Abstract:
A cable hanger has a mounting end for attachment to a support structure and a cable support portion coupled to the mounting end. The cable support portion has at least two spaced parallel legs defining a receiving slot therebetween. Each receiving slot has a closed bottom and an open top end for receiving and locating coiled loops of cable. Preferably, the mounting end can be releasably attached to the support structure, and may have a hook shape whose free end is spaced from the cable support portion to receive part of the support structure therebetween. The cable hanger may be formed from bent rod. The receiving slots are sized to accommodate the diameter and length of cable being supported and the number of receiving slots may vary. Some embodiments include tie bars for locking the cable in the receiving slots and locking the cable hanger to a support structure.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a hanger for suspending cable, including welding cable, electrical cord, hose, wire or rope so that it may conveniently be stored in a tidy fashion away from the floor and secured, as necessary. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Convenient storage of electrical cable such as welding cable and extension cords is a problem which is understood by many homeowners who have wrestled with an extension cord, perhaps after mowing the lawn or using a snow blower or power tool. The problem is exacerbated in industrial construction and maintenance where the cables used for welding and powering electrical heavy equipment may be of very thick diameter and extremely long. Such cables may weigh in excess of forty pounds, and be fifty to one hundred feet long. 
         [0003]    Improper storage of cable results in inevitable entanglements of the cable with consequent losses in productivity as maintenance workers retrieve and untangle cable. Cable which lies on the floor can be a tripping hazard, is susceptible to damage from being run over by fork trucks and the like, becomes covered in grease and debris and is subject to damage, such as cutting and melting of the plastics sleeve from welding sparks and molten steel caused by grinding and torch cutting operations. Adequate cable support is therefore required during use of the cable as well as during storage to protect the cable from damage but also to keep the workplace clear and safe. 
         [0004]    To save space, cables are usually coiled and individual loops are secured at one end of a coil with a fastener such as tape, string, tie strips and the like. The coil can conveniently be suspended from a wall-mounted hook. 
         [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,058, a cable support bracket is provided for mounting to a wall or other supporting structure. The bracket has an outwardly extending horizontal plate and a central tab combining to form a U-shaped channel for receiving and locating individual loops of a cable. The arrangement is intended to prevent the cable from becoming tangled. However, access to the U-shaped channel is limited by a small gap formed in the outwardly extending plate and commensurate with the cable diameter. The device is of limited capacity and requires a permanent or semi-permanent installation and therefore is not portable. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,979 provides a cable hanger for suspension from ceiling wires and is adapted to be used in the space defined between a roof and a suspended ceiling. A U-shaped trough is used to support a coil of wires and the like and is formed from bent rod which conveniently is shaped to slide on and grip a ceiling suspension wire. The device is unsuitable for use with the heavy power cables and welding cables for which this invention is intended. 
         [0007]    An object of this invention is to provide a convenient and reliable support for cable which overcomes, at least in part, some of the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In accordance with this invention, there is provided a cable hanger having a mounting end for attachment to a support structure and a cable support portion coupled to the mounting end. The cable support portion has at least two spaced parallel legs defining side-by-side receiving slots therebetween. Each receiving slot has a closed bottom and an open top end for receiving and locating loops of a cable formed into a coil. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the mounting end is adapted to be releasably attached to the support structure and the cable hanger is formed from bent rod. 
         [0010]    The mounting end will preferably have a hook shape with a free end attaching to the support structure which is spaced from the cable support portion to optionally receive a portion of a support structure therebetween. 
         [0011]    The receiving slots will have a height and width selected to accommodate the diameter and length of cable being supported and the number of receiving slots may vary accordingly. 
         [0012]    For some applications, it is preferable for the cable hanger to include tie bars whereby the associated cable may be secured in the receiving slots with a padlock and the cable support itself may be secured to a support structure preventing unauthorized removal of the cable from the cable support portion and removal of the mounting end from the support structure. The cord of a power tool may also be inserted into the cable support portion with an extension cord to prevent unauthorized removal of the extension cord and the power tool. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    In order to better understand the invention, several embodiments are described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention shown in use in association with a coil of electrical cable; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the cable hanger of  FIG. 1  (drawn to a larger scale) with the electrical cable unraveled; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  (drawn adjacent  FIG. 3 ) is a plan view of the cable hanger of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  (drawn adjacent  FIG. 3 ) is a side elevation view of the cable hanger of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the cable hanger of  FIG. 3  shown with a hooked mounting end inserted into a hole; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a similar view to  FIG. 6  of a third embodiment of a cable hanger shown with a hooked mounting end hooked over a cable conduit; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a similar view to  FIG. 6  of the third embodiment of a cable hanger shown with a hooked mounting end located in a doorjamb; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  (drawn adjacent  FIG. 7 ) is a similar view to  FIG. 6  of a fourth embodiment of a cable hanger shown with a hooked mounting end held by a lip on toolbox; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 10 to 12  show the third embodiment of a cable hanger mounted to different structures by a mounting hook; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention and shown being carried by a hand; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of embodiment six of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a side elevation view of embodiment seven of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a side elevation view of embodiment eight of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 18 to 20  show the third embodiment of a cable hanger with tie bars in various positions for use to secure the cable hanger and cable; 
           [0030]      FIG. 21  shows the second embodiment of a cable hanger with an adapter inserted to accommodate small diameter cable; 
           [0031]      FIG. 22  is a side elevation view of embodiment nine of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 23  is a side elevation view of embodiment ten of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    A first embodiment of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  20  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The cable hanger  20  has a mounting end  22  for attachment to a support structure (not shown) and which in this embodiment consists of a simple hook with a free end. A cable support portion  24  is coupled to the mounting end  22  and has three spaced parallel legs  26  defining two side-by-side receiving slots  28  therebetween. Each receiving slot has a closed bottom end  30  and an open top end  32 . Conveniently, the hooked mounting end  22  and outer legs  26  of the cable support portion  24  are formed from one length of bent rod having a general S-shaped configuration. The middle leg  26  is formed from a piece of rod welded between the inner and outer legs  26 . While other materials may be used, rod is inexpensive, easy to form, and also resistant to physical abuse. 
         [0034]    An electrical extension cord  34  is shown in  FIG. 1  with discrete loops of the cable disposed one above the other in the receiving slots  28  so as to form a coil. Each receiving slot  28  has a width which is commensurate with the diameter of cable to be supported therein and a height sufficient to receive a plurality of loops of the cable disposed one above the other in the receiving slots. It will be appreciated that the storage capacity of the cable hanger can be varied by changing the length of the slots  28  and the number of receiving slots  28  as schematically illustrated by the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 15 to 17  where like numerals have been used to identify like parts. Thus, the embodiment  36  of  FIG. 15  shows a single slot  28  reinforced with a plate  37  extending between parallel legs  26  and plate  39  extending across the bite of mounting end  22  to prevent splaying under load whereas the embodiment  38  of  FIG. 16  shows two slots which may have more or less height as indicated in chain-dotted outline and the embodiment  40  of  FIG. 17  has three receiving slots defined by four spaced parallel legs  26  in the cable support portion  24 . 
         [0035]    Returning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it will be seen that the cable hanger  20  has a releasable tie bar  42  which is disposed to lie across the open top end  32  of the receiving slots  28  to trap the electrical cable  34  between the tie bar  42  and the closed bottom end  30  of the receiving slots  28 . The tie bar  42  consists of a short length of rod which is hooked at one end around an outer leg  26  of the cable support portion, the leg  26  having a free end which is itself bent to form an eyelet  44  to trap the tie bar  42 . In this way, the tie bar  42  is hinged to outer leg  26 . Meanwhile, the free end of the tie bar  42  is itself bent at a transverse angle and formed into an eyelet  46  to snap around the outer leg  26  of the cable support portion  24 , as shown. By increasing the transverse angle, the holding power of the latch can also be increased. Once the tie bar  42  has snapped shut, splaying of legs  26  is prevented in the cable support portion. A padlock  48  with hasp  50  threaded through the eyelet  46  to encircle the associated leg  26  may be used to secure the cable  34  in the cable support portion  24  and thereby prevent unauthorized removal of the cable. 
         [0036]    A plate  52  which extends between the legs  26  of the receiving slots  28  is fixed to the cable support portion  24  with two welds on legs  26  preventing splaying of legs  26  when the tie bar  42  is unlatched. The plate  52  is conveniently spaced from the closed bottom end  30  of the receiving slots  28  to define two closed loops for receiving a second padlock hasp  54 . The closed loop formed at the bottom of the cable support portion can be used to attach a rope, to tie cable or to secure the cable with a second padlock  56  as shown in  FIG. 2  and thereby prevent separation of the cable from the cable hanger. A power tool may also be secured to the cable hanger using padlock  56 . 
         [0037]    Because the weight of the cable is not negligible and the load on the open hooked mounting end  22  considerable, it may be desirable to reinforce the hooked mounting end. A second embodiment of a cable hanger  58  is shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5  in which such reinforcement is provided. Here the hooked mounting end  22  is reinforced by a parallel extending guide  60  closed at both ends to trap a second tie bar  62  that extends across the open bite portion of the hooked mounting end  22  and which can freely glide from one end of the guide  60  to the other. The second tie bar  62  is thus hinged to the mounting end  22  and has a free end which is bent transversely to the tie bar and formed into an eyelet  64  which clasps around one of the outer legs  26  of the cable support portion  24 . In this way, the eyelets  46 ,  64  lie side by side and are adapted to receive a padlock hasp (not shown). Securing the cable hanger  58  in this way allows the second tie bar  62  to trap a portion of a support structure such as a two by four beam  66  thereby securing the entire assembly  58 . 
         [0038]    In yet another variation, the cable hanger  58  has a single closed loop  68  formed adjacent the closed bottom end  30  of the receiving slot  28  and which is suitable for suspending a utility lamp or securing a padlock  56  as shown. 
         [0039]    Returning to the hooked mounting end  22 , it will be observed that in the cable hanger  58  the free end of the hook  22  extends outwardly before progressing downwardly in the shape of a “dog&#39;s leg”. This configuration of the free end  70  permits the cable hanger to be releasably attached to various support structures as schematically illustrated by  FIGS. 6 to 9 . 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 6 , the cable hanger  58  has free end  70  of the hooked mounting end  22  received in an aperture  72  formed in a bracket or shelf  74 . It will be understood that a number of such cable hangers  58  may be supported at a height above the ground and spaced from each other at regular intervals in order to support cable suspended therebetween. In  FIG. 6 , it will be seen that the configuration of the free end  70  provides a mating surface for the hooked mounting end  22  to rest on the bracket  74  and be supported thereby. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 7 , a cable hanger  71  with four parallel legs  26  is shown with its free end  70  wedged between a cable conduit  76  supported by a bracket along a concrete wall  78 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 8 , the cable hanger  71  with four parallel legs  26  is shown in association with a door jamb  80  with its free end  70  having been hammered into the dry wall  82  so as to chip off a small corner above the door jamb. 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 9 , a cable hanger  83  is shown with the free end  70  of the hooked mounting end  22  supported by a lip portion of a toolbox  84 . Here, the hooked mounting end  22  has no curvature in the open bite so that it is easier to grasp in the hand. Other forms of support structures which may be associated with the cable hanger according to the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In some circumstances, it will be more practical to support the cable hanger from a mounting hook formed adjacent the outer leg  26  remote from the hooked mounting end  22 . Such a mounting hook  85  is illustrated in the drawings of  FIGS. 10 to 12  in association with various structures. In  FIG. 10 , the mounting hook  85  is shown hanging on a small lip such as an angle iron  86 , whereas in  FIG. 11  the mounting hook  85  is supported by square mesh fencing  88  which is used in the construction of tool cribs and in  FIG. 12 , the mounting hook  85  is inserted through a drilled hole or slot in steel plate  90 . 
         [0044]    Another embodiment of the cable hanger is indicated by reference numeral  92  in  FIG. 13 . The cable hanger  92  is identical in most respects to the cable hanger  58  and like parts have again been identified by like numerals. Here it will be seen that the closed bottom end  30  of the receiving slots  28  has been made broader by welding additional pieces of rod to form a base  94 . Such reinforcement allows the cable hanger to support more weight of cable, as necessary, while preventing the cable from becoming kinked and also reinforces the cable support portion  24  so that the outer legs  26  do not splay apart from each other. 
         [0045]    Finally,  FIG. 14  shows an embodiment  96  of a cable hanger made in accordance with the invention which incorporates four parallel legs  26 , defining three receiving slots to increase the capacity of the cable hanger without having to increase the length of the receiving slots  28 . In the embodiment illustrated, the second tie bar  62  is shown in the upward orientation at a top end of the guide  60  where it operates to hold the hooked mounting end  22  in a spaced parallel disposition relative to an outer leg  26  of the cable support portion  24 . Conveniently, the second tie bar  62  will act as a guard to protect fingers from being pinched when manually carrying the cable hanger  96  on a job site from one location to another. Once at the required location, the first tie bar  42  is released and the cable  34  is unwound one loop at a time in an orderly fashion by simply pulling the cable from the free end which was last placed in the cable hanger for storage. When the job is complete, the process is simply reversed, the cable and cable hanger are secured, as necessary, and the equipment is safely stored until needed again. 
         [0046]      FIG. 18  shows the cable hanger with bar  62  locked to leg  26 , also shown is a phantom view of the bar  62  in the upward orientation of guide  60 .  FIG. 19  shows the bar  42  locked, preventing the removal of cable. In  FIG. 20  tie bars  62  and  42  are both locked separately. The bar  62  prevents removal of the cable hanger while the bar  42  prevents removal of cable. 
         [0047]      FIG. 21  shows a cable hanger with the width of slot  28  set for a ½ in cable. If one wishes to store a thinner diameter cable  104  in this unit, a rubber hose adapter  98  such as a gas line hose can be slid over central leg  26  as shown. Once this adapter has been installed, a thin cable or rope such as an anchor rope for a small boat can be placed in receiving slots  28  allowing for vertical stacking. Without this hose, a ¼ in rope could jam or bunch up in receiving slots  28 , preventing smooth deployment of the rope. 
         [0048]    As exemplified by the various embodiments illustrated, the invention may be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims. While the embodiments illustrated show the mounting end and the outer legs of the cable support portion being formed from one length of the bent rod having a general S-shaped configuration, it will be understood that variations such as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23  are also possible. In  FIG. 22 , the cable hanger  100  has a mounting end  22  which is an extension of an outer leg  26  and is bent to curve over the cable support portion  24 . The mounting end  22  could also be omitted and simply replaced by the mounting hook  85  for attaching the cable hanger to a support structure in the manner illustrated by  FIGS. 10 to 12 . In  FIG. 23 , the cable hanger  102  has a mounting end  22  which is an extension of an inner leg  26 . Other variations will also be apparent including, for example, selecting different materials for construction of the cable hanger which could optionally be made from a plate material instead of wire rod.