CA2279159A1 - End-to-end coupled cable clips and method of installation - Google Patents

End-to-end coupled cable clips and method of installation Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2279159A1
CA2279159A1 CA 2279159 CA2279159A CA2279159A1 CA 2279159 A1 CA2279159 A1 CA 2279159A1 CA 2279159 CA2279159 CA 2279159 CA 2279159 A CA2279159 A CA 2279159A CA 2279159 A1 CA2279159 A1 CA 2279159A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cable
clips
strand
securing
securing device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2279159
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Cong Thanh Dinh
Gene Coll
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Installation Products International LLC
Original Assignee
Thomas and Betts International LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thomas and Betts International LLC filed Critical Thomas and Betts International LLC
Publication of CA2279159A1 publication Critical patent/CA2279159A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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  • Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention eliminates the above difficulties and disadvantages by providing end-to-end coupled cable clips for retaining a cable against a surface, such as a wall. The present clips have a generally arched shaped opening that encompasses the cable. Disposed on either side of the opening are frustum shaped members, which have an aperture for receiving a pre-inserted nail or screw therethrough. In another embodiment, only one frustum shaped member is provided on each clip through which a nail or screw is pre-inserted. An important feature of the present invention is that the plurality of the cable clips are fastened together in end-to-end fashion by a connector, which thereby forms a strand of clips, such that they can be handled with one hand and installed with another hand. Moreover, no clips are dropped during installation because they are coupled together. Further, the nails are retained in the clips via friction fit such that they are not lost or dropped by the installer. The present invention also provides an improved method of installation for the end-to-end coupled cable clips.

Description

END-TO-END COUPLED CABLE CLIPS
AND
MET-HOD OF INSTALLATION
Related References This utility application claims the benefit of co-pending provisional application having serial no.: 60/096,450, entitled: END-TO-END COUPLED CABLE CLIPS AND
METHOD OF INSTALLATION, filed August 13, 1998.
Field of the Invention In general, the present invention relates to clips and, in particular, the present invention to cable clips that are coupled in end-to-end fashion and their method of installation.
Background At construction sites, cable installers, and particularly coaxial cable installers, must run lengths of cable across walls and surfaces, and secure the cables thereto.
Currently, there are two types of cable clips. The first type are separated clips that lay loose in an installer's pouch requiring the installer to reach in the pouch, grasp an 2 0 individual clip, place the clip over the cable, grasp a nail or screw, and insert the nail or screw into the wall. This is a time consuming installation process and one that commonly results in clips and nails being dropped by the installer and thus requiring subsequent gathering,. or. resulting in a waste of materials that .are not gathered.
The second type of cable clips are coupled in a side-by-side arrangement and require the use of costly clip guns for installation. These guns are also heavy and therefore difficult for the installer to lift over his head for extended durations of time. In addition, the guns are bulky and thus difficult to operate in tight spaces or corners where the cable is usually routed.
Summary of the Invention The present invention eliminates the above difficulties and disadvantages by providing end-to-end coupled cable clips for retaining a cable against a surface, such as a wall. The present clips have a generally arched shaped opening that encompasses the cable. Disposed on either side of the opening are members, and at least one has an aperture for receiving a pre-inserted securing device, such as a nail or screw therethrough.
An important feature of the present invention is that the plurality of the cable clips are fastened together in end-to-end fashion by a connector, which thereby forms a strand of clips, such that they can be handled with one hand and the installer can hammer or screw with the other hand. Moreover, no clips are dropped during installation because they are coupled together. Further, the securing devices are retained in the clips via friction fit such that they are not lost or dropped by the installer.
The present invention also provides an improved method of installation for the clips including the acts of placing a clip against a surface, inserting one securing device into the surface, breaking the clip off of the strand, and driving a second securing device into the surface. In yet another method of installation of the present invention, for the single securing device clips, included are the acts of: placing a clip against a surface, inserting one securing device into the surface, and breaking the clip off of the strand.
Both methods greatly increase the ease in installation of the clips and cable retention against a given surface.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view and partial cut-away view of a cable clip of the present invention with pre-inserted nails.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a strand of end-to-end connected cable clips as shown in FIG. 1 with pre-inserted nails.
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the cable clip of the present invention.
FIG.'4 is a plan view of a bottom side of the cable clip of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cable clip of the present invention taken along sight line S-5 of FIG. 4 without pre-inserted nails.

FIG. 6 is a end elevational view of the cable clip of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a top side of the cable clip of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the cable clip of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cable clip of the present invention with a single nail pre-installed.
FIG. 1 ~ is a perspective view of a strand of end-to-end connected cable clips with one pre-inserted nail as shown in FIG. 9 of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an end elevational view of the cable clip of FIG. 9 of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the cable clip of FIG. 9 of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the cable clip of FIG. 9 of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments) The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will now be discussed in the following detailed description and appended claims, which are to be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which identical reference characters designate like elements throughout the views. Shown in FIG. 2 is a strand 30 of cable clips for securing a cable to a surface. The strand 30 of cable clips 2 0 comprises a plurality of releasably coupled cable clips in end-to-end fashion, as shown in FIG. 1. Each cable clip 10 includes at least one securing device that is pre-installed, which is preferably a nail, but can also be a screw. Each cable clip 10 is preferably formed of a thermo-formed plastic that is durable and non-corrosive.
As is best shown in FIGS. l and 9, a generally frustum-shaped, first member 14 is included in each cable clip 10 for receiving a first securing device 18 therein. An aperture 16 is disposed in the first member 14, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, S, and 12 for receiving the first securing device 18 therein. The first securing device 18 is preferably held in the first member 14 via friction fit such that it will not become detached from the cable clip 10 during installation of the strand 30.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5-13, an annular ridge 24 is disposed about the aperture 16 of the first member 14 for guiding the first securing device 18 into the aperture 16 of the first member 14 prior to installation of each cable clip 10. The annular ridge 24 also protects the cable clip 10 when the first securing device 18 is installed into the surface. A second member 44 is coupled to the first member 14. In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-8, the second member 44 is frustum-shaped, and an aperture 16 is disposed in the second member 44 for receiving a second securing device 38 therein, such as a nail or screw. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment two pads are placed against the surface of the cable clip 10 before the securing devices are installed. The second securing device 38 is preferably held in the 2 0 second member 44 via friction fit such that it will not become detached from the cable clip 10 during installation of the strand 30. In this embodiment, the aperture 16 is disposed in the~first member 14-and the second member 44, which is best shown in FIG.
5.
In anther embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9-13, the second member 44 is not generally frustum shaped and is without an aperture 16 disposed therein for receiving the second securing device 38 therein. This embodiment provides for an even quicker installation of each cable clip 10 because only one securing device need be fastened to the given surface.
A bridge 22 connects the first and second members 14, 44 and spans a generally arch-shaped opening 12, formed between the first and second members 14, 44, for receiving the cable therein and securing the cable between the bridge 22 and the surface.
This opening 12 is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 13. Enabling the important end-to-end coupling of the plurality of cable clips in the strand 30 is a connector 20 attached to the first member 14 for connection to another cable clip 10 in the strand 30, as is best shown in FIGS. 7 and 13. It is understood, however, that the connector 20 can also be attached to the second member 44. The connector 20 is also preferably constructed of a thermo-formed plastic and is ridged. The connector 20 is broken when a lateral force is applied thereto such that one of the cable clips in the strand 30 can be removed once secured to the surface and a section of cable has been installed.

The present invention further provides a method for securing the cable to a surface via the-strand 30 containing the plurality of end-to-end coupled cable clips. The method includes the steps of pre-inserting the first securing device 18 into each of the plurality of cable clips prior to installation. The first securing device 18 is preferably pre-installed by a machining process such that the installer of the cable does not have to perform this step.
The method next includes the step of placing one of the cable clips against the surface such that the cable is held thereto and then installing the first securing device 18 of the cable clip 10 into the surface. In one embodiment, with only the first member 14 having an aperture 16 disposed therein and not the second member 44, the next step in the method is detaching the cable clip 10 that has been placed against the surface from the strand 30 by breaking the ridged connector 20 via a lateral force.
In another embodiment, with the first member 14 and the second member 44 having an aperture 16 disposed therein, the next step in the method is the step of installing a second securing device 38 of the cable clip 10 into the surface.
Both methods greatly increase the ease in installation of the clips over current methods, which do not have end-to-end coupled arrangements and require either individual insertion of each cable clip 10 or the use of costly tools. The present invention allows a plurality of cable clips to be handled with one hand and installing the securing devices into the surface with the other hand. Moreover, no clips are dropped during installation because they are coupled together or costly installation tools are required.
Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. A strand of cable clips for securing a cable to a surface, the strand of cable clips comprising:
a plurality of releasably coupled cable clips coupled end-to-end, each cable clip including:
a first securing device, a first member for receiving the first securing device therein, a second member, a bridge connecting the first and second members, an opening formed between the first and second members for receiving the cable therein, and a connector attached to the cable clip for connection to another cable clip in the strand.
2. The strand of cable clips of claim 1 wherein the first securing device is held in the first member via friction fit.
3. The strand of cable clips of claim 1 further comprising an aperture disposed in the first member for receiving the first securing device therein.
4. The strand of cable clips of claim 3 further comprising an annular ridge disposed about the aperture of the first member for guiding the first securing device into the aperture of the first member prior to installation of each of the plurality of cable clips.
5. The strand of cable clips of claim 1 wherein the opening is generally arch-shaped for receiving the cable therein and securing the cable between the bridge and the surface.
6. The strand of cable clips of claim 1 wherein the first member is generally frustum-shaped.
7. The strand of cable clips of claim 1 wherein the second member is generally frustum-shaped.
8. The strand of cable clips of claim 3 further comprising a second securing device disposed in the second member.
9. The strand of cable clips of claim 8 wherein the second securing device is held in the second member via friction fit.
10. The strand of cable clips of claim 8 wherein the second securing device is a nail.
11. A method for securing a cable to a surface via a strand containing a plurality of cable clips, the method comprising the steps of:
pre-inserting a first securing device into each of the plurality of cable clips prior to installation, each of the plurality of cable clips being coupled end-to-end;
placing one of the cable clips against the surface such that the cable is held thereto;
installing the first securing device of the cable clip into the surface; and detaching the cable clip that has been placed against the surface from the strand.
12. The method for securing the cable to the surface of claim 11 further including the step of installing a second securing device of the cable clip into the surface.
13. The method for securing the cable to the surface of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of cable clips includes a first member for receiving the first securing device therein.
14. The method for securing the cable to the surface of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of cable clips includes a second member connected to the first member.
15. The method for securing the cable to the surface of claim 14 wherein each of the plurality of cable clips includes a bridge connecting the first and second members.
16. The method for securing the cable to the surface of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of cable clips includes an opening formed between the first and second members for receiving the cable therein and securing the cable between the bridge and the surface.
17. The method for securing the cable to the surface of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of cable clips includes a connector attached to the first member for connection to another cable clip in the strand.
18. The method for securing the cable to the surface of claim 11 wherein the first securing device is held in the first member via friction fit.
19. The method for securing the cable to the surface of claim 17 wherein the cable clip is detached from the strand by breaking the connector.
20. A strand of cable clips for securing a cable to a surface; the strand of cable clips comprising:
a plurality of releasably coupled cable clips coupled end-to-end, each including:
a first securing device that is pre-installed, a generally frustum-shaped first member for receiving the first securing device therein, the first securing device being held in the first member via friction fit, the first member including an aperture disposed therein for receiving the first securing device therein, an annular ridge disposed about the aperture of the first member for guiding the first securing device into the aperture of the first member prior to installation of each of the plurality of cable clips, a second member, a bridge connecting the first and second members, a generally arch-shaped opening, formed between the first and second members, for receiving the cable therein and securing the cable between the bridge and the surface, and a connector attached to the first member for connection to another cable clip in the strand.
CA 2279159 1998-08-13 1999-07-30 End-to-end coupled cable clips and method of installation Abandoned CA2279159A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9645098P 1998-08-13 1998-08-13
US60/096,450 1998-08-13
US28691599A 1999-04-06 1999-04-06
US286,915 1999-04-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2279159A1 true CA2279159A1 (en) 2000-02-13

Family

ID=31190547

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2279159 Abandoned CA2279159A1 (en) 1998-08-13 1999-07-30 End-to-end coupled cable clips and method of installation

Country Status (1)

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CA (1) CA2279159A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2500403A (en) * 2012-03-20 2013-09-25 Stephen Raymond Woollams Strip of cable clips

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2500403A (en) * 2012-03-20 2013-09-25 Stephen Raymond Woollams Strip of cable clips

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