Wire cable harness assembly apparatus

Abstract

A holder for forming a plurality of strands of wire into a bundle for assembling a cable harness. The holder includes a frame having relatively movable arms .[.of which the ends are in spaced relationship.]. .Iadd.terminating in opposing separate ends.Iaddend.. An elastic band is fastened on the frame to .[.yieldably hold the ends spaced and.]. provide a cradle for the wires .Iadd.and to coact with the ends to releasably retain the strands..Iaddend. .Iadd.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A holder for retaining objects comprising a frame, a pair of arms on said frame terminating in opposing spaced ends, said arms being movable relative to each other to vary the spacing between said opposing ends from a normal retaining position to an insertion or removal position, and an elastic band embracing said arms and spanning said ends for receiving objects inserted between said ends and for yieldably holding said arms in said retaining position to prevent inadvertent removal of said object..]. .[.2. The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said arms are bellcranks pivotally mounted on said frame and have second depending arms, and wherein said elastic band is operative to restrain said second arms against turning about said pivot means thereby to maintain said first mentioned arms in said retaining position..]. .[.3. The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said first mentioned arms are each formed with a slot adjacent said ends, and wherein said elastic band is inserted through said slots so as to underlie said ends of said first mentioned arms and to span said space..]. .[.4. The holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said elastic band is connected to the ends of said second depending arms for yieldably positioning said first mentioned arms in said retaining position..]. .[.5. The holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said pivot mounting means comprises pivot pins disposed in elongated slots whereby said pivot pins are free to be moved in said slots to a position wherein an object may be removed from between said arms, and wherein said band is operative to yieldably return said arms to the retaining position..]. .[.6. The holder as defined in claim 5 wherein stops are mounted on said frame and said elastic band is operative to yieldably hold said depending arms against said stops thereby to position said first mentioned arms in said retaining position..]. .[.7. The holder as defined in claim 6 wherein said stops are flexible so as to be displaceable and ineffective with respect to said second arms of said bellcranks when returning said first mentioned arms from said removal to said retaining position. .]. .[.8. The holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame includes a pair of upstanding spaced walls, and wherein at least one of said arms is a crank arm having a second depending arm, and said elastic band is wrapped about said depending arm to maintain said first mentioned arm in said retaining position..]. .[.9. The holder as defined in claim 8 wherein one of said arms is fixedly and rigidly secured 
     
        to said frame..]. .[.10.  The holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said elastic band is a strap attached at each end to said frame..]. .[.11. The holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said elastic band is a continuous band..]. .[.12. The holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said second depending arms are connected by a spring extending therebetween..]. .[.13. The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said arms are flexible and said elastic band is attached to yieldably hold said ends in said retaining position..]. .[.14. The holder as defined in claim 13 wherein a gate is pivotally attached to one of said arms for insertion between said arms when an object is inserted therebetween to prevent inadvertent removal of objects through said space between said ends..]. .[.15. The holder as defined in claim 13 wherein a pair of resilient blocks are fastened to said arms adjacent said ends and disposed to provide a restricted slit through which said objects are inserted, and said elastic band extends through said blocks and spans said slit to receive said object..]. .[.16. The holder as defined in claim 15 wherein said band extends through said slit and forms a loop at the inner end thereof..]. .[.17. The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said arms comprises a fixed portion of said frame..]. .[.18. The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastic band is adapted to receive and retain wires in a bundle..]. .[.19. The holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastic band includes two elements comprising resilient material for elasticity, and nonresilient 
     
     
        material for limited extensibility..]. 20. A holder for retaining objects comprising a frame, a pair of arms on said frame terminating in opposing spaced ends, said arms being movable relative to each other to vary the spacing between said opposing ends from a normal retaining position to an insertion or removal position, and .[.an.]. elastic band embracing said arms and directly spanning said ends for receiving a varying number and size of objects inserted between said ends and for holding said objects. .Iadd. 21. A holder for retaining objects comprising a frame, a pair of arms on said frame terminating in opposing ends, at least one of said arms being movable relative to the other to vary the spacing between said opposing ends from a normal retaining position to an insertion or removal position wherein said ends are spaced to define an opening therebetween, biasing means for biasing said one of said arms into said retaining position and a longitudinally extensible elastic band disposed across and adjacent to said opening, said band having a first position wherein a portion of said band is disposed adjacent said ends and a second position wherein said portion is spaced from said ends and disposed between said frame and said arms, said objects being disposed between said ends and said portion when said band is in said second position and said objects are retained in said holder, said band comprising means for resiliently urging said objects toward said ends and being adapted to move from said first position to said second position in response to insertion of an object between said ends whereby an object inserted between said ends is releasably retained by the coaction of said elastic band and said arms. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. The holder of claim 21 wherein each of said arms is movable relative to the other and wherein said elastic band engages a portion of the opposing ends in the normal retaining position before objects are inserted between said ends. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. The holder of claim 22 wherein each of said arms is provided with a slot and wherein said elastic band is positioned through said slots so as to underlie the opposing ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 24. The holder of claim 21 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. A holder as set forth in claim 21 wherein said elastic band is connected to said one of said arms and wherein said biasing means comprises said elastic band. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. A holder for forming a plurality of wire strands into a bundle for assembling a cable harness, said holder comprising, in combination, a frame having a base for supporting the holder on a harness board or the like, said frame including a body portion open at its upper end to define a compartment elevated relative to said base for accommodating a plurality of wire strands, at least one movable arm supported from said frame and deflectable from a normal wire-retaining position substantially closing said upper end of said body portion to an open position permitting a plurality of wire strands to be passed through said open end into or out of said compartment, said arm being yieldingly biased to said normal wire-retaining position, and a stretchable elastic band extending across said open end of said body portion adjacent said arm at an upper portion of said compartment so as to be engaged and stretched by wire strands snapped past said arm into said compartment, said elastic band thereby forming into a compressed bundle of variable size up to the capacity of said compartment any desired number of wire strands which are snapped past said arm into said compartment by confining such wire strands between said elastic band and the under side of said arm in the normal wire-retaining position of the latter. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 27. A holder as defined in claim 26 including two movable arms in opposed relation, said arms having free ends adjacent one another in the normal wire-retaining position of said arms to substantially close said upper end of said body portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28. A holder as defined in claim 26 wherein said movable arm is pivotally mounted on said frame. .Iaddend..Iadd. 29. A holder as defined in claim 26 where the lowest portion of said compartment is of arcuate configuration. .Iaddend..Iadd. 30. A holder as defined in claim 26 where said base includes means for anchoring the holder to a harness board or the like. .Iaddend..Iadd. 31. A holder as defined in claim 26 where said elastic band is wrapped over the outside of said movable arm to yieldingly bias the latter to its normal wire-retaining position. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. A holder as defined in claim 27 where said two movable arms are pivotally mounted on said frame. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. A holder as defined in claim 27 where a spring is utilized to bias said arms to their normal wire-retaining positions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 34. A holder as defined in claim 26 where said arm is flexible. .Iaddend..Iadd. 35. A holder as defined in claim 26 where said elastic band includes two elements comprising resilient material for elasticity and nonresilient material for limited extensibility. .Iaddend.