Patent Publication Number: US-2016241005-A1

Title: Clamping Device

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This non-provisional patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/117,246 filed on Feb. 17, 2015, and incorporates the same as if fully rewritten herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a clamping device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clamping device that retains a cable allowing a user to cut the cable while the clamping device retains the cut ends of the cable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Throughout the United States and the world, overhead power lines are used in the transmission of electricity. As populations continue to grow, the need for additional overhead power lines will also continue to grow. In addition, maintenance of existing overhead power lines is also a priority as some current overhead power lines are outdated and in need of repair. The job of installation and repair of the overhead power lines generally falls to individuals having to scale the power poles or through the utilization of man-lifts or other powered means. 
     During installation and repair of overhead power lines workers are required to observe safety protocols while still being able to efficiently perform their work. One such process that holds a risk to workers is the need for workers to cut the power lines. Typically, a buggy or other device pulls the power cable, a worker is then required to cut the power cable, secure the two cut ends of the power cable, and maintain safety protocols to prevent electric shock or other dangerous scenarios. 
     Workers performing this task typically use a single hand to secure an end of the cable to be cut and use their other hand to work a pair of cutters. The worker is forced to hold one handle of the cutters with their hand and wedge the other handle of the cutter against their body to provide the resistance to work the cutters. Although, workers are required to wear insulating material, this requirement does not extend to every aspect of the worker&#39;s clothing. Accordingly, with the cutters wedged against the worker&#39;s person, the worker is at an unnecessarily high risk for electric shock. In addition, workers remaining on the ground are also at risk as the worker is not able to properly secure the two cut ends of the cable. 
     Likewise, the job of splicing two cables together can also place an unnecessary risk on the worker. To splice two cable ends the worker must hold two cables, place a splicing device over the ends of the two cables and then use a tool to crimp the splicing device to retain the two ends of the cable. Again, it is difficult for the worker to maintain control over the two cable ends, place the splicing device and work the crimping tool while also ensuring the safety of himself and other workers. Accordingly, there is a need for a device to assist utility workers in holding cables for cutting and splicing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 
     A clamping device according to the inventive concept has an elongated body. The elongated body has a first end and a second end. Clamps are placed on the elongated body at both the first and second ends thereof. It should be understood, that the clamps can take a wide variety of forms. As depicted herein, the clamps are screw based having first and second clamping surfaces. The surfaces are forced toward one another to retain a cable therein. Although screw based clamps are shown, other types of clamps, such as ratcheting or other forms of clamps may be utilized. It should be understood that the clamps used on the device must have sufficient retaining force to withstand the forces associated with cutting or splicing cables. 
     The clamping device, as illustrated herein, is made from metal, although it should be understood that other materials, such as plastics, rubbers, ceramics, or other suitable materials could be used. In some embodiments, the clamps can be molded with the elongated body to give the clamping device a unitary form. Embodiments of the clamping device may have differing sizes to accommodate a variety of cable sizes and applications. In other exemplary embodiments, the elongated body of the clamping device may be extendable. By extending the elongated body the working area may also be increased. 
     In order to use the inventive clamping device described herein, a worker first places a cable to be worked on into the clamps on the device. The worker then uses the clamp bolts to tighten the clamps to hold the cable in place. Once the cable is place with the clamps, the worker may then perform work on the cable such as cutting to splicing the cable. Once the work is complete, the worker can simply loosen the clamps. In this manner the worker can maintain proper safety and reduce risk to both himself and other workers on the ground. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein like reference numerals across the several views refer to identical or equivalent features, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the clamping device retaining a piece of cable therein; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive clamping device in use retaining a cable therein; 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the inventive clamping device in use providing a works space wherein the cable retained therein may be cut; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  retaining the cut cable therein; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  retaining cables in an overlapped configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  retaining cables in an overlapped configuration having a splicing device attached thereto; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein said inventive clamping device allows a worker to properly use a crimping tool as illustrated. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S) 
     An exemplary embodiment of the clamping device  5  according to the inventive concept is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the clamping device  5  has an elongated body  10  having a first end  15  and a second end  20 . Two clamps  25 ,  30  are affixed to the elongated body  10  at the first and second ends  15 ,  20  respectively. The clamps  25 ,  30  are adapted to retain a cable  45  therein. The clamps  25 ,  30  are attached to the elongated body  10  such that the clamps  25 ,  30  are in a spaced apart configuration. This spaced apart configuration of the clamps  25 ,  30  is such that a cable  45  retained therein would have an exposed portion between the clamps  25 ,  30  to allow cutting or splicing of the cable  45 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the elongated body  10  may be a threaded rod allowing a series of washers  35  and nuts  40  to be used to retain the clamps  25 ,  30  to the elongated body  10 . The use of the washers  35  and nuts  40  allows the distance between the clamps  25 ,  30  to be adjusted according to the intended use of the clamping device  5 . In other embodiments, the clamps  25 ,  30  may have a unitary design with the elongated body  5  such that the clamps  25 ,  30  can be molded as a single piece with the elongated body  10 . In all embodiments, the elongated body  10  is constructed from a material having sufficient strength to withstand the strains of holding two ends of a cable  45 , such materials may be metal, resins, plastics, etc. 
     Directing attention to  FIG. 2 , the clamping device  5  is shown in use. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the cable  45  is retained in the first and second clamps  25 ,  30 . The clamps  25 ,  30  retain the cable  45  therein between a first clamping surface  55  and a second clamping surface  60 . To retain the cable  45 , the second clamping surface  60  remains stationary and the first clamping surface  55  is moved into contact with the cable  45  using the clamping bolt  65 . The clamping bolt  65  can be used to tighten a clamp with sufficient force to hold the cable  45  during both cutting and splicing. As shown, the cable  45  has an exposed section located between the clamps  25 ,  30 . The exposed section of cable  45  provides a workspace that allows a worker to safely cut the cable  45  without having to manipulate the cable  45 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The worker is free to properly use the cutters without having to worry about the ends of the cable  45  after cutting. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the ends of the cable  45  are retained in the clamps  25 ,  30 . The design of the clamping device  5  retains the cable  45  therein and maintains the cable  45  in place, preventing movement and causing potential damage to the worker or others still on the ground. 
     The advantages of using the clamping device  5  for splicing two ends of a cable  45  are illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 . In  FIG. 5 , two cable ends  100 ,  105  are retained in the clamps  25 ,  30  of the clamping device  5 . As shown, cable ends  100 ,  105  can be retained such that they overlap to facilitate splicing of the two cable ends  100 ,  105 . The clamping device  5  retains the cable ends  100 ,  105  without requiring the worker to maintain contact with the cable ends  100 ,  105 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the splicing device may then be placed over the cable ends  100 ,  105  while the worker maintains all safety protocols. The worker is then free to properly use the crimping tool to squeeze the splicing device in order to join the two cable ends  100 ,  105  one to another without having to physically hold the cable ends  100 ,  105 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     In other embodiments, the clamps  25 ,  30  may be replaced with quick connect/disconnect clamps. Such clamps may have ratcheting features to allow the clamping device  5  to quickly connect to the cable  45 . In addition, the clamping device  5  may have insulation to further protect workers from electric shock. The entirety of the clamping device  5  may be insulated or the insulation could be isolated to the clamping surfaces  50 ,  60 . In still other embodiments, the elongated body may have features allowing for differing lengths of cable  45  in the workspace by allowing the elongated body  10  to have an adjustable length between the attached clamps  25 ,  30 . 
     To use the inventive clamping device  5  described herein. A worker would place the cable to be spliced or cut into the clamps  25 ,  30  affixed to the elongated body  10  of the clamping device  5 . The clamps  25 ,  30  are then tightened using the clamping bolts  65  on each of the clamps  25 ,  30 . The worker will use the clamping bolts  65  to bring the clamping surfaces  55 ,  60  into close proximity in order to apply a clamping pressure to the cable  45  for cutting of the cable ends  100 ,  105  for splicing. The clamping pressure applied is sufficient to hold the cable  45  or cable ends  100 ,  105  in place while the worker cuts or splices the workpiece. 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above, the scope of the invention is not to be considered limited by such disclosure, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as evidenced by the following claims: