GB2285666A

GB2285666A - Cable feeding device

Info

Publication number: GB2285666A
Application number: GB9400630A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Howie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-01-13
Filing date: 1994-01-13
Publication date: 1995-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2014-01-13
Also published as: GB2285666B; GB9400630D0

Abstract

A device for feeding cables through confined spaces comprises a substantially straight elongate strip 10 of C-section resiliently flexible material which can be coiled when not in use. A plug 11 and socket 12 are formed on opposite ends of the strip for connecting a plurality of such devices end-to-end. An aperture 16 formed in the socket 12 is used to attach the cable to the device. <IMAGE>

Description

Cablina Device This invention relates to a cabling device for feeding cables through confined spaces such as floor and ceiling cavities.

Electrical cables often need to be connected between two points which are on opposite sides or different levels of a building. This can be achieved by routing the cables along the outside surface of interior walls in the building, and forming apertures between adjacent rooms for the cables to pass through. This method can be costly because the cables are often routed indirectly between the two points. Furthermore, it is unsightly to attach cables to the outside surface of interior walls.

The best and most direct method of routing cables involves feeding them through cavities which exist between walls and ceilings. However, it can be difficult to route cables in this way, because there are often many obstacles in the cavities, such as pipes and beams which obstruct the cable.

Also, cables are generally quite flexible, which makes its difficult to accurately direct the cables through the cavity.

I have now devised a cabling device which alleviates the above mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a cabling device comprising a substantially straight elongate strip of resiliently flexible material which can be coiled when not in use, one end of the strip being provided with attachment means for attaching a cable.

Thus in use the strip can easily be guided through cavities owing to its resilience against bending, however the strip is sufficiently flexible for it to be able to pass around corners or other obstacles in the cavity. Once the strip has been fed through the cavity the cable can subsequently be pulled through by attaching it to the attachment means on the end of the strip.

Preferably the strip is curved in section so that when extended it remains straight and resists being coiled.

Preferably the strip is formed from metal or from extruded plastics material such as PVC or polypropylene.

Preferably a plug and socket are provided at opposite ends of the strip so that two or more cabling devices can be connected end-to-end.

Preferably the attachment means comprises an aperture formed in the plug and/or socket.

Preferably the plug and socket are formed from a plastics material such as nylon.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cabling device in accordance with this invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1, when coiled; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an end of the cabling device of Figure 1, when in use; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the ends of two cabling devices connected end-to-end.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a cabling device comprising an elongate strip of resiliently flexible plastics material 10. The strip 10 is generally Cshaped in its transverse section, and is formed as a straight length. The C-shaped profile of the strip biasses it into its formed shape, however the strip is sufficiently flexible to enable it to be coiled as shown in Figure 2.

A plug 11 and socket 12 are formed on opposite ends of the strip 10. The plug 11 projects forwardly from the strip 10 and has an inclined front edge 13. An aperture 17 is formed through the projecting portion of the plug 11. A portion of the plug projects rearwardly over the strip 10 to form a transverse slot 20 therebetween. The socket 12 comprises a bifurcated body having a rearwardly facing slot 14. A peg 15 projects downwardly from the upper wall of the slot and an aperture 16 is formed through the upper wall adjacent its end.

The front wall 19 of the socket is inclined so that the socket does not get caught on obstacles when it is pulled through the cavity.

In use, the cabling device is uncoiled and fed through the cavity with the plug 11 at its leading end. The inclined front edge 13 of the plug acts as a deflector for the strip around obstacles and corners in the cavity. Referring to Figure 3, once the device has been fed through the cavity a cable can be tied to the aperture 16 in the socket 12, so that it can be pulled through the cavity. Alternatively the cable may be tied to the aperture 17 in the plug 11. The slot 20 in the plug 10 may be used as a hook to pull looped cables back.

Referring to Figure 4, two or more cabling devices may be connected end-to-end by connecting the plug on one device with the socket on the other device. The peg 15 of the socket snap engages into the aperture 17 in the plug, and thus securely locks the two devices end-to-end. The plug and socket are arranged so that the elongate strips 10 of the two devices lie on the same plane as each other. The cable can be attached to the socket on the rear cabling device and pulled through the cavity.

Claims

1) A cabling device comprising a substantially straight elongate strip of resiliently flexible material which can be coiled when not in use, one end of the strip being provided with attachment means for attaching to a cable.

2) A cabling device as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate strip is curved in section.

3) A cabling device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the elongate strip is formed from metal.

4) A cabling device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the elongate strip is formed from extruded plastics material.

5) A cabling device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a plug and socket are provided at opposite ends of the elongate strip.

6) A cabling device as claimed in claim 5, in which the attachment means comprises an aperture formed in the plug and/or socket.

7) A cabling device as claimed in claims 5 or 6, in which the plug and socket are formed from a plastics material.

8) A cabling device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.