Abstract:
A utility holder which may be used to retain utility lines may include a holder having a first portion having at least two pairs of fingers defining at least two receiving sections wherein the receiving sections may be sized to accept utility lines; a second portion having a base wherein the pairs of fingers extend from the base with the longitudinal axes of the receiving sections being substantially parallel.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/169,136, entitled UTILITY HOLDER, filed Apr. 14, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    A. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses concerning installation of utility lines and more specifically relates to methods and apparatuses concerning holders for utility lines. 
         [0004]    B. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    It is well known to utilize clamping or holding devices to secure utility lines to structural surfaces of buildings or support members of a frame. The prior art holding devices include U-shaped clamps made from elastic sheet metal that are secured over positioned utility lines or cables, and in some instances “open-profile” devices that are secured to the support surface before accepting utility lines, but the most commonly used holding devices are common heavy duty staples. Even the more complicated prior art holding devices come only in predetermined configurations to hold a single utility line. It is often the situation where it is necessary to secure several parallel utility lines to the same surface. It is inefficient and more costly to install multiple individual holders to retain several utility lines. Additionally it requires more installation space to use multiple holders and space is often limited. 
         [0006]    Known attempted solutions to this problem include requiring the person installing utility lines to carry a variety of holders to match the number of utility lines or to combine individual holders to obtain a configuration that meets the installation requirements. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a utility holder that can be easily configured at the installation site to hold the required number of utility lines. The desired holder should be simpler to install and have lower installation costs than the known holders. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]    According to one embodiment of this invention, a utility holder assembly may comprise a holder comprising a first portion having at least two pairs of fingers defining at least two receiving sections wherein the receiving sections may be sized to accept utility lines and a second portion having a base wherein the pairs of fingers extend from the base with the longitudinal axes of the receiving sections being substantially parallel. 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment of this invention, a utility holder array may comprise a first holder comprising: a first portion having at least two pairs of fingers defining at least two receiving sections wherein the receiving sections may be sized to accept utility lines; a second holder substantially similar to the first holder including the first portion; and, a base wherein the fingers of the first and second holders extend in a substantially perpendicular manner from the base, additionally the longitudinal axes of the first holder and second holder receiving sections are aligned in substantially a straight line. 
         [0010]    According to yet another embodiment of this invention, a method may comprise the steps of: (A) providing a holder comprising: (1) a first portion having at least two pairs of fingers defining at least two receiving sections wherein the receiving sections may be sized to accept utility lines; and, (2) a second portion having a base wherein the pairs of fingers extend from the base with the longitudinal axes of the receiving sections being substantially parallel; (B) providing a second holder substantially similar to first holder including the first and second portions; (C) attaching the base of the first holder to a structure; (D) attaching the base of the second holder to a structure such that longitudinal axis of the first receiving section of the first holder and the longitudinal axis of the first receiving section of the second holder align in substantially a straight line; (E) inserting a section of a first utility line into the first receiving section of the first holder; (F) inserting a second continuous section of the first utility line into the first receiving section in the second holder that lies in a substantially straight line from the first holder; (G) inserting a section of a second utility line into the second receiving section of the first holder; and, (H) inserting a second continuous section of the second utility line into the second receiving section in the second holder that lies in a substantially straight line from the first holder. 
         [0011]    One advantage of this invention is that a utility holder assembly can retain multiple utility lines within a single utility holder. 
         [0012]    Another advantage of this invention is that a utility holder assembly can easily be configured so that the holder&#39;s receiving sections matches the number of utility lines that must be retained. 
         [0013]    Yet another advantage of this invention is that a utility holder assembly used to retain multiple utility lines can be installed in a simple and economic manner. 
         [0014]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides stronger retention properties than known open-profile utility holders. 
         [0015]    Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a row of utility holders in accordance with a first embodiment 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an end view of the row of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top (or plan) view of the row of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the row of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a row of utilities holders in accordance with a second embodiment shown holding a variety of utility lines. 
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is an array of utility holders in accordance with a third embodiment. 
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a utility line installation including a number of the utility holders of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are perspective and side views, respectively, showing the shape of the utility holder&#39;s receiving sections according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b ,  9   c , and  9   d  are perspective, side, top, and operational views, respectively, of the utility holder according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components,  FIGS. 1-4  shows a row  10  of utility holders  12  in accordance with a first embodiment. The row  10  includes six holders  12 , but may include any desired number. Each utility holder  12  includes at least two pairs of fingers  14  extending from a base  16 . Each pair of fingers  14  defines at least one receiving section  18 . Each receiving section  18  is suitable to hold a utility line such as, but not limited to, a high or low voltage electrical cable, electrical conduit, plumbing supply or drain lines, HVAC lines, and the like. For example, some non limiting examples of acceptable cable include: traditional AC/MC cable (of various sizes, including but not limited to, 14-2, 12-2, and 14-3); non-metallic sheathed cable (“NM” cable of various sizes, including but not limited to, 14-2, 14-3, 14-4, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, 10-2, and 10-3); MC cable (including, but not limited to, MC-AP type in size 14-2, 14-3, 12-2, 12-3, and 10-2); any low voltage cable, including but not limited to, Category (“Cat”) 3, 4, 5 and 6 cable, RG6 (coaxial or “co-ax”) cable, speaker wire, fire alarm, and USB cables; and composite cables (including but not limited to, for example, varying combinations of Cat5e/Cat6+Coaxial+Fiber). The utility holders  12 , and their respective fingers  14  and receiving sections  18 , may be compliant with UL Standard 2239 in that they are capable of securely retaining an associated cable subjected to a fifty pound pullout for a five minute period. 
         [0027]    Each pair of fingers  14   FIGS. 1-4  is shown as defining two receiving sections  18 . It must be understood, however, that the holder  12  may include any suitable number of receiving sections defined by any suitable number of fingers or other receiving section defining elements. The two receiving sections  18  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  are two similar sized sections for receiving round electrical conduit, plumbing lines or other round lines. It must be understood, however, that the receiving sections  18  may be sized differently, as to accept lines of different size. Further, the fingers  14 , and in turn the receiving sections  18  defined by the fingers  14 , may be shaped differently, as to accept lines of different shapes (e.g. round 3 conductor NM cable and flat 2 conductor NM cable), or to impart additional structural integrity. As generally illustrated in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , the shape of the fingers  14 , and the receiving sections  18  defined by the fingers  14 , can be of varying configuration; instead of the round receiving sections  18  of  FIGS. 1-4 , the shape of receiving sections in other embodiments of the invention can be, by way of non-limiting examples shown in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , a substantially heart-shaped design designed to act as a barb that permits easy insertion while simultaneously providing stronger structural support properties and reducing the likelihood of unintentional utility line removal. Additionally, each receiving section  18  may be capable of receiving more than one cable, and the receiving sections  18  in a given row  10  of utility holders  12  may be of the same or different shape, number, and/or arrangement. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , the row  10  includes a plurality of holders  12 . The holders  12  may be integrally formed or formed separately and joined together. The holders  12  may be generally modular; that is to say that the holders  12  may be constructed with generally standardized units and dimensions from one holder  12  to the next, such that they are generally interchangeable. 
         [0029]    In one use of the holders  12 , the row  10  may be mounted to a portion of a structure, such as at a joist, wall, beam, post, etc, with the holders  12  together to receive and hold a plurality of utility lines. Alternatively, the holders  12  may be separated into any desired numbers of holders  12  at optional score or break lines  20 . The score lines  20  may be molded or cut into the bases  16  or provided in any other suitable manner. 
         [0030]    The bases  16  optionally include apertures  22  for the passage of fasteners, such as screws or nails, for mounting. The apertures  22  may be spaced to accommodate standard fasteners, such as the staples traditionally used by electricians. The row  10  also optionally includes pre-inserted fasteners, e.g. nails  24 . 
         [0031]    Upon installation, a utility line may be passed through or inserted into the receiving section  18 . Alternatively, the utility line may be pressed or snapped into the receiving section  18 . To this end, each finger  14  may include an optional tab  26  that serves to separate the pair of fingers  14  when pressure is applied to the tabs  26 . Thus, in one installation, a utility line may be pressed against the tabs  26  and then pressed into the receiving section  18 . In still other embodiments of the present invention, shown in  FIGS. 9   a - 9   d,  the fingers  14  may have notched channels  27  that permit the fingers to be releasably secured to one another (as shown in  FIG. 9   d ) so at to prevent the unintentional removal of the utility line. 
         [0032]    The utility holders  12  may be formed from metal, plastic or any other suitable material and may be made by molding, pressing, stamping, cutting and welding or any other suitable method. 
         [0033]    There is shown in  FIG. 5  a row  10  of utilities holders  12  in accordance with another embodiment. Similar items are numbered with the same identifiers. This embodiment is generally similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  except that the row  10  is shown holding a variety of utility lines  28  in a variety of orientations. 
         [0034]    There is shown in  FIG. 5  at  18   a ,  18   b  and  18   c  three receiving sections for receiving a variety of size lines, such as 2 conductor or 3 conductor wire of the same or different gauges, respectively, or for further example 14 gauge, 12 gauge and 10 gauge of the same or different number conductors, respectively. 
         [0035]    There is also, shown at A and B a utility line  28  in a vertical orientation A and a utility line  28  in a lateral orientation B. 
         [0036]    There is shown in  FIG. 6  a plurality of rows  10  of utilities holders  12  in accordance with yet another embodiment. Similar items are numbered with the same identifiers. This embodiment is generally similar to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-5  except that the rows  10  are joined together to form an array  30  with the fingers  14  shaped to hold a single flat line. The array  30  includes six rows  10  each with six holders  12 . The array  30  may however include any desired number of rows  10  or holders  12 . The array  30  may be integrally formed or formed from separate holder  12  and/or rows  10  and joined together. For use, the array  30  may be separated in to separate rows  10  at optional second score or break lines  32 . Each row  10  may then be mounted to a portion of a structure, such as at a joist, wall, beam, post, etc, with the holders  12  together to receive and hold a plurality of utility lines or alternatively, the holders  12  may then be separated into any desired numbers of holders  12  at the optional score or break lines  20 . The second score lines  32  may be molded or cut into the array  30  provided in any other suitable manner. 
         [0037]    There is shown in  FIG. 7  one example of a utility line installation including a number of the utility holders  12  of  FIG. 6 . Rows  10  and partial rows  10   a  and  10   b  have been secured to joists  34 . Utility lines  28  have been inserted into the holders  12 . 
         [0038]    Numerous embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.