Abstract:
A device for electrically grounding bundled cables includes a first half component having an outer surface portion and an abutting surface portion, and a second half component having an outer surface portion and an abutting surface portion. The outer surface portion of the first half component and the outer surface portion of the second half component each define at least one groove longitudinally extending therealong for accommodating one of a plurality of cables held closely together in a bundled configuration. The abutting surface portion of the first half component and the abutting surface portion of the second half component are configured for engaging and cooperating with one another to form a grounding structure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to electrical grounding equipment, and more particularly to a device for electrically grounding cables held closely together in a bundled configuration. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Individual cables in a bundled configuration must be grounded mid-span in certain applications. Such applications include, for example, a bundled cable employed in an antenna system. In order to ground a bundled cable configuration mid-span between the ends of the bundled cable, the outer jacket of the bundled configuration must be stripped a predetermined length for access to the individual cables. The outer jackets of each of the individual cables must then be stripped in order to expose the outer conductors of the cables for contact with a grounding structure. The exposed conductors of the individual cables must then each be grounded. Because each of the individual cables are independent of and can have limited movement relative to each other, it is difficult to ensure that all of the individual cables are simultaneously maintained in contact with a grounding structure. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention a grounding device which overcomes the drawbacks and disadvantages associated with prior mid-span grounding structures for a bundled cable configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an aspect of the present invention, a device for electrically grounding bundled cables includes a first half component having an outer surface portion and an abutting surface portion, and a second half component having an outer surface portion and an abutting surface portion. The outer surface portion of the first half component and the outer surface portion of the second half component each define at least one groove longitudinally extending therealong for accommodating one of a plurality of cables held closely together in a bundled configuration. The abutting surface portion of the first half component and the abutting surface portion of the second half component are configured for engaging one another such that the first half component and the second half component cooperate to form a grounding structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an end view of a disassembled grounding device embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of the grounding device of  FIG. 1  in an assembled state. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of grounding device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a component of the grounding device taken along the lines B-B of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of another component of the grounding device taken along the lines A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , a device for electrically grounding individual cables forming a bundled cable is generally designated by the reference number  10 . The device  10  is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a first half component  12  and a second half component  14  made of an electrically conductive material. 
     The first half component  12  is preferably generally semi-cylindrical in shape and has a generally semi-cylindrical outer surface portion  16  and a generally flat or planar abutting surface portion  18 . The outer surface portion  16  defines a plurality of grooves  20  for receiving individual cables of a bundled cable. The grooves  20  are generally evenly spaced from one another by lands  22  and longitudinally extend from a first longitudinal end  24  to a second longitudinal end  26  of the first half component  12 . Portions of the outer surface  16  which do not define the grooves  20  form the lands  22  such that each of the lands separates adjacent grooves. 
     More specifically and as shown in the figures, the first half component  12  defines four grooves  20   a,    20   b,    20   c,    20   d  and five lands  22   a,    22   b,    22   c,    22   d,    22   e.  The groove  20   a  is disposed between the lands  22   a,    22   b.  The groove  20   b  is disposed between the lands  22   b,    22   c.  The groove  20   c  is disposed between the lands  22   c,    22   d.  The groove  20   d  is disposed between the lands  22   d,    22   e.  Although four grooves  20  are shown, the first half component  12  can define a fewer or a greater number of grooves. Moreover, the grooves  20  each are generally U-shaped in cross-section, but can take other practical shapes for receiving individual cables without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Likewise, the second half component  14  is preferably generally semi-cylindrical in shape and has a generally semi-cylindrical outer surface portion  28  and a generally flat or planar abutting surface portion  29 . The outer surface portion  28  defines a plurality of grooves  30  for receiving individual cables of a bundled cable. The grooves  30  are generally evenly spaced from one another by lands  32  and longitudinally extend from a first longitudinal end  34  to a second longitudinal end  36  of the second half component  14 . Portions of the outer surface  28  which do not define the grooves  30  form the lands  32  such that each of the lands separates adjacent grooves. 
     More specifically and as shown in the figures, the second half component  14  defines four grooves  30   a,    30   b,    30   c,    30   d  and five lands  32   a,    32   b,    32   c,    32   d,    32   e.  The groove  30   a  is disposed between the lands  32   a,    32   b.  The groove  30   b  is disposed between the lands  32   b,    32   c.  The groove  30   c  is disposed between the lands  32   c,    32   d.  The groove  30   d  is disposed between the lands  32   d,    32   e.  Although four grooves  30  are shown, the second half component  14  can define a fewer or a greater number of grooves. Moreover, the grooves  30  each are generally U-shaped in cross-section, but can take other practical shapes for receiving individual cables without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The abutting surface portion  18  of the first half component  12  defines a first channel  38  longitudinally extending from the first longitudinal end  24  to the second longitudinal end  26  of the first half component. Similarly, the abutting surface portion  29  of the second half component  14  defines a second channel  40  longitudinally extending from the first longitudinal end  34  to the second longitudinal end  36  of the second half component. When the abutting surface portion  18  of the first half component  12  is in contact with the abutting surface portion  29  of the second half component  14 , the first and second channels  38 ,  40  are longitudinally aligned and cooperate with one another to define a central bore  42  for receiving a central cable of a bundled cable. 
     Moreover, the abutting surface portion  18  of the first half component  12  defines a projection  44  extending outwardly from the abutting surface portion  18 . The abutting surface portion  29  of the second half component  14  defines a hole  46  extending inwardly from the abutting surface portion  29 . When the abutting surface portion  18  of the first half component  12  is in contact with the abutting surface portion  29  of the second half component  14 , the projection  44  of the first half component  12  is received into the hole  46  of the second half component  14  in order to longitudinally align and loosely secure the first and second half components together. 
     The first half component  12  further defines a bore  48  extending from the first longitudinal end  24  to the second longitudinal end  26  of the first half component for receiving a grounding wire. The first half component  12  preferably also defines at least one threaded hole extending from one of the lands  22  to the bore  48  for receiving a screw to press against and thereby hold in place a grounding wire received in the bore. Three threaded holes  50  extend from the land  22  to the bore  48 . Although the first half component  12  defines three threaded holes  50 , the first half component can define a greater or fewer number of threaded holes without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The lands  22  of the first half component  12  each preferably define a slot  52  circumferentially extending therealong from a first side  54  to a second side  56 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the lands  22  defines a first slot  52   a  circumferentially extending therealong adjacent to the first longitudinal end  24 , and a second slot  52   b  circumferentially extending therealong adjacent to the second longitudinal end  26 . 
     Similarly, the lands  32  of the second half component  14  each preferably define a slot  58  circumferentially extending therealong. Each of the lands  32  defines a first slot  58   a  circumferentially extending therealong adjacent to the first longitudinal end  34 , and a second slot  58   b  circumferentially extending therealong adjacent to the second longitudinal end  36 . 
     When the first half component  12  is engaged with the second half component  14 , the first slots  52   a  of the first half component  12  are circumferentially aligned with the first slots  58   a  of the second half component  14 . The aligned first slots  52   a,    58   a  permit an elongated binding member  60   a  such as, but not limited to, a strap, tie wrap or the like to be received therein for securing together the first and second half components  12 ,  14 , and for spanning over the grooves  20 ,  30  and thereby securing therein cables disposed in the grooves. Similarly, the second slots  52   b  of the first half component  12  are circumferentially aligned with the second slots  58   b  of the second half component  14 . The aligned second slots  52   b,    58   b  permit another elongated binding member  60   b  to be received therein for securing together the first and second half components  12 ,  14 , and for spanning over the grooves  20 ,  30 . 
     In operation, an outer jacket of a bundled cable (not shown) is partially stripped between its ends in order to access individual cables therein to be grounded. The outer jackets of the individual cables are each then partially stripped along a predetermined length thereof to expose the outer conductors of the cables for grounding contact with the device  10  which can accommodate nine individual cables. Four cables are respectively received in the grooves  20   a,    20   b,    20   c,    20   d  of the first half component  12  such that the exposed outer conductors of the cables are in contact with the outer surface portion  16  defining the grooves. Likewise, an additional four cables are respectively received in the grooves  30   a,    30   b,    30   c,    30   d  of the second half component  14  such that the exposed outer conductors of the cables are in contact with the outer surface portion  28  defining the grooves. Finally, a ninth cable is placed within the central bore  42  formed from the first channel  38  of the first half component  12  and the second channel  40  of the second half component  14 . The grooves  20 ,  30  and the central bore  42  are preferably sized to snugly and frictionally contact the outer conductors of the cables disposed therein. 
     A grounding wire is received in the bore  48 . Screws are then threaded into the three threaded holes  50  such that the tips of the screws pass against and hold in place the grounding wire in the bore  48 . An elongated binding member  60   a  such as a strap, tie wrap or the like is then received onto the first slots  52   a  of the first half component  12  and the first slots  58   a  of the second half component  14  for securing together the first and second half components and for spanning the grooves  20 ,  30  to secure therein cables disposed in the grooves. Likewise, another elongated binding member  60   b  is received onto the second slots  52   b  of the first half component  12  and the second slots  58   b  of the second half component  14  for securing together the first and second half components and for spanning the grooves  20 ,  30  to secure therein cables disposed in the grooves. As a result, the outer conductors are securely grounded by means of being electrically coupled to the grounding wire via the electrically conductive first and second half components  12 ,  14 . 
     As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, numerous modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiment of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the preceding portion of this specification is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to a limiting sense.