Tube Management Assembly

Abstract

The tube management assembly employs a track, one or more mounting clips that are slidably mounted in the track and clamps that are snap-fitted into the mounting clips. In one embodiment, the mounting clip has a pair of resilient walls with inwardly directed lips for engaging in arcuate grooves in the sides of the clamp. In another embodiment, the mounting clip has a base slidably mounted in the track and a mounting block extending from the base and including a recess for receiving a tube transversely of the track.

1 . A mounting clip for use with a tube management system, the mounting clip comprising:
 a base; and   a mounting block extending from the base;   wherein the mounting block includes a recess for receiving a tube oriented transversely to the base; and wherein the recess is U-shaped.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting clip of  claim 1 , wherein the base is slidably mountable in a trackway of a track. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting clip of  claim 2 , further comprising projections on a bottom of the base for fitting into positioning holes disposed in the track. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting clip of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a flat bottom surface. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting clip of  claim 1 , wherein the recess includes inwardly directed projections on opposite sides of the recess to retain the tube within the recess. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting clip of  claim 1 , wherein the recess includes an opening oriented orthogonal to a plane of the base so that the tube is receivable within the recess by pressing the tube into the recess along an axis orthogonal to the plane. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting clip of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes an aperture at each of two ends of the base for receiving a mounting element to secure the mounting clip to a mounting surface. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting clip of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting block is centrally located on a longitudinal axis of the clip and between opposite ends of the base. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting clip of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting clip comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting clip of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped recess has a circular bottom surface. 
     
     
         11 . A mounting clip for use with a tube management system, the mounting clip comprising:
 a base having a flat bottom surface for slidably mounting the mounting clip in a trackway of a track; and   a mounting block extending from the base, the mounting block including a recess forming an opening oriented orthogonal to a plane formed by the flat bottom surface so that a tubular member is receivable within the opening by pressing the tubular member into the opening along an axis orthogonal to the plane.   
     
     
         12 . The mounting clip of  claim 11 , wherein the recess is U-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting clip of  claim 11 , wherein the recess includes inwardly directed projections on opposite sides of the recess to retain the tube within the recess. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting clip of  claim 11 , wherein the base includes an aperture at each of two ends of the base for receiving a mounting element to secure the mounting clip to a mounting surface. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting clip of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting clip comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting clip of  claim 11 , wherein the recess has a circular bottom surface. 
     
     
         17 . A mounting clip for use with a tube management system, the mounting clip comprising:
 a base having a bottom surface for slidably mounting the mounting clip in a trackway of a track; and   a mounting block extending from the base, the mounting block including a recess forming an opening;   wherein the recess includes inwardly directed projections on opposite sides of the recess to retain a tubular member within the recess.   
     
     
         18 . The mounting clip of  claim 17 , wherein the opening is oriented orthogonal to a plane formed by the bottom surface so that a tubular member is receivable within the opening by pressing the tubular member into the opening along an axis orthogonal to the plane. 
     
     
         19 . The mounting clip of  claim 17 , wherein the base includes an aperture at each of two ends of the base for receiving a mounting element to secure the mounting clip to a mounting surface. 
     
     
         20 . The mounting clip of  claim 17 , wherein the recess has a circular bottom surface.