Abstract:
A cable tie mount for routing wires or cables includes an elongated rail portion and at least one mounting stub at one end of the rail portion, at least one mounting stub extending substantially perpendicularly of the rail portion for securing the cable tie mount to a supporting surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to cable routing and, specifically, to a cable tie mount to which electrical wiring, cables, fiber optic links and the like may be secured using conventional cable ties.  
           [0002]    Cable ties (also known as tie wraps or lashing ties) have become increasingly popular in recent years as a mechanism for securing electrical wires to a sturdy supporting surface. Devices for securing the cable tie to a supporting surface are referred to as cable tie mounts. Cable tie mounts come in a variety of existing designs, all of which inherently restrict the number of cables which can be secured. Specifically, prior designs for cable tie mounts involve the use of flat or nearly flat tie down surfaces, which inherently restrict the number of cables which can be secured.  
           [0003]    Conventional cable tie mounts are usually individually directly adhesively secured to the flat surface of, for example, an electrical panel, door, or similar flat surface. Self-adhesive used to secure the mounts often results in removal of paint from the panel or door surface that, in turn, causes the mount to separate from the surface.  
           [0004]    In addition, making or stocking a large number of cable tie mount part numbers to accommodate different numbers of wires in a wiring loom or wiring bundle can be expensive, time consuming and a hindrance to efficient production.  
         SUMMARY ON INVENTION  
         [0005]    The cable tie mount in accordance with the invention is capable of supporting a greater range of cables, wires or fiber optic links than other designs. It can be made of tubing, bar stock, plastic, or other suitable material. It is bent or formed into a U-shape at each end and is then affixed to a supporting surface. The method of attachment for a cable tie mount made of metal tubing is typically by threading the ends and using screws, but fusion welding may also be employed. For a round cable tie mount made of bar stock, the typical method of attachment is by fusion welding. When using plastics, the method of attachment is typically by bonding or via the use of an appropriate glue.  
           [0006]    After installation, electrical wires may be lashed to the cable tie mount using conventional tie wraps or lashing ties (cable ties). The cable tie mount can be made in various sizes to accommodate large and small cables, wires and fiber optic links alike. A cable tie mount in accordance with this invention can accommodate a single wire lashed to it with a cable tie, up to a multitude of wires which completely encircle the mount.  
           [0007]    The cable tie mount described herein offers a more universal and generic design which accommodates a much greater range in the number of wires, cables or fiber optic links (all of which are referred to herein simply as “cables”) which can be secured.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, in its broader aspects, the invention relates to a cable tie mount for routing wires or cables comprising an elongated rail portion; and at least one mounting stub at least one end of the rail portion, at least one mounting stub extending substantially perpendicularly of the rail portion, at least one mounting stub adapted for connecting the cable tie mount to a supporting surface.  
           [0009]    In another aspect, the invention relates to a cable tie mount and panel assembly comprising at least one panel having a flat surface; at least one cable tie mount comprising an elongated rail portion; and at least one mounting stub at least one end of said rail portion, at least one mounting stub extending substantially perpendicularly of the rail portion, wherein the at least one mounting stub is secured to the flat surface of the panel. 
       
    
    
       [0010]    The invention will now be described in greater detail in conjunction with the drawings described below.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a cable tie mount in accordance with the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the cable tie mount in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cable tie mount in accordance with the invention, with cables secured thereto; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a more comprehensive installation utilizing cable tie mounts of different lengths. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    With reference to FIG. 1, a cable tie mount  10  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes an elongated rail portion or rail  12  that may be metal, plastic or other suitable relatively rigid tubular material, preferably of round cross section. Bar stock may also be utilized. The rail  12  terminates at opposite ends at mounting stub portions or stubs  14 ,  16  that extend substantially perpendicular to the rail  12 . These opposite ends of the tubing may be internally threaded to permit securement of the cable tie mount to an electrical panel, internal surface of a panel box door or the like. Alternatively, and especially when the cable tie mount is made of solid bar stock, the cable tie mount may be fusion welded to the supporting surface at the mounting stubs  14 ,  16 . The stubs  14 ,  16  are of sufficient length to space the rail away from the supporting surface, but may be of any desired length. Likewise, the rail  12  may be of any desired length, as dictated by specific uses of the cable tie mount.  
         [0016]    It will be appreciated that if the rail  12  is sufficiently short, only one mounting stub  14  or  16  could be incorporated into the cable tie mount design.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the cable tie mount  10  may be utilized on a flat panel surface  18 . Specifically, the cable tie mount is secured to the surface  18  by screws threaded into the stubs  14 ,  16  at  20 ,  22 , inserted from the opposite side of surface  18 . Two pairs of cables  24 ,  26  are routed along the rail  14 , with conventional cable ties  28  enclosing the cables and wrapped about, and secured to the rail. It will be appreciated that as few as one or two, and as many as several wires or cables may be routed along the rail  14 . Note that the cables can generally surround the round rail if necessary, and the stubs  14 ,  16  can be lengthened as necessary to create additional space as desired.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 illustrates a more comprehensive installation with three horizontally oriented cable tie mounts  30 ,  32 ,  34 , similar to cable tie mount  10 , and a longer, vertically oriented cable tie mount  36  secured to the inside surface  38  of an electrical box door  40  to which various respective cables or cable bundles  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50  are secured by conventional ties  52 . The ability to make rails of different lengths, shapes, etc. and to orient the rails as needed, imparts great flexibility and ease of use to the cable tie mount system in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.