GB2466919A

GB2466919A - Cable retention clip

Info

Publication number: GB2466919A
Application number: GB0819235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Danny Thijs; Heidi Bleus; Ruth Vandoren; Jonathan Van Outryve
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA
Current assignee: Commscope Connectivity Belgium BVBA
Priority date: 2008-10-21
Filing date: 2008-10-21
Publication date: 2010-07-14
Also published as: GB0819235D0

Abstract

A cable retention clip 10 for holding a plurality of cables together comprises an array of open sided cable guide members 14 and a movable closure member 16 disposed around the cable guide members for retaining one or more cables when present therein. The closure member includes an opening 30 with a width sufficient to permit a length of cable to pass transversely through the opening into a selected guide member when the two are aligned and to prevent inadvertent removal of a cable when the opening is positioned in a closed position between adjacent guide members. The cable guide members may be circumferentially spaced in an annular array, and the closure member may comprise an annular member rotatably mounted around the outer periphery of the array. The annular member may be mounted between a pair of axial end plates 18, 20. Alternatively, the annular member (16', Fig. 5) may be connected to the cable guide members (14') by a snap-fit connection.

Description

CABLE RETENTION CLIP

This invention relates to a cable retention clip for holding electrical or optical cables together in equipment with which the cables are operatively associated, for example a telecommunications patch panel.

Flexible cable ties and/or Velcro (RTM) straps are often used for securing cables together in associated equipment, but these items can be inconvenient and time consuming to install, and reconfigure and/or remove once installed particularly when more than two or three cables are to be secured together in close proximity to one another. This may be the case, for example, in known telecommunications patch panels, especially in high density patch panels having perhaps twelve or twenty four closely spaced connection jacks, individually connected to respective electrical or optical cables.

There is a requirement for improved cable management arrangements, particularly in high density telecommunication patch panels, frames and cabinets.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a cable retention clip for holding a plurality of cables together, the clip comprising an array of open sided cable guide members and a movable closure member disposed around the cable guide members for retaining cable(s) when present therein, the closure member having an opening the width of which is sufficient to permit a length of cable to pass transversely through the opening into a selected one of the said guide members when the said opening and the open side of the selected guide member are aligned in registration and to prevent inadvertent removal of cable(s) from the respective guide members when the said opening is positioned in a closed position-between adjacent guide members.

The cable retention clip according the above aspect of the present invention readily provides a convenient means by which a plurality of electrical or optical cables may be held together. One or more cables may be sequentially inserted in a selected guide member or members. Once a cable has been inserted the closure member can be moved to close the open side of the guide member and so prevent displacement of the inserted cable. Additional cables may be inserted in the other cable guide members of the retention clip in a similar way to group a selected number of cables together for effective cable management, particularly in confined spaces such as in high density telecommunications:Patch panels and associated equipment. Once installed selected cable or cables may be readily removed from the clip. This is particularly advantageous when it is desired to reconfigure cable distribution in a confined space such asa high density patch panel.

In preferred embodiments the cable guide members are circumferentially spaced in and annular array and the closure member comprises an annular member rotafably mounted around the outer periphery of the array. In this way the annular closure member may be conveniently rotated with the fixed part comprising the cable guide members being held by the installer while the annular closure member is moved to a position where the opening is aligned with the open side of a selected one the guide members so that a cable may be readily inserted in that guide member. Once the selected cable has been inserted the closure member can be turned to move the opening away from that guide member.

Preferably the cable guide members are connected together in a central core support element. The cable guide members may be integrally formed in a central core support element. For example, the central support element may comprise an integrally moulded component, preferably a moulded plastics component or an elastomeric component. An elastomeric material may be preferred where the cable retention clip is intended to be used for a wide range of cable diameters. Other resilient materials are also envisaged particularly flexible or semi rigid plastics material. In preferred environments however, the cable guide members have a degree of inherent resilience * due to their open-sided structure which in certain embodiments may provide a snap-fit connection for engagement of the inserted cables.

In a preferred embodiment the annular member is rotatably mounted on the core support element. In this way the annular closure member may be provided with engagement means for inter-engagement with corresponding features on the core support element.

In one preferred embodiment the central core support element includes a plurality of radially extending elements disposed between the respective cable guide members and the annular closure member is rotatably mounted on the radially extending elements of the core support. This particular arrangement provides for a simple two-piece retention clip.

In another preferred embodiment the annular closure member is rotatably mounted between a pair of axial end plates at opposite ends of the core support element.

Preferably, radially extending arms on each of the axial end plates are provided with respective closure member engagement means, preferably in the form of a stepped surface at the radially outer periphery of the arms to provide a spigot type location feature for retaining the annular closure member at both axial ends of the clip between the axial end plates. * In preferred embodiments the axial end plates are connected together in fixed relation to the central core element by connection means, for example; a pin or similar fastener, or snap-fit connection means provided on the respective pads.

In preferred embodiments the annular closure member comprises. a generally cylindrical element having a circumferential gap which defines the opening of the closure member. Thus, the closure member may be in the form of a split-ring with the size of the gap being determined by design considerations such as the number and spacing of the respective cable guide members and the required stiffness/resilience of the closure member.

* , In preferred embodiments the axial dimension of the annular member is substantially the same as the axial dimension of the cable guide members. In this was the closure member will extend along and cover the, whole of the open side of the respective guide members. The axial length of the closure member, and the retention clip as a whole, is to some extent determined by the requirement to provide a retention clip which is sufficiently robust to retain an appropriate number of cables in the clip and the ability of the clip to be easily and readily manipulated by hand'.

In preferred embodiments the cable guide members are sized to accommodate cables having a diameter in the range 2-15mm, preferably 5-9mm, most preferably 5.2- 8.9mm. The, cable retention clip of the present invention is therefore particularly suitable for use in most telecommunications patch panel arrangements. However, the present invention contemplates both larger and smaller embodiments for the management of cables having diameters outside the above mentioned preferred ranges. * In preferred embodiments the' array of cable guide members comprises 2-24 cable guide members, preferably 6 cables or multiples thereof. Embodiments having 6 cable guide members or multiples thereof are particularly suitable for use in telecommunications patch panel arrangements. * * 4 Preferably the cable retention clip of the present invention further comprises connection means for connecting adjacent cable retention clips of the present.

invention together, preferably in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the clip or the inserted cable. The ability to connect adjacent cable clips together may be advantageous in high density cable environments such as telecommunications patch panels, frames and cabinets where it may be desirable to group a large number of selected cables together, greater than would otherwise be possible to secure together in a single clip.

1.0 In preferred embodiments the radially outward facing surface of the annular closure member is provided with surface formations so that the annular member may be readily manipulated to rotate the closure member about the longitudinal axis of the clip.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a cable retention clip according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled cable retention clip of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cable retention clip of Figures 1 and 2 with a plurality of lengths of ccible inserted in and held together by the clip; Figures 4a-4f show sequentially the procedure in which lengths of cable are added to the clip; Figure 5 is an exploded view of a cable retention clip according to a second embodiment of the present invention; . Figure 6 is a perspective view of the assembled cable retention clip shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the cable retention clip of Figures 5 and 6 with a plurality of lengths of cable inserted in and held together by the clip; Figure 8a-8f shows sequentially the procedure in which lengths of cable are added to the clip; Referring to Figure 1 a cable retention clip 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a central core support element 12 having an array of cable guide members 14, an annular closure member 16, a pair of opposing axial end plate members 18 and 20 and fastening means in the form of a threaded pin 24 and nut 26 for securing the aforementioned parts together as shown in the assembled view of the clip in Figure 2. The central core support element 12, closure member 16 and end plates 18 and 20 are coaxially mounted along the axis of the pin with the central core element 12 being fixed between the respective end plates 18 and 20 and the annular closure member 16 being disposed around the radially outer perimeter of the central core support element and axially retained by the respective end plates 18 and 20.

The central core support element 12 comprises a plurality of cable guide members 14 which are in the form of open sided part cylindrical tubular elements, the open sides of which face radially outwards towards the radially inward facing surface of the annular closure member 16 when in the assembled configuration of the clip as shown in Figure 2. The open sided tubular guide members 14 are circumferentially spaced in an annular array and are connected together at a hollow central hub part 28 through which the pin 24 passes when the component parts are assembled together. The cable guide members 14 are connected to the hub by respective radial projections 29 equally spaced around the hub.

The annular closure member is in the form of a cylindrical split-ring having a circumferential gap 30. The inner diameter of the closure member 16 broadly corresponds with the notional outer diameter of the central core support element 12.

The radially outer surface of the annular closure member includes a series of axially extending circumferentially spaced projections 32 which provide a gripping surface for manual manipulation of the assembled clip in use. The central core support element 12 is fixed in relation to, and the annular closure member is held captive between, the respective end plates 18 and 20. The end plates are substantially identical having a generally circular shape with U-shape cut outs 34 circumferentially spaced around the rim of the circular plates so that the cut out regions 34 align with the corresponding open sided cable guide members 14 in the assembled configuration. Radial spokes 36 extend outwards from a central hub region 38 between the cut out regions 34 and terminate at a radially outermost stepped end. The steps 40 at the end of each of the radial spokes together define a spigot location feature for locating the annular closure member 16 coaxially around the central. core support element 12 as will be further explained below.

The hub 38 is in the form of a circular boss raised on both sides of the axial end plates.

On the side facing the central core support element the boss is provided with a variety of surface formations 42, which define engagement features for positively locating the central core support element between the respective end plates. The engagement features 42 prevent rotation of the central core support element 14 relative to the respective end plates when the component parts area assembled to form the clip. The spigot location features at. the outer circumference of the respective end plates provide for rotation of the annular closure member about the longitudinal axis of the clip with respect to the other components. The amount of frictional resistance to rotation of the closure member in the assembled clip will be dependent on factors such as clearance gaps, materials etc. and as such sufficient resistance may be provided to prevent inadvertent turning of the closure member in the assembled cable retention clip. Alternatively, latching means could be provided for holding the closure member 16 at different positions around the clip.

The width dimension of the circumferential gap 30 is sufficient to permit a length of cable to pass transversely through the opening provided by the gap into a selected one of the cable guide members 14 when the opening and the open side of the guide member are aligned in registration as shown in Figure 2. The gap 30 is also of a size to prevent inadvertent removal of a cable form one of the guide members when the gap is positioned in a closed position between adjacent guide members.

Embodiments of the present invention are envisaged for accommodating cables having a diameter in the range of approximately 5mm to approximately 7mm for smaller diameter cables and approximately 7mm to approximately 9mm for larger diameter cables. The cable guide members are sufficiently resilient to accommodate cables having a diameter greater than the width dimension of the open part of the tubular guide members. The resilience may be provided by the structural configuration of the central core support element 12, and the guide members in particular, as well as a structural configuration and/or materials. In the illustrated embodiment, six cable * guide members are provided and therefore the cable retention may accommodate up to six cables as shown schematically in Figure 3.

Each cable is added or removed from a selected one of the cable guide members in a sequential manner as shown in Figures 4a to 4f. In Figure 4a a first cable 44a to be inserted in the cable retention clip 12 is positioned adjacent to a selected one of the cable guide members. In Figure 4b the selected cable guide member of the clip is * opened by turning the annular closure member 16 to a position where the gap 30 is aligned in registration with the open side of the selected cable guide member to permit the length of cable 44a to pass transversely, with respect to it's length, through the opening in the annular member into the selected guide member as shown in Figure 4c. The closure member is then turned so that the opening 30 is aligned in registration with the opening to the next adjacent cable guide member for receiving a second cable 44b as shown in Figure 4d. In this position it will be seen that the cable guide member holding the first to be inserted cable 44a is now closed by the closure member to prevent inadvertent removal and/or displacement of the cable in the clip. The process of adding further cables is repeated as shown in Figure 4e until all six of the cable guide members accommodate a respective cable. In the position of Figure 41 the annular closure member 32 is turned so that the opening 30 is positioned in a closed position between adjacent guide members, that it to say an angular position corresponding to one of the radigl projections 36 between adjacent guide members 14.

Referring now to Figures 5 -7 which show a second embodiment of a cable retention clip of the present invention. The cable retention clip 10' of the second embodiment comprises only two parts including a central core support element 12' and an annular closure member 16'. In the second embodiment the two relatively rotatable components are provided with interengaging snap-fit connection means for connecting the two components to form the assembled clip as shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment a plurality of cable guide members 14', six in this example, are circumferentially spaced around the outer periphery of the central core support element 12' as in the first embodiment, however, instead of there being a central hub 28 the cable guide members 14' are joined together by interlinking elements 50 towards the radially innermost part of the respective cable guide members. The series of radially projecting spokes 52 extend between adjacent guide members outwards from the interlinking elements50 so that for each cable guide member 14 there is an adjacent radially extending spoke member 52, alternative ones of which are provided with different snap-fit engagement members 54 and 56 for snap-fit engagement with a radially inwardly projecting circumferential band 58 provided on the radially inward facing surface of the annular closure member 16'.

As can be seen in the drawing of Figure 5 the snap-fit engagement members 54 are each provided with an angled surface 60, and an adjoining flat surface 62 in a plane orthogonal to the cylindrical axis of the central core element 12'. The angled surface enables the element 12' to be inserted into the interior region of the annular closure member 16' by causing the annular structure to deflect slightly as the angled surfaces of each alternate radial spoke element 52 pass over the stepped part of the inward facing surface of the closure member as the central core element is inserted. Once fully inserted in the interior of the annular closure member the central core support element is retained by engagement of the flat stepped surfaces 62 of each alternate radial spoke member with the stepped surface of the band 58 at one end thereof and further at the other end by engagement of the snap-fit engagement members 56 on the other radial spoke members with the other stepped surface of the band 58. By providing sufficient clearance between the band 58 and the confronting surfaces of the snap-fit engagement members 54 and 56 the two components 12' and 16' can be loosely fitted together to enable relative rotation of the closure member 16 with respect to the central core support element 12'.

Although various differences exist between the first and second embodiment the cable retention clips 10 and 10' function in substantially the same way and as such it will be seen that the drawings of Figures 8a to 8f showing the operation of cable clip according to the second embodiment correspond to the drawings of Figures 4a to 4f previously described. Thus, it can be seen that the present invention contemplates cable retention clips of different embodiments including the first embodiment where separate fastening means are provided for securing the components of the clip together and a second embodiment where a minimum of Iwo components are provided which are secured together by snap-fit engagement.