WO2020124098A1

WO2020124098A1 - A cable securing device

Info

Publication number: WO2020124098A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2019/050073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Thompson LIEBENBERG
Original assignee: Liebenberg Mark Thompson
Priority date: 2018-12-10
Filing date: 2019-12-10
Publication date: 2020-06-18
Also published as: ZA202103797B

Abstract

The cable securing device (10) includes an extension (12) which extends inwardly from a wall (14) of a housing (16) in a region of an aperture (18) defined in the wall (14), the extension (12) being shaped and configured to allow a cable (20) to be secured thereto, a closure member (22) for closing off the aperture (18), which closure member (22) is displaceable between an open condition wherein access to the aperture (18) is permitted, a closed condition wherein access to the aperture (18) is inhibited and a cable receiving condition wherein a first end region (24) of the closure member (22) closes off a space defined between the cable (20) and the wall (14) defining the aperture (18) and a mounting member in the form of a pair of elongate members (26.1) and (26.2) for allowing the closure member (22) to be mounted displaceably relative to the wall (14) of the housing (16) in a region of the aperture (18).

Description

A CABLE SECURING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a cable securing device. In particular, the invention relates to a cable securing device for securing a cable to a housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a cable securing device which includes: - an extension which extends inwardly from a wall of a housing in a region of an aperture defined in the wall, the extension being shaped and/or configured to allow a cable to be secured thereto; a closure member for closing off the aperture, which closure member is displaceable between an open condition wherein access to the aperture is permitted, a closed condition wherein access to the aperture is inhibited and a cable receiving condition wherein a first end region of the closure member closes off a space defined between the cable and a wall defining the aperture; and

a mounting member for allowing the closure member to be mounted displaceably relative to a wall of the housing in a region of the aperture.

The housing may be in the form of any suitable conventional box, preferably being a control box, which may be capable of housing any electronic and/or electrical components, cables or the like wherein, the cable may be connected to the electrical and/or electronic components in the housing. The cable may be in form of any conventional power supply and/or data cable. The housing may include a base, side walls extending from the base and a lid which may be pivotally connected to one of the side walls for closing the housing. The aperture may be defined in any one of the side walls of the housing. The extension may define a receiving surface which may be shaped and/or configured to receive the cable thereon in a seated condition. The receiving surface may be of generally arcuate form which may correspond generally to a curved outer surface of a cable. The extension may extend inwardly from the base and/or the side wall defining the aperture. Preferably, the extension may extend inwardly from the base towards a region where the side wall and the base meet, typically at a corner defined therebetween. The extension may be sized and/or positioned relative the side wall such that the receiving surface is flush with a rim of the aperture.

An opening may be defined in the base, preferably towards a region proximal to the extension, for receiving a securing member therethrough for securing the cable to the receiving surface of the extension. The securing member may be in the form of a flexible securing member, preferably being in the form of a suitable conventional cable tie. Preferably, a pair of openings may be defined towards either side region of the extension for receiving the flexible securing member therethrough and allowing the securing member to loop around the cable, typically during the seated condition and/or the cable receiving condition. In particular, the pair openings may extend through either side of the extension and the base, preferably extending from an outer wall of the base through to the receiving surface of the extension. Further, the openings may be spaced apart so as to flank the cable during the seated and/or cable receiving condition.

A recess may be defined in the outer wall of the base, the recess preferably being located in the region of the pair of openings extending therethrough. The recess may be sized, shaped and/or configured to inhibit tampering with the securing member in use.

The first end region of the closure member may be sized and/or shaped so as to complementally engage the receiving surface during the closed condition, preferably having a generally arcuate shape corresponding to the shape of the receiving surface of the extension. The closure member may include a frangible portion which may be located towards the first end region for allowing adjustment of the size and/or shape of an edge of the first end region so as to accommodate and allow complementary engagement with cables of various sizes. The closure member may be in the form of an elongate planar member which may have a length such that during an open condition, a portion of a second end region of the closure member extends beyond an edge of the side wall. The portion of the second end region of the closure member extending beyond the side wall may be configured to engage with the lid, preferably with a lip defined along a rim of the lid, such that when the lid is closed, the lid urges the closure member toward the closed condition or the cable receiving condition.

The mounting member may be in the form of a pair of elongate members which may be attached to an inner surface of the side wall defining the aperture, preferably being located towards opposing sides of the aperture and extending away from the extension. The elongate members may be shaped and/or configured so as to define a receiving zone therebetween for receiving the closure member displaceably therein, the elongate members preferably having a generally L-shaped cross-section. The receiving zone may be sized, shaped and/or configured to receive the closure member complementally therein and allow lay flat abutment between the closure member and the inner surface of the side wall when the closure member is received by the receiving zone.

Protrusions may protrude from longitudinal side regions, preferably longitudinal edges, of the closure member for tightening the fit with the elongate members when the closure member is displaced toward the closed or cable receiving conditions. Further, the closure member may have a generally tapered form, preferably tapering in thickness from the second end region towards the first end region, for facilitating wedging thereof in the receiving zone between the elongate members during the closed and/or cable receiving conditions. The housing may include a plurality of apertures each having a cable securing device mounted in the vicinity thereof for allowing a plurality of cables to lead into the housing and to be secured thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A cable securing device in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of the following, non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: -

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic of a cable securing device in accordance with the invention and in an open condition;

Figure 2 to 4 are side, front and three-dimensional views of a closure member, respectively;

Figures 5 and 6 are three-dimensional schematics of the cable securing device showing the closure member in different positions;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cable securing device shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a three-dimensional schematic of the cable securing device showing the closure member in a closed condition; and

Figures 9 and 10 are three-dimensional cross-section views of the cable securing device in an open condition and a cable receiving condition, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a cable securing device in accordance with the present invention. The cable securing device 10 includes an extension 12 which extends inwardly from a wall 14 of a housing 16 (shown in part only in the Figures) in a region of an aperture 18 defined in the wall 14, the extension 12 being shaped and configured to allow a cable 20 to be secured thereto, a closure member 22 for closing off the aperture 18, which closure member 22 is displaceable between an open condition (as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 7) wherein access to the aperture 18 is permitted, a closed condition (as shown in Figure 6) wherein access to the aperture 18 is inhibited and a cable receiving condition (as shown in Figure 8) wherein a first end region 24 of the closure member 22 closes off a space defined between the cable 20 and the wall 14 defining the aperture 18 and a mounting member in the form of a pair of elongate members 26.1 and 26.2 for allowing the closure member 22 to be mounted displaceably relative to the wall 14 of the housing 16 in a region of the aperture 18.

The housing 16 is in the form of a control box which is capable of housing electrical and electronic components (not shown) which are connected to the cable 20. The cable 20 can be in the form of a power supply or a data cable. The housing 16 includes a base 28, side walls 14, of which only one is shown in the Figures, extending from the base 28 and a lid 30 which is pivotally connected to any one of the side walls 14 for closing the housing 16. The aperture 18 is defined in any one of the side walls 14 of the housing 16.

The extension 12 defines a receiving surface 32 which is shaped and configured to receive the cable 20 thereon in a seated condition (as shown in Figures 3,4, 5, 7 and 8). The receiving surface 32 is of generally arcuate form which corresponds generally to a curved outer surface of a cable 20. The extension 12 extends inwardly the housing 16 from the base 28 or the side wall 14 defining the aperture 18. Typically, the extension 12 extends inwardly the housing 16 from the base 28 towards a region where the side wall 14 and the base 28 meet, typically at a corner 34 defined therebetween. The extension 12 is sized and positioned relative the side wall 14 such that the receiving surface 32 is flush with a rim 36 of the aperture 18.

A pair of openings 38.1 and 38.2 are defined in the extension 12, typically arranged in a spaced-apart relationship so as to flank the cable 20 during the seated and cable receiving conditions for allowing a securing member in the form of a cable tie 40 to loop around the cable 20 and secure it to the extension 12. The pair of openings 38.1 and 38.2 extend from an outer wall 42 of the base 28 through to the receiving surface 32 of the extension 12.

A recess 44 is defined in the outer wall 42 of the base 28, the recess 44 typically being located in the region of the pair of openings 38.1 and 38.2 extending therethrough. The recess 44 is sized, shaped and configured to inhibit tampering with the cable tie 40 in use.

The first end region 24 of the closure member 22 is sized and shaped so as to complementally engage the receiving surface 32 during the closed condition, typically having a generally arcuate shape corresponding to the shape of the receiving surface 32 of the extension 12. The closure member 22 includes a frangible portion 46 (as shown in Figure 2b) which is located towards the first end region 24 for allowing adjustment of the size and shape of an edge 48 of the first end region 24 so as to accommodate and allow complementary engagement with cables 20 of various sizes. The closure member 22 is in the form of an elongate planar member 50 which has a length such that during an open condition, a portion of a second end region 52 of the closure member 22 extends beyond an edge 54 of the side wall 14. The portion of the second end region 52 of the closure member 22 extending beyond the side wall 14 is configured to engage with the lid 30, typically with a lip 56 defined along a rim 58 of the lid 30, such that when the lid 30 is closed, the lid 30 urges the closure member 22 toward the closed condition or the cable receiving condition.

The pair of elongate members 26.1 and 26.2 are attached to an inner surface 60 of the side wall 14 defining the aperture 18, typically being located towards opposing sides of the aperture and extending away from the extension 12. The elongate members 26.1 and 26.2 is shaped and configured so as to define a receiving zone 62 therebetween for receiving the closure member 22 displaceably therein, the elongate members 26.1 and 26.2 typically having a generally L-shaped cross-section. The receiving zone 62 is sized, shaped and configured to receive the closure member 22 complementally therein and allow lay flat abutment between the closure member 22 and the inner surface 60 of the side wall when the closure member 22 is received by the receiving zone 62.

Protrusions 64 protrude from longitudinal edges of the closure member 22 for tightening the fit with the elongate members 26.1 and 26.2 when the closure member 22 is displaced toward the closed or cable receiving conditions. Further, the closure member 22 has a generally tapered form, typically tapering in thickness from the second end region 52 towards the first end region 24, for facilitating wedging thereof in the receiving zone 62 between the elongate members 26.1 and 26.2 during the closed and cable receiving conditions.

The housing 16 includes a plurality of apertures (not shown) each having a cable securing device 10 mounted in the vicinity thereof for allowing a plurality of cables (not shown) to lead into the housing 16 and to be secured thereto.

Although only certain embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood by any person skilled in the art that other modifications, variations, and possibilities of the invention are possible. Such modifications, variations and possibilities are therefore to be considered as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and hence form part of the invention as herein described and/or exemplified. It is further to be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and is not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.

The inventor believes that the cable securing device in accordance with the present invention is advantageous in that it provides a simple way to secure a cable to a housing containing electrical and/or electronic components therein which inhibits tampering of and damage to the electrical and/or electronic components to which the cable is connected. In addition, the closure member of the cable securing device allows cables of various sizes to enter the housing and further closes off the aperture of the housing when the cable passes therethrough for inhibiting the ingress of fluids and other unwanted materials.

Claims

1. A cable securing device which includes: - an extension which extends inwardly from a wall of a housing in a region of an aperture defined in the wall, the extension being shaped and configured to allow a cable to be secured thereto;

a closure member for closing off the aperture, which closure member is displaceable between an open condition wherein access to the aperture is permitted, a closed condition wherein access to the aperture is inhibited and a cable receiving condition wherein a first end region of the closure member closes off a space defined between the cable and a wall defining the aperture; and a mounting member for allowing the closure member to be mounted displaceably relative to a wall of the housing in a region of the aperture.

2. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is in the form of any suitable conventional box which is capable of housing any electronic and electrical components, cables or the like wherein, the cable is connected to the electrical or electronic components in the housing.

3. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the box is a control box.

4. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the cable is in form of any conventional power supply or data cable.

5. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the housing includes a base, side walls extending from the base and a lid which is pivotally connected to one of the side walls for closing the housing.

6. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the aperture is defined in any one of the side walls of the housing.

7. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the extension defines a receiving surface which is shaped and configured to receive the cable thereon in a seated condition.

8. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the receiving surface is of generally arcuate form which corresponds generally to a curved outer surface of a cable.

9. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 8 wherein the extension extends inwardly from the base or the side wall defining the aperture.

10. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 9 wherein the extension extends inwardly from the base towards a region where the side wall and the base meet.

11. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 10 wherein the extension extends inwardly from the base towards a region where the side wall and the base meet at a corner defined therebetween.

12. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 11 wherein the extension is sized and positioned relative the side wall such that the receiving surface is flush with a rim of the aperture.

13. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 12 wherein an opening is defined in the base, for receiving a securing member therethrough for securing the cable to the receiving surface of the extension.

14. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the opening is defined in the base towards a region proximal to the extension, for receiving a securing member therethrough for securing the cable to the receiving surface of the extension.

15. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein the securing member is in the form of a flexible securing member,

16. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 13 to 15 wherein the securing member is in the form of a suitable conventional cable tie.

17. A cable securing device as claimed in claims 15 or 16 wherein a pair of openings is defined towards either side region of the extension for receiving the flexible securing member therethrough and allowing the securing member to loop around the cable during the seated condition and the cable receiving condition.

18. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pair openings extend through either side of the extension and the base.

19. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 17 or 18 wherein the pair openings extend from an outer wall of the base through to the receiving surface of the extension.

20. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 17 to 19 wherein the openings are spaced apart so as to flank the cable during the seated and cable receiving condition.

21. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 19 wherein a recess is defined in the outer wall of the base.

22. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the recess is located in the region of the pair of openings extending through the outer wall of the base.

23. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 21 or 22 wherein the recess is sized, shaped and configured to inhibit tampering with the securing member in use.

24. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 7 to 23 wherein the first end region of the closure member is sized and shaped so as to complementally engage the receiving surface during the closed condition.

25. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 7 to 24 wherein the first end region of the closure member has a generally arcuate shape corresponding to the shape of the receiving surface of the extension.

26. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the closure member includes a frangible portion which is located towards the first end region for allowing adjustment of the size and shape of an edge of the first end region so as to accommodate and allow complementary engagement with cables of various sizes.

27. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 26 wherein the closure member is in the form of an elongate planar member which has a length such that during an open condition, a portion of a second end region of the closure member extends beyond an edge of the side wall.

28. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 27 wherein the portion of the second end region of the closure member extending beyond the side wall is configured to engage with the lid, such that when the lid is closed, the lid urges the closure member toward the closed condition or the cable receiving condition.

29. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 28 wherein wherein a lip is defined along a rim of the lid such that when the lid is closed, the lid urges the closure member toward the closed condition or the cable receiving condition.

30. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 5 to 29 wherein the mounting member is in the form of a pair of elongate members which is attached to an inner surface of the side wall defining the aperture.

31. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 30 wherein the pair of elongate members is located towards opposing sides of the aperture and extending away from the extension.

32. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 30 or 31 wherein the elongate members are shaped and configured so as to define a receiving zone therebetween for receiving the closure member displaceably therein.

33. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 30 to 33 wherein the elongate members have a generally L-shaped cross-section.

34. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 32 or 33 wherein the receiving zone is sized, shaped and configured to receive the closure member complementally therein and allow lay flat abutment between the closure member and the inner surface of the side wall when the closure member is received by the receiving zone.

35. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein protrusions protrude from longitudinal side regions of the closure member for tightening the fit with the elongate members when the closure member is displaced toward the closed or cable receiving conditions.

36. A cable securing device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the protrusions are longitudinal edges.

37. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the closure member has a generally tapered form for facilitating wedging thereof in the receiving zone between the elongate members during the closed and cable receiving conditions.

38. A cable securing device as claimed in any one or more of claims 27 to 37 wherein the closure member tapers in thickness from the second end region towards the first end region, for facilitating wedging thereof in the receiving zone between the elongate members during the closed and cable receiving conditions.

39. A cable securing device, according to the invention, substantially as hereinbefore described or exemplified.

40. A cable securing device, as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

41. A cable securing device, including any new or inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described.