Abstract:
A device which is used to guide cables or wires through walls. The device includes a maintaining device which is connected to two or more cable maintaining elements that surround, in a frame-like manner, a mounting area which includes a through-opening, and the cable maintaining elements are arranged in the region of the through-openings. According to this invention, the mounting area has a matrix-form and includes at least two mounting lines and at least two mounting gaps which enable the mounting area to be equipped in a simple and easy manner. The mounting lines and the mounting gaps predefine, respectively, a constant modular dimension, and the cable maintaining elements are dimensioned with respect to the width and the longitudinal extension in the direction of the mounting line and direction of the mounting gap, so that the width and the length correspond to a multiple whole number of the modular dimension.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a device for guiding cables or wires through walls, having a holding device with which two or more cable holders are connected, wherein the holding device surrounds a mounting area which contains a frame-like lead-through opening, and wherein the cable holders are arranged in the area of the lead-through opening. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     A guiding device is known from German Patent Reference DE 92 11 740 U1. In this case a frame-shaped holding device is used, which forms the lead-through opening. The holding device has a circumferential strip surrounding the lead-through opening. Cable holders made of an elastic rubber material are placed on this strip. 
     Here, the cable holders cover a partial area of the lead-through opening. A clamping element, with which the individual cable holders can be clamped transversely relative to the cable lead-through direction, is inserted into the remaining partial area. The partial area of this device into which the clamping element is inserted cannot be used for cable guidance. 
     The clamping element must be accessible from the direction of the front and the rear of the device for clamping it. In the installed state, it is thus necessary to keep the back of the wall on which the device is installed accessible. Also, two persons are needed for mounting, one that clamps the clamping elements at the front, and a second that is located behind the wall and braces the clamping element. 
     Furthermore, the jigsaw-like method for applying components to the holding element is not simple, because it is necessary to assure that the cable holders of different sizes cover the area of the lead-through opening without gaps, except for the area of the clamping elements. Sometimes, with the clamping element released, the cable holders can drop out of the holding device in an uncontrolled manner, so that installation is not always without problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of this invention to provide a device of the type mentioned above but which makes possible a simple and clear placement of cable holders in the mounting area. 
     This object is achieved if the mounting area is designed as a grid, having at least two mounting lines and at least two mounting columns, wherein the mounting lines and the mounting columns each determine a constant grid dimension. The extensions in width and length of the cable holders in their mounting line direction and mounting column direction are of such dimensions that the width and length measurements correspond to a whole-number multiple of the grid dimensions. 
     A clear placement of the cables/wires is possible as a result of the grid-like division of the mounting area. In the process, the individual cable holders can be arbitrarily arranged in the fields determined by the grid dimensions. 
     The mounting area can be simply filled without gaps by cable holders or blind pieces. 
     In one embodiment of this invention, the number of the mounting columns is ≧2 and the number of the mounting lines =2, or the number of the mounting columns =2 and the number of the mounting lines ≧2. At least in some areas the holding device has a support section which surrounds the lead-through openings, on which the cable holders are placed with a support section. 
     A strong IP seal can be achieved if the cable holders have a non-deformable cable sheath, which is surrounded by a seal and maintained on the holding device. The seal can be placed against a sealing face of the holding device and the seals of the one or several adjoining cable holders. The stable cable sheaths can be dependably anchored in the holding device. The seals form defined sealing locations. 
     In one embodiment of this invention, at least one of the cable holders, or at least two groups of cable holders, can be connected with the holding device, respectively independently of each remaining cable holder, by connecting elements assigned to the cable holders. 
     With the connecting elements, which are individually assigned to the cable holders, the user can release the desired cable holder in an individually directed manner. The remaining cable holders remain fixed in place during this step. 
     Thus, the manipulation of the device is easily monitored and placement/removal of the cable holders is possible. For example, one or several locking elements can be assigned to each cable holder, or a group of cable holders can be fixed in place by one or several locking elements. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, at least one of the cable holders, or at least two groups of cable holders, can be connected with the holding device, respectively independently of each remaining cable holder, by connecting elements assigned to the cable holders. 
     Thus, the cable holders can always be released and fixed in place from the direction of the front of the wall, which allows mounting by a single person. In addition, it is possible to design the installation conditions on the back of the wall independently of the cable lead-through. 
     In order not to limit the easy passage of cables equipped with plugs through the lead-through opening, it is possible in accordance with this invention to arrange or provide the connecting elements outside of the lead-through opening. 
     A secure support and strain relief for the cable holders results in a simple manner if the cable lead-through direction the cables holders are positively connected with the holding device and are supported opposite the cable lead-through direction by each connecting element. 
     In this case, a fastening piece of the connecting element can extend over the cable holders on their side facing away from the support section. 
     A simple, tool-free locking of the connecting element can be achieved if the connecting element is fixed in place on the holding device in the locked position by a snap-in connection. 
     Exact positioning of the cable holders can be simply achieved and maintained if the connecting elements and/or the holding device have positioning receptacles, on which the cable holders are maintained transversely with respect to the cable lead-through direction. 
     Dependable sealing of the cable holders can be achieved if the holding device and/or the connecting elements have clamping pieces which sealingly clamp the cable holders in the mounted position transversely with respect to the cable lead-through direction. A functional separation between the locking device and the seal and the connecting elements and the clamping pieces is thus achieved. 
     A strong IP seal can be achieved if the holding device supports the clamping pieces, the clamping pieces can be adjusted transversely with respect to the cable lead-through direction, and the adjustment movement of the clamping pieces is blocked in the mounted position by the connecting elements. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the cable holders have a non-deformable cable sheath, which is surrounded by a seal and is maintained on the holding device. The seal is placed against a circumferential sealing face of the holding device and the seals of the one or several adjoining cable holders, the stable cable sheath, which can for example include one or several plastic injection-molded parts, can be dependably supported on the holding device. For discharging its function, the material and the design of the seal can then be provided independently of the cable sheath. 
     In one alternative of this invention, the cable holder has a cable sheath enclosing at least one cable lead-through and has two or more partial bodies, which can be displaced relative to each other, by which the cable lead-through can be opened transversely with respect to the cable guidance direction, and the cable sheath can be fixed in place directly on the holding device. 
     Thus, pre-assembled cables with plugs already fixed on them can be inserted into the cable lead-through of the cable sheath, which can be opened. Because the cable sheath is directly connected with the holding device, it is possible to realize a simple, compact construction with few components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This invention is explained in greater detail in view of an exemplary embodiment represented in the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a lateral view of a holding device for guiding cables or wires through a wall; 
         FIG. 2  shows the holding device in accordance with  FIG. 1 , in a top view; 
         FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of the holding device taken along the section line identified by III-III in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows the holding device in accordance with  FIGS. 1 to 3 , in an isometric view; 
         FIG. 5  shows a cover in an isometric view; 
         FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of the cover in accordance with  FIG. 5 , taken along the section line identified by VI-VI in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows the cover in a top view; 
         FIG. 8  shows an arrangement with the holding device in accordance with  FIGS. 1 to 4  and the cover in accordance with  FIGS. 5 to 7 , as well as with a cable holder along the section line identified by VIII-VIII in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows the arrangement in accordance with  FIG. 8 , in a top view; 
         FIG. 10  shows a sectional view of the arrangement in accordance with  FIG. 9 , taken along the section line identified by X-X in  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIGS. 11 to 15  show a connecting element in various views. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  show a holding device  10  made of a plastic material and embodied as one piece. Together with lateral elements  12  and  13 , the holding device  10  forms a frame  11  that surrounds a lead-through opening  14 . The lead-through opening  14  is solely delimited by a support section  15 , which projects away from the lateral elements  12 ,  13  at right angles. In the area of or near the lead-through opening  14 , the holding device  10  forms a mounting area composed in a grid-like manner of two mounting lines and four mounting columns. The mounting area can be filled with cable holders  30 , as explained later. The support section  15  has positioning receptacles  16  embodied in the form of depressions on its front. 
     These are arranged and spaced apart from each other in accordance with the grid dimensions, wherein the grid dimensions correspond to the uniform grid dimensions determined by the mounting lines and mounting columns. 
     As  FIG. 3  shows, clamping pieces  17  are formed on the lateral elements  12  in the area of or near the support sections  15 . In this case, the clamping pieces  17  extend continuously between the lateral elements  13  and are connected to the ends of these. 
     Thus, the clamping pieces  17  and the lateral elements  13  form a circumferential sealing face  17 . 1 ,  13 . 1  facing the lead-through opening  14 . The clamping pieces  17  project forward by gripping elements at the front of the holding device  10 . In the area facing away from the lead-through opening  14 , a free space  18  is formed at the rear behind the clamping pieces  17 . The clamping pieces  17  can be pivoted in it in a spring-elastic manner around the connecting section formed in the transition area between the clamping pieces  17  and the support section  15 . 
     The lateral elements  13  have two shoulders  10 . 1 , which are facing away from the lead-through opening  14  and are designed in a box-like manner. They are delimited by a projecting edge  10 . 1  and are respectively penetrated by two screw receptacles  10 . 4 . 
     The shoulders  10 . 2  each has a snap-in element  10 . 3  on the side. As shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, the holding device  10  has a wall attachment side formed by a flat contact face  10 . 5 . With this contact face  10 . 5 , and with the interposition of a seal, the holding device  10  can be attached to a wall around a wall opening so that the wall opening and the lead-through opening  14  are aligned. 
     As  FIG. 8  shows, it is possible to insert connecting elements  40  into the free space  18  behind the clamping pieces  17 . The details of the design of the connecting elements  40  are shown in  FIGS. 11 to 15 . As these drawings show, the connecting element  40  has a strip  43  and a handle  41  formed on it at right angles. Also, on the side facing away from the handle  41 , the strip  43  has a fastening piece  42  arranged at right angles with respect to the strip  43 . The fastening piece  42  has a recess  44  on its underside, whose dimensions correspond to the positioning receptacles  16  of the support section  15  of the holding device  10 . 
     At its end facing away from the fastening piece  42 , the strip  43  has an opening, at which it has a snap-in element  46 . An oblique-shaped section  47 , as well as two laterally protruding stops  45 , are also provided in the area of or near the free end of the strip  43 . The stops  45  are embodied as cylindrical pins. 
     As  FIG. 8  shows, the strip  43  of the connecting elements  40  can be inserted into the free space  18 . In the area facing the contact face  10 . 5 , the free space  18  is bordered by an oblique face, which works together with the oblique-shaped section  47  of the connecting element  40 . Accordingly, the oblique-shaped section  47  slides up on the oblique face, so that in the mounted position the strip  43  rests against the rear of the clamping piece  17 . The snap-in element simultaneously snaps into an associated snap-in receptacle  19 , which is cut as an opening into the lateral elements  12  of the holding device  10 . 
     Snap-in can be easily accomplished because the connecting element  40  merely needs to be pressed into the free space  18  with the handle  41 . 
     As  FIG. 8  shows, a cover  20  is connected with the holding device  10 , which fixes the connecting elements  40  secure against loss on the holding device  10 . Details of the design of the cover  20  are shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 . As  FIG. 5  shows, the cover  20  has two strips  21  arranged parallel with respect to each other, which have comb-like protrusions  24 . On their longitudinal ends, the strips  21  are connected with box-like edges  23 . Screw receptacles  22  penetrate through the edges  23 . 
     The cover  20  can be placed on top of the holding device  10 . During this, the edges  23  extend around the shoulders  10 . 2  of the holding device  10 . The cover  20  can be pushed on the holding device  10  until it comes to rest against the edge  10 . 1 . In this position, the snap-in elements  10 . 3  of the holding device  10  snap into the snap-in receptacles  25  of the cover  20 , so that the cover  20  is held secure against loss. Here, the screw receptacles  22  of the cover  20  are also arranged and aligned with respect to the screw receptacles  10 . 4  of the holding device  10 . 
     As  FIG. 8  shows, the strips  21  of the cover  20  rest on the lateral elements  12  of the holding device  10 , while the protrusions  24  cover the free space  18 . The distance between the protrusions  24  is matched to the spacing of the stops  45  of the connecting element  40 . The connecting element  40  can be brought out of its locking position represented in  FIG. 8  into an unlocked position. For this purpose, the snap-in element  48  is unlocked by a suitable tool passed through the snap-in receptacle  19 , and the connecting element  40  can be pulled out in the direction facing away from the contact face  10 . 5  with the aid of the handle  41 . The pullout movement is limited by the stops  45  which rest against the protrusions  24  of the cover  20 . 
     As  FIG. 8  shows, the free space  18  is widened in the area facing the cover  20 , so that in the pulled-out state the connecting element  40  can be pivoted outward to a limited extent in the direction of the extension of the handle  41 . Then the fastening piece  42  is located outside of the cable lead-through area, so that cable holders  30  can be conveniently inserted. 
       FIGS. 8 to 10  show the design of the cable holders  30 . 
     The cable holders comprise two housing halves, which can be snapped into each other. The cable holder  30  encloses a cable lead-through  31 . A sealing element receptacle  32  is provided centered in the cable lead-through  31 . A sealing element is placed into the former, which sealingly encloses a cable inserted into the cable lead-through  31 . 
     The cable holder  30  also forms a strain relief, which axially fixes the cable secure against displacement. At their longitudinal ends, the cable holders  30  form support sections  34 , with shoulders  33  formed on them, around the cable lead-through  31 . In their dimensions, the shoulders  33  are matched to the shape of the positioning receptacles  16  of the holding device  10 , or to the recesses  44  of the connecting elements  40 . 
     The cable holders  30  are designed symmetrically with respect to the center transverse plane. A circumferential sealing element  35  of a soft resilient material surrounds the cable holder  30  in the center transverse plane. 
     The method of mounting the device for the lead-through of cables is described. 
     First, the housing halves of the cable holder  30  are placed around a cable, which can be pre-equipped with plugs, and are snapped together. The cable, possibly with the plug, is pushed through the lead-through opening  14 . The lead-through opening  14  is sufficiently large so that even large size plugs can be inserted. Thereafter, the cable holder  30  is placed into the holding device  10  at the desired position in the mounting grid. Here, with its support section  34  the cable holder  30  sits on the support section  15  of the holding device  10 . Exact positioning is achieved by the shoulders  33  of the cable holder  30 , which engage the positioning receptacles  16  of the support section  15 . Subsequently, the associated connecting element  40  is pushed into the locking position by means of the handle  41 . During this, the shoulder  33  facing the fastening piece  42  of the connecting element  40  engages the recess  44 . In the mounted position, the cable holder  30  is positively fixed in place in the cable lead-through direction on the fastening piece  42  and the support section  15 . 
     Besides the cable holder  30  represented in  FIG. 9 , further cable holders  30  or blind pieces are inserted. 
     In this case, the cable holders  30  can all have the same geometry, or cable holders  30  are used, which occupy several installation locations in the holding device  10 . Here, the dimensions of the cable holders  30  in their longitudinally and transversely extending direction shown in accordance with  FIG. 9  are selected to be in kit form. 
     Accordingly, the longitudinal and/or transverse extension always corresponds to a multiple of the longitudinal and/or transverse extension of the cable holders  30  represented in  FIG. 9 . 
     In other words, the dimensions of the cable holders  30  are always selected so that the longitudinal and/or transverse extension corresponds to a multiple of the grid dimension determined by the positioning receptacles  16 . Thus, it is possible to fill the cable lead-through area completely with cable holders  30  or, in case no cable lead-throughs are desired at defined locations, with blind pieces. At least one connecting element  40  is assigned to each cable holder  30  or blind piece. 
     In the contact area with the holding device  10 , the cable holders  30  or blind pieces are sealed by the circumferential seal  35  at the sealing face  13 . 1  or  17 . 1  of the holding device  10 . The adjoining cable holders  30  or blind pieces seal by seals  35  resting on each other. 
     As mentioned above, the device can be installed on a wall around an opening in the wall. For this purpose, screws are passed through the screw receptacles  22  of the cover and the screw receptacles  10 . 4  aligned therewith of the holding device  10 , and are clamped to the wall.