Abstract:
A locking U-shaped cable support that reduces potential wire abrasion, minimizes magnetic interference to communication signals, and provides a wide opening feature that permits easy insertion of cables without first twisting them. The shape and flexibility of the improved locking cable support enable it to be opened wider than prior art metallic bridle rings, allowing easier insertion of wires. Non-metallic construction minimizes potential wire abrasion and reduces the possibility of magnetic interference with communication signals. A wide surface in the ring portion provides a comfortable seat for cables with minimal bending of cables between supports.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/956,614, filed Sep. 19, 2001, entitled “LOCKING CABLE SUPPORT” which is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/790,047, filed Feb. 21, 2001, entitled “BRIDLE RING FOR ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATION CABLE” and is also a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/956,611, filed Sep. 19, 2001, entitled “ROD CABLE SUPPORT.” 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to cable supports and specifically to an improved non-metallic locking cable support. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is common in the electrical industry to support communication cables using a bridle ring. A bridle ring is a cable support that is constructed from a small diameter rod of steel of one-piece that is bent into a circular hoop with a connection mechanism, such as a threaded connector or a friction clip, at one end. It is typically used to support horizontal or vertical runs of electrical cables by suspending the cables through the circular hoop section. Typically, to contain the cables that will be inserted therein, the hoop section of prior art bridle rings is bent to almost 360° in radius, with just a narrow gap remaining for insertion of cables. As a consequence of the limited size of the gap in prior art bridle rings and the rigid metallic construction, cable bundles are not easily fit therein. 
     Bridle rings are typically used to support telecommunication cables such as those specified in the ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 industry standard for telecommunication cabling systems. Within this standard, three types of cables are recognized for horizontal cabling and include 4-pair 100 ohm UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cable, 2-pair 150 ohm STP (shielded twisted pair) cable, and 2-fiber, 62.5/125 micron optical fiber cable. Category 5 cable refers to a designation applied to UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cable whose transmission rates are specified up to 100 MHz. 
     When supporting telecommunication cables with existing art bridle rings, it is common for the individual cables in the bundle to be bent, twisted, or otherwise damaged as a result of the limited size of the gap, the rigid construction, and the small diameter of the metal rod utilized in constructing the ring. The metal rod that the bridle ring is constructed from is typically 0.25″ in diameter and can disturb the small cables that are within telecommunications cables. Bending and twisting of conductors caused when inserting cables into prior art bridle rings can adversely affect the data transmission rate, which becomes more critical in cables having higher transmission rates, such as Category 5 telecommunications cables. Some manufacturers have attempted to correct the deficiencies of existing art bridle rings by attaching a curved piece of plastic to provide a better surface for supporting the cables. The piece of plastic is typically snapped on in a separate operation and increases the production costs of the existing art bridle ring. 
     In order to overcome some of the shortcomings of traditional bridle rings, the assignee of the present invention filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/790,047 on Feb. 21, 2001, entitled “BRIDLE RING FOR ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATION CABLE”, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. This application provided an improved bridle ring of non-metallic construction with the ability to open wide to accept bundles of communications cables without having to twist together the cables in the bundle and a wider seat to better support cables without excessively bending individual cables. 
     On Sep. 19, 2001, the assignee of the present invention filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/956,614, entitled “LOCKING CABLE SUPPORT”, which provided further improvements to the bridle ring connector and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The locking cable support of this application was also non-metallic, of unitary construction, provided a wide opening feature, included a wider seat or cable rest portion, and added a snap-fit feature to contain cables therein and improve the ability of the connector to retain cables within the ring portion in both horizontal and vertical orientations. 
     To provide an improved bridle ring cable support with an ability to snap fit onto threaded or smooth rods, the assignee of the present invention filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/956,611 on Sep. 9, 2001, entitled “ROD CABLE SUPPORT”, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. This application provided a one-piece cable support with a snap fit feature enabling cables to be locked within the hanger and with the ability to snap onto threaded or smooth rods. 
     Although the previously mentioned patent applications addressed several disadvantages with existing art bridle ring connectors, additional improvements in the design of the locking bridle ring can be achieved by providing a larger cable holding capacity and an improved ability to snap fit onto smooth or threaded rods. 
     The present invention therefore addresses several obvious disadvantages with existing art bridle rings, including: 
     (a) Metallic construction may cause magnetic fields that interfere with modern high transmission rate telecommunication cables. 
     (b) The rigid ring and narrow gap causes distortion or damage of individual cables or separation of the twisted pair in UTP cables as they are inserted into the circular ring portion. 
     (c) Wire bundles must be twisted in order to fit them within traditional bridle rings, possibly damaging of individual cables within the bundle and negatively affecting transmission characteristics. 
     (d) It is impossible to fit bundles of cables into the narrow gap, as it is too small to accommodate them, therefore requiring the installer to insert each individual telecommunication cable one at a time and thereby greatly increasing installation time. 
     (e) The metallic rod used to form the bridle ring, having a small diameter, provides an insufficient seat for small diameter telecommunication cables thereby causing horizontally run cables to sag at the ring and sustain damage to the individual small wires in the bundle. 
     (f) The circular hoop portion of the bridle ring is small in diameter therefore limiting the amount of cables that may be inserted therein. 
     (g) Prior art cable supports designed to be supported from rods are limited to use with threaded rods and not smooth rods. 
     (h) Prior art cable supports designed to be supported from rods do not include a locking mechanism to secure cables therein. 
     (i) Prior art cable supports designed to be supported from rods are not of one-piece construction, therefore increasing their complexity and cost of manufacture. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is a one-piece locking bridle ring of non-metallic construction with a large cable holding capacity and the ability to snap fit onto either threaded or smooth rods. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The several objectives of the present invention include: 
     (a) Providing an improved bridle ring type hanger of non-metallic construction to reduce magnetic fields that interfere with modern high transmission rate telecommunication cables. 
     (b) Providing a wide-opening feature to eliminate distortion or damage of individual cables or separation of the twisted pair in UTP cables as they are inserted into the circular ring portion. 
     (c) Providing an improved hanger wherein wire bundles need not be twisted in order to fit them within the ring portion and thereby minimizing damage of individual cables within the bundle and negatively affecting transmission characteristics. 
     (d) Providing a wide-opening feature to allow rapid insertion of cables and thereby greatly reducing cable installation time. 
     (e) Providing a larger seat to reduce the distortion of cables supported by the hanger. 
     (f) Increasing the cable holding capacity of the bridle ring type hanger. 
     (g) Providing a cable support capable of snap fitting onto either threaded or smooth rods. 
     (h) Providing a cable support with a locking mechanism for securing cables therein. 
     (i) Providing a cable support of one-piece construction thereby reducing the complexity and cost of manufacture. 
     These and other advantages will become obvious by reading the attached specification with reference to the attached drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a one-piece locking U-shaped cable support capable of holding a large capacity of cables and with the ability to snap fit onto threaded or smooth rods. A second embodiment is provided for more traditional attachment by means of a friction clip or fastener. The U-shaped cable support is of non-metallic construction and provides a wide-opening feature to allow insertion of cable bundles without twisting and a wide seat for minimizing bending of cables. The one-piece U-shaped cable support is easier to install than prior art cable supports and has a low cost of manufacture. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first and preferred embodiment of the locking U-shaped cable support of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the locking U-shaped cable support of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the U-shaped cable support taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the U-shaped cable support taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the U-shaped cable support of FIG. 1 attached to a vertical rod and supporting a bundle of cables, with the second side in the foreground. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the locking U-shaped cable support. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the locking U-shaped cable support of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the U-shaped cable support of FIG. 6 attached to an overhead structure and supporting a bundle of cables. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the U-shaped cable support of FIG. 1 attached to a vertical rod and supporting a bundle of cables, with the first side in the foreground. 
    
    
     INDEX TO REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       10  locking U-shaped cable support (first embodiment) 
       12  U-shaped member 
       14  first side 
       16  second side 
       18  bottom 
       20  interior space 
       22  attachment arrangement 
       24   a  first support arm 
       24   b  second support arm 
       26   a  aperture (in first support arm) 
       26   b  aperture (in second support arm) 
       28  axis 
       30   a  first integral brace 
       30   b  second integral brace 
       32  head extension 
       34  pocket 
       36  integral arm 
       38  hook 
       40  locking arrangement 
       42  nose portion 
       44  lip 
       46  inner portion 
       48  outer portion 
       50  nub 
       52  bottom surface (of head extension) 
       54  narrow gap 
       56  opening 
       58  outer edge (of support arm) 
       60  beveled entry surfaces 
       62  rod-engaging surface 
       64  rod 
       66  cable bundle or cables 
       68  seat 
       70  locking U-shaped cable support (second embodiment) 
       72  side extension 
       74  first aperture 
       76  second aperture 
       78  overhead structure 
       80  fastener 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a plan view is shown of a first and preferred embodiment of the present invention, a locking U-shaped cable support designated by reference numeral  10 . The locking U-shaped cable support  10  is of one-piece construction, typically molded of a durable polymeric material such as nylon. The locking cable support  10  includes a U-shaped member  12  that has a first side  14 , a second side  16 , and a bottom  18  that form a generally U-shaped interior space  20  through which cables (not shown) may be routed. An attachment arrangement  22  includes a first support arm  24   a  and a second support arm  24   b  integral with and adjacent the first side  14  and extending outwardly from the U-shaped member  12 . Each support arm includes apertures  26   a,    26   b  (denoted with dashed lines) that are in alignment with each other along common axis  28 . Two integral braces  30   a,    30   b  extend outwardly from the first side  14  of the U-shaped member  12  intermediate the two support arms  24   a,    24   b.  An integral head extension  32  extends inwardly across the U-shaped member  12  from the top of the first side  14  and includes an aperture or pocket  34 , shown in dashed lines, near the end of the head extension  32 . The second side  16  includes an integral arm  36  including a hook  38  and a locking arrangement  40  to enable the hook  38  to be locked into the pocket  34  on the head extension  32  from the first side  14 . 
     The locking arrangement includes a nose portion  42  integral with the hook  38  and a lip  44  integral with the nose portion  42 . The head extension  32  can be described as having two portions on either side of the pocket  34  (shown in dashed lines), including an inner portion  46  and an outer portion  48  facing the arm  36 . The outer portion  48  includes an integral nub  50  extending from the bottom surface  52  of the head extension  32 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a top view of the preferred embodiment of the locking U-shaped cable support  10  shows the pocket  34  located in the head extension  32 . The inner  46  and outer  48  portions of the head extension  32  are located on either side of the pocket  34  with the integral nub  50  is extending from the outer portion  48 . The top of the nose portion  42  is visible and integral with the hook  38 . 
     Now referring to FIG. 3, a sectional view of the U-shaped cable support  10  taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1, details are shown of the second support arm  24   b.  The second support arm  24   b  includes an aperture  26   a  and a narrow gap  54  that creates an opening  56  from the outer edge  58  of the second support arm  24   b  into the aperture  26   a.  The opening  56  includes beveled entry surfaces  60  as shown. The first support arm, not shown in FIG. 3, would include the same design features as the first support arm  24   a  but with the opening oriented 180° away from the opening of the second support arm. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a sectional view of the U-shaped cable support  10  taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1, the second integral brace  30   b  includes a rod-engaging surface  62  as shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the first integral brace  30   a  would also include a rod engaging surface  62  but it would be oriented in the opposite direction as the second integral brace  30   b.    
     Referring to FIG. 5, a perspective view is shown of the preferred embodiment of the U-shaped cable support  10  attached to a vertical rod  64  and supporting a bundle of cables  66  threaded through the interior space  20 . The bottom portion  18  of the U-shaped member  12  is wide and functions as a seat  68  that will accept a bundle of cables  66  inserted therein. 
     Operation of the locking U-shaped cable support  10  may be understood by referring to FIG.  5 . An installer would typically snap fit the cable support  10  onto a rod  64  by first bringing the outer portion of the first side  14  of the U-shaped member  12  against the rod  64  such that the rod  64  engages the beveled entry surfaces  60  on each of the support arms  24   a,    24   b.  Each of the support arms  24   a,    24   b  are then pushed against the rod  64  so that the rod forces the beveled surfaces  60  apart and widens the narrow gap  54 . Since the U-shaped member  12  is preferably constructed of a resilient polymeric material such as nylon, the narrow gap  54  eventually widens to the width of the rod  64  and the rod snap fits into the aperture  26   a,    26   b  on the respective support arm  24   a,    24   b.  The support arms  24   a,    24   b  are oriented such that the openings  56  face 180° apart and therefore, once snapped onto the rod  64 , the support arms secure the U-shaped cable support  10  onto the rod. The integral braces (not shown), located intermediate of the two support arms  24   a,    24   b,  further secure the cable support  10  to the rod  64  by rod-engaging surfaces  62  on the braces putting pressure against opposite sides of the rod. Although the locking U-shaped cable support  10  is depicted secured to a vertical rod  64  as shown in FIG. 5, it can easily be secured to a rod that is in any orientation, including horizontal. 
     Referring to FIG. 5 again, once the locking U-shaped cable support  10  has been secured to a rod  64 , the integral arm  36  including the hook  38  may be bent outwards thereby exposing a wide opening into the interior space  20 . Cables or a bundle of cables  66  may then be inserted within the cable support  10 . The integral arm  36  may then be closed and the nose portion  42  inserted into the pocket  34  located on the head extension  32 . As the nose portion  42  is advanced into the pocket  34 , the nub  50  extending from the bottom surface  52  of the head extension  32  forces the nose portion  42  away from the integral arm  36 . Eventually, as the nose portion  42  is advanced even farther into the pocket  34 , the lip (not shown) on the nose portion  42  clears the bottom surface  52  of the head extension  32  causing the integral arm  36  to snap shut into the head extension  32 . The cable bundle  66  is thereby locked within the interior of the locking U-shaped cable support  10 . As previously mentioned, the U-shaped cable support  10  may be secured to a rod in any orientation, including a vertical rod, a horizontal rod, or anything in between the two. The locking arrangement will work in any orientation. As shown in FIG. 5, a wide seat  68  is provided at the bottom portion  18  to support the cable bundle  66  when the rod is oriented vertically. The first side  14  and second side  16  are also designed to provide a wide seat for those times when the cable support  10  is oriented other than vertically. The wide seat  68  provides more support to individual cables than traditional bridle ring supports and prevents the cables from bending excessively where held by a U-shaped cable support  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9, a perspective view of the first embodiment of the U-shaped cable support  10  shows the support attached to a rod  64  and supporting a bundle of cables  66 . In this view, the first support arm  24   a  and the second support arm  24   b  are snap locked onto the rod  64 . The first  30   a  and second  30   b  integral braces further secure the cable support  10  to the rod  64  by rod-engaging surfaces  62  applying pressure to opposite sides of the rod  64 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a plan view is shown of a second embodiment of the locking U-shaped cable support  70 . The second embodiment contains the same features as the first embodiment including the U-shaped member  12 , a first side  14 , a second side  16 , and a bottom  18  defining a space  20  therein for holding cables (not shown). The locking arrangement  40  is identical with the first embodiment including an integral arm  36  and a pocket  34  located in the head extension  32 . The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the attachment arrangement  22  for securing the U-shaped member  12  to a structural support. The second embodiment includes a side extension  72  which includes a first aperture  74  for insertion of a fastener (not shown) or which may be used to attach a friction clip. The second embodiment of the locking U-shaped cable support  70  therefore may be employed in those situations in which a rod structural support is not available. 
     As shown in a top view of the second embodiment in FIG. 7, a second aperture  76  is available for securing the cable support  70  to a structural member (not shown) of a building. 
     Referring to the perspective view of the second embodiment in FIG. 8, the locking U-shaped cable support  70  may be attached to an overhead structure  78  by using a fastener  80 . The locking arrangement  40  functions in the same manner as for the first embodiment to lock the cable bundle  66  within the support  70 . 
     Accordingly, as described in the detailed description above, the rod cable support of the present invention has the advantage of being of one-piece construction, can be used with threaded or smooth rods, and provides for complete closure around cables without the use of cable ties. As a consequence of the positive locking action of the claw-shaped openings and brace upon an anchored rod and the snap-lock arrangement upon an inserted cable bundle, the rod cable support of the present invention can actually be used in conjunction with a rod anchored in any orientation, including horizontal. This is an advantage over existing rod cable supports with U-shaped hook members, as in an orientation other than vertical the cables tend to fall out of the U-shaped opening and must rapidly be secured with a cable tie to secure the cables. 
     Although the description above contains many specific descriptions and proposed sizes, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.