Abstract:
An integral or unitary flexible cable support comprising: 1) a base for mounting on an appropriate structural member and including at least one recess, and 2) a flexible strap integrally formed with the base, the flexible strap having a base end attached to the base, a distal end that includes a key hole shaped aperture for engaging an appropriate attachment button on the front of the base and at least one tab on the front surface of the strap. In use, cable or wiring to be supported is placed within the flexible strap, the strap bent to encompass the wiring, the keyhole shaped aperture engaged about the attachment button and the at least one tab engaged with the recess on the base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to supports for communications cable and the like and more particularly to a flexible such supports that provide a safe and secure mounting for fiber optic and other similar cables in areas where relatively flat mounting locations are not readily available. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the advent and growth of computer and communications applications in the business environment, the retrofit installation of delicate and sophisticated cabling such as twisted pair and fiber optic cables has become more and more of an issue. Unlike conventional electrical wiring, such cabling cannot be abused either in its installation or use. Bending excessively, kinking, sharp bending, contact with sharp edges, etc. all can cause harm to the cable which affects its intended performance. This problem is not quite so significant in new construction where cable trays designed to receive such cabling are installed during construction to accommodate current and future needs. In retrofit applications, however, means must be provided for the easy, safe and secure installation and maintenance of such cabling. 
     Accordingly, a number of hangers or supports for such cabling have been designed and marketed primarily for the retrofit market. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,994 describes a cable support which is generally J-shaped and has a saddle portion which is curved around the base of the J and flat across the base of the J. Downward extending flanges on either side of the flat base of the J are provided to ease the transition of a sagging cable suspended between two such supports as the cable is laid from one side of the support, across the flat portion of the support and off of the other side thereof. Use of the cable support described in this patent requires the use of a separate cable tie across the open face of the J to secure the cable after installation. 
     A variety of flexible such supports have also been suggested for such use. One such device is manufactured and sold by Caddy Fasteners of Solon, Ohio. This device utilizes a flexible strap having one end thereof attached to a mounting base and the opposing or free end thereof including a rigid cross member whose exposed ends engage tabs on the mounting base when the flexible strap is folded upon itself to encompass inserted wiring. In order to tightly secure the strap to the mounting base, crimping of the mounting base incorporated tabs is necessary. While such crimping provides a secure closure of the support, removal of a wire or the insertion of another wire or wires is made more complicated by the need to “uncrimp” the tabs to permit removal of the flexible strap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,434 to E. J. Lynch, Jr. issued Oct. 12, 1999 describes a fireproof cable loop forming strap of substantial width having pockets at each end to receive front and rear spreader bars that project beyond the lateral edges of the strap and are designed to engage hook tabs projecting from the face of a hanger plate or yoke for mounting. According to a preferred embodiment, the rear spreader bar is preassembled with the yoke or hanger plate so that it cannot be removed therefrom. While such a device provides a useful cable support, the use of spreader bars results in the increase in the number of parts that may be lost or become separated from the hanger prior to installation and increases the number of steps required to complete installation, since at least the front spreader bar must be inserted into its pocket prior to mounting. Additionally, the presence of spreader bars that extend beyond the lateral edges of the strap requires that a wider area be found for installation of the hanger. Since use of such devices is often in areas of very limited space, the need to find a relatively wide area into which to install the strap complete with spreader bars may be very inconvenient. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/295,082 filed Apr. 20, 1999, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, describes an integral communications or other similar cable hanging strap that comprises a base for mounting on an appropriate structural member, a flexible strap integrally formed with the base, the flexible strap having a base end attached to the base and a distal end that includes an aperture for engaging an appropriate attachment button on the front side of the base. While this device provides a suitable mounting device for communications cable and the like, it possesses one shortcoming. The shortcoming is that the distal end engaging the button can become accidentally separated from the button during subsequent movement of the support during the installation of additional cables or other construction and installation activites. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible cable support structure that provides an integral cable support with rapid and easy securing of the flexible strap to its mounting without the need for crimping or other additional installation steps. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible cable support that provides a secure mounting for cables or wiring that can be readily disassembled for removal of one or more wires or the insertion of additional wires without the need to “uncrimp” or otherwise perform additional operations to unfasten the support. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a flexible cable support that while easy to assemble, install and intentionally disengage, will not allow accidental disengagement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a unitary or integral communications or other similar cable hanging strap that comprises a base for mounting on an appropriate structural member, a flexible strap integrally formed with the base, the flexible strap having a base end attached to the base and a distal end that includes an aperture for engaging an appropriate attachment button on the front side of the base as well as tabs on the rear surface of the strap that inhibit accidental disengagement of the flexible strap, but permit easy intentional disengagement thereof. In use, wiring to be supported is placed within the flexible strap, the strap bent to encompass the wiring and the aperture engaged about the attachment button with concurrent engagement of tabs on the rear surface of the strap with the base. This construction provides a wiring support that is not easily disengaged by random movement of the wiring, but is easily opened by disengagement of the tabs with the base by bending of the flexible strap for removal of one or more wires or insertion of additional wires. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following Figures wherein like numerals represent like elements will better serve to illustrate the cable support of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cable support of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially phantom side view of the cable support shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed rear perspective view of base and engagement mechanism of the cable support of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the cable support depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a series of the cable supports of the present invention, including encompassed cables, suspended from a suitable mounting rod. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1 cable support  10  of the present invention comprises a base  12 , having integrally formed therewith, strap  14  that preferably extends from front surface  31  of base  12 . Base  12  further includes apertures  16  and  18   a - 18   c  for attaching base  12  and consequently cable support  10  to a surface, stud or other structural or additional mounting member such as a rod as described hereinafter. As used herein, the terms “structure” or “structural member” are meant to refer to a portion of the actual structure, i.e. a wall, ceiling etc, or alternatively some member attached to the actual structure suitable for supporting installed cables such as a pipe, spacer or other suitable structural attachments. While strap  14  is depicted as extending from front surface  31 , according to an alternative embodiment, it could also extend from rear surface  33 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, base  12  includes a mounting block  20  having apertures  16  and  18   a - 18   c  therein for mounting of cable support  10  to a ceiling or other overhead horizontal structure or a wall or other vertical structural member. In all of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, base  12  is narrower than strap  14  (but may actually be wider or of the same width as strap  14 ) and includes a variety of apertures  16  and  18   a - 18   c  for attachment to a wall, ceiling or other structural element in any of the X, Y or Z directions. These attachment apertures are all provided in a hollow rectangular box-like structure forming mounting block  20  of base  12 . Aperture  18   a  in the top of box-like mounting block  20  is accessed through a matching aperture  23  in flange  25  that forms the bottom of base  12  and the hollow interior  27  of base  12  that permits attachment to a ceiling or other horizontal structure using a suitable fastener (not shown). Apertures  18   b  and  18   c  in the side walls of box-like structure mounting block  20  are accessed through each other and allow attachment to, for example, a wall or other vertical structure by insertion of a suitable fastener (not shown). Aperture  16  in the rear wall of hollow box-like mounting block  20  permits attachment to a vertical structure such as a wall. 
     While mounting block portion  20  is shown as being hollow in the attached Figures for purposes of recessing the various fasteners inserted into the apertures  16  and  18   a - 18   c,  to reduce the amount of material needed to fabricate mounting block  20  and to permit access for fastener attachment, a useful such member that is solid with appropriate recesses and passages could also be substituted. It should be noted that mounting block  20  may be substituted with any number of alternative structures as have been used to attach cable support elements to a variety of structural members and that mounting block  20  as depicted is merely representative of one embodiment of these various attachment means. 
     Access to aperture  18 a via aperture  23  in flange  25  also permits the insertion of a rod  52  as shown in FIG. 5 for “ganging” or serial attachment of a series of cable supports  10 , when rod  52  is attached to a structural member and a number of cable supports  10  are in turn suspended therefrom. 
     On the front surface  31  of base  12  is a button  26  having a head  28  and a post  30  (best seen in FIG.  2 ). Post  30  is an integral extension of front surface  31  of base  12 . Head  28  is wider than post  30  in the horizontal direction as defined when cable support  10  is hung in its normal use position as depicted in FIG.  5 . While head  28  is depicted in the accompanying Figures as being rectangular, the skilled artisan will immediately realize that head  28  could also be round, oval, octagonal etc., as long as key hole shaped aperture  32 , defined below, is of similar engaging shape. The roles of these two portions will be explained more fully below. 
     As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, strap  14  that is joined or integrally formed with base  12  at its base end  13  includes near is distal end  15  keyhole shaped aperture  32  having a wide portion  34  and a narrow portion  36 . It is to be noted that the term “key hole shaped” as used herein is meant to define any aperture having at least two portions one of which is larger than the other such that the strap or element containing the “key hole shaped” aperture can engage a suitably similarly shaped button by insertion of the wider portion over the head of the button and engagement of the narrower portion with a post as will be described below. Thus, as with button  26 , keyhole shaped aperture  32  may include circular, rectangular, oval portions or any combination of such shapes so long as engagement of the encompassing strap element with button  26  and its support is obtained. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , on front surface  17  of strap in the area of narrow portion  36  and preferably on either side thereof are tabs  35  that protrude from front surface  17 . The particular location, size and shape of tabs  35  may, of course be varied broadly, it being only important that they serve to engage some portion of base  12 , preferably as described below, to inhibit accidental disengagement of aperture  32  with button  26 . Tabs  35  must also be located in a position that permits there relatively easy disengagement from base  12  by “backflexing”, i.e. bending backward, of strap  14  from base  12  to permit disengagement of tabs  35  from base  12  as described below. 
     When strap  14  is flexed to provide a support or cradle for enclosed cable  41  as shown in FIG. 5, wide portion  34  of key hole shaped aperture  32  passes over head  28  (in the direction shown by arrow A in FIG. 3) and as weight is applied downward on strap  14  (as shown by arrow B in FIG.  3 ), narrow portion  36  engages post  30  and tabs  35  engage some portion of base  12 . In the case depicted in the accompanying drawings, engagement of tabs  35  is with recesses  40  and  42  in lower portion  44  of base  12 . In this position, strap  14  can only be disengaged from head  28  by flexing strap  14  backward, away from base front surface  31  so that tabs  35  are disengaged from contact with base  12  at recesses  40  and  42  with concurrent upward movement of strap  14  (in the direction opposite that shown by arrow B in FIG. 3) so that wide portion  34  is aligned with head  28 , and lifting strap  14  so that wide portion  34  fits over head  28  (in the direction opposite that shown by arrow A in FIG.  3 ). With proper sizing of head  28 , support  30  and wide and narrow portions  34  and  36 , disengagement of strap  14  can only occur by careful manipulation of strap  14  and disengagement of tabs  35  and will not be initiated by random movement of strap  14  relative to support  30  and head  28 . While tabs  35  are shown in the accompanying drawings as engaging elongated recesses  40  and  42 , suitable recesses could also comprise simple “holes” or slots in base front surface  31  that serve to engage tabs  35 . Similarly, a single tab  35  that engages a single recess in base front surface  31  would be suitable. It being only necessary that tab(s)  35  engage some suitable portion of base  12  to inhibit accidental disengagement of strap  14  from base  12 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, strap  14  is made of nylon and most preferably of nylon of a thickness of from about 0.025″ to about 0.060″. Nylon materials of this thickness while being flexible provide sufficient rigidity to assure retention of engagement aperture  32  with post  30  and head  28  and tabs  35  with base  12  even when only a minimum of weight is applied to strap  14  by cable enclosed therein. As will be obvious to the skilled artisan, other flexible polymeric or metallic materials of suitable properties may be substituted for the preferred nylon. 
     Similarly, strap  14  may be of any suitable width and length dimensions. Cable support  10  depicted in FIG. 5, for example, is about 20 inches long and about 5 inches wide as is necessary to carry the substantial volume of cable  41  shown. Alternative embodiments, however, may comprise a strap as narrow as one half to three quarters of an inch and be less than six inches long. Similarly, strap  14  may be of a single width along its entire length except perhaps where it joins base  12  at base end  13 , as depicted in the accompanying drawings, or may be of a varying width along its length to accommodate a particular cable or installation situation. The selection of the physical dimensions of the various members of cable support  10  is well within the capabilities of the skilled artisan. Strap  14  may also incorporate holes (not shown) to reduce the amount of material required in fabrication. As long as such holes do not unduly weaken strap  14  their presence in strap  14  is entirely acceptable. 
     As will be apparent to the skilled artisan, any number of alternative configurations can be envisioned for base  12  to provide alternative methods for attachment to a structural member. For example, base  12  could incorporate a hook for engagement with a beam or joist etc. 
     As best shown in FIG. 2, strap  14  may be of variable thickness. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 strap  14  is of three distinct thicknesses. In area of strap base  13  closest to base  12  where maximum pressure is applied during flexing a thickness of from about 0.050 to about 0.090 inches is preferred. In body  13   a  of strap  14  a thickness of from about 0.025 to about 0.050 inches is considered adequate, while in area  13   c  at distal end  15  of strap  14  that contains aperture  32  and, where maximum pressure will be applied during the support of inserted cables, a thickness of from about 0.050 to about 0.090 inches is again preferred. 
     As the invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same may be varied in many additional ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Any and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.