US2676376A - Cable grip - Google Patents

Description

0.} L. KELLEMS 2,676,376

'CABLE GRIP April 27, 1954 Filed May 25, 1951 IN V EN TOR. DAV/p L. ffELLEMS BY A/ZQQLW HZ'TORNEYS Patented Apr. 27, 1954 CABLE GRIP David L. Kellems, Mystic, Conn., Kellems Company, Stonington,

assignor to Conn., a partnership consisting of Vivien Kellemsand David L. Kellems Application May 25, 1951, Serial No. 228,222

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cable gripping devices for articles and more particularly to the draft ends of such devices for enabling the same with an article gripped therein to be attached to a supporting means such as an insulator, hook and the like. I

The primary object of the invention is to provide the draft end of a cable gripping device with an improved means for attaching the grip to a support,

A further object of the invention is to provide a. cable gripping device-with a universally adaptable open bale which may be threaded through, attached to, or hung upon, various types of supp rts.

Other objects of the invention, as well as the advantages thereof, will become apparent after a perusal of the following description, when read in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top view of the draft or upper end of a grip constructed in accordance with the invention and showing it mounted on a cable; Fig. 2 is a top view, partly in section, showing the manner in which the draft end of the grip is attached to a round insulator; Fig. 3 is a side view showing the manner in which the draft end of the grip is attached to a closed insulator which is more commonly known as a house knob; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the sliding member in the draft end of the grip.

In the drawings, the reference numeral I indicates generally the body of the grip which may be a wedge, clamp or other suitable device for firmly gripping the cable II. The particular grip body I 0 shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing is composed of a plurality of wire strands interlaced or interwoven to form an open mesh structure adapted to be placed in surrounding gripping relation with an article and having any suitable form. Some examples of the forms in which the woven or mesh grip body I0 may be made are illustrated in the E. E. Kellems Patent No. 2,017,625, issued October 15, 1935. Whatever the type of grip body I0 used in the grip, there is secured to its draft end at least two groups or branches composed of a number of wire strands which preferably are woven into rope form. In the grip body I 0 illustrated, the wire strands which go to make up such body, extend beyond the latter and are divided into two branches I2, I2 each containing a like number of strands. The strands in each group or branch are connected together adjacent the grip body by means of a ferrule I2 and from thence on are twisted n bar I4 on the latter. Intermediate the holes upon eachother intorope form. The length of the branches I2 is substantially greater than they length of the mesh body I0 and such length is determined by the use to which the grip is to be put. At the outer end of each branch I2 is a lug I5 preferably made of a short length of heavy walled tubular material and secured to the wire ends of such branch by swaging.

The branches I2 of the grip are threaded through the outer holes I3 of a sliding bar I 4. The holes I3 are slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the rope shaped branches I2 but have a diameter less than that of the lugs I5. Thus the bar I4 is readily slidable along the lengths of the branches I2, but is locked or secured on such. branches by the lugs I5. The holes I3 are preferably peened or countersunk so as to present rounded edges to the branches I2, thus facilitating the sliding movement of the I3, the bar I4 is provided with an elongated slot composed of an enlarged central portion. I6 and end portions II, II. The central portion of the slot or center hole I 6 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the lugs I 5 so that the latter may be readily threaded therethrough. The end portions of the slot or notches I1, I! have a width less than the diameter of the lugs I 5, but greater than the diameterof the branches I2 so that the branches can be readily inserted into such notches;

in a sidewise direction, but cannot be pulled lengthwise therethrough in one direction when the lugs I5, I5 abut against the inner surface of the sliding bar I4 as shown in Figs. 1-3'01' the drawings.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that in the use of the device, the bale thereof is fastened to a support by wrapping or threading the portions of the branches I2 beyond the sliding bar I 4 around or through the support and returning such branches to the sliding bar I 4, when the lugs I5 are inserted through the central hole I6 of such bar and the adjacent ends of the branches then pushed or latched sideways into the notches I'I, I1 as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thus when the grip is to be attached to an insulator I9 such as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the portions of the strands I2 beyond the sliding bar I4 are turned around in the groove I8 of such insulator in opposite directions and then the lugs I5 inserted through the hole I6 and the branches I2 inserted in the notches as previously explained. Usually the sliding bar I4 is held away from the support until the branches have been wrapped around or through the holding device or support and the branches secured to the plate 14 in the manner aforesaid, and then cinched up tight against the support by pulling on the branches 12. With the sliding bar thus cinched up against the insulator 19, it will enter into and be firmly held in the grooves l8, thus locking the looped end of the grip bale toth'e insulator. The end portions of the branches l2 will be securely locked in the notches ll of the bar 14 because of the resilient or spring action of the wires in such strands. Insulators such as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings are usually held on a rack or bar andare-thus closed so that an ordinary eye cannot be placed over the insulator. With the instant "construction however, the open ends of the strands with the small size of the lugs 15 attached thereto make it possible to readily secure the grip to an insulator so mounted.

The facility with which the instant device may be attached to closed openings is illustrated in Fig. 3'01 the "drawings. In'the house knob type of insulator 21 there shot'vm'the plugs 15 are inserted through the opening 20 thereof in opposite directions and then :secured to the sliding bar .14 in the manner previously explained. The sliding bar .1 4 is th'enoin'chediup against the insulator to lock itini-thergrooveformed in the .forward end of the insulator, .asillustrated. With the sliding .bar grooves of :the insulator it or 21, it maintains the portionscoftthe'branches extending .therefrom to the grip body 10 .in separated relationship. Preferably .the holes l3, iii .in the sliding bar 14 are spaced-apart a :distance at least as great as the diameter of the grip "body so that the bar holds :such branch portions .in separated parallel relation or in diverging relation to the grip body. By thisarrangement'of the branches, the strains exerted on the grip body .are equally distributed upon thetstrands throughout the area of the grip body affording a more positive 'and firmer grip of :the body 10 .upon the cable or other article gripped thereby, and minimizing. any possible cutting action 'of the strands at the draft end or shoulders of the. gripbody IU Qn-the articIe being gripped. In this latter connection. such cutting-action-is substantially eliminatedif the sliding bar "M is so constructed that the portions of'rbranche's I2 leadingfrom such bart'o the grip J body are maintained in diverging relation relative to the latter.

=While I have illustrated and hereinabove described aipre'ferredembodimentof my invention,

:14 thus .firmly latched in the it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a gripping device of the character described, 6a body portion ada pted to be placed in gripping relationon an article to :be held, a plurality of elongated flexible members connected to said body portion and extending therefrom in spaced relation, the outer free ends of said flexible members being provided with locking means, and a member slidably connected to said flexible members between-said body portion and said locking means, .said member including a plurality of spaced openingsthrough which said flexible members extend and .a slot intermediate said openings, said slot having an enlarged portion through which :said locking means may be inserted and having a reduced portion adapted to receive a flexible member but :to.prevent-thezpassage therethrough of the locking means in the free end of such flexible member.

2. Ina gripping device of the character described, a body portion adapted .to be'placed in gripping relation on an article to be held, iaiplurality of elongated flexiblemembers connected to said body portion and extending therefrom in spaced relation, a lug provided on the free end of each of said flexible members, and a member slidably connected to said flexible members between said body'portion and said lugs, said member including a plurality of :spaced openings through which said .iiexible members extend and a slot intermediate said openings, said slot having an enlarged central .portion through which said lugs may be inserted and having reduced end portions of a width to readily receive said flexible members, but .to prevent the passage therethrough of the lugs on the free ends of said members.

References Cited in the file :of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 642,214 "Enright Jan. 30, 1900 1,413,818 Wilkinson Apr/2'5, 1922 1,521,619 Haas Jan. 6, 1925 2,330,538 Allen -'Sept..2'8, 1943 2,463,116 Lewis Mar. 1, .1949 2,510,186 Marsico June 6, .1950 2,551,803 Leonard May .8, 1951 2,560,418 'Di Palma July 10, I951

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