Abstract:
A cable positioning bracket is provided for mounting to a building component, e.g. a wall stud. The bracket has an anchor plate for being connected to the broad surface of the building component and a pair of side plates for being connected to the narrow surface of the building component. A pair of platforms carry a series of opposed tabs that are oriented to engage and support one or more cables. One side plate pivots away from the building component by means of a hinge plate to insert the cable or cables.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of wiring support devices for use in building construction, and more particularly to a bracket for positioning cables at a predetermined distance from a wall surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In 1990, the National Electrical Code (NEC) was revised to require that electrical wires and cables mounted within a wall structure must be at least one-and-one-quarter (1.25) inches behind the inner wall surface. This code provision is intended to reduce the likelihood that a nail, or other sharp implement, would damage the insulation and potentially cause an electrical fire. The NEC further requires that a cable is secured at the 1.25 inch offset within 12 inches of an electrical box or other fitting, and at intervals of not more than 4.5 feet along a run. 
     A number of devices have been developed to implement the NEC requirement for a 1.25 inch offset, as described in the following patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,677 to Miceli is for a Wire Harness. This device is for mounting on the face of a wall stud to hold a number of wires spaced between the surfaces of a wall. The device has one arm for mounting to a stud and a second arm for attaching wires. A series of clips are placed along the second arm for receiving and holding wires. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,185 to Rumbold et al. is for a Wiring Clip. This patent discloses a clip having an L-shaped portion to be secured to a stud and a strut and hinged arm remote from the L-shaped portion, the arm is adapted for being folded back and locked around several wires. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,555 to Rinderer is for a Conductor Holding Device. This conductor holder has a support member having two perpendicular arms, one arm for being affixed to a stud and the other arm being formed with one or more holes. A clamp having a leg and a head is mounted with the leg through the one hole in the arm and the head holding the conductor at a fixed distance from a wall surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cable positioning bracket is configured for being mounted to a wall stud and for positioning a series of cables a selected distance from the inner surfaces of the wall. The bracket is formed with an anchor plate that is attached in parallel contact with the wall stud. A horizontal platform extends perpendicularly out from the anchor plate, and a side plate extends down from the platform. A portion of the side plate is attached to the stud. A second horizontal platform is connected to the first horizontal platform by a hinge member. A second side plate extends down from the second platform. A first series of tabs is formed along the first platform, and a second series of tabs is formed along the second platform with the first and second tabs facing toward one another. The second platform and side plate are pivoted out by bending the hinge member to allow insertion of the cables in parallel to the stud. When the cables are in position, the second platform and side plate are pivoted back to enclose the cables, with the two sets of tabs engaging the cables. The second side plate is then attached to the stud to stabilize the bracket and hold the cables at a fixed distance from the wall surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is best understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like elements are identified by similar reference numerals and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cable positioning bracket of the invention mounted to a stud and holding a series of cables in a desired position, the cables connected at a lower end thereof to an electrical junction box. 
         FIG. 2  is a cable positioning bracket of the invention mounted to a stud, the bracket in the open condition prior to inserting cables. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the bracket of the invention taken in the direction indicated by line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  with a series of cables held therein, the cables shown in dashed lines. 
         FIG. 4  is an end elevation view of the bracket of the invention taken in the direction indicated by line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  with a series of cables held therein, the cables shown in dashed lines. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the bracket of the invention as punched from a planar sheet prior to being folded. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the bracket of the invention as punched from a planar sheet prior to being folded. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cable positioning bracket  10  of the present invention is mounted to a wall stud  16 . As illustrated, cable positioning bracket  10  is fully closed around a set of three cables. Wall stud  16  has a broad side  16   b  and a narrow side  16   n . Wall stud  16  may be either a wood stud or a metal stud, as is known in the trade. A wall structure, e.g. gypsum board or drywall, will be mounted to the narrow side  16   n  of wall stud  16 , with another wall structure mounted to the opposite narrow side of wall stud  16 . An electrical junction box  14  is mounted to wall stud  16 , illustrated a short distance below cable positioning bracket  10 . However, as will be understood from the description to follow, cable positioning bracket  10  may be located anywhere along the run of a cable or cables as may be required by a Local Code or the NEC. A set of cables  20 ,  22  and  24 , shown as, but not restricted to, metal sheathed cable, are connected to electrical junction box  14  at their respective ends and are held at a selected distance from the narrow side  16   n  as well as the opposite narrow side of wall stud  16 . As discussed above, the distance from each wall structure must be at least 1.25 inches. The width W of the broad side  16   b  of a commonly used wall stud  16  is approximately 3.50 inches. Therefore, positioning cables  20 ,  22  and  24  at least 1.25 inches from each narrow side of wall stud  16  leaves a space of 1.0 inch for the cables to reside. While three cables  20 ,  22  and  24  are shown, different numbers of cables, e.g. 2 cables or 5 cables, may be used within the scope of the invention. 
     Referring further to  FIG. 1 , an anchor plate  28  of bracket  10  is attached to broad side  16   b  of wall stud  16  by fasteners F, e.g. screws appropriate to the material of wall stud  16 . As illustrated, wall stud  16  is oriented vertically, although bracket  10  of the invention is adaptable to use on horizontal building members, i.e. joists. A horizontally oriented platform  32  extends outwardly from anchor plate  28 , a portion of platform  32  passes behind cables  20 ,  22  and  24  and a portion thereof passes in front of cable  24 . A vertically oriented side plate  34  extends downwardly from platform  32 . A portion of side plate  34  overlaps a portion of narrow side  16   n  of wall stud  16  and is anchored thereto by a fastener F. A second platform  32 ′ is located adjacent to platform  32  with an open gap between. Second platform  32 ′ is connected to the portion of first platform  32  that resides behind cables  20 ,  22  and  24  by a hinge plate  48 , extending upwardly from, and substantially perpendicular to, platforms  32  and  32 ′. While anchor plate  28  and hinge plate  48  are shown extending upwardly from platforms  32  and  32 ′, it will be understood that downward orientation of either or both plates is considered to be within the scope of the present invention. A second side plate  36  extends downwardly from second platform  32 ′, with a portion of second side plate  36  overlapping a portion of narrow side  16   n  of wall stud  16 , and being fastened thereto with a fastener F. As illustrated, bracket  10  is securely mounted to wall stud  16  by anchor plate  28  mounted to broad side  16   b  and side plates  34  and  36  mounted to narrow side  16   n  to securely maintain the position and orientation of cables  20 ,  22  and  24 . 
     Referring further to  FIG. 1 , a tab  44  is formed from platform  32 . Three additional tabs  44 ′,  42 ′ and  40 ′ are formed from the rear portion of platform  32  residing behind cables  20 ,  22  and  24 . Two additional tabs  40  and  42  are formed from second platform  32 ′. When cables  20 ,  22  and  24  are passed between tabs  40  and  40 ′,  42  and  42 ′,  44  and  44 ′, the tabs bend in the direction of movement of the cables, holding the cables securely in position. Whereas three cables of the same size and three pairs of tabs are shown in the example bracket, alternate numbers of cables and alternate numbers and various sizes of tabs may be utilized. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , cable positioning bracket  10  is shown in the open condition as partially mounted to wall stud  16  prior to the insertion of cables. Anchor plate  28  and side plate  34  are mounted with fasteners F to wall stud  16 . While attachment of side plate  34  to wall stud  16  provides a degree of stability to bracket  10 , the invention recognizes that an alternate embodiment without side plate  34  would function similarly in practice. Platform  32  extends outwardly from anchor plate  28 , with the forward portion of platform  32  connected to downwardly oriented side plate  34 . The rear portion of platform  32  has tabs  40 ′,  42 ′ and  44 ′ formed therein. Platform  32 ′ has tabs  40  and  42  formed therein. Side plate  36  extends downwardly from platform  32 ′, with an elongate outer section provided for attachment to wall stud  16 . Hinge plate  48  connects the rear portion of platform  32  with platform  32 ′. Hinge plate  48  is vertically oriented (perpendicular to the plane of platforms  32 ,  32 ′) to be controllably bendable in the direction indicated by arrow A when second platform  32 ′ and second side plate  36  are moved away from wall stud  16 . A gap G is created between side plate  34  and side plate  36 . The bend  49  occurring in hinge plate  48  may be at various positions along the length thereof within the scope of the invention. Alternatively, hinge plate  48  may bend in an arc rather than at a sharp corner. A hole H is positioned near the end of side plate  36  to attach side plate  36  to wall stud  16  after inserting one or more cables through gap G to be placed between front tabs  40 ,  42 ,  44  and rear tabs  40 ′,  42 ′,  44 ′. Side plate  36  is closed in the direction indicated by arrow B to position hole H in side plate  36  below fastener F through side plate  34 . When side plate  36  is attached to wall stud  16 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , cable positioning bracket  10  rigidly and securely holds the cables at the required distance from the wall structure to be mounted to wall stud  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cable positioning bracket  10  is shown in the closed condition in side elevation view and end elevation view, respectively. Cables  20 ,  22  and  24  are shown in dashed lines for clarity. Side plate  34  and side plate  36  are coplanar in preparation for being attached to a wall stud (not shown). Anchor plate  28  is substantially perpendicular to side plates  34  and  36 . Hinge plate  48  is substantially perpendicular to side plates  34  and  36 . Tabs  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  40 ′,  42 ′ and  44 ′ (see  FIG. 2 ) are securely holding cables  20 ,  22  and  24  (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) to ensure that distance D is not less than 1.25 inch, as required by the NEC Standard described above. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , cable positioning bracket  10 ′ is illustrated in planar form prior to being bent to the shape described above. The bracket of the invention is preferably formed of galvanized sheet metal approximately 0.025 inch thick, i.e. 24 gauge. It is to be understood that alternate materials and thickness are considered to be within the scope of the invention described. The initial formation of planar bracket  10 ′ of sheet metal is preferably by punch press processing to create slots between tabs  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  40 ′,  42 ′ and  44 ′, as well as between side plates  34  and  36 . In addition, holes H are formed for mounting to a wall stud. Subsequent to punching to form the slots and holes of the design, the dashed lines are bent, e.g. by a sheet metal brake, to obtain the three-dimensional shape illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an alternate configuration is illustrated as cable positioning bracket  10 ″, shown in planar form. This embodiment of the invention has three tabs  40 ,  42  and  44  on one side of bracket  10 ″ and a single, long, tab  50  on the opposite side thereof. In addition, all three tabs  40 ,  42  and  44  are formed from platform  32 ′, as different from the previously disclosed embodiment of the invention. Tab  50  may be formed of different widths, therefore leaving the gap between tab  50  and tabs  40 ,  42  and  44  wider or narrower. Further, an elongate tab similar to tab  50  may be formed on both sides of bracket  10 ″. Other aspects and manufacturing processes relating to this alternate embodiment of the invention are substantially similar to the designs described above. 
     For reasons of manufacturing efficiency and packaging, the preferred material is the galvanized sheet metal noted above, however alternate gauges and material types are clearly possible. One alternate material available is injection molded plastic resin, e.g. polypropylene or high impact polystyrene resin. 
     While the description above discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that numerous variations and modifications of the invention are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the claims that follow.