Wire clearance apparatus and method

Abstract

A wire clearance apparatus is provided. The wire clearance apparatus includes a body. The body includes a clamp operable to releasably attach the body to a flange or rim of a panel housing. A pivoting member extends laterally from the body. The pivoting member includes a pivoting arm including a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the pivoting arm is connected to the body. The pivoting arm is operable to pivot about a longitudinal axis of the body. The distal end of the pivoting arm includes a hook.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wire clearance apparatus comprising:
 a body comprising a clamp operable to releasably attach the body to a panel housing; and   a pivoting member extending laterally from the body, wherein the pivoting member comprises a pivoting arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is connected to the body and operable to pivot about a longitudinal axis of the body, and the distal end comprises a hook formed by at least one bend.   
     
     
         2 . The wire clearance apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises:
 a first pair of panels vertically disposed and forming a first slot therebetween;   at least one first threaded female opening formed through at least one of the first pair of panels; and   at least one first thumb screw comprising a first threaded shaft rotatably disposed within the at least one first threaded female opening.   
     
     
         3 . The wire clearance apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the clamp further comprises:
 a second pair of panels vertically disposed and forming a second slot therebetween, wherein the second slot is perpendicular relative to the first slot;   at least one second threaded female opening formed through at least one of the second pair of panels; and   at least one second thumb screw comprising a second threaded shaft rotatably disposed within the at least one second threaded female opening.   
     
     
         4 . The wire clearance apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a connector portion connected to the pivoting member. 
     
     
         5 . The wire clearance apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the connector portion comprises:
 a body arm extending laterally from the clamp; and   a body shaft fixedly secured to the body arm and comprising a top portion, a bottom portion comprising a bottom surface comprising a plurality of radially spaced teeth, and a first channel disposed along a longitudinal axis of the body shaft, running from the top portion to the bottom portion.   
     
     
         6 . The wire clearance apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pivoting member further comprises:
 an arm shaft comprising a top portion comprising a top surface comprising a plurality of radially spaced teeth, a bottom portion, and a second channel disposed along a longitudinal axis of the arm shaft running from the top portion to the bottom portion of the arm shaft, and a threaded insert fixedly secured within the second channel at the bottom portion, wherein   the proximal end of the pivoting arm extends laterally from the arm shaft,   the first channel aligns with the second channel, and   the plurality of radially spaced teeth of the arm shaft interlock with the plurality of radially spaced teeth of the body shaft.   
     
     
         7 . The wire clearance apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising an arm screw comprising a knob and a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a proximal end extending from the knob and a distal end comprising a male threaded portion, wherein the shaft runs through the first channel and the second channel, and the male threaded portion mechanically fastens to the threaded insert. 
     
     
         8 . The wire clearance apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a clip releasably secured to the distal end of the shaft of the arm screw. 
     
     
         9 . The wire clearance apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bend comprises a first bend and a second bend in a same direction as the first bend, wherein the first bend and the second bend form a U-shape. 
     
     
         10 . A method of clearing wires comprising the steps of:
 clamping a first wire clearance apparatus to a first side flange of a panel housing, wherein the first wire clearance apparatus comprises a first pivoting arm comprising a first hook portion;   clamping a second wire clearance apparatus to a second side flange of the panel housing opposite the first side flange, wherein the second wire clearance apparatus comprises a second pivoting arm comprising a second hook portion;   placing a first set of wires into the first hook portion;   placing a second set of wires into the second hook portion;   rotating the first pivoting arm away from the panel housing, thereby clearing the first set of wires from an internal portion of the panel housing; and   rotating the second pivoting arm away from the panel housing, thereby clearing the second set of wires from the internal portion of the panel housing.