Abstract:
A digital voice and/or data communication cable hanger provides a saddle support on a shaft fastened to a ceiling or beams or side wall by an integral fastening loop at one end. The other end of the hanger is shaped into a support loop for the cable. A saddle having the support shaft running through it closes the support loop to prevent cable from slipping out. The cable hanger is made by a tool using a rotating spool designed to shape the rigid shaft into a fastening loop at one end and a support loop at the other end. A second support loop can be selectively attached to the shaft between its ends.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a division of application Ser. No. 10/663,511, filed Sep. 16, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,501. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to improvements in cable support structures and more particularly pertains to new and improved apparatus for suspending digital voice and data cables in office buildings. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Digital voice and data communication cables used to interconnect computers and related digital equipment in office buildings, for the most, part require straight unconvoluted runs with the cables separated from power lines and other interference generating structures in order to avoid band-width deterioration. 
   As a result, the prior art has developed separate digital cable hangers. An example of several different types of cable hangers utilized in the prior art is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a cable hanger  11  which is adapted for attachment to a metal support beam  13 . The operative end of the cable hanger is a bridle ring  15  that threads into a U-shaped fastening block  23  that is held to a steel beam  13  by a fastening screw  25  threaded through fastening block  23 . The bridle ring  15  has a plastic saddle  17  attached to the loop portion of bridle ring  15  by bosses  19  located on the underside of saddle  17 , that squeeze the curved portion of the saddle ring  15 . A digital cable bundle  21  is placed within the loop of saddle ring  15  on saddle  17 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates another prior art cable hanger  27  which is designed to fasten into a ceiling or horizontal support by way of a nail  33 . The cable hanger  27  utilizes a straight length of wire rod  29  which is attached at one end to a clip  31  that also holds nail  33  and attached at the other end to a clip  35  which has a wire holding hook  38 . The hook  38  is fastened by way of rivets  39  to a metal saddle  37 . A bundle of wires or single digital communication cable would be placed within the saddle  37 . 
   Yet another digital communication cable holder prior art device is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . A clip  41  cut out of flat metal has an upstanding portion  47  bent at a right angle into which a closed loop hook  45  is threaded. The clip  41  is held fast to a wire rod  29  by way of the pressure applied between the flat part of clip  41  and tabs  43  and the upstanding portion  47 . 
   The prior art digital voice and data communication cable hanging device  11  of  FIG. 1  is not completely satisfactory in that the bridle ring is open, and the length or support height at which the digital communication cable  21  is suspended from the support is not adjustable. 
   The prior art digital communication cable hangers of  FIGS. 2 and 3  have an adjustability feature.  FIG. 2 , for example, shows a hook attached to wire  29  which can be moved up and down, and a bracket  31  holding nail  33 , which can be moved up and down. The prior art device of  FIG. 3  shows a closed loop  45  attached to a bracket  41  which can be moved up and down rod  29 . 
   A shortcoming of the two prior art devices shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is that the multiple parts used in the construction of the brackets that provide the adjustability, tend to create a structure that is flimsy, not capable of withstanding building movement caused by an earthquake, for example, and do not have a smooth, non-metallic wide surface loop or saddle that prevents kink and sags. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A digital voice/data communication cable hanger made of wire rod is shaped to be fastened to a concrete, wood, or metal overhead deck or side wall by an integral fastening loop at one end that provides a stabilizing footprint on the substrate. A cable support loop at the other end of the wire rod has a saddle integrally attached, for cradling the digital cable. The saddle is designed to close the cable support loop with a latch arm, after the cable is run through, to prevent the cable from slipping out. The hanger is preferably made from rigid wire rod by a double functioning spool which forms the fastening loop at one end and the support loop at the other end. The support loop is formed with the saddle attached to the wire rod. A second saddle designed to be selectively attached to the wire rod between its two ends may be used as needed for running additional digital cable. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The exact nature of this invention, as well as its objects and advantages, will become readily apparent upon consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of a prior art device. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of an alternate prior art device. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective illustration of yet another prior art device. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective illustration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective illustration of a section of an alternate structure for the fastening loop. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing how the fastening loop is attached to an overhead deck. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view showing how the fastening loop of  FIG. 5  is attached to a side wall. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the cable support loop portion of the invention, for holding a digital communication cable. 
       FIG. 9  is an end plan view of an apparatus for making the small and large fastening loops on a communication cable support structure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a side plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9  shown making the large support loop on a communication cable support structure according the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective illustration of the apparatus of  FIG. 10  showing the formation of of the large support loop with intergral saddle on the shaft. 
       FIG. 12  is a side plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 9  showing use of the apparatus for forming the small fastening loop on an end of the shaft. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective illustration showing the apparatus of  FIG. 12  forming a right angle bend in the small fastening loop portion of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a front plan view of a removable platform used to form the small closed fastening loop. 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a side plan view with a partial section of part of the structure of  FIG. 18 . 
       FIG. 17  is a front plan view of the cable holding mechanism of  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The preferred embodiment of a communication digital audio/video cable support  51 , according to the present invention, is illustrated in  FIG. 4  as comprising a metal shaft  53  which may be 8-gauge or higher, zinc plated mild steel rod, or similar shaft. The shaft  53  may be round, triangular or rectangular in shape, although round is preferred. For drop lengths greater than one foot, a 0.250 round steel rod having 65KSI tensile strength is preferred. The shaft  53  has a small loop  55  formed at its first end with a 90° bend just below the loop  55  for fastening the communication cable support structure  51  to a ceiling. The small loop  55  is the fastening loop. 
   The other or second end of shaft  53  is formed into larger loop  59  which has a saddle  57  of a very specific construction integral with the shaft  53 . As is more clearly shown in  FIG. 8 , the saddle  57  has an integral sleeve  60  formed in the saddle. The saddle is preferably made out of plastic by an injection molded process. The sleeve  60  of saddle  57  extends from just before the shaft  53  starts to bend into a loop  59  and ends at the end  71  of the shaft  53 . The remaining portion  61  of the material of saddle  57  has no sleeve thereon, is flat, and extends to close the open space between the end  71  of shaft  59  and the straight shaft  53 . This flat part  61  of the saddle  57  has a notch  63  at its end to allow friction closure with shaft  53 . The flat part  61  of the saddle  57  is sufficiently flexible to rotate away from shaft  53  and open the loop  59  as required to place or remove wires from the support loop. The saddle is preferably a two inch to three and one-half inch closed loop made out of polypropylene resin or similar material. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a fastening loop  65  without a bend in it. This fastening loop is utilized for attachment to overhead side walls  68  as shown in  FIG. 7 . A fastener  67  like a timber pin for wood, or a ramset for concrete or a drill screw for a metal deck, for example, is held within the small fastening loop  65  by a collapsible bushing  69  on one side of the loop  65  and a washer  70  on the other side. The fastener  67  is driven into the vertical side wall surface  68  with a force sufficient to collapse bushing  69  so that the fastening loop  65  is flat against the vertical surface  68 . Bushing  69  is preferably made out of a light-weight plastic, nylon, or foam material. 
   For overhead attachments to horizontal decks, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the 90° bend version of the cable support structure  51  is utilized. The fastener  67 , which may be a ramset or drill screw, for example, is held to the small fastening loop  55  by a bushing  69  on one side and a washer  70  on the other. Bushing  69  is made out of a plastic, nylon, or foam material that will collapse when the fastener  67  is driven fully into the horizontal surface  72 . 
   The unitary structure of the cable support  51  is a significant advantage when supporting digital video/audio cables in an environment where support sways and sturdiness is an important consideration. 
   The unitary construction of the communication cable support structure  51  also is of significant advantage from the standpoint of its manufacture, in that it can be made simply, quickly and cheaply by a simple hand-operated apparatus as shown in  FIGS. 9-14 . 
     FIG. 9  shows the manufacturing apparatus  201  for making the cable support structure  51  having a spindle or spool  213  mounted for rotation about its central axis  210 . The spindle  213  is preferably made of steel in a drum shape, i.e. a generally cylindrical shape having first and second ends and a side of fixed diameter extending axially between the two ends. A shaft  215  fixed to one end of the spool  213  is a journal within a bearing casing  207 . A long-handled lever  211  is attached to the other end of shaft  215  by a pair of bolts  209 . Rotation of lever  211  causes spool  213  to rotate about its central axis  210 . Bearing casing  207  is held in position by a support wall  205  made of steel which is fixed to a sturdy base  243 . 
   Spool  213  has a steel arm  217  with an elongated portion and an elbow portion. The elongated portion extends parallel to the central axis  210  of spool  213 , as shown. Arm  217  is fastened by welding (or an equivalent fastening means) the elbow portion of arm  217  to an outer surface of the side of spool  213  so that the elongated portion of arm  217  rotates with spool  213  at a fixed radial distance from the central axis  210 . 
   A pair of pegs  219  and  221  are attached to the other end of spool  213  at an outer surface, as shown. One peg  219  is on the central axis  210  of the spool  213 . The other peg  221  is displaced a short distance from the central axis peg  219 . The distance between the two pegs is determined by the diameter of the shaft or rod  53  to be manipulated by the manufacturing apparatus  201 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  show the manufacturing apparatus  201  being used to make the small fastening loop  65  and  55 , respectively, at the first end of the shaft  53 . A platform  223  is mounted to the base  243  by a pair of pegs  225  that insert into matching apertures in the base  243 . This allows the platform to be removed during other operations of the apparatus  201 . Platform  223  has a surface lying along a line between central axis  210  and peg  221  for supporting shaft  53  when shaft  53  is inserted between the two pegs  219  and  221  on the end of the spool  213 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , rotation of the long-handled lever  211  in a counterclockwise direction  202  causes the straight shaft end  229  to be bent into the closed loop  65 . 
   In order to place the 90° bend  234  ( FIG. 13 ) into the shaft  53 , the end of the shaft with a small fastening loop  65  is turned 90 degrees and again inserted between the pegs  219  and  221 . The long-handled lever  211  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to a stop  225  which is threadably attached to the support wall  205 . This limited movement provides a 90° angle bend  234  in the shaft  53 , thereby converting a loop  65  into a loop  55  as required for attaching the cable support structure  51  to a horizontal overhead deck. 
   In order to form the large holding loop at the second end of the shaft  53 , the spool  213  is utilized as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
   Before the manufacturing apparatus  201  is utilized, the saddle  57  is slid on to the straight end of shaft  53  so that the support end  59  of shaft  53  slips into the entire length of the sleeve  60  that is an integral part of saddle  57 . The flat end  61  of the saddle continues beyond the end  71  of the shaft  59  in the saddle  57 . The still flat saddle with the shaft  53  attached is then inserted between the arm  217  and the spool  213  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
   Rotation of the long-handled lever  211  in a counterclockwise direction  247  causes the saddle  57  and the end  59  of the shaft  53  that is in the sleeve  60  of the saddle to bend into a loop as shown in  FIG. 11 . The flat portion  61  of the saddle that extends beyond the end  71  is of sufficient length to close the open loop formed. 
   This manufacturing process described above, although hand operated, is fast and efficient, and produces a cable support structure  51  that is strong and rigid, capable of withstanding the forces exerted on it by the pulling of cable through the saddle supports and the forces exerted on it during overhead mounting to horizontal decks or walls. The length of the shaft  53  from the small fastening loop  55  to the large support loop in saddle  57  may vary in length. Preferably the cable support  51  comes in a variety of standard lengths to be used as needed for running the communication cable from an overhead support. 
   In those instances where additional cable needs to be run at some time after installation of the cable support structure  51  and at a different height than established by the cable support structure  51 , an additional saddle  227  may be mounted to shaft  53  along its midsection as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Saddle  227  is constructed in the same manner as saddle  57  with a integral sleeve  229  formed in saddle  227  which contains a rod  230  that shapes saddle  227  by being bent into a loop, as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . The remaining portion of the saddle  231  which has no sleeve is flat and extends to close the open space between the straight shaft  53  and the end of the bent shaft  230 . The flat portion  231  of the saddle engages the flat side of the saddle  227  at the shaft  53  to provide complete closure of the saddle loop. 
   The saddle  227  is held to shaft  53  by a rod grasping mechanism  233  that has a pair of outside arms  237  and a pair of inside arms  239 . The rod grasping mechanism  233  as shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17  is held fast to the saddle  227  by at least one rivet, or bolt or similar fastener  235 . The grasping mechanism  233  is preferably made out of a spring steel. It is shaped so that the rod  53  is grasped between an inside arm  239  and an outside arm  237  of the grasping mechanism  233 . Multiple arms are shown in the Figures because multiple arms are preferred to provide the additional holding force required. Although two holding arms are illustrated, more or less could be used, as needed.