AU1354400A - Cable retainer - Google Patents

Description

Complete Specification Standard Patent 9 *9 9 9* CABLE RETAINER Provisional Patent Application reference number PP8288 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the most suitable application and method of use known to the inventors.

Page 1 of 6 Page(s),.c2.!..A is the Abstract Page It appears after the Claims Description of Invention Cables are used for many applications, such as: communication, audio, electrical and/or physical connection of devices or components. Cables are available in a variety of sizes and lengths, and when used in conjunction with each other they may potentially become entangled or disorderly. In applications where there is a need to retain these cables in an organised bundle for either aesthetic, organisational and/or safety reasons, there are no effective solutions currently available on the market.

There are many existing products available on the market designed to tie cables into a bundle but all rely upon individual fasteners in order to tie small portions of the cables at specific points. These products typically utilise 'hook and loop' fasteners in the form of a small strap, which is simply wrapped around one particular area of cables. Other products within this market segment utilise small plastic clips with permanent flexible clips designed to accept cables of a predetermined diameter. These products are also specifically designed to capture the cables at only one point along their length and do not restrain the cables beyond this narrow area.

o These problems are overcome by the Cable Retainer invention as described in this document. The Cable Retainer is a helical shape constructed from a resilient material such as a plastic and/or rubber and/or metal. The helical shape allows the Cable Retainerto be 'wound' around the bundle of cables whilst allowing individual cables to enter and exit from the bundle at any point along its length. As individual cables are removed from the cable retainer, the helix reduces in diameter to suit the size of the remaining cable bundle.

ol The length and diameter of the helix are established based upon its application and the number of cables to be retained. The helix can also be stretched to reduce its diameter and increase its length depending upon the application. Conversely, the diameter of the helix can be increased by compressing the helix, ::thereby shortening its length.

In one form of the invention, the resilient helical section is simply wrapped around a short portion of the cable bundle without the use of a retaining clip. In this application, the tension of the helical shape simply applies sufficient force to the cable bundle to prevent the invention from sliding from its nominated position.

In another form of the invention, the resilient helical section is retained to the cable bundle at each end using a metal and/or plastic clip designed to clamp onto one or more of the cables within the bundle.

When retained in this manner, the helix can be tensioned along its length in order to reduce its diameter along the length of the cable bundle.

The clip designed to clamp the helix to the cable bundle may utilise an integral hinge or a snap fit arrangement to capture one or more of the cables. The clip could also consist of a set of spring loaded jaws designed to grip the cable using sharp teeth or pressure and friction. In either application, the clip could be either plastic or metal, or a combination of both.

Page 3 of 6 Description of Use of the Invention A summary of the drawings to be used to describe this invention are as follows: Figure 1 shows an example of the Cable Retainer according to this invention.

Figure 2 sh6ws the application of the Cable Retainerto a bundle of cables.

Referring to Figure 1, the Cable Retainer is comprised of a resilient helical section and retaining clips and The retaining clips and are illustrated as plastic snap fit clips for the purpose of this illustration but may be of another form as described above. The retaining clips and clip onto one or more cables as shown in Figure 2. In this application, the Cable is pressed into the jaws of the clip which flex open to accept the cable and then close to grip the cable and prevent the helix from sliding. The inside face of this clip would have a series of ribs or serrations designed to grip the cable being retained.

This clip is permanently retained onto each end of the resilient helical section Figure 2 shows the Cable Retainer in use with a bundle of cables. The bundle of cables is comprised of any number of cables suitable for use with the chosen diameter of the helix. The retaining clip is attached to the cable bundle at any point and ensures that the helix does not slide down the cable bundle.

The Cable Retainer is then wound around the cable bundle as shown. Cables can exit from any point along the Cable Retainer and also enter at any point. As the number of cables within the bundle diminish, the diameter of the helical section reduces to ensure that the cables are constantly tightly constrained At the other end of the Cable Retainer, a second retaining clip allows the helix diameter to be reduced by increasing the length of the section.

Claims (9)

1. A cable retaining device comprising of a resilient helical section with retaining clips at each end designed to constrain bundles of cables, allowing entry and exit of individual or multiple cables at any point along the length of the invention.

2. The cable retaining device of claim 1, where each of the retaining clips comprises of a plastic moulded clip affixed to the end of the resilient helical section. The plastic clip has jaws which are biased toward each other and flex open to allow the entry and engagement of one or more cables. Once the clip is secured to the cable(s), the helical section can be elongated to increase its length without loss of position relative to the cables being retained.

3. The cable retaining device of claim 1, where each of the retaining clips comprise a set of jaws tensioned by a metal and/or plastic spring device.

4. The cable retaining device of claim 1, where the jaws of the retaining clips include serrations or ribs to increase the clip's grip on the cables. The cable retaining device of claims 1 to 4, where the resilient helical section is made from metal covered in a protective cover.

Page 4 of 6

6. A cable retaining device of any one of claims 1 to 4, where the resilient helical section and retaining clips are one integral item, not separate components.

7. A cable retaining device of any one of claims 1 to 4, where the resilient helical section and retaining clips are separate components, assembled together to form one item.

8. A cable retaining device of any one of claims 1 to 7, where the resilient helical section is of any length.

9. A cable retaining device as substantially described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Applicants Stephen Bordon Warren Stewart 25 January 2000 a *ea. a Ol* e* o* go o o* Page 5 of 6