GB2300219A - Clamping of electrical or other cables - Google Patents

Abstract

A cable retention device has two limbs (130, fig 6) which define a generally circular opening therebetween. The limbs are urged together by the walls of a slot, into which the device is fitted, to grip a cable disposed in the opening. The device may define a further opening (33) of a different size, to permit a cable of different diameter to be accommodated. Alternative embodiments of device are disclosed; in fig. 8b, for example, a flexible web (34) connects two limbs which, when fitted within a slot, clamp a central cable. If the limbs are reversed within the slot, recesses (36) define a larger aperture for a cable. Locking protrusions may be provided on the limbs of a device, to cooperate resiliently with recesses adjacent the slot, thereby retaining the device in place.

Description

CLAMPING OF ELECTRICAL OR OTHER CABLE This invention relates generally to the clamping of cable, and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with the clamping of electrical cable in electrical connection units.

Electrical connection units are conventionally secured to a wall or equivalent surface and electrically connect electrical supply cable, for example supply cable exiting the wall, to outlet cable permanently secured to the unit in use. Products of this type include 13 Amp fused, switched or unswitched spur units, and 20 Amp control switches. Known connection units include the wholly moulded, and the decorative (metal clad) types.

It is well known for the outlet cable of such units to be secured in place at some position in the unit by screws and supplementary components, to provide strain relief of the inner conductor connections. Such devices can be difficult to manipulate, and may not satisfactorily cater for different sizes of outlet cable. Furthermore, the costs of connection units are increased by the need for such strain relief devices.

An object of the invention is to provide improved clamping of cable.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly for clamping a cable relative to a body, comprising a clamping element having clamping surfaces between which, in use, the cable is disposed; and a formation on said body adapted to engage with said clamping element to cause said clamping surfaces of said element tightly to grip a cable disposed therebetween.

Preferably the formation comprises opposing face portions between which the clamping element is introduced in an insertion direction thereof, said opposing face portions being adapted to engage with corresponding face portions of said clamping element.

Conveniently said formation comprises a recess and said opposing face portions comprise opposite sides of said recess.

Advantageously the sides of said recess and/or the opposing face portions of the clamping element converge towards one another in the insertion direction of the clamping element whereby insertion of said clamping element causes said element tightly to grip said cable.

In another embodiment the clamping element comprises a resilient member comprising a body portion, a first pair of arm portions and a second pair of arm portions, said first pair of arm portions extending from said body portion in a first direction and said second pair of arm portions extending from said body portion in a second direction, said second direction being at least substantially opposite said first direction, said first pair of arm portions having oppositely-directed said clamping surfaces defining a cable-receiving aperture therebetween and having two second surfaces, which comprise said corresponding face portions, for urging said clamping surfaces towards one another to engage the outer surface of a said cable received in said cable-receiving aperture, whereby said cable is gripped in said cable-receiving aperture, said second pair of arm portions defining a second aperture therebetween.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a clamping element comprising a resilient member comprising two arm portions, each arm portion having a respective clamping surface, said clamping surfaces defining a cable-receiving aperture- therebetween, said member further comprising two second surfaces, which comprise said corresponding face portions for urging said clamping surfaces towards one another, whereby a said cable received in said cable-receiving aperture is gripped in said aperture.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a clamping element comprising a resilient member having a body portion, a first pair of arm portions and a second pair of arm portions, said first pair of arm portions extending from said body portion in a first direction and said second pair of arm portions extending from said body portion in a second direction, said second direction being at least substantially opposite said first direction, said first pair of arm portions having oppositely-directed first surfaces defining a cable-receiving aperture therebetween and having two second surface portions for urging said first surface portions to engage the outer surface of a cable received in said cable-receiving aperture, said second pair of arm portions defining a second aperture therebetween.

As used herein, the expression 'cable' not only includes all forms of electrical cable, but also other, non-electrical, elongated members such as rope, wire, tubing and the like. The term also includes so-called optical cables, wherein an outer cable cover embraces one or more optical fibres.

The invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary, schematic perspective view of an electrical connection unit adapted for use with clamping means of the invention, with a side/bottom exit for an outlet cable.

Figures 2 and 3 are a plan view and a cross-section of recess means of the unit of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views respectively of embodiments of clamping means of the invention for use with the unit of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of clamping means of the invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of clamping means of the invention.

Figures 8a and 8b are diagrammatic views of the clamping means of Figure 7 being used in alternative orientations to clamp different cross-sectional sizes of electrical cable respectively.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, schematic perspective view of an electrical connection unit like that shown in Figure 1, but with a front exit for an outlet cable.

Figures 10 and 11 are schematically a cross-section and a plan view respectively of recess means of the unit of Figure 9, to an enlarged scale.

Figures 12 and 13 are respective perspective views to an enlarged scale of embodiments of clamping means of the invention for use with the unit of Figure 9.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary, schematic perspective view of a further electrical connection unit of the form shown in Figure 9.

Figures 15 and 16 are views like Figures 10 and 11, but of the unit of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of clamping means of the invention for use with the unit of Figure 14, and Figures 18 to 21 are views corresponding to Figures 14 to 17 respectively of a further electrical connection unit and clamping means.

Figure 22 is a plan view of a portion of a clamping means having grip-enhancing means.

Figure 23 is a plan view of a portion of a clamping means having an alternative, preferred grip enhancing means.

Figure 24 is a transverse cross-section along lines A-A' of Figure 23.

The electrical connection unit 10 of Figure 1 is of generally conventional moulded form having connection means, not shown, for an incoming supply or feed cable and for an outgoing or load cable 11. With the unit shown in Figure 1 the outlet cable is orientated vertically and passes out of the unit at a part circular outlet opening 12. The outlet cable 11 is clamped in position within the unit normally where it is received in a part-circular channel just prior to leaving the unit to provide strain relief of the inner conductors of the cable. It is known to use screws and supplementary components to effect this clamping.

However the present invention relates to- an improved clamping arrangement using simple, effective and easily fixed cable clamps.

Figure 1 shows that the moulding 10 defines a part-circular cross-section channel 13 for the outlet cable adjacent opening 12. Within this channel is formed a body formation comprising a recess 14 lying normal to the channel and having straight sides 15 and a flat base 16.

The sides are however very slightly tapered, for example 0 1 , outwardly towards the top of the channel.

It is intended that a clamping element for example of moulded plastics, is engaged in the recess 14. As the clamping element is urged into the recess 14, the outlet cable is progressively more tightly clamped within the clamping element.

However conventional outlet cables used with such connection units are not a single standard size, but normally have inner conductors of either 1.5mm2 or 2.5mm2 in cross-section. Rather than provide two separate clamping elements, each of different size, with the attendant disadvantage of a customer having to specify which size is required in any particular instance, an embodiment of the invention provides clamp means allowing the required clamping element to be selected 'on site'.

A first example of such clamp means is that denoted by numeral 17 in Figure 4. Essentially this comprises two generally similar clamping elements 18 integrally moulded together side by side, but having their joining region formed as a region of weakness (shown schematically at 19) so that they can easily be broken and separated. Each clamping element 18 has a base part 20 from which a pair of flexible legs 21 extend, the respective interior surfaces 22 of the legs defining part of a circular opening 23 through the element 18, the extremities of the legs being separated by a relatively narrow gap 24. The flexibility of the legs can be increased by additional cuts 25 from the opening 23 towards the base part 20. As shown, the elements are connected at their respective adjacent base parts. Each element 18 has a thickness substantially corresponding to the width of the recess 14.

To cater for the two sizes of cable referred to, the respective openings 23 in the two elements are of two different sizes, one for each size of cable. Thus in use, the clamp means 17 can be supplied with the connection unit, even if which one of the two standard sizes of cable is to be used with the unit is not known. When the size is known, the two elements are merely broken apart, the element not required merely being discarded.

Each of the elements 18 has the respective outer surfaces 0 of its legs tapered, for example by 1 , and in use an element is received in recess 14. After selecting the correct one of the elements 18 and breaking it apart from the other one, the cable 11 is engaged with the element by passing it through the gap 24, the legs 21 flexing outwardly and then returning inwardly as the cable passes into the complementarily sized and shaped opening 23.

As the assembly of clamping element 18 and engaged cable is engaged with the unit 10, by way of the element being pressed into the recess 14, the legs 21 are forced inwards so that the cable is tightly gripped by their inner surfaces 22, and thus the cable is clamped to element 18 which itself is tightly held in the recess as an interference fit.

It will be appreciated that various different arrangements can be made to effect the inward movement of the facing surfaces of the clamping element and thus the tight clamping of the cable. For example the engagement of the cable between the legs could be such as to splay them sufficiently so that when in that state they are engaged in the recess, they are forced towards one another to provide the tight clamping of the cable.

Alternatively they could be forced inwards merely as a result of the size of the element and/or the taper of the outer leg surfaces relative to the recess. Moreover only one surface of the element and/or the recess need be tapered to effect the necessary relative inward leg movement to clamp the cable and retain the clamping element sufficiently in the recess. These arrangements apply to all embodiments of the invention described herein.

Figures 5 and 6 show alternative forms of clamp means 26, 126 which like clamp means 17 of Figure 4, have two clamping elements 27, 127 connected as a single moulding, now end to end. In the embodiment of Figure 5 there is a line of weakness or fracture 28 for breaking them apart.

As with clamp means 17, the elements have differently sized openings 29 respectively for the two sizes of cable.

Each clamp element 27 is used in the same manner as clamping element 18 so that its legs 30 are moved together when it is inserted into the recess, the facing leg surfaces tightly engaging opposite sides of the cable, so that it is fixed with the clamping element, which itself is engaged in the recess.

Referring to Figure 6, the third embodiment 126 is somewhat similar to the second embodiment 26, in having two clamping elements 127 connected as a single moulding.

However, in this third embodiment there is- no provision for breaking the two clamping elements 127 apart, but rather the two elements are connected together at a waist portion 128, of reduced transverse extent.

Each clamping element 127 is thus formed by a respective pair of shank portions 129,130, and each respective pair of shank portions has a respective internal cable-engaging wall portion 131,132. The internal wall portion 131 defines a first cable-receiving opening 133 and the wall portion 132 defines a second cable-receiving opening 134.

As previously described with respect to Figure 5, the two openings 133,134 may be differently sized to allow for the two different sizes of cable. The clamp means 126 is preferably made of a flexible plastics material, such as nylon, to provide the necessary flexibility, as will be described later herein.

The first pair of shank portions 129 have, at one end of the clamp means 126, a gap 135 between them and the second pair of shank portions 130 have, at the other open end of the clamp means 126, a second gap 136 between them.

The somewhat narrowed waist portion 128, together with the selection of a material such as nylon gives the clamp means 126 a scissors action. Thus, suitable pressure, such as from the fingers of a user, between the first shank portions in a direction so as to tend to close the gap 135, causes the second shank portions 130 to mutually separate, thus enlarging the gap 136. In use, this facilitates suitable attachment of the clamp means 126 to a cable. It may be desirable to so dimension the clamp means 126 that pressure on the shank portions 129 allows the gap 136 to open sufficiently to allow a cable to be transversely engaged, or it may be sufficient that pressure between the shank portions 129 enlarges the opening 134 to allow the clamp means 126 to be easily moved parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable.It will of course be understood that where the first opening 133 is for an alternative size of cable, pressure on the two second shank portions 130 causes enlargement of the opening 133 in the same way as described above.

In this third embodiment of the clamp means 126 the transverse external width of the clamp means at the ends thereof is selected so that when inserted into the recess 14 the shank portions are urged towards one another so as to clamp a cable in the selected opening 133,134.

Figure 7 shows a still further form of unitary clamp means 31 formed of two tapered wedge members 32, 33 respectively interconnected by a flexible hinge section 34. As viewed in its normal, unflexed linear state in Figure 7, it can be seen that the main parts of the respective upper surfaces of the wedge members are formed as matching part-circular surfaces 35 of a circle corresponding to the larger size of standard cable, whilst the main parts of the respective lower surface of the wedge members are similarly formed with part-circular surfaces 36 of a circle corresponding to the smaller size of standard cable.

Accordingly, as shown in Figures 8a and 8b, by hinging the clamp means in one direction or the other the correctly shaped and sized inwardly facing surfaces can be made tightly to grip the correspondingly sized cable 11 when the clamp means, basically the wedge members, are pressed down into the recess 14 with the cable initially merely loosely disposed between them. Again the tapering causes the wedge members tightly to grip the cable.

The connection unit 37 of Figure 9 has its outlet cable orientated horizontally, in use, and as shown, has a front, circular outlet opening 38. As seen from Figures 10 and 11 the part of the moulding leading to the opening has parallel side walls 39, a downwardly outwardly sloping base wall 40 and an arcuate top wall 41. In the side walls 39 are aligned facing recess 42, 43 respectively, which are tapered by, for example 10, as shown best in Figure 10 to narrow towards opening 38.

Figure 12 shows a clamping element 44, preferably in the form of a plastics moulding, for use with the unit 37 to clamp outlet cable 45. The element has a body part 46 of the same form as element 18 or element 27 defining a central part-circular opening 47 between opposite flexible legs 48. The opening is sized for one or the other of the two standard sizes of outlet cable. Depending normally from the body part at the ends of the legs are respective arms 49, 50, the arms being disposed slightly inwards of the respective adjacent sides of the legs and having tapered outer surface 51, 52 respectively. The arms narrow away from the body part, and the taper is, for example, 10 to match that of the recesses 42, 43 in which the arms 49, 50 are intended to be received.

In use the cable 45 is passed through the opening 38 and the element 44 engaged onto it, with the cable flexing the legs 48 apart as it passes into opening 47 which is sized to receive it as a close, but still sliding fit. The element 44 is then engaged with the moulding around opening 38 by sliding it over the cable, with the arms 49, 50 being received in the recesses 42, 43 respectively. As the arms are further received in the recesses, they are forced towards one another in the same way as for the previously described clamping element embodiments, thereby tightly engaging and gripping the cable 45. Similarly the element is itself tightly held in the moulding.

Accordingly the cable is clamped in position.- It will be appreciated that two of the elements 44 could be moulded together as a clamp means, with a line of fracture, as for the clamp means of Figures 4 and 5.

Conveniently the join could be at the end of the body part remote from the arms. The respective openings 47 in the elements would of course correspond to the two sizes of conventional outlet cable, and as before, after fracture, the clamp element not required could be discarded.

Figure 13 shows an alternative form of clamping element 53 for use with unit 37 in place of element 44. It differs mainly in its arms being spaced rearwards from the free ends of the legs, but functions in the same way as element 44. The position of the arms may well need to vary to cater for the different diameters of the opening 47 for the sizes of outlet cable. Again, two of the elements 53 could be moulded as a break-off clamp means with differently sized openings 47 respectively.

With all the clamping elements described, a locking latch can be provided on the connection unit at or adjacent to the recess or recesses to prevent the outlet cable being pushed back into the unit, in use, particularly on the front exit type of unit. A first example of such an arrangement is shown in Figures 14 to 17.

Figure 14 shows part of a connection unit of the same form as that of Figure 9, but with a different configuration for each recess. In this embodiment, each recess 54 is formed with a flat lower surface 55 terminating in a short, upwardly angled surface 56 extending to the outlet opening of the unit. A flat upper surface 57 of the recess extends from the outlet opening almost to the front of the part of the moulding leading to said opening. However it terminates just short thereof where it joins a short downwardly extending surface 58.A short surface 59 extends from surface 58 in a direction towards the outlet opening, whilst a short surface 60 extending inwards from the front part of the moulding is joined to surface 59 by a short upwardly extending surface 61, the surfaces 59 to 61 forming a latch or finger for enabling an arm of a clamp element to be releasably locked behind it in an upper part of the recess, against movement towards the front of the mouldering.

A clamping element 62 shown in Figure 17 is adapted for use with the unit of Figure 14, it differs from element 44 of Figure 12 in having part of the outer tapered surface of each arm 63 cut away to provide an opening adjacent the junction of each leg with its associated arm. The depth of the cut-out, i.e. of surface 64, it slightly larger than the inward depth of the surface 61.

Accordingly when the element 62 is pushed into the moulding around outlet opening 38, the outer parts of its arms 63 pass into the respective recesses 54 through the opening between surfaces 55 and 60. Once the surface 64 of each arm has cleared surface 61 it is possible for the arms to move upwardly in the respective recesses 54 so that they are disposed in the upper parts thereof. This 'latching' ensures that inwards force on the outlet cable only result in the respective outer ends of the arms 63 engaging surfaces 58, rather than forcing the clamp element out of the moulding and possibly releasing the cable.

A second example of a latching arrangement is shown in Figures 18 to 21, the first three Figures of which show part of a connection unit of the same form as that of Figure 14, but with a different configuration for each recess. Each recess 65 is straight, non-tapered, and of generally semi-circular cross-section, as shown in Figure 19. The recess terminates in a wall 65a just short of the front part of the moulding. The associated clamping element 66 in Figure 21 is of similar form to element 62, but has shorter arms 67. The arms are again formed with outer tapered surfaces respectively, being of a corresponding semi-circular shape to match the shape of each recess 65. Each arm has its upper part cut away to provide an outer shoulder 68.

In use, the arms 67 are passed into the recesses 65 respectively until the shoulders 68 snap past the respective walls 65a and then prevent the clamp element being forced back out of the moulding, as described similarly for the embodiment of Figures 14 to 17. The tapering of the arms 67 causes the legs of the clamping element tightly to grip the cable 45, as explained for the similar previously described clamping elements.

To enhance grip of the cable by a clamping element, the interior, part-circular surfaces of an element can be formed with small projections, protrusions, barbs or the like.

Referring to Figure 22 one example of a clamping element having enhanced grip is shown. As seen, the clamping element defines a cable space 150 between two limb portions 151,152. However, the cable space 150, instead of being circular is provided with four projections 153,154,155 and 156 which engage with the circular outer periphery of an inserted cable.

A preferred grip enhancement is shown in Figures 23 and 24. Referring first to Figure 23 the clamping element shown has two finger portions 160,161 which define therebetween a generally circular cable-receiving opening 162. As can best be seen in Figure 24 the internal wall 163,164 of the respective fingers 160, 161 is moulded to have an inwardly projecting rib portion 165, which has a semi-circular form in cross section. The rib portion 165 mimicks the effect of an O-ring and causes the clamping force exerted by inward pressure on the fingers 160,161 to be concentrated over a small area of the outer of an inserted cable. Thus the inwardly-directed thrust on the cable outer is very much increased and the grip is substantially improved.

Instead of the clamping element legs/arms being received in recesses/slots or other openings, the legs/arms could instead have respective outward facing grooves in their outward (tapered) surfaces, which engage with corresponding projections on (tapered) surfaces of the unit/moulding.

To facilitate use of the clamping elements of this invention, the different sizes of the cable-receiving apertures are marked on the clamping elements. The form of the marks depends upon the material from which the clamping elements are made. Specifically, it is envisaged that where the clamping elements are made of moulded plastics, moulded marks may be provided on the face of the clamping element of concern. The moulded marks may most conveniently be the dimensions of the cable for which the respective cable receiving apertures are intended - for example 1.5mm2 and 2.5mm2, thereby indicating a cable-receiving aperture suitable for a twin-and-earth cable having a conductor size corresponding to these dimensions.

Claims (28)

CLAIMS:

1. An assembly for clamping a cable relative to a body, comprising a clamping element having clamping surfaces between which, in use, the cable is disposed; and a formation on said body adapted to engage with said clamping element to cause said clamping surfaces of said element tightly to grip a cable disposed therebetween.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the formation comprises opposing face portions between which the clamping element is introduced in an insertion direction thereof, said opposing face portions being adapted to engage with corresponding face portions of said clamping element.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said formation comprises a recess and said opposing face portions comprise opposite sides of said recess.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sides of said recess and/or the opposing face portions of the clamping element converge towards one another in the insertion direction of the clamping element whereby insertion of said clamping element causes said element tightly to grip said cable.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said clamping element comprises a resilient member comprising two arm portions, each arm portion having a respective said clamping surface, said clamping surfaces defining a cable-receiving aperture therebetween, said member further comprising two second surfaces, which comprise said corresponding face portions for urging said clamping surfaces towards one another, whereby a said cable received in said cable-receiving aperture is gripped in said aperture.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said two arm portions has a finger portion depending from a distal end thereof, and said finger portions comprise the second surface.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the body has wall portions defining a cable-receiving passage having an axis, said wall portions further defining said recess, said recess being generally aligned with the axis of the channel.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said arm portions comprise said second surfaces.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the body defines a cable-receiving channel having an axis, and the recess is disposed normal to said channel axis.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said clamping element comprises a resilient member comprising a body portion, a first pair of arm portions and a second pair of arm portions, said first pair of arm portions extending from said body portion in a first direction and said second pair of arm portions extending from said body portion in a second direction, said second direction being at least substantially opposite said first direction, said first pair of arm portions having oppositely-directed said clamping surfaces defining a cable-receiving aperture therebetween and having two second surfaces, which comprise said corresponding face portions, for urging said clamping surfaces towards one another to engage the outer surface of a said cable received in said cable-receiving aperture, whereby said cable is gripped in said cable-receiving aperture, said second pair of arm portions defining a second aperture therebetween.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said second aperture is a second cable-receiving aperture and said second arm portions comprise third surfaces, which comprise further corresponding face portions for urging said second arm portions to engage the outer surface of a cable received in said second cable-receiving aperture.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cable-receiving apertures are of different size.

13. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10-12 wherein the body defines a cable-receiving channel having an axis, and the recess is disposed normal to said channel axis.

14. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5-13 wherein the clamping surfaces of the resilient member are formed by rib portions projecting inwardly from the arm portions for engaging an inserted cable over a reduced area whereby the grip on the cable is increased.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5-14, wherein the resilient member has a V-shaped cut out portion extending from a cable-receiving aperture thereof whereby the flexibility of the arm portions is increased.

16. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5-14, wherein the resilient member further comprises means for identifying the dimensions of the cable-receiving aperture.

17. A connection unit comprising an assembly as claimed in any of claims 1-16 wherein the cable is an electrical cable.

18. A clamping element comprising a resilient member comprising two arm portions, each arm portion having a respective clamping surface, said clamping surfaces defining a cable-receiving aperture therebetween, said member further comprising two second surfaces, which comprise said corresponding face portions for urging said clamping surfaces towards one another, whereby a said cable received in said cable-receiving aperture is gripped in said aperture.

19. A clamping element as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of said two arm portions has a finger portion depending from a distal end thereof, and said finger portions comprise the second surface.

20. A clamping element as claimed in claim 19 wherein said arm portions comprise said second surfaces.

21. A clamping element comprising a resilient member having a body portion, a first pair of arm portions and a second pair of arm portions, said first pair of arm portions extending from said body portion in a first direction and said second pair of arm portions extending from said body portion in a second direction, said second direction being at least substantially opposite said first direction, said first pair of arm portions having oppositely-directed first surfaces defining a first cable-receiving aperture therebetween and having two second surface portions for urging said first surface portions to engage the outer surface of a cable received in said first cable-receiving aperture, said second pair cf arm portions defining a second aperture therebetween.

22. A clamping element as claimed in claim 21 wherein said second pair of arm portions comprise third surfaces for urging said second pair of arm portions towards one another whereby the size of the second aperture is reduced and the size of the first cable-receiving aperture is increased.

23. A clamping element as claimed in claim 22 wherein said second aperture is a second cable-receiving aperture, and said first and second apertures are of different size.

24. A clamping element as claimed in any one of claims 18-23 wherein the clamping surfaces of the resilient member are formed by rib portions projecting inwardly from the arm portions for engaging an inserted cable over a reduced area whereby the grip of the cable is increased.

25. A clamping element as claimed in any one of claims 18-24 wherein the resilient member has a V-shaped cut out portion extending from a cable-receiving aperture thereof whereby the flexibility of the arm portions is increased.

26. A clamping element as claimed in any one of claims 15-25 wherein the resilient member further comprises means for identifying the dimensions of the cable-receiving aperture.

27. An assembly for clamping a cable relative to a body constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

28. A resilient member constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.