Swivel Spacer

Abstract

The swivel spacer includes a first component and a second component that are rotatably connected to each other. Here, the first component includes two first central anchors with a first central contact surface formed therebetween, a first left anchor is provided on the left side of the first component with a first left contact surface formed between one of the first central anchors on the left side and the first left anchor, and a first right anchor is provided on the right side of the first component with a first right contact surface formed between one of the first central anchors on the right side and the first right anchor. The second component can include a structure similar to that of the first component. Such a structure of the swivel spacer can be adapted to elongated members such as wires, wire bundles, tubes, etc. of various sizes.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to the field of wiring and / or tubing systems, and more particularly to a swivel spacer for supporting and securing an elongated member. [Background technology]

[0002] In technical fields such as electrical wiring arrangement, pipe arrangement, etc., swivel spacers are often used to secure two or more elongated members, such as wire / cable bundles, tubes, and the like, so as to separate the elongated members from each other and prevent them from interfering with each other (including physical interference, electrical interference, etc.), such as friction between the two elongated members, mutual wear, mutual contact resulting in short circuit, and the like. Also, the swivel spacer allows the elongated members secured thereto to have different angles.

[0003] Existing swivel spacers for elongated members such as cables and tubes include an anchor structure and a contact surface. A securing member, such as a cable tie, can be connected to the anchor structure and fastened to secure the elongated structure onto the swivel spacer, and the elongated structure contacts the contact surface on the swivel spacer. Also, portions of the swivel spacer for securing different elongated members can be rotated relative to each other such that the elongated members secured on the swivel spacer intersect each other at a desired angle.

[0004] It has been found that existing swivel spacers still have some problems in use, for example, in order to reliably secure the elongated member to the swivel spacer, the elongated member needs to be firmly secured with a cable tie, which tends to compress the elongated member, particularly when the secured elongated member is a relatively compressible member such as a hose, and therefore the elongated member becomes deformed, e.g., compressed and deformed under the action of the cable tie and the contact surface.

[0005] Furthermore, a particular swivel spacer is typically only applicable to elongated members of a particular size or range of sizes, resulting in multiple swivel spacers being required when elongated members, such as cables and tubes, are to be secured with a variety of sizes.

[0006] Therefore, further improvements based on existing swivel spacers are needed to overcome the above problems in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The solution in the present disclosure has been made to solve the above technical problems in the prior art. The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a swivel spacer with an improved structure, which is a saddle type that can be adapted to fix elongated members of various sizes. Furthermore, the swivel spacer can avoid or reduce the compressive deformation of the elongated members. Furthermore, the swivel spacer of the present disclosure can realize the relative rotation between its different parts with a simple structure.

[0008] The swivel spacer of the present disclosure includes a first component and a second component rotatably connected relative to each other, where the first component includes two first central anchors with a first central contact surface formed therebetween, a first left anchor is provided on a left side of the first component with a first left contact surface formed between one of the first central anchors on the left side and the first left anchor, and a first right anchor is provided on a right side of the first component with a first right contact surface formed between one of the first central anchors on the right side and the first right anchor.

[0009] Similar to the first component, the second component includes two second central anchors with a second central contact surface formed therebetween, a second left anchor is provided on the left side of the second component with a second left contact surface formed between one of the second central anchors on the left side and the second left anchor, and a second right anchor is provided on the right side of the second component with a second right contact surface formed between one of the second central anchors on the right side and the second right anchor.

[0010] According to the above structure, the swivel spacer of the present disclosure includes multiple contact surfaces, which can have different shapes and sizes, allowing the swivel spacer to be adapted to secure elongate members of various sizes (e.g., cross-sectional diameters).

[0011] Preferably, at least one of the first central contact surface, the first left contact surface, the first right contact surface, the second central contact surface, the second left contact surface, and the second right contact surface is in the form of a curved concave surface, the curved concave surface being capable of at least partially mating with an outer circumferential surface of the elongated member having a generally circular cross section, and thus being effective to reduce compressive deformation of the elongated member when the elongated member is secured to the swivel spacer.

[0012] In particular, the first and second central contact surfaces may be configured with relatively large dimensions to accommodate elongate members having cross-sectional diameters of, for example, 1.25 inches or less.

[0013] Additionally, the first left contact surface, the first right contact surface, the second left contact surface, and the second right contact surface may be configured with smaller dimensions to accommodate elongate members having cross-sectional diameters of, for example, 0.7 inches or less.

[0014] Preferably, one of the first component and the second component is formed with a cylindrical cavity, and the other of the first component and the second component is formed with some curved tabs, and the curved tabs can be inserted into the cylindrical cavity to achieve a connection between the first component and the second component. Because an interference fit can be formed between the cylindrical cavity and the curved tabs, after the curved tabs are inserted into the cylindrical cavity, the curved tabs cannot easily leave the cylindrical cavity, but can rotate relative to the cylindrical cavity, thereby realizing a relative rotation between the first component and the second component. As a result, a relatively rotatable connection between the first component and the second component can be realized with a simple structure.

[0015] In a particular construction, a stopper is formed at the free end of each curved tab, and at least a portion of the stopper of the curved tab has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity such that the stopper prevents the curved tab from being dislodged from the cylindrical cavity after the curved tab is inserted into the cylindrical cavity.

[0016] For example, the stopper may be an outwardly protruding flange at the free end of the curved tab such that after the curved tab is inserted into the cylindrical cavity, the stopper protrudes from the cylindrical cavity to prevent the curved tab from disengaging from the cylindrical cavity in the opposite direction.

[0017] Alternatively, in another construction, the stopper can be eliminated and the overall outer diameter of the curved tab is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity, so that when the curved tab is inserted into the cylindrical cavity, a tight fit is formed between the curved tab and the cylindrical cavity.

[0018] Here, examples of elongated members that can be fixed onto the swivel spacer include at least one of a cable, a cable bundle, and a duct.

[0019] The detailed description herein can be more clearly understood from the structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 shows a top perspective view of a swivel spacer of the present disclosure, from which the structure of the first component of the swivel spacer can be more clearly seen. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the swivel spacer of FIG. 1, from which the structure of the second component of the swivel spacer can be more clearly seen. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the swivel spacer of FIG. [Figure 4a] 1 shows a schematic side view of the fastening of a first cable bundle having a larger diameter to a central contact surface of a swivel spacer; [Figure 4b] 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the fastening of a first cable bundle having a larger diameter to a central contact surface of a swivel spacer; [Figure 4c] 1 shows, in cross-section, a schematic representation of the fastening of a first cable bundle having a larger diameter to a central contact surface of a swivel spacer; [Figure 5a] 13 shows, in a side view, the fixing of a second cable bundle having a smaller diameter to a lateral contact surface of the swivel spacer. [Figure 5b] 1 shows, in a perspective view, the fixing of a second cable bundle having a smaller diameter to a lateral contact surface of a swivel spacer. [Figure 5c] 13 shows, in cross-section, a schematic view of the fastening of a second cable bundle having a smaller diameter to a lateral contact surface of the swivel spacer; [Figure 6] 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the swivel spacer of FIG. 1, from which an exemplary structure of the connecting means for connecting the first and second components to each other can be more clearly seen. [Figure 7] 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a first component and a second component of the swivel spacer of FIG. 1 rotated 90 degrees relative to each other; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present disclosure, the following provides an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be understood as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art can make various obvious modifications, variations, and equivalent replacements of the present disclosure based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and the technical features in the different embodiments described below can be arbitrarily combined with each other without contradiction, and all of them are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] In the following specific description of the present disclosure, terms such as "upper", "lower", "left" and "right" used to indicate directions and orientations are based on the structures shown in the accompanying drawings in use. It should be understood that the orientation of the structures may be changed according to a particular application.

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a swivel spacer 10 of the present disclosure, which more clearly illustrates the structure of a first component 11 of the swivel spacer 10. Figure 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the swivel spacer 10, which more clearly illustrates the structure of a second component 12 of the swivel spacer 10. Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the swivel spacer 10.

[0024] As shown, the swivel spacer 10 is composed of, among other things, a first component 11 and a second component 12, and the first component 11 and the second component 12 shown in Fig. 1 are substantially mirror images of each other in appearance. The general structure of the swivel spacer 10 will be described below mainly taking the first component 11 as an example.

[0025] Two first central anchors 21 are provided on the first component 11, specifically on its upper portion, with a first central contact surface 41 defined between the first central anchors 21 (FIG. 3). The first central contact surface 41 is preferably in the form of a curved concave surface. As shown in the figure, an exemplary structure of the first central anchor 21 is a suspension beam, under which a fixing member such as a cable tie 50, described below, can pass to form a ring shape. This ring shape can bundle the cables / cable bundle and the beam to fix the cables / cable bundle to the swivel spacer 10.

[0026] The first left anchor 22 and the first right anchor 23 are provided on either side of the first component 11, respectively. The first left contact surface 42 is formed between the first left anchor 22 and the first central anchor 21 on the left side, and also preferably has a curved concave shape. The first right contact surface 43 is formed between the first right anchor 23 and the first central anchor 21 on the right side, and also preferably has a curved concave shape.

[0027] The first left anchor 22 and the first right anchor 23 may also be in the form of a beam, and the cable tie 50 may pass under the beam-shaped first left anchor 22 and the first right anchor 23, forming a ring shape.

[0028] The cable / cable bundle secured to the swivel spacer 10 is typically cylindrical or includes an at least partially curved outer surface, such that the above-mentioned curved concave shape of each contact surface is capable of at least partially conforming to the outer surface of the elongated member to which it is secured, and is effective in reducing compression of the elongated member.

[0029] 2, similar to the first component 11, the second component 12 is provided with two second central anchors 31 and a second left anchor 32 and a second right anchor 33 located on either side of the second component 12. A second central contact surface 44 is formed between the two second central anchors 31, a second left contact surface 45 is formed between the second central anchor 31 on the left side and the second left anchor 32, and a second right contact surface 46 is formed between the second central anchor 31 on the right side and the second right anchor 33.

[0030] The second center contact surface 44, the second left contact surface 45, and the second right contact surface 46 are also preferably curved and concave.

[0031] The swivel spacer 10 having the above structure can accommodate cables / cable bundles of various sizes, for example, the swivel spacer 10 can accommodate cables / cable bundles having a size (e.g., cross-sectional diameter) of at least 0.5 in. Additionally, the swivel spacer 10 having the above structure can be adapted to accommodate four cables / cable bundles up to 0.7 in. in size and / or two cables / cable bundles up to 1.25 in. in size.

[0032] 4a-4c show schematic views of fastening a first cable bundle 61 having a larger diameter to the first central contact surface 41 and / or the first left contact surface 42 of the swivel spacer 10. For example, the cross-sectional diameter of the first cable bundle 61 may be 1.25 inches. As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the cable tie 50 passes through the two first central anchors 21 of the first component 11 to form a cable tie loop that ties the first cable bundle 61 to the first component 11, and the first cable bundle 61 abuts against the first central contact surface 41. Also, since the first central contact surface 41 has a curved concave shape, the outer surface of the first cable bundle 61 at least partially conforms to the first central contact surface 41, thereby avoiding or reducing deformation of the first cable bundle 61 caused by tightening of the tie 50 on the first cable bundle 61.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 4c, one first cable bundle 61 can also be fixed to the second component 12 by abutting against the second central contact surface 44. Furthermore, one first cable bundle 61 can be fixed to each of the first component 11 and the second component 12, so that two first cable bundles 61 can be fixed on the swivel spacer 10 simultaneously.

[0034] 5a-5c illustrate generally the securing of a second cable bundle 62 having a smaller diameter (e.g., cross-sectional diameter) by abutting against the first left and first right contact surfaces 42, 43 of the first component 11 and against the first right and second central contact surfaces 43, 44 of the second component 12. For example, as generally shown in Figures 5a and 5b, a cable tie 50 may pass through the first central anchor 21 and the first left anchor 22 on the left side of the first component 11 to form a loop, thereby tying the second cable bundle 62 to the first component 11 against the first left contact surface 42.

[0035] 5c, one second cable bundle 62 can be secured to each of the first left contact surface 42, the first right contact surface 43, the second left contact surface 45, and the second right contact surface 46. In other words, the swivel spacer 10 of the present disclosure can accommodate four second cable bundles 62 simultaneously.

[0036] The first component 11 and the second component 12 of the swivel spacer 10 can rotate relative to each other so that the first cable bundle 61 and / or the second cable bundle 62 fixed to the first member 11 and the first cable bundle 61 and / or the second cable bundle 62 fixed to the second member 12 are at a desired angle with respect to each other. For this purpose, rotation means are provided between the first component 11 and the second component 12. The structure of a particular embodiment of the rotation means is clearly shown in FIG.

[0037] 6, a cylindrical cavity 13 is provided in a substantially central portion of the first component 11, and several curved tabs 14 are provided on the second component 12. The curved tabs 14 are in the form of cantilevers extending from the second component 12. A stopper 15 is formed at the free end of each curved tab 14, for example in the form of a flange protruding from the outer surface of the curved tab 14.

[0038] Preferably, the curved tab 14 is provided such that an outer surface of the curved tab 14 and an inner surface of the cylindrical cavity 13 can cooperate with each other when the first component 11 and the second component 12 are assembled.

[0039] The curved tab 14 is inserted into the cylindrical cavity 13 when the first component 11 and the second component 12 are assembled. Here, the outer diameter of at least a part of the stopper 15 of the curved tab 14 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity 13, and during the process of inserting the curved tab 14 into the cylindrical cavity 13, an interference fit is generated between at least the stopper 15 and the cylindrical cavity 13, so that the curved tab 14 is slightly deformed inward. After the stopper 15 passes through the cylindrical cavity 13, the curved tab 14 can return to its original state, and the stopper 15 can prevent the curved tab 14 from leaving the cylindrical cavity 13, thereby realizing the connection between the first component 11 and the second component 12. Also, the cooperation between the curved tab 14 and the cylindrical cavity 13 allows the relative rotation between the first component 11 and the second component 12.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 7 , the first component 11 can rotate at least 90 degrees relative to the second component 12, thereby allowing the elongate member secured to the first component 11 to extend intersecting with the elongate member secured to the second component 12.

[0041] It should be understood that the locations of the cylindrical cavity 13 and the curved tabs 14 can be interchanged, i.e., the curved tabs 14 are located on the first component 11 and the cylindrical cavity 13 is located in the second component 12, and still be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0042] Furthermore, the above-mentioned stopper 15 formed on the free end of the curved tab 14 is optional. The outer surface of the curved tab 14 can generally be set to have an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity 13, so that when the curved tab 14 is inserted into the cylindrical cavity 13, an interference fit is formed between the cylindrical cavity 13 and the curved tab 14 to connect the first component 11 and the second component 12.

[0043] In the detailed description disclosed above, a cable / cable bundle is described as an example of an elongated member secured to the swivel spacer 10. However, as already mentioned, the elongated member that may be held by the swivel spacer 10 may also be a duct (e.g., a hose), etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10 Swivel Spacer 11 First Component 12 Second component 13 Cylindrical Cavity 14 Curved Tab 15 Stopper 21 First Central Anchor 22 1st Left Anchor 23 1st Right Anchor 31 Second Central Anchor 32 Second Left Anchor 33 Second Right Anchor 41 first central contact surface 42 1st left contact surface 43 First right contact surface 44 Second central contact surface 45 Second left contact surface 46 Second Right Contact Surface 50 Cable Ties 61 First Cable Bundle 62 Second Cable Bundle

Claims

1. 1. A swivel spacer comprising a first component and a second component rotatably connected to one another, the first component comprises two first central anchors with a first central contact surface therebetween; a first left anchor is provided on a left side of the first component with a first left contact surface formed between one of the first central anchors on the left side and the first left anchor; a first right anchor is provided on a right side of the first component with a first right contact surface formed between one of the first central anchors on the right side and the first right anchor; and / or the second component includes two second central anchors with a second central contact surface formed therebetween, a second left anchor is provided on a left side of the second component with a second left contact surface formed between one of the second central anchors on the left side and the second left anchor, and a second right anchor is provided on a right side of the second component with a second right contact surface formed between one of the second central anchors on the right side and the second right anchor, the swivel spacer.

2. 2. The swivel spacer of claim 1, wherein preferably at least one of the first central contact surface, the first left contact surface, the first right contact surface, the second central contact surface, the second left contact surface, and the second right contact surface is in the form of a curved concave surface.

3. the first central contact surface and the second central contact surface are capable of accommodating an elongate member having a cross-sectional diameter of 1.25 inches or less; and / or 3. The swivel spacer of claim 2, wherein the first left contact surface, the first right contact surface, the second left contact surface, and the second right contact surface are capable of accommodating elongated members having a cross-sectional diameter of 0.7 inches or less.

4. 2. The swivel spacer of claim 1, wherein one of the first component and the second component has a cylindrical cavity formed therein, and the other of the first component and the second component has a number of curved tabs formed therein, the curved tabs being insertable into the cylindrical cavity to effect the connection between the first component and the second component.

5. 2. The swivel spacer of claim 1, wherein a stopper is formed at a free end of each of the curved tabs, and at least a portion of the stopper of the curved tab has an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the cylindrical cavity, thereby preventing the curved tab from coming off the cylindrical cavity after the curved tab is inserted into the cylindrical cavity.

6. 6. The swivel spacer of claim 5, wherein said stopper is an outwardly projecting flange at said free end of said curved tab.

7. The swivel spacer of claim 3 , wherein the elongated member is at least one of a cable, a cable bundle, and a duct.

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