Abstract: A strap mount for holding a bundle of wires against a hole in a structure such as a wall or ceiling. The strap mount includes a thin, closed loop mount member having a pair of substantially parallel extended end sections and a central loop section including a passageway. The shape of the mount allows for it, and an engaged strap, to pass completely through a hole in a structure and then be oriented so that the strap mount will be prevented from returning through the hole. When the strap mount is held up against the structure, the bundle can then be secured by tightening the cable strap around it.

Abstract: A continuous form assembly of self-laminating badges, includes a continuous length of transparent lamina, a lamina of pressure sensitive adhesive adhered to a first surface of the transparent lamina, and a continuous length of carrier paper releasably adhered to the lamina of pressure sensitive adhesive which mounts the transparent lamina. A plurality of spaced apart transverse cuts through the thickness and across the width of the transparent lamina forms a plurality of badges each of which includes, a print field for recording written or printed information disposed on a portion of a second surface of the transparent lamina, wherein a remaining portion of the transparent lamina not covered by the print field includes a lamination portion of sufficient proportion to be folded to cover both forward and rearward surfaces of an area of the transparent lamina covered by the print field.

Abstract: A cable tie with a strap guide ramp includes a strap, a locking head secured to the first end of the strap, a plurality of walls on the locking head forming a strap positioning channel, a pawl positioned within the channel and pivotally mounted to the locking head and strap guide ramp contiguous to the pawl for directing the tip of the strap during initial insertion of the strap into the channel away from the pawl and towards the strap positioning channel. The strap guide ramp prevents plastic deformation of the pawl during insertion of the tip of the strap when the tip of the strap is inadvertently directed against the pawl which enhances the reliability of the cable tie and is especially useful for cable tie formed of less resilient materials.

Abstract: An automatic harness testing apparatus test a multiconductor single connector wire harness for continuity faults in each conductive path of the wire harness by capacitively inducing an oscillatory test signal through the insulation of the conductors, probing each of the terminals of the connector and sequentially testing each probe for the presence of a test signal having a predetermined amplitude.

Abstract: A wire retention clip for holding a wire or bundle of sires. The wire clip includes a retaining arm member and locking means attached to a base plate in a spaced relationship to each other. The retaining arm member includes a substantially tangentially extending press pad that extends in a direction towards the free end of the retaining arm, to ease the pressing of the free end of the retaining arm into the locked position and to cover the release lever of the locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent release of the retaining arm. The retaining arm member is further defined by its ends both tapering into a narrower middle section.

Abstract: A portable cable application tool for fastening an individual cable tie around an object where the cable tie has a strap and a strap locking head and is provided in a continuous ribbon of cable ties includes upper and lower jaws for positioning the cable tie around an object to be fastened. The tool includes a cable advancing means for advancing an individual cable tie within the tool having a carriage, a carriage mounting means for mounting the carriage to the tool for reciprocal movement between a rearward position and a forward position and cable tie pusher means carried on the carriage for pushing a cable tie from a cable tie receiver means to upper and lower jaws of the tool.

Abstract: A releasable cable tie having a pawl extension projecting from the cable tie's strap positioning channel allows application by a standard cable tie tensioning and severing tool by providing a tool positioning surface formed on the locking head adjacent the strap exit portion of the strap positioning channel, the tool positioning surface projecting beyond the distal end of the extension of the pawl such that a cable tie application tool can be positioned in abutment with the tool positioning surface without contacting the extension of the pawl.

Abstract: A wire insertion tool for inserting individual wires into an insulation displacement contact of an electrical connector includes a wire insertion head; a palm handle; a wire insertion punch disposed on a forward end of the palm handle; means for mounting the palm handle to the wire insertion head such that the punch can be reciprocated towards and away from the wire insertion head by grasping the palm handle and the finger grip of the wire insertion head; a connector positioning means for positioning a connector opposite the wire insertion punch; and bench mounting means formed along a distal edge of the wire insertion head for engaging a structural feature on a removable bench mounting block secured to a mounting surface to releasably secure the wire insertion tool to the mounting surface for use as a bench mounted tool. A palm button can be removably mounted to the palm handle when the tool is bench mounted to provide a greater handle surface area.

Abstract: A stretched cable tie has a head connected to a strap having teeth on both sides of the strap. A moveable pawl is positioned on a ledge inside the head and urges the strap into engagement with a fixed tooth within the head so that teeth on both sides of the strap are engaged by the pawl and fixed tooth respectively. A sharp corner is provided more than a multiple of the spacing between the strap teeth below the fixed tooth so as to allow the corner to penetrate the strap and engage the adjacent tooth to aid in providing a withdrawal force. A portion of the wall of the head behind the fixed tooth is removed to facilitate cooling and eliminate shrinkage in the area of the fixed tooth.

Abstract: A portable cable tie dispenser for providing individual cable ties from a ribbon of cable ties including a grooved cylinder for positioning the cable ties for severance from the ribbon and sequential transfer to a cable tie application tool, the grooved cylinder being driven by an electric motor disposed within the cylinder.

Abstract: A communication box assembly includes a base, a plurality of connector mounting inserts, insert mounting means for securing the inserts to an inner surface of the base juxtaposed in an aligned row in a plurality of insert mounting positions, the insert mounting means positioning the inserts with outer insert edges adjacent an outer edge of the base whereby operative ends of connectors carried by the inserts are positioned for convenient connection with office service cables, and a cover releasably attached to the base which is shaped to enclose the base and inserts.

Abstract: A modular connector press for terminating different types of connectors to a flat cable includes left and right cable tray assemblies that are mounted for accurately positioning and laterally translating the cable in a first direction transverse to the axial direction of the cable between a loading position for initial positioning of the cable and a termination position where the cable is positioned beneath a press ram. Each tray assembly includes a main body, a cable tray and means for mounting the cable tray to the main body to allow adjustable translation of the cable tray in a second direction transverse to the first direction of translation of the tray assembly means. Each cable tray includes a plurality of connector positioning slots allowing the accurate positioning of terminated connectors of a harness on each cable tray.

Abstract: A wiring duct comprising a base and a cover for providing an opening therebetween for receipt of wires and the like. The base has a pair of sides with their free ends terminating in an arrowhead configuration. The cover is provided with a pair of arms on each side for snapping over the arrowhead to provide a positive latch therewith. The inside arm on each side of the cover is angled away from its respective outside arm to engage the leading edge of the arrowhead and provide for firm engagement with the arrowhead notwithstanding the typical range of tolerances associated with manufacturing products of this type.

Abstract: A high strength, low strap insertion force cable tie having a locking head that locks the distal ends of a strap in two strap positioning channels in the head with two metal barbs each carried by a pawl hingedly mounted to a side wall of the head.

Abstract: A modular telephone connector includes a housing defining a standard telephone jack, a contact carrier that mounts a plurality of metal contacts each having resilient cantilever jack forming portions and insulation displacement portions and a wire positioning fixture having aligned first and second rows of wire guide channels. The connector is assembled by latching the contact carrier and contacts to the housing, positioning wires through first and second wire guide channels of the wire positioning fixture and securing the fixture to the housing and contact carrier with a centrally located cantilever latch arm formed on the fixture inwardly from the periphery of the connector, closely adjacent the row of contacts. The latch arm engages a slot formed in the housing and contact carrier to releasably secure the fixture to the connector. The central latch arm prevents misalignment of the fixture with the housing and contact carrier which can result in defective termination of the connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding an electrical connector to a connector termination press includes a slotted rotary drum that receives the leading connector from a ribbon of taped connectors carried on a reel, rotates the connector ninety degrees to reorient the connector and places it in a connector positioning track, and a push rod assembly that advances the connector into an aligned position underneath the ram of a connector termination press.

Abstract: A selectively coated cable tie is only coated along the lateral edges of the strap of the cable tie leaving an uncoated longitudinally extending medial strip portion of the strap for engagement with a locking mechanism in the head of the tie whereby the selectively coated cable tie provides a cable tie with smooth non-abrasive lateral edges while not significantly degrading the effectiveness of the locking mechanism of the tie.

Abstract: A stretched strap cable tie tensioning and severing tool includes a means for positioning a cable tie strap between a severance blade and an anvil and means for moving the severance blade completely through the strap and into engagement with the anvil to sever the strap, wherein the anvil is formed of a ductile metallic material and wherein the blade is of a greater hardness than the anvil sufficient to allow the blade to penetrate the anvil to form a groove therein.

Abstract: A twisted flat cable positioning tray includes a cable tray having a slide for covering and securing a multisection flat cable having one section of the cable twisted 180 degrees to accurately position the twisted cable for termination to a connector in a connector press.

Abstract: A shipping method for facilitating the efficient distribution of goods transmits from a shipping location computer a container packing record identifying an individual container and the items contained therein to a programmable computer located at the shipping destination of the container such that as a container is received at the shipping destination a bar code on the container can be entered into the computer data base and used to identify the container packing record for the container and all of the items contained within the container. The shipping destination computer is programmed to compare the items in the container and provide an output directing the container directly to an order packing area when items needed to fill customer orders are contained within the received container, or, if none of the items are needed to fill a customer order, directing the container to general inventory.