HOOK APPARATUS FOR HANGING A CABLE AND THE LIKE

A hook apparatus for hanging a cable, extension cord box and the like is disclosed. The hook apparatus includes a shank and a bend portion. The bend portion extends from the shank. The shank includes a groove. The groove extends the entire length of the shank. The groove includes a first threaded portion, a second threaded portion and a third threaded portion. The first threaded portion has a larger diameter than the second threaded portion. The second threaded portion has a larger diameter than the third threaded portion. Each of the first threaded portion, the second threaded portion and the third threaded portion is configured to receive a connecting member of varied thickness. The connecting member connects to a ceiling. The hook apparatus receives the cable at the bend portion and helps to hold the cable in place and prevent the cable from sagging or drooping.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a field of hooks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hook apparatus for hanging a cable, an extension cord box and the like from a ceiling of a structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is important to manage and organise cables properly at a construction site. Without proper management, loose cables can pose a lot of safety hazards. For instance, the loose cables on the ground can cause the occupants to trip and fall, leading to injuries. Further, the cables carrying electricity may pose the risk of electric shock, if not handled properly. Furthermore, the loose cables may cause damage to equipment placed in the construction site.

In order to overcome the problems associated with the loose cables, several solutions have been provided. Some of the solutions include providing covers for cables and securing the cables to walls or ceilings. Typically, the cables are secured to the walls or ceilings using cable clips, conduit clips or other type of tools. The clips or hooks hold the cables in place and prevent them from sagging or drooping.

Various clips or hooks have been disclosed in the past. Such an example is disclosed in a U.S. Publication No. 20040060155, entitled “Axial adjustable tie-down stretch cord terminus” (“the '155 Publication”). The '155 Publication discloses a terminus for a bungee cord has a hook with a transverse axis which is within a given distance of the longitudinal axis of a bore within the stem of the terminus. A cleat opens into a cord passage leading to the bore to permit pulling a cord into the cleat thereby locking the terminus in position on the cord. The relative axial alignment of the load in the cord with the transverse axis of the hook prevents the load from rotating the hook substantially. A land adjusts the thickness of the cleat.

Although the above discussed disclosures are useful, still there is a need in the art to provide an improved hook apparatus for hanging a cord from a ceiling of a structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a hook apparatus that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hook apparatus for hanging a cable, extension cord box and the like.

In order to overcome the limitations here stated, the present invention provides a hook apparatus for hanging a cable, extension cord box and the like. The hook apparatus includes a shank and a bend portion. The bend portion extends from the shank. The shank includes a groove. The groove extends the entire length of the shank. Optionally, the groove extends partially along the length of the shank. Optionally, the hook apparatus comes without a groove on the sides i.e., at the shank.

The groove includes a first threaded portion, a second threaded portion and a third threaded portion. The first threaded portion has a larger diameter than the second threaded portion. The second threaded portion has a larger diameter than the third threaded portion. Each of the first threaded portion, the second threaded portion and the third threaded portion is configured to receive a connecting member of varied thickness. The connecting member connects to a ceiling. The hook apparatus receives the cable at the bend portion and helps to hold the cable in place and prevent the cable from sagging or drooping.

In one example, the groove includes only one threaded portion. Here, different hook apparatuses, each having groove of various diameter are used.

In one advantageous feature of the present invention, the hook apparatus helps to hang cables or extension cords from the roof or ceiling. Optionally, the hook apparatus helps to drape the cables around. This prevents the cables from sagging or drooping from the ceiling. This prevents the cords from being laid on the ground, creating tripping hazards, damage from construction equipment, and electrical shock hazards from wet weather events as buildings are not dried in during early phases of construction.

In another advantageous feature of the present invention, the hook apparatus is made of a non-conductive material and as such the hook apparatus does not conduct electricity. This prevents the users from electric shock.

In another advantageous feature of the present invention, the hook apparatus is removably connected to the connecting members. As such, the hook apparatus can be used with the connecting members of varied sizes. This helps to use the hook apparatus in any structure across various jurisdictions having different standard thickness for connecting members.

Features and advantages of the invention hereof will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying FIGUREs. As will be realized, the invention disclosed is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments in which the presently disclosed invention may be practiced. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of the presently disclosed hook apparatus. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the presently disclosed invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in functional or conceptual diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the presently disclosed hook apparatus.

In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not be considered limiting. Rather, the invention preferably encompasses other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, the applicant does not intend for any term in the specification to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration.

Although the present invention provides a description of a hook apparatus, it is to be further understood that numerous changes may arise in the details of the embodiments of the hook apparatus. It is contemplated that all such changes and additional embodiments are within the spirit and true scope of this disclosure.

The present invention discloses a hook apparatus for hanging a cable and the like. The hook apparatus includes a shank and a bend portion. The bend portion extends from the shank. The shank includes a groove. The groove extends the entire length of the shank. The groove includes a first threaded portion, a second threaded portion and a third threaded portion. The first threaded portion has a larger diameter than the second threaded portion. The second threaded portion has a larger diameter than the third threaded portion. Each of the first threaded portion, the second threaded portion and the third threaded portion is configured to receive a connecting member of varied thickness. The connecting member connects to a ceiling. The hook apparatus receives the cable at the bend portion and helps to hold the cable in place and prevent the cable from sagging or drooping.

Various features and embodiments of a hook apparatus are explained in conjunction with the description ofFIGS.1-8.

Referring toFIG.1, an environment10of a hook apparatus12for hanging cables or extension cord boxes is shown, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Hook apparatus12connects to a connecting member14. In one example, connecting member14includes an allthread that extends from a ceiling16of a structure18. Structure18includes, but not limited to, a building, wall, temporary structure, etc. Here, hook apparatus12connects to connecting member14and receives an extension cord box19or cables (not shown). In other words, hook apparatus12helps to hang extension cord box19or cable from ceiling16or walls depending on the need.

FIGS.2A,2B and2Cshow a side perspective view, a bottom perspective view, and a top perspective view, respectively of hook apparatus12, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Hook apparatus12is made of metal, hard plastic, or any other suitable material. It is preferable to make hook apparatus12using non-conductive material (e.g., plastic) to prevent it from conducting electricity via extension cord box19or cable. Hook apparatus12includes a bend portion20and a shank22. As can be seen, shank22extends from bend portion20. Shank22comes in at a relatively straight or 90-degree angle. Hook apparatus12includes a first end24and a second end26. First end24indicates a top end of hook apparatus12. Second end26indicates a bottom end of hook apparatus12. Hook apparatus12includes a first recess section28at first end24. First recess section28extends along the entire length of bend portion20and shank22, as shown in at leastFIGS.2A and2C. Hook apparatus12includes a second recess section30at second end26. Second recess section30extends along the entire length of bend portion20and shank22, as shown in at leastFIG.2B. First recess section28and second recess section30are formed by chipping away a small portion of material from hook apparatus12. In one alternate embodiment, hook apparatus12comes without first recess section28and second recess section30. Such an implementation falls within the scope of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, hook apparatus12includes a groove or opening32at shank22. Groove32extends along the entire length of shank32.FIG.3shows a cross-sectional view of groove32. Further,FIG.4shows a sectional view of shank22. As can be seen, groove32includes a first threaded portion34, a second threaded portion36and a third threaded portion38. First threaded portion34has a larger diameter than second threaded portion36. Further, second threaded portion36has a larger diameter than third threaded portion38. In one example, each of first threaded portion34, second threaded portion36and third threaded portion38extends approximately ⅓rdlength of shank22. In another example, each of first threaded portion34, second threaded portion36and third threaded portion38has different length from one another. In the above example, the combined length of first threaded portion34, second threaded portion36and third threaded portion38cover the entire length of shank22. Each of first threaded portion34, second threaded portion36and third threaded portion38is configured to receive connecting member14of varied thickness. Consider that the diameter of connecting member14is same as first threaded portion34, then connecting member14inserts through groove32and connects at first threaded portion34.FIG.5shows connecting member14connected to shank22at first threaded portion34, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In another example, if the diameter of connecting member14is same as third threaded portion38, then connecting member14inserts through groove32and connects at third threaded portion38. This way, hook apparatus12connects to connecting member14having varied thickness using one of first threaded portion34, second threaded portion36and third threaded portion38.

Optionally, shank22includes only one threaded portion such as first threaded portion34, or second threaded portion36or third threaded portion38. In such an embodiment, multiple hook apparatuses12, each having groove32of various diameter is used.

In operation, a user (not shown) connects hook apparatus12to connecting member14via shank22. Subsequently, the user connects cable or extension cord box19at bend portion20. Bend portion20helps to hold cable or extension cord19hold the in place and prevent cable or extension cord box19from sagging or drooping, as shown inFIG.1, for example. When not in use, the user uninstalls hook apparatus12from connecting member14and stores it.

In one embodiment, a plurality of hook apparatuses12are used to hang or drape a cable50. Here, plurality of hook apparatuses12are mounted to ceiling16via connecting members14, as shown inFIG.6. Cable50is drawn and connected to a power source or an electric outlet52. A person skilled in the art understands that hook apparatuses12can be arranged in any fashion depending on the need to drape or hand cables50or extension cords19or any other object in the structure18. For example, hook apparatuses12can be used support light strings (not shown). Here, the light strings are suspended or connected to the ceiling temporarily to provide light during the construction.

FIG.7shows a schematic view of hook apparatus100, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Hook apparatus100is made of metal, hard plastic, or any other suitable material. It is preferable to make hook apparatus100using a non-conductive material to prevent it from conducting electricity. Hook apparatus100includes a shank102, a first bend portion104and a second bend portion106. Each of first bend portion104and second bend portion106extends from shank102. As can be seen fromFIG.7, first bend portion104and second bend portion106extend in opposite directions. As such, each of first bend portion104and second bend portion106helps to hold two or more cables or extension cords (not shown) in side-by-side configuration.

In the present embodiment, shank102includes a groove108. Here, groove108extends approximately half the length of shank102. Groove108includes a first threaded portion110, a second threaded portion112and a third threaded portion114. As can be seen, first threaded portion110has a larger diameter than second threaded portion112. Further, second threaded portion112has a larger diameter than third threaded portion114. Groove108includes all the features and operates similar to groove32, as explained above.

FIG.8shows a schematic view of hook apparatus200, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Hook apparatus200is made of metal, hard plastic, or any other suitable material. It is preferable to make hook apparatus200using a non-conductive material to prevent it from conducting electricity. Hook apparatus200includes a first hook202. First hook202includes a shank204having a groove206, similar to groove32, as explained above. First hook202includes a first bend portion208extending from shank204. Further, first bend portion208includes a second bend portion210. As can be seen, second bend portion210extends from first bend portion208. Here, each of first bend portion208and second bend portion210helps to hold two or more cables or extension cords one above the other.

In one alternative embodiment, the hook apparatus comes in S-shaped configuration. Here, the shank comes at the top of S-shaped configuration, and S-shaped member helps to draw and holds cables therethrough.

Based on the above, it is evident that the presently disclosed hook apparatus can be used to hang cables or extension cords from the roof. The hook apparatus is made of a non-conductive material. As such, the hook apparatus prevents the user from electric shock. Further, the hook apparatus helps to hang the cables or extension cords safely at the top i.e., to the roof thereby allowing them to work in a safe working condition. Furthermore, the hook apparatus can be easily removed and installed at an appropriate location depending on the need. Optionally, the hook apparatus is used as a hanger hook for hanging items from the ceiling or wall depending on the need.

A person skilled in the art appreciates that the hook apparatus can come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the need and comfort of the user. Further, many changes in the design and placement of components may take place without deviating from the scope of the presently disclosed hook apparatus.

In the above description, numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of some embodiments, specific components, devices, methods, in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that these specific details need not be employed, and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention.

In the development of any actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints. Such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but may nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill. Hence as various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The foregoing description of embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel principles and invention disclosed herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the innovative faculty. It is contemplated that additional embodiments are within the spirit and true scope of the disclosed invention.