GB2298788A

GB2298788A - Cable safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2298788A
Application number: GB9505139A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antony Alexander
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-14
Filing date: 1995-03-14
Publication date: 1996-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-14
Also published as: GB2298788B; GB2298788A9; GB9505139D0; GB2298788A8

Abstract

A safety device for the power supply cable of a hand-held power tool or other powered appliance supplied with electric power via a supply cable comprises a band 1 adapted to encircle a part of a user's body and be retained thereon and, carried by the band a cable retaining member. The band may be in the form of a strap whose ends are secured together. The cable retaining member may be a ring 2 which may be closed or openable to permit entry of the cable. The tool or appliance may be provided with means for retaining the device in a fixed position when not required for use.

Description

Improvements in or relating to Cable Safety Devices This invention relates to cable safety devices and has particular reference to such devices for use with hand-held power tools and other powered appliances, for example garden appliances, that are powered from a mains supply via a trailing cable.

Users of such appliances must exercise great care to ensure that the trailing cable does not impede the use of the tool or appliance or, where applicable, movement of the user and, in particular, care must be taken to keep the cable away frcm the tool or appliance to avoid the risk of damage to the cable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety device that will enable the cable to be maintained in a fixed position relative to the user.

According to the present invention a cable safety device comprises a band adapted to encircle a part of a user's body and be retained thereon and which carries a cable receiving member.

The band may be continuous and adjustable as to its effective length. For example, the band may be of an elastic material and of a size that requires it to be stretched to fit over, and be retained on, the body part.

The size must be such that the band does not inconvenience, or restrict the movement of, the user.

In another form of continuous band, the effective length is adjustable by means of a loop of adjustable length incorporated in the band.

Alternatively, the band may be discontinuous, for example it may be in the form of a strap or belt, and be secured round the body part be a buckle or by means of some other form of releasible fastening, for example a Velcro fastening.

The cable receiving means may be a ring carried by the band. The ring may be carried by the band in a fixed position or it may mounted on a sleeve or the like that enables the ring to be slid along the band.

The cable receiving ring may be openable to allow the cable to be entered into it or it may be of a permanently closed form in which case, the cable is passed through the ring prior to being connected electrically to the tool or appliance. In this latter case, the tool or appliance may have an arrangement for receiving the band or the ring and holding it securely when the tool or appliance is not in use.

The ring may be a split ring or it may consist of two half rings pivotally joined together and openable to permit entry of the cable after which the halves are closed.

By way of example only embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of part of a band, Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a user wearing a band whilst using a hedge trimmer, Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a chain saw with a band, and, Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, perspective view, plan view and section of part of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a band 1 sized to fit round a user's upper arm. The band is non-continuous and is in the form of a strap whose ends carry patches of Velcro material by which the ends of the strap are secured together after the latter has been placed in a comfortable position on a user's upper arm. There is sufficient Velcro material to allow for some adjustment of the effective length of the band to suit the requirements of the user. Secured to the band 1 in some suitable manner is a cable receiving member in the form of a ring 2 with a stem 3 mounted on a base 4 that is fixed to the surface of the band 1 as shown. The ring is so orientated with respect to the band that when the latter is worn by the user, the ring lies in a plane that is substantially at right angles to the plane containing the band.The ring 2 is of a closed form and is of a diameter that permits a cable 5 to pass freely through it.

Fig. 2 shows a user 6 carrying a hedge trimmer 7 in his right hand. The trimmer 7 is powered via the supply cable 5 that passes under the user's right arm, then behind the user to pass through the ring 2 of a band 1 that the user is wearing on his left upper arm. In that way, the cable 5 is held in a safe position relative to the user who is able to use the trimmer 7 without being impeded or inconvenienced by the cable and without any risk of the cable being damaged by the trimmer 7 as the latter is moved during use. When necessary, the user is able to draw the cable 5 freely through the ring 2.

When the user has finished with the trimmer 7, the band 1 is removed from the user's arm and the ring 2 and the band 1 are moved along the cable 5 to the trimmer where the ring is engaged on a clip on the body of the trimmer 7 and is thus held in a safe location until the trimmer 7 is again required for use when the ring 2 is removed from the clip and moved along the cable 5 to a desired position.

The clip may be positioned close to the point at which the cable 5 enters the trimmer housing.

Fig. 3 shows a chain saw 8 with a clip 9 positioned on the cable entry gland 10. Other positions for the clip may, however, be adopted.

It is not essential that the ring 2 be secured to the band 1 in a fixed location. Fig 4, 5 and 6 show an embodiment in which the ring 2 is mounted on a sleeve-like member 11 which is slidable along the band 1 so that its position of the ring is adjustable by the user to suit the user and the particular circumstances in which the tool or appliance is being used.

It will be understood that the band 1 may be continuous, of an elastic material and sized to fit round a particular part of the body of the user. For example, the band 1 may be of a size that allows it to be stretched to permit the user to pass his hand and arm through the band and move it to a desired position on his arm, for example the upper arm shown in Fig. 1 where the band 1 is held in position by the elasticity of the band.

Alternatively, the band 1 may incorporate a closed loop whose length is adjustable to change the effective length of the band. In this case, the band 1 is placed in position round the user's arm, for example, and the loop is then adjusted to tighten the band around the arm so retaining it in position.

In another embodiment of the invention, the band 1 is non-continuous that is, it is in the form of a strap or belt, and is fitted with a buckle or other suitable means by which the ends are secured together after the band has been placed in position on a particular part of the user's body. The means fastening the ends together will, of course allow for adjustment of the effective length of the band 1 to suit the user's requirements.

The band 1 may be sized to allow the user to wear it round his waist.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the ring 2 may be so mounted on the band 1 that the ring 2 may be swivelled on its mounting which may include bearings. Such an arrangement allows the user to select the ring orientation that is found most comfortable and, moreover, the ring 2 will pivot to follow movement of the cable 5.

It will be understood that the device may be used with garden appliances other than hedge trimmers and chain saws, for example, garden mowers and edgers.

The device may also be used with hand-held power tools, that are powered via a power supply cable, for example, drills, jig-saws, routers, planers,sanders, hot air guns, and staplers.

Claims

Claims.

1. A safety device for the power cable of a powered tool or appliance comprising a band adapted to encircle a part of a user's body and be retained thereon, and, carried by the band, a cable retaining member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the band is continuous, is of an elastic material and is of a size that requires it to be stretched to fit round the body part.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the band is discontinuous and has means for fastening the free ends of the band together after being placed round the body part.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the band is in the form of a strap or belt and in which the means comprise a buckle.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the free ends are provided with Velcro fastenings for securing the ends of the band together.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cable retaining member is ring-shaped.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the cable retaining member is a ring.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the ring is a closed ring.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the ring has two parts so joined togethers to permit the parts to be opened to allow entry of the cable into the ring and closable to retain the cable after entry.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which the ring consists of two semi-circular parts pivotally attached together at one end.

11. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the ring is a split ring.

12. A hand-held power tool or a powered appliance with a power supply cable and a cable safety device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 in which the cable is held in the cable retaining member.

13. A tool or appliance as claimed in claim 12 in which the tool or the appliance has means for retaining the device in a fixed position relative to the tool or appliance.

14. A tool or appliance as claimed in claim 13 in which the retaining means comprises a clip.

15. A tool or appliances claimed in claim 14 in which the retaining means is mounted on the body of the tool or appliance.

16. A safety device for a power tool or powered appliance substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 2 or Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A powered garden appliance substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims.

1. A safety device for the power cable of a powered tool or appliance comprising a band adapted to encircle a part of a user's body and be retained thereon, and, carried by the band, a cable retaining device adapted to allow free movement of the cable therethrough.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the ring is a closed ring.

11. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the ring is a split ring.