GB2024913A

GB2024913A - Cable clips

Info

Publication number: GB2024913A
Application number: GB7829254A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Post Office
Current assignee: Post Office
Priority date: 1978-07-08
Filing date: 1978-07-08
Publication date: 1980-01-16

Abstract

A plastics cable clip is attached to the wall by a masonry nail and the cable is secured within the clip by the same nail. Percussive damage to the cable is avoided by ribs 7, 8 on the surface to spread the force of the hammer blow to parts of the clip not directly over the cable and a hollow 9a, 9b on the surface of the clip next to the wall, under the cable, to provide a cushion effect. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to cable fastening The invention relates to cable clips, and in particular to cable clips for attachment to a wall by nails.

Cable clips are very commonly used to secure cables to walls and masonry in general, and often are attached to the wall by masonry nails. These nails must be driven into the masonry requiring relatively heavy impacts by a hammer. If the cable clip is of a resilient plastics material, which is convenient for manufacture and many aspects of use, and its construction is such that the cable must be inserted, or if it is desirable in any case that the cable should be inserted, before the nail is driven into the masonry damage to the cable can ensue because the cable clip is not able to provide sufficient protection from the impacts of the hammer.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a cable clip providing protection to a cable therewithin from percussive impacts, as from a hammer.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable clip for attachment to a wall by a nail, said cable clip being made of a resilient material and having a substantially flat top and bottom face, said bottom face in use being adjacent the wall, said clip having a slot parallel to and intermediate said top and bottom faces for at least part of the width and for the whole breadth of the clip, to form a pair of resiliently hinged jaws to accept a cable therebetween, and provided with a recess in at least one jaw and adjacent said slot, said recess extending the breadth of the clip, said clip further having on said top face at least a pair of ribs aligned parallel to the direction of the axis of the recess and disposed on said top face adjacent the region of the top face directly above said recess.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable clip for attachment to a wall by a nail said cable clip being, made of a resilient material and having a substantially flat top and bottom face, said bottom face in use being adjacent to the wall, said clip having a slot parallel to and intermediate said top and bottom faces extending for at least part of the width and for the whole breadth of the clip to form a pair of resiliently hinged jaws provided with a recess to accept a cable in at least one of said jaws adjacent the slot, extending the breadth of the clip, said clip further having on said bottom face a cushion gap extending the breadth of said clip and aligned below said recess.

Said clip may be provided with a pre-formed hole to receive a nail for attachment to a wall. The said nail may also be arranged to hold said jaws in contact with each other against the resilience of the clip, thereby to secure the cable within the recess.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to Figs 1 and 2 which show: in Fig 1, a cable clip according to the invention, and in Fig 2, a section of a second cable clip according to the invention.

Turning now to Fig 1 , the cable clip shown therein is made of a resilient plastics material, and is of a generally rectangular form. A top face 1 and a bottom face (not visible in the figure, but, perpendicular to the direction of view shown by the arrow 2) are parallel and substantially plane, and the bottom face will press against the wall in use. A circular hole 10 extends from top to bottom face to receive a masonry nail for attachment to the wall.

A slot 3 extends the breadth of the clip and part of the width of the clip parallel to the top and bottom faces and in between them, to form a pair of jaws 11 and 12. The slot does not extend into the region 4, as previously mentioned, and by the resilience of the material this region 4 provides a hinge action to the jaws 11 and 12. The cable which the clip is to support against a wall is placed in recess 5 in jaw 11. The recess could be provided in either of the jaws or partially in each jaw.

A ridge 6 running the length of the recess restricts the movement of cable within the recess so that the same clip can be used with different cable sizes. Along the top face 1 of the clip for the breadth of the clip are two ribs 7 and 8 disposed on either side of the area of the top face 1 immediately above the recess 5. These ribs protect the thin area of plastic over the recess 5 from mechanical damage by the edge of the hammer during the driving of the masonry nail into the hole 10, and also divert the impact of the hammer blows falling on the clip to areas of material away from the cable.

Further protection is provided by a cushion gap 9 in the bottom face; again this runs the breadth of the clip and is directly below the recess 5. The cushion gap 9 provides additional resilience and movement to the part of the clip near the cable under impact, thus cushioning the effect of hammer blows on the cable.

Turning now to Fig 2 there is shown in section a second cable clip according to the invention.

Corresponding numerals have been used where appropriate in Figs 1 and 2. The clip in Fig 2 is shown as it would be in use, against a wall; the wall has not been shown for clarity. The similarity of the clip shown in Fig 2 to that shown in Fig 1 will be apparent, and therefore only the points of difference will be noted.

There are two recesses, 5a and 5b, and since the clip in Fig 2 is shown in use, the cables 14 and 1 5 which are being supported against the wall are shown in section. Since there are a pair of recesses and two cables, two cushion gaps 9a and 9b are provided each below one of the recesses.

The masonry nail 13 holding the clip to the wall is shown and in this particular clip it is used to hold the clip closed against the resilience of the material and thus additionally secure the cable within the clip. In some cases it might be desirable to provide a positive fastening for the clip and this might be done by 'tongue and groove' mouldings on the opposite faces of the jaws 11 and 1 2.

In Fig 2 it will be noted that the ribs 7 and 8 are disposed outside the region of the clip through which the cables pass, so as to protect the pair of cables.

Although in both the examples shown, only two ribs have been shown, there is no reason why this must be so. For example, in the clip shown in Fig 1 the recess 5 could be divided into two separated by material extending the full width of the jaw 11, and an additional rib could be provided in the top face 1 immediately above this dividing material.

Claims

1. A cable clip for attachment to a wall by a nail, said cable clip being made of a resilient material and having a substantially flat top and bottom face, said bottom face in use being adjacent the wall, said clip having a slot parallel to and intermediate said top and bottom faces for at least part of the width and for the whole breadth of the clip, to form a pair of resiliently hinged jaws to accept a cable therebetween, and provided with a recess in at least one jaw and adjacent said slot, said recess extending the breadth of the clip, said clip further having on said top face at least a pair of ribs aligned parallel to the direction of the axis of the recess and disposed on said top face adjacent the region of the top face directly above said recess.

2. A cable clip for attachment to a wall by a nail said cable clip being made of a resilient material and having a substantially flat top and bottom face, said bottom face in use being adjacent the wall, said clip having a slot parallel to and intermediate said top and bottom faces for at least part of the width and for the whole breadth of the clip to form at pair of resiliently hinged jaws provided with a recess to accept a cable in at least one of said jaws adjacent the slot extending the breadth of the clip, said clip further having on said bottom face a cushion gap extending the breadth of said clip and aligned below said recess.

3. A cable clip as claimed in ciaims 1 and 2.

4. A cable clip as claimed in any of claims 1-3 having a pre-formed hole to receive a nail for attachment to a wall.

5. A cable clip as claimed in claim 4 wherein said nail is arranged to hold said jaws in contact with each other against the resilience of the clip, thereby to secure the cable within the recess.

6. A cable clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1.

7. A cable clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2.