AU2009100199A4 - Cable support device - Google Patents

Description

03-03-09;OS:16 3/ 14 CABLE SUPPORT DEVICE en FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to reusable cable support devices and in particular devices which can be reopened to insert additional cables.

0 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION o 10 US 6494411 teaches a cable support apparatus that comprises a clamping member with a spiral split ring which holds the cables. The spiral split ring remains open and cannot be closed to lock the cables in. US 6629675 also discloses a cable support hanger comprising a rigid support member with spiral split rings which hold cables. As with US6494411 the cables may become loose during movement and are therefore not secure.

US 6945501 teaches a cable hanger comprising a shaft which at one end is shaped into a fastening loop to secure it to a ceiling or wall and at the other end is shaped into a support loop to hold cables. The support loop has a saddle which closes the support loop with a latch arm to prevent cables from slipping out. However the opening and closing of the latch arm to install cables is cumbersome and time consuming.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cable support ring that closes to secure the cables and can easily be reopened to insert new cables or at least provides an alternative to the prior art.

COMS ID No: ARCS-225646 Received by IP Australia: Time 09:18 Date 2009-03-03 03-03-09;08:16 4/ 14 SSTATEMENT OF THE INVENTION cAccording to the present invention a cable support device comprises a flexible split ring the two ends of which engage each other to secure the cable.

Preferably one end is spherical and slides into a mating groove in the other end.

SPreferably the spherical end snap locks into a part spherical recess in the mating Sgroove of the other end.

Preferably the ring has a loop for attaching to a support.

Alternatively the two ends are formed as engaging hooks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig I is a perspective view of an open PVC cable support ring Fig 2 is a perspective view of th'e ring of Fig I closed Fig 3 is an enlarged view of the female ball lock of the ring of Fig 1 Fig 4 is a perspective view of a spring steel cable support ring and Fig 5 is an enlarged view of an alternative ball lock of a ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Split ring 1 shown in Fig 1 is made from flexible plastic materials and has loop 2 in its circumference to hold it in position on a catonary wire or for nailing screwing to or suspending from a support. Cables (not shown) are placed inside ring 1 and male end 3 of split ring 1 which is formed as a small sphere engages groove 4 in larger spherical female end 5 as shown in Fig 2.

COMS ID No: ARCS-225646 Received by IP Australia: Time 09:18 Date 2009-03-03 03-3-0; 3 :16# 5/ 14 Initially male end 3 is docked or held in groove 4 without locking but ring 1 is locked to secure the cables by pressing end 3 further into groove 4 until it snaps en into part spherical recess 6 in female end 5Sas shown in Fig 3. Ring I is 0 reopened simply by pressing male end 3 out of recess 6 and sliding it out of groove 4. Accordingly cables can be inserted or removed by simple operation of the snap lock to open or close split ring I.

0 Fig 4 illustrates an alternate cable support ring 7 formed from spring wire and ON having a protruding loop 8 for attaching to a support. The split ends of ring 7 are o 10 formed as mating hooks 9 which engage to close ring 7 in order to secure cables.

Ring 7 can be opened simply by springing hooks S apart to insert or remove cables.

Fig 5 illustrates an alternative mechanism for closing cable support ring 11. In the open position, male spherical end 13 of ring IlIls located directly above and in line with larger spherical female end 15 and closure of the ring is achieved by pressing ends 13 and 15 togetr so that end 13 is guided into mating recess 16 by chamnfer 14. Accordingly end 13 is held in recess 16 while ring 11I sits in slot 17 of female end

VARIATIONS

It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth. The generic features of the cable support ring are an opening and closing mechanism in the upper section of the suspended ring such that the open ring admits cables and the closed ring secures them within the designed shape of the ring. The design shape, the types of materials used in the manufacture and the detail of opening/closing mechanism can be varied.

COMS ID No: ARCS-225646 Received by IP Australia: Time 09:18 Date 2009-03-03 03-03-09;08:16 6/ 14

O

SThroughout the description and claims of this specification the words "comprise" Sand variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising" are not Sintended to exclude other additives components integers or steps.

COMS ID No: ARCS-225646 Received by IP Australia: Time 09:18 Date 2009-03-03

Claims (3)

1. 03-03-09;08:16 7/ 14 SCLAIMS Cn 1. A cable support ring comprising a flexible split ring the two ends of which O engage each other to secure one or more cables. 2. The cable support ring of claim 1 in which one end is spherical and slides into Sa mating groove in the other end. S3. The cable support ring of claim 2 in which the spherical end snap locks into a part spherical recess in the mating groove of the other end.
2. 4. The cable support ring of claim 1 in which the ring has a loop for attaching to a support.
3. 5. The cable support ring of claim 1 in which the two ends are formed as engaging hooks. COMS ID No: ARCS-225646 Received by IP Australia: Time 09:18 Date 2009-03-03