Panduit Corporation

David Robert Schoenfeld

John J Bulanda

Roy A Moody

Cazimir M Guzay

Apparatus for insulating a connector, mechanically joined to one end of an electrical conductor, by positioning a radially expandable resilient insulating sleeve, having an inside diameter in its non-expanded condition smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the connector, about the connector. The connector includes one end portion mechanically joined to the conductor and a terminal end portion for connection to another electrical component. The apparatus of the present invention includes expansion means for expanding the sleeve sufficiently to receive the connector and holding means for maintaining the sleeve in its expanded condition and for permitting the connector to be received, terminal end portion first, into the expanded sleeve. The apparatus further includes release means operable to release the sleeve from its expanded condition whereby after the sleeve is held expanded and said connector inserted therein, operation of the release means frees the sleeve to become disposed about and compressively hold said connector. As a method, the invention comprises several steps. The sleeve is expanded sufficiently to receive the connector and held in its expanded condition. Thereafter, the connector is inserted, terminal end portion first, into the expanded sleeve. Finally, the sleeve is released from its expanded condition whereby it contracts about and effectively insulates the connector.

Method and apparatus for positioning an expandable insulating sleeve on

Harness assembly apparatus for maintaining close grouping of a plurality of flexible elongate objects such as wires as the objects make a turn and are formed into a bundle. The apparatus includes retaining means for releasably holding the objects and further includes support means to be mounted on a panelboard or the like and supporting the retaining means. The retaining means includes generally rigid abutment means which engages the bundle and defines the turn therein, and an arm captively held by the support means. The arm is movable relative to the support means between a retaining position wherein it is disposed above the abutment means and extends at least partially outside the turn and a release position wherein the arm is disposed substantially inside the turn of the bundle. At least a portion of the abutment means is responsive to movement of the arm towards its release position to move away from the turn of the bundle as defined by the abutment means when the arm is in its retaining position. After the formation of the objects into the bundle, it can readily be removed from the apparatus after moving the arm towards its release position.

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Sandy, UT, United States of America

David Robert Schoenfeld