Anti-kink device for a cable

Abstract

An anti-kink device for a cable is provided. The anti-kink device for a cable comprises: an anti-kink bush which can be secured on a cable, wherein the anti-kink bush has at least one first snap-in element, a first connecting element which has an opening for the passage of the anti-kink bush, wherein the first connecting element has at least one second snap-in element, a second connecting element which can be connected to the first connecting element, wherein the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element are in such a form that, in a first position of the anti-kink bush relative to the first connecting element, they allow the anti-kink bush to be guided through the opening of the first connecting element and, in a second position of the anti-kink bush relative to the first connecting element, they can be locked together.

Claims

1. An anti-kink device for a cable, having: an anti-kink bush which can be secured on a cable, wherein the anti-kink bush has at least one first snap-in element, wherein the anti-kink bush has guide projections which are offset relative to one another and form between them at least one guideway for the at least one second snap-in element of the first connecting element, a first connecting element which has an opening for the passage of the anti-kink bush, wherein the first connecting element has at least one second snap-in element, a second connecting element which can be connected to the first connecting element, said anti-kink bush and said first connecting element being relatively rotatable between at least a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, wherein the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position differ from each other, wherein the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element are configured such that, in the first position of the anti-kink bush relative to the first connecting element, they allow the anti-kink bush to be guided through the opening of the first connecting element, wherein, in the first position, the at least one guideway is configured to cooperate with the at least one second snap-in element in order to guide the movement of the anti-kink bush through the opening in the first connecting element and, in the second position of the anti-kink bush relative to the first connecting element, they can be locked together, wherein in the second position, the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element are configured to block a movement of the anti-kink bush through the opening of the first connecting element, and wherein the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element are configured such that, in the second position, they establish an interlocking connection acting in the peripheral direction of the anti-kink bush and/or of the first connecting element, wherein the second connecting element is configured to fix the anti-kink bush and the first connecting element to one another in the second position.

2. The anti-kink device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element can be transferred out of the first position into the second position and back by a relative movement between the anti-kink bush and the first connecting element.

3. The anti-kink device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the guide projections of the anti-kink bush has at least one first snap-in element.

4. The anti-kink device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide projections are formed integrally with the anti-kink bush.

5. The anti-kink device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one second snap-in element is a snap-in projection which protrudes radially inwards.

6. The anti-kink device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first snap-in element is a snap-in recess.

7. A method of fitting an anti-kink device for a cable as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of: rotating the anti-kink bush and/or the first connecting element into the first position, in which the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element allow the anti-kink bush to move through the opening of the first connecting element; moving the anti-kink bush and the cable connected thereto through the first connecting element, wherein the anti-kink bush and the first connecting element are in the first position, wherein, in the first position, the at least one guideway cooperates with the at least one second snap-in element in order to guide the movement of the anti-kink bush through the opening in the first connecting element; withdrawing the anti-kink bush and the cable in the first position through the opening in the first connecting element, wherein the anti-kink bush and the first connecting element are in the first position; rotating the anti-kink bush and/or the first connecting element into the second position, in which the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element can be locked together, wherein in the second position, the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element are configured to block a movement of the anti-kink bush through the opening of the first connecting element; locking the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element together, wherein the at least one first snap-in element and the at least one second snap-in element, in the second position, establish an interlocking connection acting in the peripheral direction of the anti-kink bush and/or of the first connecting element; and connecting the first connecting element and the second connecting element, wherein the second connecting element fixes the anti-kink bush and the first connecting element to one another in the second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further objectives, features, advantages and possible applications will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are not to be interpreted as being limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, all the features described and/or depicted show the subject matter disclosed herein on their own or in any desired combination, also independently of their grouping in the claims or their dependencies. The dimensions and proportions of the components shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale; they may differ from that shown here in embodiments for implementation. In the drawings:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 3 are views of an anti-kink bush according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIGS. 4 to 7 are views of a first connecting element;

(4) FIGS. 8 to 12 are views of a second connecting element; and

(5) FIGS. 13 to 16 are views of an anti-kink bush according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an anti-kink bush 10. The anti-kink bush 10 has an opening 12 which extends through the entire anti-kink bush 10. The opening 12 serves for connecting the anti-kink bush 10 to a cable (not shown). The anti-kink bush 10 can be secured on a cable. The anti-kink bush 10 can, for example, be overmolded onto a cable by means of an injection molding process or otherwise fixedly connected to the cable.

(7) The anti-kink bush 10 has a substantially tubular portion 14 and a connecting portion 16. The connecting portion 16 is shorter than the tubular portion 14. The anti-kink bush 10 has guide projections 18, 20, 22 and 24 in the connecting portion 16. The guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 are formed integrally with the anti-kink bush 10. The guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 extend outwards in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the anti-kink bush 10. The guide projections 18, 20, 22 and 24 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the anti-kink bush 10 offset relative to one another in the peripheral direction of the anti-kink bush 10. The guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 form guideways between them, of which only the guideway 26 is visible in FIG. 1. The guideways extend in the peripheral direction of the anti-kink bush 10 between two adjacent guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24, The guideway 26 extends between the adjacent guide projections 18 and 20. The guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 extend starting from one end 28a of the anti-kink bush 10 in the connecting portion 16 in the direction of the other end 28b of the anti-kink bush 10. The guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 each have a snap-in recess 30 which extends starting from the end 28a of the anti-kink bush 10 into the guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24.

(8) FIG. 2 is a side view of the anti-kink bush 10. The axis M of the anti-kink bush 10 is shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, these guide projections 18, 20 and 24, each of which has a snap-in recess 30, are visible. The snap-in recess 30 extends starting from the end, or end face, 28a of the anti-kink bush 10 into the guide projections 18, 20, 24. The snap-in recess 30 is open in the direction of the end face 28a of the anti-kink bush 10. The guide projections 18, 20 and 24 define between them the guideways 26 and 32. The guideways 26 and 32 extend in the direction of the axis M along the guide projections 18, 20, 24. The extent of the connecting portion 16 in the direction of the axis M is substantially shorter than the extent of the tubular portion 14 in the direction of the longitudinal axis M. Starting from the end 28a of the anti-kink bush 10, the connecting portion 16 and thus also the guide projections 18, 20, 24 occupy a predetermined portion of the total extent of the anti-kink bush 10.

(9) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the anti-kink bush 10. In FIG. 3, the anti-kink bush 10 is viewed from the end 28a (see FIG. 2). The guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 are formed on the anti-kink bush 10 offset relative to one another in the peripheral direction. The guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 are formed on the anti-kink bush 10 offset relative to one another about the axis M by 90°. The guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 define between them the guideways 26, 32, 34 and 36. Each of the guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 has a snap-in recess or a snap-in groove 30 which is open towards the end 28a of the anti-kink bush 10.

(10) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first connecting element 38. The connecting element 38 has two threaded portions 40 and 42 with an external thread, which portions are separated from one another by a bearing portion 44. An opening 46 extends through the first connecting element 38. Snap-in projections 48 extend radially inwards starting from the inner peripheral surface of the opening 46. The snap-in projections 48 have a predetermined axial extent, with which they extend starting from the end face 50a along the inner peripheral surface of the opening 46. The snap-in projections 48 are arranged offset relative to one another in the peripheral direction of the first connecting element 38.

(11) FIG. 5 is a side view of the connecting element 38, in which the two threaded portions 40 and 42 are shown. The threaded portions 40 and 42 are separated from one another by a bearing portion 44 which extends in the radial direction and protrudes radially beyond the threaded portions 40 and 42. The bearing portion 44 is arranged in the direction of the axis M.sub.EV between the threaded portions 40 and 42.

(12) FIG. 6 is a top view of the first connecting element 38. The opening 46 extends through the connecting element 38. The snap-in projections 48 extend radially inwards starting from the inner peripheral surface of the opening 46. The snap-in projections 48 are formed in the opening 46 offset by 90° relative to one another. Two mutually opposite snap-in projections 48 in each case reduce an inside diameter of the opening 46 between them. Radially inner surfaces 52 of opposing snap-in projections 48 define between them the reduced inside diameter of the opening 46. The radially inner surface 52 of the snap-in projections is curved. The degree of curvature of the surface 52 can be matched to the radius of the anti-kink bush 10 in the region of the guideways 26, 32, 34, 36 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

(13) Flattened regions 54 are visible on the bearing portion 44, that is to say the bearing portion 44 is not circular. A tool can be located on the flattened portions 54. The flattened portions 54 form so-called flats, on which a spanner (not shown), for example, can be located. The tool or the spanner can be used, for example, to hold the first connecting element 38 stationary.

(14) FIG. 7 is a sectional view along cutting line VII-VII in FIG. 6. The snap-in projections 48 are provided in the region of the threaded portion 40. Starting from the end face 50a, the snap-in projections 48 extend along the inner peripheral surface of the opening 46 in the direction of the axis M.sub.EV, or in the direction of the end face 50b. The snap-in projections 48 extend between the end face 50a and the bearing portion 44, the snap-in projections 48 not extending as far as the bearing portion 44.

(15) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second connecting element 56. The second connecting element 56 is in the form of a cap nut. The second connecting element 56 has a substantially cylindrical portion 58 and a substantially conical portion 60. A flattened region 62 is further formed on the connecting element 56. An opening 64 extends through the second connecting element 56. The opening 64 has a threaded portion 66 and a cylindrical portion 68 which extends into the opening 66 starting from the end face 70.

(16) FIG. 9 is a side view and FIG. 10 is a top view of the second connecting element 56. The flattened region 62 extends in part along the cylindrical portion 58 and the conical portion 60. As can be seen in FIG. 10, two flattened regions 62 are provided. At the regions 62, which form so-called flats, a tool can be located on the second connecting element 56. A spanner, for example, can be used for that purpose. The tool can serve for screwing the second connecting element 56 to the first connecting element 38. During screwing, the first connecting element 38 can be held stationary at the flat portions 54 by a tool.

(17) FIG. 11 is a sectional view along cutting line XI-XI in FIG. 10. The opening 64 extends through the second connecting element 56. The opening 64 is stepped. The opening 64 has substantially three portions which differ in their inside diameters. The portion 68 having the smallest inside diameter is substantially cylindrical and extends starting from the end face 70 to the threaded portion 66. The portion 68 is followed by the threaded portion 66, which has a larger inside diameter than the cylindrical portion 68. The threaded portion 66 is followed by a receiving portion 72, which in turn has a larger inside diameter than the threaded portion 66. The receiving portion 72 serves for receiving the bearing portion 44 of the first connecting element 38 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) when the threaded portion 66 of the second connecting element 56 is screwed to the threaded portion 42 of the first connecting element 38. The second connecting element 56 can be screwed to the first connecting element 38 by means of a tool (not shown) which is located at the flattened regions 62.

(18) FIG. 12 is a sectional view along cutting line XII-XII in FIG. 10. The cylindrical portion 58 and the conical portion 60 of the second connecting element 56 are visible in FIG. 12. The opening 64 with its three portions 66, 68 and 72, each of which has a different inside diameter, extends in stepped manner through the second connecting element 56.

(19) FIGS. 13 to 16 are views of an anti-kink bush 110 according to a second embodiment. The same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are used for features of the same type. The fundamental differences between the anti-kink bush according to the first embodiment, described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, and the anti-kink bush 110 lie in the guide projections. The anti-kink bush 110 has guide projections 18, 22, 74, 76. Unlike in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, only the guide projections 18 and 22 have snap-in recesses 30. The guide projections 74 and 76 serve solely as a guide projection. The guide projections 18, 22, 74, 76 define between them guideways 26, 32, 34, 36. The guide projections 18 and 22 extend along the anti-kink bush 110 starting from the end face 28a in the direction of the axis M. The projections 74 and 76 without a snap-in recess 30 are at a distance from the end face 28a in the direction of the axis M.

(20) The function and cooperation of the components described in detail above, which form the anti-kink device for a cable, is described hereinbelow. The anti-kink device for a cable is formed by the anti-kink bush 10, the first connecting element 38 and the second connecting element 56. The snap-in projections 48 of the first connecting element 38 cooperate with the guideways 26, 32, 34 and 36 in order to allow the anti-kink bush 10 to be guided through the opening 46 in the first connecting element 38. To that end, the first connecting element 38 and the anti-kink bush 10 are so aligned that the snap-in projections 48 of the first connecting element 38 engage into the guideways 26, 32, 34 and 36 defined by the guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 of the anti-kink bush 10 (first position). In this state, the anti-kink bush 10 can be guided relative to the first connecting element 38 through the opening 46 in the first connecting element 38. The interengaging snap-in projections 48 and guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24 center the anti-kink bush 10 on the first connecting element 38, so that a guided movement of the anti-kink bush 10 relative to the first connecting element 38 is possible.

(21) For termination, the anti-kink bush, together with a cable, can thus be guided unhindered through the first connecting element 38 in the first position. Thereafter, the cable (not shown) can be terminated or connected to a connector. When termination is complete, the anti-kink bush 10 is withdrawn and again guided through the opening 46 in the first connecting element 38. The anti-kink bush 10 and the first connecting element 38 are thereby in the first position. As soon as the guideways 26, 32, 34 and 36 release the second snap-in elements 48 completely, the anti-kink bush 10 can be rotated relative to the first connecting element 38. For example, the anti-kink bush 10 can be rotated through 45° relative to the first connecting element 38. As a result of the rotation, the snap-in recesses 30 and the snap-in projections 48 are substantially in alignment (second position). In this (second) position, the snap-in projections 48 on the first connecting element 38 can be locked with the snap-in recesses 30 of the guide projections 18, 20, 22, 24.

(22) The snap-in recesses 30 and the snap-in projections 48 can be locked by a movement in the axial direction. In the locked state, the anti-kink bush 10 and the first connecting element 38 can no longer be rotated relative to one another. Furthermore, a relative movement of the anti-kink bush 10 relative to the first connecting element 38 is blocked by the snap-in recesses 30 forming a stop for the snap-in projections 48. The snap-in projections 48 thus establish an interlocking connection with the snap-in recesses 30. The interlocking connection between the snap-in projections 48 and the snap-in recesses 30 acts in the peripheral direction and also in the axial direction of the anti-kink bush 10, or of the first connecting element 38. Because of the interlocking connection between the snap-in projections 48 and the snap-in recesses 30, the anti-kink bush 10 can no longer be rotated relative to the first connecting element 38. An anti-rotation device can also be provided by the interlocking connection. As a result of the screwing of the threaded portion 66 of the second connecting element 56 to the threaded portion 42 of the first connecting element 38 there is an interlocking connection between the anti-kink bush 10, the first connecting element 38 and the second connecting element 56.

(23) Fitting of the anti-kink device is completed by connecting the second connecting element 56 to the first connecting element 38. The second connecting element 56 fixes the anti-kink bush 10 and the first connecting element 38 to one another in the second position. If the first connecting element 38 and the second connecting element 56 are screwed together, the receiving portion 72 of the second connecting element 56 receives the bearing portion 44 of the first connecting element 38.

(24) Fitting of the anti-kink device takes place in the same manner if termination has already taken place or is not necessary. In this case, the termination step can be omitted.

(25) The anti-kink device for a cable described by way of example hereinbefore has a simplified construction. The anti-kink device can be fitted and removed quickly and simply. Because it is easy to fit and remove, the anti-kink device can be cleaned quickly and simply. For this reason inter alia, the anti-kink device is also suitable for use in the medical field. The anti-kink device can thus be used together with medical devices.

(26) The aspects and features which have been mentioned and described together with one or more of the examples and figures described in detail hereinbefore can further be combined with one or more of the other examples in order to replace a similar feature of the other example or in order to additionally incorporate the feature into the other example.

(27) The description and drawings show only the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, the examples given herein are expressly to serve only teaching purposes, in order to assist the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to the further development of the technology. All statements made herein regarding principles, aspects and examples of the disclosure, as well as particular exemplary embodiments thereof, are to include the equivalents thereof.

(28) Furthermore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, where each claim can stand on its own as a separate example. When each claim can stand on its own as a separate example, it should be noted that—although a dependent claim in the claims may relate to a particular combination with one or more other claims—other exemplary embodiments may also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of any other dependent or independent claim. Such combinations are proposed here, unless it is stated that a particular combination is not intended. Furthermore, features of a claim are also to be included for any other independent claim, even if that claim is not made directly dependent on the independent claim.

(29) The present disclosure is of course not limited to the embodiments described hereinbefore. On the contrary, many possibilities for modifications thereof will be apparent to an average person skilled in the art without departing from the underlying idea of the present disclosure as defined in the accompanying claims.