US2485445A

US2485445A - Cable clamp

Info

Publication number: US2485445A
Application number: US620450A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hoffman Robert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-10-05
Filing date: 1945-10-05
Publication date: 1949-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1966-10-18

Description

oct. 1s, 1949.. R. HOF'FMAN 2,485,445

CABLE CLAMP I Filed 001'.. 5, 1945 l IN1/EN TOR. ROBERT HOFFMAN A 7' TORA/Eys Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATI-:s PATENT oFFlcE Robert Hoffman, San Francisco, Calif. Application october 5, 1945,"seria1No- 620,450

VThis invention relates to improvements in cable clamps.

The primary vobject of the invention resides in a cable clamp which effects a tight sure grip of the cable for the same operates on a clamping grip principle as distinguished from the conventional friction grip heretofore embodied in cable clamps.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a cable clamp in which the looped eye-forming end of a cable is securely held against accidental slipping, thus eliminating the danger of accidents caused by slipping when the cable is in use under the stress of a heavy load.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a cable clamp which is simple and inexpensive of construction, easy to assemble and apply to a cable for use, and which is not injurious to the cable to which it is applied in use.

Other novel features of the invention will ber come apparent as the following specification is read in conjunction' with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cable clamp in use upon a looped cable. p

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the cable omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the clamp with the clamping jaw section in swung open position.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral II) designates my improved cable clamp in its entirety which includes a pair of separable complementary jaw members II and I2 formed of metal forging.

The jaw member II is provided with spaced parallel gripping channels I3'--I3', on the inner side thereof, the inner face of the intermediate portion I4 being flat. Equidistantly spaced threaded holes I5, I5a and I5b are provided in the intermediate portion I4 and the same extend from the fiat inner face IIc to the exterior of the member II. The opposed sides IIa and IIb of the member I I are provided with spaced hinge knuckles I6 and II. The knuckles I6 and I1 are staggered relative to each other for reasons to be hereinafter explained.

The jaw member I2 is similar to the jaw member II with sides I2a and I2b and is provided with spaced parallel gripping channels IIl-I8' on the inner side thereof, the inner side of the intermediate portion I9 being flat. Spaced slots 20, a and Zb are provided in the intermediate portion I9 and extend from the flat inner face l2' 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-135) 2 to the exterior of the member I2. The outer ends 20 ofthe slots 20 flare outwardly as best illustrated in Figure 2. When the members I I and I2 are in assembled relation, the slots 20'respectively register with the threaded holes I5 while the gripping channels I3-I3' and I8-I8 are respectively opposed with the confronting flat surfaces of the intermediate portions I4 and I9 in spaced relation.

`The opposed sides of the jaw member I2 are provided with spaced hinge knuckles 2| and 22, the same being staggered relative to each other for respective interfitting relation `with the knuckles I'l and IB of the jaw member I I. Except for the threaded holes I5l and slots 20, the jaw members II and I2 are identical and in manufacture they may be cast from the same mold, there being no necessity of rights and lefts. The holes and slots may be formed after the molding operation.

When assembled for use as shown in Figure 4, the knuckles 2I of member I2 are intertted with the knuckles II of member II land a hinge pin 23 is inserted through the alined holes therein indicated at 23 in Figure 4, and the ends of the same headed or peened. The hngedly connected jaw members II and I2 may now be fitted about the `cable A and its looped end portion B, with the same respectively seated in the gripping channels I3-I3'. The jaw member I2 may now be swung to closed position over the member I I whereupon the cable A and portion B thereof also seat in the gripping channels I8-I8. The knuckles 22 and I6 now interiit and a locking pin 24 is inserted through the alined holes therein. The clamp I0 is now in locked position about the cable A and its looped end portion B and in order to draw the jaw members II and I2 into tight clamping engagement with the cable portions, headed screws 25 are inserted through the slots 2D and have their threaded Shanks screwed into the threaded holes I5. As the screws are turned by a wrench or pliers, the intermediate portions I4 and I9 are exed inwardly causing the gripping channels I3-I3 and I8-I8 to tightly embrace the cable A and cable portion B in such manner as to prevent accidental slippage between the cable and the clamp I0. For increasing the gripping action the walls of the gripping channels I3I3' and I8-I8 are provided with ribs 26 which are disposed at an angle relative to the length of the channels and which bite into the cable portions gripped thereby.

The pin 23 is closely fitted to the holes in the knuckles I6 and 22 so as not to accidentally slide therefrom when the clamp I0 is in use. The tension between the jaw members also acts to prevent accidental shifting of the pin 24.

Whereas Figure 1 shows the use of the clamp l0 for gripping the looped end of a cable to form an eye C, the same may be used in other instances where two lengths of cable are to be tightly gripped for effecting a connection therebetween. The gripping action set up by the clamp I0 does not crimp the -cable which is objectionable in the types of cable clamps now in use.

While I have shown and described what I oonsider to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes in construction, design, and materials as come within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A cable clamp comprising a pair of complementary clamping jaw members, each of said jaw members having spaced apart hinge knuckles along their side edges, the knuckles on one side being staggered relative to the knuckles on the othei side, said jaw members being arranged with the knuckles of one member interfltting with spaces adjacent those of the other member, so that the knuckles of the two members are aiined along each 80 edge, locking pins extending through the alined knuckles, each of the jaw members having a pair of spaced apart ribbed, inwardly facing cable gripping channels, the gripping channels of one member being opposed to those of the other member and registering therewith, the intermediate portions of the jaw-members between each pair of gripping channels being spaced apart, one of said portions having threaded openings and the other havingv holes alined with said openings, said holes being enlarged at their outer ends to form transverse slots', and screw means in said holes and openings for connecting the intermediate portions of the jaw members together and for flexibly drawing the channels and intermediate portions of the members toward each other to effect a clamping action between the jaw members and portions of cable disposed in the gripping channels.

ROBERT HOFFMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UN'I'I'ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 248,472 Johnson Oct. 18, 1881 626,223 Cramp June 6, 1899 895,397 Brazelle Aug. 4, 1908 1,388,692 Blacser Aug. 23, 1921 1,420,790 Varney June 27, 1922 1,767,432 Caulkins June 24, 1930 2,026,824 Cooper J an. 7, 1936 2,044,679 Frese June 16, 1936