apart strands adjacent the spreader member, connecting the spaced-apart strands to a connector device; and after connecting the spaced-apart strands to such connector device disengaging the tool from the entwined strands.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the spreader member is rotated by sliding the tool along the entwined strands to rotate the spreader member.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the tool comprises the spreader member ro- tatably mounted on a handle and the step of sliding the tool along the entwined strands is car- ried out by sliding the handle along the entwined strands.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the spreader member comprises at least two segments connected to each other for movement relative to each other between an open posi- tion in which the retainer passages are open for lateral insertion therein of an individual strand, and a closed position in which the retainer passages are closed to retain the individual strand therein, the method comprising moving the spreader member to the open position and laterally inserting individual strands into respective retainer passages, and then moving the spreader member into the closed position to retain the individual strands within their respec- tive retainer passages, and then carrying out the step of sliding the tool along the entwined strands.

17. The method of any one of claims 13, 14, 15 or 16 comprising utilizing as such entwined strands, entwined strands which are sufficiently resilient to return to the entwined configuration from the spaced-apart configuration by distancing the spreader member from the spaced-apart configuration of the strands by sliding the tool longitudinally along the en- twined strands.

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