Abstract:
A mounting hook to mount an object to a cable is provided. The mounting hook includes a base, a pair of arms, a pair of engaging sections and a clamping bridge. The base has at least one mounting aperture that is adapted to mount the base to the object. The pair of arms extend from the base. Each engaging section extends from a respective arm, and is adapted to engage a cable placed therein. The clamping bridge is coupled between the engaging sections.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The ability to mount a relatively heavy object on a cable or strand of wire can be very challenging especially when only one person is available to do the mounting. For example, cellular amplifiers that can weight 100 lbs or more are typically mounted or hung on cables. To mount such a heavy object, usually two or more people are needed. Those that lift the object and one to secure the object to the cable.  
         [0002]     For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a cable mounting system that is easy and effective to use for relatively heavy objects.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is provided by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention and may include more or less elements than are claimed in the Claims section. In light of the aforementioned, a mounting hook to mount an object to a cable is provided. In one embodiment, the mounting hook includes a base, a pair of arms, a pair of engaging sections and a clamping bridge. The base has at least one mounting aperture that is adapted to mount the base to the object. Each arm extends from the base. Each engaging section extends from a respective arm and is adapted to engage a cable placed therein. The clamping bridge is coupled between the engaging sections. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]     The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the description of the preferred embodiments and the following figures in which:  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a strand mount hook of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional side view of the strand mount hook of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the strand mount hook of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a partial side view of an engaging section of a strand mount hook of one embodiment of the present invention engaging a cable;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a pair of stand mount hooks of one embodiment of the present invention being mounted to an amplifier;  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of an amplifier coupled to a cable via a pair of strand mount hooks of one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an amplifier coupled to a cable via a pair of strand mount hooks of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0012]     In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof.  
         [0014]     Embodiments of the present invention provide a way of easily mounting a heavy object, such as an amplifier to a cable.  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3  illustrate different views of a strand mount hook (mount hook)  100  of one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a side perspective view of the mount hook  100  is provided. As illustrated the mount hook  100  includes a base  102  and an engaging section  104 . The engaging section  104  is coupled to the base  102  via arm sections  103 A and  103 B. The base  102  includes mounting apertures  112 A and  112 B (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). The engaging section  104  includes a first section  105 A and a second section  105 B that are coupled together by a clamping bridge  108 . The first and second sections  105 A and  105 B are generally in a C shape in this embodiment. Moreover, the first and second section  105 A and  105 B and the clamping bridge  106  form a cable opening  106 . In addition, a clamp opening is formed between the base  102 , the arm sections  103 A and  103 B and the clamping bridge  108 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of mount hook  100 . As illustrated, mount hook  100  includes two mounting apertures  112 A and  112 B. The mounting apertures  112 A and  112 B are used to mount the mount hook  100  to an object to be mounted to a cable. Also illustrated in  FIG. 2 , are teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N that extend down from the first and second sections  105 A and  105 B and the clamp bridge  108  into the cable opening  106 .  FIG. 3  is a top view of the mount hook  100 . This view further illustrates the mounting apertures  112 A and  112 B and the clamping bridge  108 .  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a partial side view of a hook clamp  400  of one embodiment of the present invention is provided. This partial view illustrates a cable  402  inserted in the cable opening  106  of the hook clamp  400 . In particular,  FIG. 4  illustrates how the teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N engage a surface of the cable  402  to secure the position of the hook  400  in relation to the cable  402 . That is, the teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N, prevent or reduce the rotation of mount hook  400  in relation to the cable  402  when the cable  402  is inserted in the cable opening  106 . The distance between the teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N and the number of teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N will vary depending on the size of the cable or stand  402 . Moreover, the distance and number of teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N can be set so that a range of cables can be used. For example, the distance and number of teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N can be set so that cables having a size of ¼ to ⅝ inch can be used with the same mount hook. In one embodiment the teeth are formed in rows. Further in another embodiment, the teeth are rows of ridges.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a side perspective view of a pair of stand mount hooks  100  being mounted to a cellular amplifier  502  of one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the cellular amplifier  502  has two receiving mounts  507 A and  507 B. The receiving mounts  507 A and  507 B include threaded recesses  508 - 1  through  508   4  which are aligned with the mounting apertures  112 A and  112 B of the respective mount hooks  100 . The respective mount hooks  100  are mounted to the receiving mounts  507 A and  507 B via threaded bolts  504 - 1  through  504 - 4  and washers  506 - 1  through  506 - 4 . In particular, the thread bolts (or screws in one embodiment) are positioned thought the mounting apertures  112 A and  122 B in the respective mounting hooks  100  and are threadably engaged with the threaded recess  508 - 1  through  508 - 4  of the respective receiving mounts  507 A and  507 B.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the amplifier  502  coupled to a cable  602  via a pair of strand mount hooks  100  of one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the two mount hooks  100  are mounted so that there respective cable openings  106  are accessible from opposite directions. In mounting the object (an amplifier  502  in this example), to a cable or strand  602 , the user simply lifts the object up and positions the cable next to openings  111  (see  FIG. 2 ) that lead to the respective cable openings  106  and then rotates the object such that the cable is received in the cable openings  106 . This allows for the relatively easy mounting of a heavy object by a single person. The teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N in each hook mount  100  help to hold the cable in the respective cable opening  106  as well as prevent the hook mount  100  from rotating about the cable  602 . In one embodiment, cable clamps  604  are further used to secure the mount hooks  100  to the cable  602 . The clamps  604  are positioned through the clamp opening  110  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) and around the cable  602  and the clamping bridge  108 . Hence, the clamp  604  couples the cable  602  to the clamping bridge  108  of the hook mount  100 . The clamp further forces the teeth  114 - 1  through  114 -N of the hook mount  100  farther into the surface of the cable  602  when tightened. An example of a clamp that can be used is the High Torque-Heavy Duty Clamps manufactured by the Breeze Industrial Products Corporation.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the amplifier  502  coupled to a cable  602  via a pair of strand mount hooks  100 . In this embodiment, the clamps  604  are also used to secure the mount hooks  100  to the cable  602 .  FIG. 7 , also illustrates how operational wires  704  to an object (the amplifier  502  in this example), can be coupled to the cable via wire ties  702  to keep the wires  704  organized and out of the way.  
         [0020]     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.