Angled cable clamp

A cable clamp is provided including first and second clamp members which are disposed at an angle relative to each other and connected together by a web. The first clamp member is configured so that a first length of a cable may be snapped therein to be held in place. A locking segment is pivotally connected to the second clamp member to lock a second length of such cable in place.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to a cable clamp which is useful in quickly 
connecting a cable thereto in such a manner that the cable extends in a 
first direction and in a second direction which is at an angle relative to 
the first direction. 
BACKGROUND ART 
The need for a cable clamp which allows a cable to extend in two directions 
is well known. Cable clamps known in the art for use in forming a right 
angle connector require the use of a dedicated right angle metal sleeve 
which must be assembled inside of the conventional connector shell. Since 
a typical application almost always requires straight connectors as well 
as such right angle connectors, it is necessary to have access to two 
types of sleeves; that is sleeves for use with such straight connectors 
and sleeves for use with such angled connectors. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to eliminate the need for two 
types of sleeves in applications involving the use of straight connectors 
and angled connectors. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a cable clamp for angled 
connectors which may be used with straight connectors. 
It is also an object of the invention to provide an angled cable clamp 
having openings by means of which a cable may be positioned around the 
clamp so that the cable extends in two different directions. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide an angled cable clamp 
which retains the cable therein and resists axial movement of the cable 
relative to the clamp. 
It is yet another object to provide an angled cable clamp which is 
particularly useful in locations not readily visible to the eye. 
These objects are achieved, in one aspect of the invention, by providing a 
cable clamp comprising a first clamp member having a first axis which 
extends in a first direction, the first clamp member comprising a first 
opening which extends in the first direction for the length of the first 
clamp member. A second clamp member is connected to the first clamp member 
and includes a second axis which extends in a second direction, the second 
axis being oriented at an angle relative to the first axis. The second 
clamp member comprises a second opening which extends in the second 
direction for the length of the second clamp member. The second clamp 
member further comprises a locking segment which extends in the second 
direction and is pivotally connected to the second clamp member at a 
length of the second clamp member which extends along a third axis which 
is parallel to the second axis.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other 
and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is 
made to the following disclosure and appended claims taken in conjunction 
with the above-described drawings. 
Referring now to the drawings with greater particularity, there is shown in 
FIGS. 1 to 3 a cable clamp 2 comprising a first clamp member 4 and a 
second clamp member 6 connected thereto by a web 8 which in this 
embodiment is depicted as being integral with clamp members 4 and 6. In 
the embodiment of FIG. 1, clamp members 4 and 6 and web 8 have been 
fabricated from a single piece of material as, for example, by 
conventional molding of plastic material. Alternatively, clamp members 4 
and 6 may be fabricated individually and joined together by a separate web 
material. In the preferred embodiment, the cable clamp 2 comprises a 
resilient plastic material such as, for example, a polyethylene material. 
The clamp member 4 has a longitudinal axis 10 which extends in the 
direction of arrow 12. Similarly, clamp member 6 has a longitudinal axis 
14 which extends in the direction of arrow 16. Axes 10 and 14 extend at an 
angle 18 relative to each other. Without limitation, in the preferred 
embodiment angle 18 may be about 900. 
The clamp member 4 includes an opening 20 which extends in direction 12 for 
the length of clamp member 4 from one end of such clamp member to the 
other. In the preferred embodiment, the clamp member 4 has a cylindrical 
configuration having an inner diameter 22 substantially equal to the 
diameter 24 of a straight connector C electrically and mechanically 
attached to cable 26. Connector C is depicted in the drawings as being 
inserted into the clamp member 4 in a manner which will be described 
hereinafter. In this embodiment, the width 28 of the opening 20 is less 
than the diameter 24 of the connector C. The connector C may be inserted 
into the clamp member 4 by placing a length of the connector adjacent 
opening 20 and squeezing the connector against such clamp member causing 
the ends 30, 32 of such clamp member to expand apart, due to the 
resiliency of the material, allowing the connector to snap into such clamp 
member as depicted, for example, in FIG. 2. 
The clamp member 6 includes an opening 34 which extends in direction 16 for 
the length of clamp member 6 from one end of such clamp member to the 
other. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, clamp member 6 has a square-like 
cross sectional configuration as depicted in FIG. 3. The distance 36 
between opposing inner surfaces 38, 40 of clamp member 6 is substantially 
equal to the diameter of cable 26 which is depicted in the drawings as 
being inserted into the clamp member 6 in a manner which will be described 
hereinafter. As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, opening 34 is formed between a 
locking segment 42 and a portion 44 of the clamp member 6. Locking segment 
42 extends in direction 16 and is pivotally connected to the second clamp 
member 6 at a length of the second clamp member which extends along a 
third axis 46 which is parallel to axis 14. 
Locking segment 42 comprises a first component 48 having a first edge 50 
and a second component 52 having a second edge 54 which is opposite edge 
50. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the opening 34 extends 
between edge 50 and portion 44 of the clamp segment 6, portion 44 being 
spaced from edge 50. Cable 26 may be inserted into the clamp member 6 by 
placing a length of the cable adjacent opening 34 when the locking segment 
42 is in a first mode as depicted by solid lines in FIG. 3 and squeezing 
the cable against locking segment 42 and portion 44 of the clamp member 6 
causing the locking member to pivot about axis 46 in a counterclockwise 
direction when viewing FIG. 3 to a second mode as depicted in phantom 
lines thereby allowing the cable to enter the clamp member 6. Any attempt 
to move the cable 26 in a radial direction relative to axis 14 in an 
attempt to remove the cable from clamp member 6 will cause the locking 
segment 42 to pivot in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 3 to the 
position shown in solid lines, the locking segment 42 thereby locking the 
cable within the clamp member. In the preferred embodiment the locking of 
the cable 26 within the clamp member 6 as described above may be 
facilitated by providing a clamp member 6 which comprises a stop member 56 
extending from an outer surface 58 of the clamp member. Such stop member 
56 will be adjacent to and spaced from the second portion 52 when the 
locking segment 42 is in the position depicted in FIG. 3 in solid lines so 
that any effort to force the locking member 42 to pivot about axis 46 in a 
clockwise direction substantially beyond the position shown in solid lines 
will be prevented as the second portion 52 engages the stop member 56. 
The distance between the portion 44 of clamp member 6 and the edge 50 of 
locking segment 42, will be less than the diameter of cable 26 regardless 
of the position of the locking segment and therefore the cable can not be 
readily removed from the clamp member 6 in a radial direction relative to 
axis 14 once the cable has been inserted into the clamp member. In order 
to substantially prevent movement of cable 26 relative to clamp member 6 
in the direction 16 of axis 14, in the preferred embodiment clamp member 6 
includes an inner surface which includes at least one cable retaining 
member. For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, clamp member 6 
includes an inner surface 60 having a cable retaining member 62 integral 
therewith or attached thereto which comprises a plurality of ribs 64 which 
extend from the inner surface 60 towards the axis 14. When the cable 26 is 
inserted into the clamp member 6 as depicted in FIG. 3, such ribs will 
depress the outer surface of the resilient cable to thereby bind it in 
place between such ribs and the locking segment 42. If desired, the inner 
surface 66 of the clamp member 4 may also include a cable retaining member 
(not shown). It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the 
cable retaining member is not limited to the use of ribs and that, for 
example, any protuberance from or indentation into the inner surface of 
the clamp member may be used. 
In an alternative embodiment,, as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 a cable clamp 
102 is depicted which includes a first clamp member 104 which may be 
identical to clamp member 4 and a second clamp member 106 joined together 
by a web 108 which in this embodiment is depicted in the form of a 
separate piece of web material rather than being formed integrally with 
the clamp members 104 and 106. Clamp member 106 differs from clamp member 
6 in that a locking segment 110 is provided which is pivotally mounted at 
a segment 112 which extends along an axis 114 which is parallel to an axis 
116 of the clamp member 106. The locking segment 110 may be pivoted in a 
first direction 118 to close the locking segment 110 in a first mode as 
depicted in phantom lines in FIG. 5 and in a second direction 120 to open 
the locking segment 110 in a second mode as depicted in solid lines. In a 
preferred embodiment, the locking segment 110 comprises a first component 
122 which extends from a second component 124 of the locking segment, the 
component 122 being oriented at an angle 126 relative to component 124. In 
the preferred embodiment, angle 126 is about 90.degree.. In the embodiment 
depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, an edge 128 of component 122 and an edge 130 of 
the clamp member 106, spaced from the edge 128, form respective 
complementary fastener members which are locked, as depicted in phantom 
lines in the first mode of FIG. 5 and unlocked as depicted in solid lines 
in the second mode. 
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that in use, a straight 
connector C (not shown) may be inserted into the first clamp member 104 in 
the same manner in which connector C was inserted into clamp member 4 of 
the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. Cable 24, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 
5, may also be inserted into the second clamp member 106 when in its open 
mode depicted in solid lines in FIG. 5. After insertion, the locking 
segment 110 may be pivoted in the direction of arrow 118 to a closed 
potion as depicted in phantom lines, the edges 128 and 130 snapping 
together to lock the locking segment in place. When in the closed mode, 
the size of the opening formed between an inner surface 132 of the potion 
124 and an inner surface 134 of the second clamp member 106 will determine 
the degree to which the cable 24 may be moved in the direction of axis 
116. For example, if the distance 136 across the opening is slightly less 
than the diameter of the cable 24, the cable will be squeezed between 
surfaces 132 and 134 thereby impeding axial movement of the cable. 
Although the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5 have been described as clamping a 
straight connector C in one clamp member and clamping a length of cable in 
the other clamp member of the cable clamp of the present invention as 
depicted in FIG. 6, such cable clamp may also be used to effect a 
directional change in a cable at a length of such cable which does not 
include a connector, as depicted in FIG. 7. For example, in the embodiment 
of FIG. 7 a first segment of the cable 26 will be inserted into a clamp 
member 6, as described above, and a second segment of the cable will be 
inserted into a clamp member 4 in the same manner as the connector C was 
inserted into a clamp member 4, as described above. 
While there have been shown an described what are at present considered the 
preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those 
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made 
herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the 
appended claims.