Method and apparatus for attaching a wiring harness

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for attaching a wire with a work machine. At least one mat of one of hook type and a loop type material covers a substantial portion of a predetermined wire pathway on a work machine. At least one strip of the other of the hook type and the loop type material wraps respective portions of the wire and mates with the one of the hook type and the loop type material of one of the mats.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for attaching a wire with a work machine, comprising: 
 at least one mat of one of hook type and a loop type material operable to cover a substantial portion of a predetermined wire pathway on a work machine; and    at least one strip of the other of the hook type and the loop type material operable to wrap respective portions of the wire and to mate with the one of the hook type and the loop type material of one of the mats.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one mats jointly comprise the approximate shape of the predetermined wire pathway.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one mat is operable to cover a substantial portion of the wire pathway.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the at least one mat is operable to cover greater than 50% of the length of the wire pathway.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the strips are operable to encircle the wire.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the strips are operable to be spirally wound around the wire.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one mat comprises a flexible material operable to be contoured to the general shape of the predetermined wire pathway.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for attaching a wire with a work machine, comprising: 
 at least one mat of one of hook type and a loop type material operable to cover a substantial portion of a predetermined wire pathway on a work machine; and    a plurality of strips of the other of the hook type and the loop type material operable to couple with respective portions of the wire and to mate with the one of the hook type and the loop type material of one of the mats.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of platforms operable to be coupled with the wire and to have a substantially planar face, the plurality of strips operable to be coupled with the plurality of substantially planar faces.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein each of the platforms comprises a substantially rigid material.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the at least one mats jointly comprise the approximate shape of the predetermined wire pathway.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the at least one mat is operable to cover a substantial portion of the wire pathway.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the at least one mat is operable to cover greater than 50% of the length of the wire pathway.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the at least one mat comprises a flexible material operable to be contoured to the general shape of the predetermined wire pathway.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for attaching a wiring harness with a work machine, comprising: 
 at least one mat of one of hook type and a loop type material operable to cover a substantial portion of a predetermined wiring harness pathway on a work machine and shaped to generally conform with the shape of the predetermined wiring harness pathway; and    at least one strip of the other of the hook type and the loop type material operable to wrap respective portions of the wiring harness and to mate with the one of the hook type and the loop type material of one of the mats.    
     
     
         16 . A method for attaching a wire on a work machine, comprising: 
 coupling at least one mat of one of a hook and loop material with the work machine along a substantial portion of a predetermined wire pathway;    coupling at least one strip of the other one of the hook and loop material with respective portions of the wire; and    mating the one of the hook and loop material of the at least one mat with the other of the hook and loop material of the at least one strip.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one mat jointly comprises the approximate shape of the predetermined wire pathway.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one mat is operable to cover a substantial portion of the wire pathway.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the at least one mat is operable to cover greater than 50% of the length of the wire pathway.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein coupling the at least one strip with the wire comprises wrapping the at least one strip around the wire.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein wrapping the at least one strip around the wire comprises encircling the at least one strip around a respective predetermined portion of the wire.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein wrapping the at least one strip around the wire comprises spiraling the at least one strip around a respective predetermined portion of the wire.