Wire comb

Abstract

A device for combing and straightening wires or cables in an assembly. The device includes a plurality of passages extending therethrough each sized to receive a separate wire or cable. The device is pulled the length of the multi-wire or cable assembly thereby straightening the wires or cables.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of devices for holding wires and cables in a bundle.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] When installing wire or cable assemblies, the technicians meticulously dress the assembly by hand as it is run through the access allowed above ceilings or below floor access. The technicians pull the assembly quickly through the channel or other construction and then return to one end of the assembly to tie the wires or cables together by tie wraps periodically along the length of the assembly. In the event it is desired to arrange the wires or cables in a particular pattern along the length of the assembly, then it is necessary to unravel the wires or cables to locate and position each wire or cable prior to tying. Considerable time and effort is required to accomplish this task. The end result is an assembly having a superior appearance as compared to an assembly wherein the wires or cables are randomly located along the length of the assembly. In addition, a further advantage is that a particular wire or cable is easily located at the opposite ends of the assembly. In order to reduce the time and effort required for the technician to arrange the wires or cables prior to tying, I have devised a comb through which the individual wires or cables extend with the comb then being pulled along the length of the assembly automatically locating each wire or cable in the same position at one end of the assembly as compared to the opposite end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention includes a comb to straighten an assembly of wires or cables comprising a main body including a first combing portion with a forward facing outer surface and a rearward facing outer surface and a plurality of holes extending through the combing position. The holes are sized to allow a single wire or cable to extend freely through the combing portion. The main body further includes a handle connected to the combing portion to allow grasping for moving the main body in a direction from the rearward facing outer surface toward the forward facing outer surface lengthwise along the wires or cables to comb and straighten same.

[0006] The invention further includes a method of combing and straightening the wires or cables respectively of a multi-wire assembly or multi-cable assembly which has a first end and an opposite second end. The method includes the step of moving a comb along the length of the assembly from a first end to an opposite second end of the assembly. The comb is initially located at the first end of the assembly and the wires or cables are extended through the plurality of passages. The comb is then moved from the first end toward the opposite second end of the assembly combing and straightening the wires or cables.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for combing and straightening a plurality of wires or cables in a multi wire/cable assembly.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of combing and straightening wires or cables of a multi wire/cable assembly.

[0009] Related objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the wire comb incorporating the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of the combs of FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 6.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first alternate embodiment of the wire comb.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second alternate embodiment of the wire comb.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a wire cable assembly.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a third alternate embodiment of the wire comb.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0017] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown four embodiments of a wire comb. Wire comb 10 in FIG. 1 receives 8 wires or cables to be tied together in an assembly and is the preferred embodiment for an assembly having 8 such wires or cables. Wire comb 11 in FIG. 3 is identically constructed to wire comb 10 with the exception that a greater number of passages extend through the wire comb 11 as compared to the wire comb 10. FIG. 4 depicts wire comb 12 having a plurality of passages extending therethrough to slidably receive the wires or cables in a pair of parallel assemblies. The fourth embodiment is wire comb 60 (FIG. 5) identically constructed to wire comb 10 with the exception of the number of passages and the handles.

[0018] A single assembly 13 of wires or cables is depicted in FIG. 5 and consists of a pair of opposite standard connectors 14 and 15, in turn, connected to wires or cables 16-23. The wires or cables are fragmented at location 24 since it can be appreciated the wires or cables typically have great length as compared to the size of the connectors. In lieu of connectors 14 and 15 the wires or cables may be directly connected to appliances. Assembly 13 is shown as having 8 separate wires or cables which correspond to the 8 passages 25-32 of comb 10. In use, the individual wires or cables 16-23 are individually fed through respectively passages 25-32 of wire comb 10 prior to connecting the individual wires or cables to the downstream connector or appliance 15. The wire comb 10 is then pulled from connector or appliance 14 towards the right as viewed in FIG. 5 automatically arranging the wires or cables until the wire comb is positioned at the end of assembly to be connected to connector or appliance 15. Connector or appliance 15 is then connected to the individual wires or cables. As the wire comb is pulled along the length of the assembly, tie wraps are used to tie the wires or cables together thereby providing a neat appearance of the assembly.

[0019] Wire combs 10, 11, 12, and 60 have a main body including a disc shape portion. Wire comb 10 has a disc shaped main body 35 with a forward facing outer surface 36 and a rearward facing surface 37. Holes or passages 25-32 extend through the main body and through the outer surfaces 36 and 37 being individually sized to allow only a single wire or cable to extend freely therethrough. A pair of ears 39 and 40 are integrally attached to the main body and form a handle to allow grasping for moving the comb in a direction from the rearward surface 37 towards the forward surface 36 as the comb is moved from end 41 toward end 42 of the wires or cables. As the comb is moved along the length of the wire or cable assembly, the wires or cables 16-23 are combed and straightened being located in the same position at end 41 as compared to end 42. Wire comb 11 is identically constructed as compared to wire comb 10 with the exception that the main body 38 of wire comb 11 has a greater number of passages or holes extending therethrough. Thus, FIG. 2 depicts both a side view of comb 10 as well as wire comb 11.

[0020] Combs 10 and 11 may be produced from a variety of materials including metal or plastic. In one embodiment, main body 35 has a thickness 43 of approximately ⅛ inch to ¾ inches with the diameter of the main body being approximately 12 inches. Thus, length 44 of the disc shape main body 35 is identical to the width 45 for combs 10 and 11. The length and width are each substantially greater than the thickness of the wire comb. The holes or passages are parallel and extend through the main body of combs 10-12 being approximately {fraction (9/16)} inches in circumference. The passages are drilled symmetrical around the circular portion or disc shaped portion of the wire comb.

[0021] Wire comb 12 is identically constructed as compared to wire combs 10 and 11 with exception that a pair of disc shaped main bodies are integrally joined together. Thus, disc shaped main body 46 and 47 are joined together by webs 48 and 49 with main bodies 46 and 47 having adjacent contacting sides 52 and 53. The opposite side of main body 46 has an ear 50 integrally joined thereto and the opposite side of main body 47 has an ear 51 integrally attached thereto. Ears 50 and 51 form a handle to allow the wire comb to be grasped and pulled along the length of the wire or cable assembly. The thickness of wire comb 12 may be identical to wire combs 10 and 11 with the disc shaped main bodies 46 and 47 each having a diameter of approximately 12 inches thereby providing a length 54 of approximately 12 inches and a width 55 of approximately 24 inches. The passages extending through disc shaped main bodies 46 and 47 are parallel and may be identically sized with respect to the passages for combs 10 and 11. Alternate versions of wire combs 10-12 are included in the present invention and may include larger passages for larger sized cabling products. Further, the number of passages extending through the wire comb may be increased or decreased. For example, a wire comb having 25 passages, 50 passages and 100 passages may be used respectively for a 25 pair, 50 pair, or 100 pair voice and data cabling, to high voltage type cabling use for electrical outlets. A third embodiment of the wire comb is depicted in FIG. 6. Wire comb 60 has a generally disc-shaped center portion 61 integrally joined to a pair of ears or handles 62 and 63 having finger holes 64 and 65 formed thereon. The handle formed by the pair of ears provide a means for grasping to pull the comb along the length of the wires or cables. A plurality of parallel passages 66 extend through the center portion 61 in the same manner as previously described for the other embodiments. The thickness of wire comb 60 may equal that previously described. The versatility of the wire comb may be increased by providing insertable disc shaped main bodies between the ears to facilitate different wire or cable assemblies.

[0022] The passages extending through the wire combs depicted in the drawings are arranged in patterns to space the wires or cables apart. The number of passages for each comb is at least as many as there are wires and cables in the assembly. Wire comb 12 includes a pair of combing portions 46 and 47 which may have equal or unequal number of passages extending therethrough.

[0023] The method of combing and straightening wires or cables of a multi-wire assembly or multi-cable assembly includes the first step of locating the wire comb adjacent ends 41 of wires or cables 16-23 and feeding each end 41 through a separate passage of the wire comb. For example, end 41 of wire cable 16 is fed through passage 25, wire cable 17 is fed through passage 26 until the ends 41 of all the wires or cable are located in a separate passage. Typically, the initial feeding of the wires or cables through the wire comb occurs adjacent a wall or conduit penetrating a wall structure. Once the comb is thereby mounted to the wires or cables, the comb may be moved along the length of the wires or cables allowing individual ends 41 to be connected to connector or appliance 14. For example, ends 41 may be connected to the Intermediate Distribution Frame, Main Distribution Frame, phone closet, computer room, etc. with workstations connected to ends 42. The wire comb is moved from ends 41 towards ends 42 thereby combing or straightening the wires or cables. Periodically, movement of the comb along the length of the assembly may be stopped allowing the wires or cables that have been straightened to be tied together by tie wraps 67 positioned between ends 41 and the wire comb. Other types of tying techniques such as Velcro wrap may be utilized so that the cabling is tied together every 12 inches to 18 inches. The end result is an extremely neatly dressed, installed cable bundle in the runway path from origination to the work station location. Eventually, the wire comb is moved along the entire length of the wires or cable, the ends 42 then passing out of the wire comb and being connected to a connector or particular appliance 15, such as a workstation computer terminal.

[0024] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A comb for assembly of wires or cables comprising:

a main body including a first combing portion with a forward facing outer surface, a rearward facing outer surface and a plurality of holes extending through said forward facing outer surface, said combing portion and said rearward facing outer surface, each of said holes being sized to allow a single wire or cable to extend freely through said combing portion, said main body further including a portion to allow grasping for moving said main body in a direction from said rearward facing outer surface toward said forward facing outer surface lengthwise along said wires or cables to comb and straighten same.

2. The comb of claim 1 wherein:

said main combing portion is plate shaped with a length, width and thickness, said length and said width are each substantially greater than said thickness.

3. The comb of claim 1 wherein:

said main combing portion is disc shaped with said plurality of holes arranged in a pattern to space the wires or cables apart.

4. The comb of claim 1 wherein there are at least as many holes in said combing portion as there are wires or cables in the assembly of wires or cables to be straightened.

5. The comb of claim 1 wherein:

said main body has a first handle and a second handle attached to said combing portion which is located between said first handle and said second handle to allow said main body to be grasped on opposite sides of said combing portion to pull said main body lengthwise along said assembly of said wires or cables combing and straightening same.

6. The comb of claim 1 wherein:

said main body has a second combing portion with a plurality of additional holes extending therethrough, each of said additional holes being sized to allow a single wire or cable to extend freely through said combing portion, said first combing portion and said second combing portion are connected together and include a handle to allow grasping for moving said main body in a direction from said rearward facing outer surface toward said forward facing outer surface lengthwise along said wires or cables to comb and straighten same.

7. The combination of:

a multi-wire or multi-cable assembly having a first end and an opposite end;

a wire/cable comb for combing and straightening the wires or cables in said assembly, said comb including a plurality of passages through which said wires or cables extend, said comb further including a first grasping portion for moving said comb along the length of said comb from said first end toward said opposite end combing and straightening said wires or cables.

8. The combination of claim 7 and further comprising:

a plurality of wraps tying together said wires or cables and located between said first end and said comb once said comb has been straightened by said comb.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said comb further includes a second grasping portion for moving said comb along the length of said comb from said first end toward said opposite end combing and straightening said wires or cables, said first grasping portion and said second grasping portion are spaced apart with said assembly extending therebetween through said passages.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said passages extend substantially parallel through said comb.

11. The combination of claim 7 wherein said comb is plate shaped with length, width and thickness with said length and said width each substantially greater than said thickness.

12. The combination of claim 7 wherein there are at least as many passages extending through said comb as there are wires or cables in said assembly.

13. A method of combing and straightening the wires or cables respectively of a multi-wire assembly or multi-cable assembly with the assembly having a first end and an opposite second end comprising the steps of:

providing a comb with a plurality of essentially parallel passages extending therethrough with the comb having a handle for grasping and moving said comb along the length of the assembly from a first end to an opposite second end of the assembly;

locating said comb at the first end of the assembly;

extending said wires or cables through said plurality of passages;

moving said comb from said first end toward said opposite second end of the assembly combing and straightening said wires or cables.

14. The method of claim 13 and further comprising the steps of:

periodically stopping movement at different locations along the length of the assembly; and,

tying said wires or cables together that have been straightened between said first end and said comb.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

said extending step includes the step of extending only a single wire or cable through each passage.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

said moving step includes grasping said handle and pulling said comb along the length of the assembly.

17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising the step of:

removing said comb from the assembly once the comb is located at the opposite second end.