Abstract:
A cable support bracket includes a backplate with a number of structures extending transversely therefrom and defining a plurality of cable restraints and slots. The cable restraints have a series of projections formed on the transversely extending structures. Each cable restraint has a series of projections aligned so as to create matching barbs that secure electrical cables within the restraints. At least one transversely-extending structure acts as a spacer to ensure that electrical safety requirements regarding the distance between cables and internal walls are met when the bracket is installed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/948,575 filed on Jul. 9, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the installation and mounting of electrical wires and cables. In particular, the present invention relates to vertically-mounted support brackets suitable for securing electrical wires or optical cables thereto. Even more particularly, this invention relates to wall-mounted support brackets which secure cables and wires in close proximity to electrical enclosure in compliance with electrical safety standards. 
     Certain electrical safety standards dictate the proper installation and securing means for wiring and cabling entering and exiting enclosures, such as an electrical circuit breaker panel or a junction box. One such standard, the National Electrical Code (NEC) calls for wires entering and exiting the top of a circuit breaker panel be supported at a distance of twelve inches above the panel. National Electrical Code and NEC are trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Inc. 
     One commonly used method to comply with this requirement, includes mounting a piece of wood to the wall above the panel and securing the wires to the wood with stables or another suitable fastener. An alternative method includes using a channel-shaped sheet metal bracket and cable ties to secure the wires. 
     While these approaches may work as intended, they are very time consuming. These installation methods require that the electrician or installer obtain a suitable piece of wood or metal, cut and/or shape the material into a custom bracket, and then fit the bracket into place. Furthermore, per at least the NEC, wires installed in this manner must be secured a minimum of one and a quarter inches (1¼″) back from the face of adjacent studs to prevent standard drywall screws or nails from inadvertently coming into contact with the wires. Complying with this requirement further increases the time and effort needed to fabricate and install the custom bracket. 
     If the electrical circuit panel or enclosure is mounted to a masonry wall, or if the panel is otherwise surface mounted, proper fasteners, including masonry nails that can be nailed or otherwise fastened into the block or concrete, are needed. Because electrical enclosures such as circuit breaker panels typically accommodate a variety of different cable types (e.g., two, three, or more conductor power cables, multi-wire service entrance cables such as a 4 wire/0 gauge cable, as well as larger feeder cables), these cable types must also be secured to comply with the electrical safety regulations. 
     In response to these and other wiring problems, a number of wiring brackets have been designed in an attempt to facilitate the installation of wiring. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,949 discloses a method of manufacturing a wiring harness which includes a plate on which wire clips are mounted to facilitate the positioning of individual wires. While the disclosed method and tooling device are both suitable for their intended purpose of manufacturing a wiring harness made up of individual wires, they are not suitable for producing harnesses capable of holding three-wire, and larger, cables above an electrical box. First, the clips for the disclosed harness are not suitable for holding larger diameter cables. Second, there are no elements provided to facilitate mounting of the harness to a wall. Third, there are no provisions for ensuring the required 1¼ inches of spacing to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent contact with screws and nails. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,558 discloses a fixture for supporting a splicing module for telecommunications cables. The fixture has a body member, generally the size of a comb, formed with a series of raised teeth, spaced opposite edges, corresponding to the spacing of the contacts, and wire receiving channels in the splicing module. The teeth are spaced apart so as to receive and locate the wires in relationship to a splicing module placed on the body member between the rows of teeth. A retainer body member has an elongated planar portion with an upper and a lower surface which includes registration alignment posts on the body which cooperate with openings in the ends of the base to insure proper alignment of the body and base. Although this device is useful as a splicing fixture, it has the same drawbacks as the &#39;949 patent for use as a cable support bracket. 
     Other prior art devices and methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D326,999, D336,421, 3,659,319, 4,253,629, 4,097,106, 4,601,530, 4,836,803, 5,554,053. These devices and methods are suitable for their intended purposes, but each is deficient in some way for use as a cable support bracket. 
     Notwithstanding these developments, what is needed in the art is a cable support bracket which, when properly installed, provides sufficient spacing from associated walls and which securely holds the cables. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the invention includes a cable support bracket having a backplate with a front surface and an opposed rear surface extending between a first and second end. At least one cable restraint is partially defined by the backplate and a transverse post that extends a first predetermined distance from the backplate. A first spacer is connected to the backplate and extends transversely from the backplate a second predetermined distance, wherein the second predetermined distance is greater than the first predetermined distance by a third predetermined distance. 
     The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a cable support bracket which includes a backplate having a front surface, an opposed facing rear surface, a first end, and a second end opposed to the first end. First and second spacers are connected to the backplate at the first and second ends, respectively, and extend transversely therefrom. A number of cable restraints are located between the spacers and are partially defined by the backplate and at least one transverse post. A number of partitions transversely extend from the backplate and act to separate a first set of cable restraints from a second set of cable restraints. Partitions are separated from other partitions by a wide and open slot. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a cable support bracket with integral spacers which separate the cable restraints, and corresponding cables, a minimum distance from an interior wall, such as one formed of drywall. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it can accommodate a variety of different cable types, such as three (or more) wire power cables; multi-wire service entrance cables; as well as larger feeder cables. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it does not require an electrician and/or installer to fabricate a custom bracket. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it does not require special tools, such as an electric power saw or other power tool, for installation. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is cost effective to manufacture. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it saves the electrician&#39;s and/or installer&#39;s time during the installation of an electrical box or panel. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it can easily be made of a fire resistant and/or electrically insulating material, such as fire resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other suitable materials. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of an electrical arrangement including an electrical box mounted between studs on a wall and an embodiment of the cable support bracket constructed in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the cable support bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing an alternative mounting arrangement; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cable support bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the cable support bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the cable support bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an side view of the cable support bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of the cable support bracket of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 10  is a top view of a cable support bracket constructed in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, an electrical arrangement  10  includes an electrical enclosure, or box,  12  mounted in close proximity to a first wall  14 , such as an interior wall formed of drywall having an inner surface  16 . The electrical box  12  and drywall  14  may be mounted to a pair of adjacent studs  18 , which are themselves secured to a second wall  20 , such as a concrete or masonry exterior or structural wall. A number of multi-wire cables  22 ,  24  (see  FIG. 4 ) extend from the electrical box  12  and are secured to and supported by a cable support bracket  26  constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cables  22 ,  24  extend into and are terminated inside of the electrical box  12  with any number of various electrical termination devices (not shown), including, but not limited to, circuit breakers, fuse blocks, terminal strips, connectors, transformers, controllers and other similar electrical terminating components. 
     The first, smaller, set of cables  22  are illustrated as two or three copper conductor cables having a ground wire. One such type of cable is known as type NM-B (nonmetallic-sheathed) and is primarily used in residential wiring as branch circuits for outlets, switches, and other loads. Branch cable sizes suitable to be secured by the bracket  26  include 14/2 (two fourteen gauge conductors and a ground), 14/3 (three fourteen gauge conductors and a ground), 12/2, 12/3, 10/2, 10/3, 8/2, 8/3, 6/2, and 6/3, a number of which are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Such a cable  22  is required by certain electrical safety regulations, such as the NEC to be secured at least a minimum distance above the box  12  and at least a minimum distance from the inner surface  16  of the first wall  14 . 
     The second multi-wire cable  24 , as illustrated, is a multi-wire service entrance (SE) cable such as a four conductor 4/0 SER aluminum cable. Feeder cable sizes suitable to be secured by the bracket  26  include two or three conductor with bare ground, sized 4/0 SER, 2/0, 1/2, #1, or #2, a number of which are also illustrated in  FIG. 3 . These larger feeder cables  24  are secured to the cable support bracket  26  with one or more tie wraps  28 , or other suitable fasteners as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 2-9 , the cable support bracket  26  includes a backplate  30  having a front surface  32  and an opposed rear-facing surface  34 . The backplate  30  extends longitudinally between a first end  36  and a second end  38 . The bracket  26  further includes a number of posts  40  extending transversely from the backplate  30 . As shown in  FIG. 3  and explained in greater detail below, each post  40  extends a first predetermined distance  42  outwardly from the rear surface  34 . 
     The support bracket  26  further includes a first spacer, or side wall,  44  connected to the backplate  30  at the first end  36  and a second spacer  46  connected to the backplate  30  at the second end  38 . The first and second spacers  44 ,  46  extend transversely from the backplate  30  a second predetermined distance  48  from the rear surface  34 . The second predetermined distance  48  is greater than the first predetermined distance  42  by a third predetermined distance  50 . 
     The cable support bracket  26  includes fastener holes  52  formed in each of the first spacer  44 , second spacer  46  and backplate  30 . Fasteners, such as masonry nails  54 , may be used to mount the cable support bracket  26  to either the adjacent studs  18  (see  FIG. 3 ), the second wall  20  (see  FIG. 4 ), or both. Together, the spacers  44 ,  46  and/or the backplate  30  are the support structure for the cable support bracket  26  which is able to support a multitude of cables  22 ,  24  mounted thereto. 
     The cable support bracket  26  further includes a number of partitions  56  extending transversely from the backplate  30 . Each partition  56  separates a series of posts  40  from a feeder cable slot  58 . The partitions  56  extend a fourth predetermined distance  60  from the rear surface  34 , where the fourth predetermined distance  60  is between the first predetermined distance  42  and the second predetermined distance  48 . Each partition  56  includes a slot  62  formed therein. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the slots  62  are oblong-shaped to facilitate the insertion of tie-wraps  28  therethrough. It is contemplated that the slots  62  may be formed at various locations on the partition  56  and in alternate shapes depending on the particular application. 
     As shown best in  FIG. 7 , the cable bracket  26  includes a number of cable restraints  64  for securing the two and three conductor cables  22  therein. Each cable restraint  64  includes a retaining slot,  66  defined by a first side  68  that is either one of the spacers  44 ,  46 , posts  40 , or partitions  56 , a second side  70  that is a portion of the backplate  30 , and a third side  72  that is either an adjacent spacer  44 ,  46 , post  40 , or partition  56 . The cable restraints  64  may have different size slots  66  for different types of cable. For example, narrow cable restraints  65  and wide cable restraints  67  are illustrated. 
     Each cable restraint  64  further includes a series of hooked projections  74  on each of the first and third sides  68 ,  72  (i.e., spacer  44 ,  46 , post  40 , or partition  56 ). In the embodiment shown, the hooked projections  74  are acutely angled inwardly towards the backplate  30  and culminate with a pointed tip  80 . Each post  40  includes a series of projections  74  on a first face  76  and a series of projections  74  on a second, opposing face  78 . Each spacer  44 ,  46  and partition  56  includes a series of matching projections  74  such that any of the posts  40 , spacers  44 ,  46 , and partitions  56  may function as the first or third side  68 ,  72  of the cable restraint  64 . 
     In one aspect of the present invention, each series of projections  74  includes one larger barbed projection  82  and a number of smaller barbed projections  84 . In each series of projections  74 , the larger projection  82  is located furthest away from the backplane  30  (such as at a tip  86  of each post  40 ) and thus, closest to the inner wall  14 . The smaller projections  84  are spaced apart and extend between the larger projection  82  and the backplate  30 . Each of the projections  74  on the posts  40 , spacers  44 ,  46  and partitions  56  are formed so as to be aligned with the projections  74  on adjacent posts  40 . Together, an opposing series of projections  74  form a pair of opposed barbs that act to maintain and secure cables  22  within the slots  66 . 
     To secure a branch circuit cable  22  within a cable restraint  64 , a pressing force is applied to the cable  22  directed towards the backplate  30 . After a sufficient pressing force has been applied, the cable  22  is inserted into the cable receiving space  66  by any of the deformation of the projections  74 , the compression of the cable  22 , and the outward flexing of the first and third side  68 ,  72  of the cable restraint  64 . After the cable  22  has been fully inserted into the receiving space  66 , the projections  74  and sides  68 ,  72  (i.e., posts  40  or partition  56 ) return to their normal position. The inwardly pointed tips  80  of the projections  74  contain the cable  22  within the space  66  and prevent the cable  22  from moving at least in a transverse direction. 
     As discussed above, the cable bracket  26  includes a plurality of partitions  56 . Each partition  56  separates a series of cable restraints  64  from an adjacent series of cable restraints  64 . The space between partitions  56  functions as a feeder cable slot  58 . The feeder cable slot  58  accommodates larger types of cables and cable bundles. As shown in  FIG. 4 , feeder cable  24  is secured within the feeder cable slot  58  with tie wraps  28 . 
     In order to ensure that the branch circuit cables  22  are installed at least the minimum distance away from the inner surface  16  of the drywall  12  as required by the aforementioned electrical safety standards, the third predetermined distance  50  is approximately one and one quarter inches (1.25″). Therefore, regardless of the positioning of the bracket  26  between the first and second walls  14 ,  20 , at least the minimum required distance is maintained between the inner surface  16  and the cables  22 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the ends  88  of the spacers  44 ,  46  are aligned with the front faces  90  of the studs  18  and mounted flush with the inner surface  16  of the inner wall  14 . The minimum distance is maintained because each of the conductors  22  are maintained greater than the third predetermined distance (here 1.25″) away from the inner surface  16  of the inner wall  14 . In  FIG. 4 , the bracket  26  is mounted to the outer wall  20  so as to provide the minimum distance between the inner surface  16  and the feeder cable  24 . 
     In one embodiment, the bracket  26  has an overall width of fourteen and one eighth inches (14⅛″) inches to match the standard spacing between studs  18 , although other widths are considered to be within the scope of this invention. In a still further embodiment, the bracket  26  is made out of fire resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other similar plastics materials. 
     An alternative, low voltage, cable support bracket  126  for use in communication cable installations is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Like the bracket  26  shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , the low voltage bracket  126  includes cable restraints of different widths. A first set of cable restraints  165  accommodates at least four twisted pair (i.e., CAT5e) cables  124 . A second set of cable restraints  167  accommodates up to four coaxial (i.e., RG6) cables  122 . A third set of cable restraints  169  accommodates at least two bundled cable  125 , wherein the bundled cable  125  includes a number of twisted pair and coaxial cables. A number of wide slots  158  are also provided and used for other low voltage communication cables as needed. 
     As shown, the projections  74  extend over a substantial length of the posts  40 . As shown, a single cable  124  may be firmly secured within a cable restraint  165  against the backplate  30  because of projections  74 . Alternatively, more than one cable  124  may be pressed together into a cable restraint  165  and held tightly in place together. 
     While there has been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. Therefore, various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.