AU2013100267A4

AU2013100267A4 - Bracket

Info

Publication number: AU2013100267A4
Application number: AU2013100267A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brendan Anderson; Tom Murdoch; Greg Parsons
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2013-04-03
Filing date: 2013-04-03
Publication date: 2013-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-03
Also published as: NZ623407A

Abstract

C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Tenporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/2013 A bracket for mounting a cable to a substrate, including a base portion adapted for being seated against the substrate and for receiving a pin driven through the base portion 5 and into the substrate to hold the bracket to the substrate, and a slot for receiving a strap having a width of greater than 9mm for strapping the cable to the bracket.

Description

C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Tenporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/2013 - 1 BRACKET Field of the Invention 5 The invention relates to a bracket for fixing one or more cables to a substrate and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a bracket for fixing one or more high-speed data cables to a substrate. Background of the Invention 10 It has been previously proposed to provide systems for fixing cable, conduit and pipes to a substrate for a wide variety of electrical and plumbing applications. In one particular example, there is provided a versatile system which uses 4.8mm wide cable ties for fixing cables, conduit and/or tube-work to a substrate. 15 The applicant has identified that with new emerging cabling applications, there may be a need for improved quality of fixing of cables to a substrate to prevent damage to the cables and to ensure maximum transmission speed of the cables where they are data cables. The applicant has determined that existing brackets for fixing cables to substrates 20 may pinch and/or damage high-speed data cables, possibly reducing transmission speed of the cables and necessitating expensive repair or replacement. Examples of the invention seek to provide an improved bracket for mounting cables which overcomes or at least alleviates disadvantages associated with existing 25 brackets. Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bracket 30 for mounting a cable to a substrate, including a base portion adapted for being seated against the substrate and for receiving a pin driven through the base portion and into the C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-703/2013 -2 substrate to hold the bracket to the substrate, and a slot for receiving a strap having a width of greater than 9mm for strapping the cable to the bracket. Preferably, the base portion has an aperture for receiving the pin. More preferably, 5 the base portion is adapted for being seated against an underside of the substrate, and the slot is configured for suspending the cable directly below the aperture. Preferably, the slot is adapted to receive interchangeably a strap in the form of a ratchet mechanism cable tie and a hook and loop fastener strap. 10 In a preferred form, the bracket is provided in combination with a hook and loop fastener strap having a width of greater than 9mm, wherein the strap is fed through the slot. Preferably, the strap is adjustable to receive a plurality of cables grouped together within the strap. More preferably, the strap has a width of 10mm to 14mm. 15 Preferably, the bracket has a plurality of slots to facilitate multiple cable/bundle installations, each cable/bundle being strapped to the bracket with a separate strap. More preferably, the slots are arranged to mount a plurality of cables/bundles in mutually perpendicular orientations. In one form, the slots are arranged to mount one cable/bundle 20 to a slot formed at one side of the bracket, and another cable/bundle to a slot formed at an opposite side of the bracket. Preferably, the aperture is located at a central position of the base portion. 25 It is preferred that the base portion includes a formation including a cylindrical pin guide surrounding the aperture, and a retainer extending outwardly from the pin guide for retaining the bracket to a nozzle of a pin driving tool. More preferably, the retainer includes a plurality of flanges extending radially outwardly from the pin guide, and each flange has a chamfered tip. Even more preferably, the chamfered tips are configured such 30 that when the pin is driven into the pin guide, a head of the pin abuts the chamfered tips to cause each of the flanges to collapse to lie in a direction tangential to a circle centred at C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Loca\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/2013 -3 the pin, with each of the flanges lying in a tangential direction of a common circular direction (clockwise/anti-clockwise) about said circle. Preferably, the pin guide comprises a nose column having sufficient strength to 5 support the bracket relative to the nozzle of the pin driving tool, but sufficiently weak to collapse in response to the pin being driven by the pin driving tool. Preferably, the base portion has one or more ribs to face the substrate to facilitate flat mounting of the bracket on the substrate. 10 It is preferred that the bracket includes a straight section adapted to mount the cable along a length of the straight section when the cable is strapped in at least one configuration relative to the bracket. More preferably, the bracket includes a plurality of straight sections and a corresponding number of slots, with each of the slots having an 15 associated one of said straight sections. Even more preferably, each of the straight sections has an indentation to locate the underlying cable longitudinally of the straight section when the cable is lying across the straight section. In one form, the bracket has two mutually perpendicular sets of parallel straight sections, and four slots. 20 Preferably, the substrate is formed of concrete. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bracket for mounting a cable to a substrate, including a base portion adapted for being seated against the substrate and for receiving a pin driven through the base portion and 25 into the substrate to hold the bracket to the substrate, a slot, and a hook and loop fastening strap for strapping the cable to the bracket, wherein the strap is received in the slot, and the strap has a width of greater than 9mm. 30 C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/2013 -4 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 5 Figure 1 is a lower perspective view of a bracket in accordance with an example of the present invention; Figure 2 is an upper perspective view of the bracket; 10 Figure 3 is an upper view of the bracket; Figure 4 is a lower view of the bracket; 15 Figure 5 is a detailed view of Part B of the bracket shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a detailed view of Part D of the bracket shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a side view of the bracket; 20 Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket taken along line A-A shown in Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a detailed view of Part C of the bracket shown in Figure 7. 25 Detailed Description With reference to Figures 1 to 9, there is shown a bracket 10 for mounting one or more cables to a substrate, for example, a concrete substrate or a steel substrate. 30 Advantageously, the bracket 10 is able to be used with a hook and loop fastening strap having a width of greater than 9mm for strapping the cable(s) to the bracket 10. The C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Tenporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/2013 -5 applicant has found that a hook and loop fastening strap of this width will prevent damaging or constricting modern high-speed data cables, and that it would be beneficial for a bracket 10 to be provided which can accommodate such a strap. 5 More specifically, the applicant has provided a multi-purpose data and cable bracket/clip for the installation of standard and specialised cables using either hard plastic cable ties or soft hook and loop fastening straps, or both. New emerging cabling applications require the installation of specialist fibre optic broadband and data cables using soft hook and loop fastening straps to correctly support and secure these cables 10 without damage and to meet specialist cable manufacturers' warranty conditions. Primarily, cable installations are to the underside of concrete slabs in high rise commercial and residential projects. With reference to Figures 1 to 9, there is shown a bracket 10 for mounting a cable 15 to a substrate, including a base portion 12 adapted for being seated against the substrate and for receiving a pin driven through the base portion 12 and into the substrate to hold the bracket 10 to the substrate. The bracket 10 also includes a slot 14 for receiving a strap having a width of greater than 9mm for strapping the cable to the bracket 10. 20 The base portion 12 has an aperture 16 for receiving the pin, which may be driven by a combustion-powered fastening tool. In the particular example shown, although the bracket 10 may equally be used in other applications (such as for fixing cables to walls), the base portion 12 is adapted for being seated against an underside of the substrate, and the slot 14 is configured for suspending the cable directly below the aperture 16. The slot 25 14 is adapted to receive interchangeably a strap in the form of a ratchet mechanism cable tie made of hard plastic and a hook and loop fastener strap, for example of the kind marketed under the Trade Mark "Velcro". The bracket 10 may be provided in combination with a hook and loop fastening strap having a width of greater than 9mm and, more preferably, with a width of 10mm to 14mm. The strap is fed through the slot 14 and is 30 adjustable to receive either just a single cable or a plurality of cables grouped together within the strap.

C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Tenporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/20 13 -6 As shown clearly in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the bracket 10 has a plurality of slots 10 to facilitate multiple cable/bundle installations, each cable/bundle being strapped to the bracket 10 with a separate strap. The slots 14 are arranged to mount a plurality of 5 cables/bundles in mutually perpendicular orientations. In one form, the slots 14 are arranged to mount one cable/bundle to a slot 14a formed at one side of the bracket 10, and another cable/bundle to a slot 14b formed at an opposite side of the bracket 10. Accordingly, the bracket 10 with its arrangement of slots 14 enables a variety of configurations in which a plurality of cable bundles may be fixed to the bracket 10 in a 10 perpendicular arrangement which crosses in line with the aperture 16, or in a parallel arrangement extending along opposite sides of the bracket 10. As shown clearly in Figures 1 to 4, the aperture 16 is located at a central position of the base portion 12, and the base portion 12 includes a cylindrical pin guide 18 15 surrounding the aperture 16. A retainer 20 extends outwardly from the pin guide 18 for retaining the bracket 10 to a nozzle of a pin driving tool. In this way, the bracket 10 may be fitted to the nozzle of the pin driving tool and may be held in place against the substrate by the pin driving tool immediately prior to fastening of the bracket 10 to the substrate, thereby enabling an operator to avoid holding the bracket 10 with his/her hands during 20 firing of the pin driving tool. The retainer 20 may fit snugly within the nozzle of the pin driving tool and may include a plurality of flanges 22 extending radially outwardly from the pin guide 18, with each flange 22 having a chamfered tip 24. The flanges 22 are shown in Figure 4, with detail of the chamfered tips 24 shown in Figure 5, and a perspective view showing further detail of the chamfered tips 24 in Figure 6. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, 25 the chamfered tips 24 of the flanges 22 may extend slightly beyond the extent of the cylindrical pin guide 18. The chamfered tips 24 may be configured such that when the pin is driven into the pin guide 18, a head of the pin abuts the chamfered tips 24 to cause each of the flanges 22 30 to collapse to lie in a direction tangential to a circle centred and the pin, with each of the flanges 22 lying in a tangential direction of a common circular direction (clockwise/anti- C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification doc-7/03/2013 -7 clockwise) about the circle. In this way, once the retainer 20 has served its purpose of retaining the bracket 10 in the nozzle of the pin driving tool, the retainer 20 is able to collapse to avoid unnecessarily occupying space, and to allow a greater depth of penetration of the pin in the substrate. 5 The pin guide 18 comprises a nose column 26 having sufficient strength to support the bracket 10 relative to the nozzle of the pin driving tool prior to fixing of the bracket 10 to the substrate with the pin, but sufficiently weak to collapse in response to the pin being driven by the pin driving tool. 10 As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the base portion 12 may have one or more ribs 28 to face the substrate to facilitate flat mounting of the bracket 10 on the substrate. The bracket 10 includes a straight section 30 adapted to mount the cable along a 15 length of the straight section 30 when the cable is strapped in at least one configuration relative to the bracket 10, for example when cables are strapped to the bracket 10 with the cables in a parallel configuration along opposite sides of the bracket 10. In the particular example shown, the bracket 10 includes four straight sections 30 and four slots 14 with each of the slots 14 having an associated one of the straight sections 30. As shown clearly 20 in Figures 1, 7 and 8, each of the straight sections 30 has an indentation midway along the straight section 30 to locate the underlying cable longitudinally of the straight section 30 when the cable is lying across the straight section 30, for example when the cables are strapped to the bracket 10 in a mutually perpendicular arrangement. The bracket 10 of the example shown in the drawings is square, having two mutually perpendicular sets of 25 parallel straight sections 30, and four slots 14. Advantageously, the applicant has identified that the bracket 10 may be used for the installation of communications/data/AV cables and standard cables. The bracket 10 is versatile allowing multiple cable bundles to be tied to the bracket, hook and loop fastening 30 strap use, standard and specialised cable use. The applicant has identified that hook and loop fastening straps are currently used for CAT 5/6 data cable installations and that it may C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Teiiiporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/2013 - 8 therefore be advantageous to provide a bracket 10 which is compatible. The applicant foresees that hook and fastening straps having a width of 10 to 12mm may be the main size used. The bracket 10 may be capable of carrying 25 data cables per bundle, with no separation of bundles required when installing multiple bundles. The bracket 10 may be 5 capable of supporting 11kg when used to fix CAT 6 cable. The bracket 10 may be used both for fixing data cables and standard cables and may therefore become a standard bracket to be used owing to its versatility. While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it 10 should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments. 15 The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general 20 knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group 25 of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

1. A bracket for mounting a cable to a substrate, including a base portion adapted for being seated against the substrate and for receiving a pin driven through the base 5 portion and into the substrate to hold the bracket to the substrate, and a slot for receiving a strap having a width of greater than 9mm for strapping the cable to the bracket.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base portion has an aperture for 10 receiving the pin.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base portion is adapted for being seated against an underside of the substrate, and the slot is configured for suspending the cable directly below the aperture. 15

4. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the slot is adapted to receive interchangeably a strap in the form of a ratchet mechanism cable tie and a hook and loop fastener strap. 20

5. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in combination with a hook and loop fastener strap having a width of greater than 9mm, wherein the strap is fed through the slot.

6. A bracket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the strap is adjustable to receive a 25 plurality of cables grouped together within the strap.

7. A bracket as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the strap has a width of 10mm to 14mm. C \Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/2013 - 10

8. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the bracket has a plurality of slots to facilitate multiple cable/bundle installations, each cable/bundle being strapped to the bracket with a separate strap. 5

9. A bracket as claimed in claim 8, wherein the slots are arranged to mount a plurality of cables/bundles in mutually perpendicular orientations.

10. A bracket as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the slots are arranged to mount one cable/bundle to a slot formed at one side of the bracket, and another 10 cable/bundle to a slot formed at an opposite side of the bracket.

11. A bracket as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 10 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the aperture is located at a central position of the base portion. 15

12. A bracket as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 11 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the base portion includes a formation including a cylindrical pin guide surrounding the aperture, and a retainer extending outwardly from the pin guide for retaining the bracket to a nozzle of a pin driving tool. 20

13. A bracket as claimed in claim 12, wherein the retainer includes a plurality of flanges extending radially outwardly from the pin guide, and each flange has a chamfered tip.

14. A bracket as claimed in claim 13, wherein the chamfered tips are configured such 25 that when the pin is driven into the pin guide, a head of the pin abuts the chamfered tips to cause each of the flanges to collapse to lie in a direction tangential to a circle centred at the pin, with each of the flanges lying in a tangential direction of a common circular direction (clockwise/anti-clockwise) about said circle. 30 C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification.doc-7/03/2013 - 11

15. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the pin guide comprises a nose column having sufficient strength to support the bracket relative to the nozzle of the pin driving tool, but sufficiently weak to collapse in response to the pin being driven by the pin driving tool. 5

16. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims I to 15, wherein the base portion has one or more ribs to face the substrate to facilitate flat mounting of the bracket on the substrate. 10

17. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the bracket includes a straight section adapted to mount the cable along a length of the straight section when the cable is strapped in at least one configuration relative to the bracket.

18. A bracket as claimed in claim 17, wherein the bracket includes a plurality of 15 straight sections and a corresponding number of slots, with each of the slots having an associated one of said straight sections.

19. A bracket as claimed in claim 18, wherein each of the straight sections has an indentation to locate the underlying cable longitudinally of the straight section 20 when the cable is lying across the straight section.

20. A bracket as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the bracket has two mutually perpendicular sets of parallel straight sections, and four slots. 25

21. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the substrate is formed of concrete.

22. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the substrate is formed of steel and/or timber. 30 C:\Users\sbt\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Teiporary Internet Files\OLK7062\Bracket specification doc-7/03/2013 - 12

23. A bracket for mounting a cable to a substrate, including a base portion adapted for being seated against the substrate and for receiving a pin driven through the base portion and into the substrate to hold the bracket to the substrate, a slot, and a hook and loop fastening strap for strapping the cable to the bracket, wherein the 5 strap is received in the slot, and the strap has a width of greater than 9mm.

24. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10