GB2287502A - Cable holder - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable harness support and a relay carrier for it. In order to hold the cable or the cable harness securely even against vibration, the intention being to occupy as little space as possible on the relay carrier, it is proposed to design a cable harness support as a cable harness bearing with an attached foot, the foot consisting of limbs which are in the form of plates and are arranged crossing over one another. At the end, that is to say on its installation surface, the foot is provided with latching projections. The associated relay carrier for accommodating the cable holder is designed such that webs are provided between the receptacles for relay bases, the width of which webs is greater than the width of the plate-shaped limbs which form the foot of the cable harness support. Recesses are incorporated in these webs, in which recesses the projections which are arranged on the foot of the cable harness support can latch. The recesses are furthermore arranged such that they correspond with the projections which are arranged on the foot when the centre axis of the cable harness support is above the intersection of the webs.

Description

1 2287502 Cable Holder and Relay Carrier Therefor The present invention

relates to a cable holder and a relay carrier therefor.

Cable holders are used where individual cables or bundles of cables are to be held or conveyed at a distance from a surface.. When cable holders on relay carriers are used, the same requirements apply in principle. If a relay carrier of this type is subjected to vibrations, such as occurring in vehicles for example, the cable or bundle of cables must in addition be kept free of movement relative to the relay carrier despite the vibrations.

Cable holders are known (for example from the firm Hatra, SLCS series), which comprise a cable clamp with an attached slender foot which Is provided at the end with a projection for engagement at one point in an assembly hole. The cable clamp completely surrounds the cable, so that. only cables with a cross-section within the very limited range of the clamping capacity of the cable clamp may be held against axially displacement. In this way, different cable holders are supplied for different cable cross-sections.

2 In addition, German Utility Model 92 12 974 discloses a cable mounting, in particular for glass-fibre cables, which comprises on one side two elongate U-shaped legs provided at the end with barbs which in turn can snap into a profiled opening in the wall of a frame. The side of the cable mounting facing the cable is likewise made U-shaped as a cable clamp. The two U-shaped members are staggered at right angles to each other. A separate fastening means is insertible into the cable clamp, which is closed to such an extent with the aid of the fastening means that the cable is secured even axially.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cable holder and a relay carrier therefor, by means of which a cable or cable bundle may be held securely and protected from vibrations, and requires as little space as possible on the relay carrier.

Claims (6)

The invention provides a cable holder as claimed in Claim 1 and a relay carrier as claimed in Claim 5. According to the invention, a cable holder comprises a cable support with an attached base comprising plate-shaped legs arranged in a cruciform manner with respect to each other. The base is provided with engaging projections at its end, i.e. the end on A 3 which it stands. An associated relay carrier for receiving the cable holder has webs with a thickness greater than the thickness of the plate- shaped legs forming the base of the cable support. Recesses, in which the projections on the base of the cable holder can engage, are provided in the said webs. In addition, the recesses are arranged in such a way that they are aligned with the projections arranged on the base when the median axis of the cable holder is situated above a point of intersection of, the webs. The cable holder according to the invention is extremely rigid and resistant to tilting and turning while having a low inherent weight. In addition, in conjunction with a relay carrier according to the invention, the space to be reserved on the relay carrier for the cable holder is very small, so that in many cases mounting on a relay carrier already being produced is possible after a relatively minor change to the tool for manufacturing the said relay carrier and in any case without changing the steps of attaching it. The cable holder may be arranged at any desired point of intersection of the webs of the relay carrier. As a whole, a cable or cable bundle resting on the cable holder Is held securely and is protected from turning and vibrations, so that the cable holder according to the invention is suitable even for use in an environment 4 subject to considerable vibration, such as for example in a vehicle. Preferably the cable support is a surface curved in one dimension so that the secure fastening of cables and bundles of cables of widely differing diameters may be achieved with only one cable holder, and it is therefore inexpensive and easy to assemble. In addition, generally known and sufficiently tested assembly methods may be used for the assembly of cables and bundles of cables, such as for example tying with the aid of a cable tie or winding with an adhesive tape, by which the cable or bundle of cables may be fastened axially at the same time and without additional members by clamping to the cable support. Finally, the design of the base in the shape of a truncated pyramid optimizes the weight of the cable holder while retaining a high degree of rigidity. The invention will now be described with reference to an embodiment shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein; Fig. 1 r 0 is an exploded perspective view of a cable holder on a relay carrier, and Figs. 2 A - C shows the cable holder of Fig. 1 from one side, from another side and in plan, respectively. In Fig. 1 a cable holder 1 is mounted on a relay carrier 2. The relay carrier 2 comprises a frame 3 with webs 4 arranged in a cruciform manner inside the frame. The webs 4 form receiving means 5 for relay bases (not shown) and are provided with recesses 6. The cable holder 1 shown in detail in Figs. 2 A to 2 C comprises a cable support 7 to which a cruciform base 8 is attached. The base 8 comprises two plate-shaped legs 9, 10 which taper inwardly towards the cable support 7. In the embodiment shown, engaging projections 11 are provided only on the leg 9 extending in the longitudinal direction M of a bundle of cables to be held. The second leg 10, on the other hand, has a flat end where it rests on the web 4. With this arrangement the forces capable of being absorbed in the direction of the longitudinal axis M are greater than the forces which can be absorbed transversely thereto. Depending on requirements the engaging projections 11 may alternatively be provided on the second leg 10 or, where great stresses occur in all directions, on both the legs 9, 10. In the embodiment shown the 6 engaging projections 11 are constructed in the form of snap hooks 13, 14 separated by a gap 12. The distance between the projections 11 along one leg 9 is designated a. The cable support 7 is constructed as a surface curved in one dimension, in this case as a half-cylinder. A cable, or a bundle of cables, is thus received in a trough. Apertures 15, through which fastening means such as a cable tie 16 may be passed and secured against slipping off the cable support 7, are provided in the legs 9, 10 in the region of the contact line B of the legs 9, 10 below the cable support 7. The cable or bundle of cables is pressed against the cable support 7 by the cable tie 16 and is thus clamped to prevent axial movement. The recesses 6 in the relay carrier 3 are constructed in such a way that the hooks 13, 14 can pass there through and engage therewith in their end position, i.e. when the legs 9, 10 rest on the webs 4. The distance along a web 4 between a pair of recesses 6 is equal to the distance a between the two engaging projections 11 on the leg 9. Two pairs of recesses 6 are arranged symmetrically about the point of intersection of two webs 4, so that the contact or median line B of the cable holder always passes through i^ k 7 the point of intersection K of two webs 4 after assembly. In addition, the cable holder 1 may also be arranged offset by 90. It is particularly advantageous to select the distance a so that at least along a web 4 it is equal to the distance between two points of intersection on the web 4. In that case the recesses 6 are arranged centrally between two points of intersection on the web 4 and may be used for fastening a cable holder 1 at the two points of intersection. The cable holder 1 according to the invention is not restricted to use on a relay carrier 2 as illustrated, but may be used wherever a stable, nonrotating fastening of a cable or a bundle of cables at a distance from a surface is required. 8 Claims:

1. A cable holder, comprising a cable support and a base attached thereto and formed by intersecting, plate-shaped legs, wherein engaging projections are provided on the end of at least one of the legs.

2. A cable holder as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cable support is a curved surface, and an aperture is provided In the foot below the cable support for accommodating cable securing means.

A cable holder as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the base increases in size from the cable support.

4. A cable holder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5.

17 IF A cable holder as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims and mounted on a relay carrier comprising intersecting webs, wherein the thickness of the webs is greater than the thickness of the plate-shaped legs of the cable holder, and recesses are provided in the webs receiving the engaging projections of the legs and securing the cable support on the relay carrier, the recesses being arranged symmetrically about points of intersection of the webs.

1 11

6. A cable holder as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the apertures are engaged by the engaging projections with a snap fit.

A cable holder as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein the distance between the engaging projections and the distance between the recesses in at least one web is equal to the distance between two points of intersection of the said web.

A cable holder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing and for a cable holder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5.

5. A relay carrier for a cable holder as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, comprising intersecting webs, wherein the thickness of the webs is greater than the thickness of the plate-shaped legs of the cable holder, and recesses are provided in the webs for receiving the engaging projections of the legs for securing the cable support on the relay carrier, the recesses being arranged symmetrically about points of intersection of the webs.

9 6. A relay carrier as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the apertures are engaged by the engaging projections with a snap fit.

7. A relay carrier as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein the distance between the engaging projections and the distance between the recesses in at least one web is equal to the distance between two points of intersection of the said web.

A relay carrier substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing and for a cable holder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5.

Amendments to the claim& have bean filed MI f0NOWS A cable holder, comprising a cable support and a base attached thereto and formed by intersecting, plate-shaped legs, wherein engaging projections are provided on the end of at least one of the legs.

A cable holder as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cable support is a curved surface, and an aperture is provided in the foot below the cable support for accommodating cable securing means.

3. A cable holder as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the base increases in size from the cable support.

4. A cable holder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.