AU716033B3

AU716033B3 - A device for suspending cords or leads

Info

Publication number: AU716033B3
Application number: AU21329/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony Raymond Wills
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-23
Filing date: 1999-03-23
Publication date: 2000-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2005-03-23

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT Name of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: ANTHONY RAYMOND WILLS ANTHONY RAYMOND WILLS CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

A DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING CORDS OR LEADS The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: M I I A DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING CORDS OR LEADS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to devices for suspending cords, leads and the like and has particular relevance to such devices used to suspend tradepersons' electrical leads above surfaces on work sites or in other situations.

BACKGROUND ART On building sites there are normally a number of different trades attending to different aspects of construction with most trades requiring access to an electric power supply for their handtools and other equipment.

Tradespeople generally run their own leads to the power supply from the position they are working in and as can be imagined safety on building site can often be prejudiced by lax practices and faulty equipment.

The work safety authorities have recently regulated to improve safety in this regard and have decreed that all electric leads must be suspended from any adjacent ground or floor surface.

To comply with this regulation tradespeople have reverted to practices which are not entirely satisfactory. For example, it is common for tradespeople to tape or tie electric leads to scaffolding.

Whilst most power tools and the like are double insulated or otherwise adapted to protect the user from an electric shock, direct contact between a faulty lead or appliance and a metal part of a structure such as scaffolding gives rise to the possibility of electrocution or other injury occurring on the site.

A further objective of the recent regulatory requirements is to keep electric leads away from water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for securely and safely suspending a plurality of electrical leads on building sites and in other situations.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION M According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for suspending a cord the device comprising mounting means adapted for co-axial engagement with a cylindrical object such as a scaffolding post and a plurality of cord engaging means for receiving and supporting cord on an axis which is substantially at right angles to the axis of the mounting means characterised in that the mounting means and engagement means are each provided with semi-circular and resiliently openable jaws adapted and sized to be prised open to receive and grip a scaffold post and a cord or cords respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figures 1 and la are front and side views of a device according to one possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an end view of a device according to a further possible embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is an end view of a device according to a yet further embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 4 and 4a are plan and side views of an apparatus according to a still further possible embodiment of the present invention.

With respect to the drawings the present invention provides a device for suspending a plurality of cords leads and such like which may be presented in a number of configurations having in common a mounting generally indicated by arrow 1, a plurality of cord or lead engaging devices generally indicated by arrow 2 and means by which the devices can be temporarily or semi-permanently positioned with respect to such as a post, rail, ceiling, floor, truss or the like.

In the embodiment illustrated by figure 1 the mounting 1 is an elongate plate which mounts an engaging device 2 consisting of a row of clips 3.

Each clip has a pair of resilient jaws 4 which are able to be prized open primarily for the purpose of inserting power tool leads 5 (see figure Other forms of cords and cables may also be similarly supported.

The cable engaging device may be fixed to a supporting surface or object by screws, nails or the like 6.

In the embodiment illustrated by figure 2 mounting 1 can comprise a pair of resilient jaws 7 which in combination with a stay 8 support a cable engaging device 2 similar to that previously described. The jaws 7 can grip a horizontally or vertically disposed beam or post 9 and attachment may be supplemented by nails, screws 10 or the like.

With respect to figure 3 of the drawings another possible configuration for the device of the present invention is based on free standing support where a cable engaging device 2 is supported by an upright 11 with stability being provided by a suitable footing 12.

With respect to figures 4 and 4a of the drawings in a further embodiment of the present invention the mounting 1 is in the form of an elongate clip providing sets of jaws 13 supported from a partial sleeve 14, mounting engaging devices 2 as previously described. The jaws 13 are designed to grip a circular object such as a scaffolding pipe 15 in the manner illustrated.

It is to be appreciated that devices such as described may be manufactured in a range of materials including plastics, rubbers, nylon and metals.

The devices may be moulded or otherwise formed as a unitary device or from separately manufactured elements in similar or differing materials.

N

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A safety device able to hold a plurality of flexible electrical cords above the ground or away from a metal surface so as to reduce shock hazard, the device comprising an elongate mounting member, a plurality of cord engaging clips fixed to and extending along the mounting member, each said clip having a keyhole shaped slot when viewed in end elevation, the slot being partially defined by a pair of resilient jaws between which a cord can be pressed and passed into the main portion of the keyhole slot, each clip being rigidly fixed to the mounting member to support the cords only in a spaced 1o apart parallel relationship relative to each other and to prevent the cords from pivoting relative to the mounting member, and means to support the mounting member above the ground, or spaced from a metal surface.

2. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the means to support the device comprises an elongate stay having two ends, one end being attached to the mounting member, the other end having a pair of resilient jaws which can clamp to a support to support the device above the ground.

3. The safety device of claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described. DATED this 1't day of December 1999 Anthony Raymond WILLS By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.