Abstract:
The present invention is a cable attachment method and device used with a fastener to secure a cable, hose, or hydraulic line to a rigid member to prevent slippage. The device includes a soft, flexible, cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore configured to accept the fastener. The body has an opening adapted to accept the cable. The body operates to create a high level of friction between the cable and the rigid member and to protect the cable from vibration of the rigid member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     None. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a system for cable attachment. More particularly, it relates to applications where an electrical cable, hose, or hydraulic line must be attached to a rigid member. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A tie wrap is a common way to attach an electrical cable, hose, or hydraulic line to a rigid member, such as a pipe or a structural beam. Most of the electrical cables, hoses, or hydraulic lines have a smooth finish. With a tie wrap alone, it must be fastened extremely tight to prevent movement and slippage of the cable, hose, or hydraulic line. Due to the tightness required to prevent slippage, the tie wrap can cause the cable, hose, or hydraulic line to be badly deformed and can actually damage the cable, hose, or hydraulic line. Many times the attachment is in a wet location or even under water, which increases the chance of slippage. The friction between the cable, hose, or hydraulic line and the rigid member is not great enough to prevent slippage. 
     Cable attachment devices in the prior art, such as a tie wrap, have another significant shortcoming. The prior art devices lack any vibration damping characteristics, and thus vibration from the rigid member is transferred to the cable, hose, or hydraulic line causing mechanical wear and damage. 
     There is a need in the art for a device that can increase the friction without over tightening of the fastener (e.g., the tie wrap). There is a need for a device to hold the cable, hose, or hydraulic line in position and provide a high-friction support to eliminate slippage. There is a further need in the art for a device that acts as a shock absorber to minimize vibration damage to the cable, hose, or hydraulic line during operation. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention is a cable attachment method and device used with a fastener to secure a cable, hose, or hydraulic line to a rigid member to prevent slippage. In one embodiment, the device includes a soft, flexible, cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore configured to accept a fastener. The cylindrical body has at least one opening located near a longitudinal midpoint, which is configured to accept and support the cable. 
     While two embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein is shown and described only the embodiments of the invention, by way of illustration, of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a side view of a cable attachment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a cable attachment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cable attachment device of FIG. 1A with a cable and a fastener. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cable attachment device of FIG. 1A, in operation. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cable attachment device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cable attachment device of FIG. 4, in operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1A is a side view and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a cable attachment device  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the cable attachment device  10  includes a body  12  with a proximal opening  14   a  at a first end and a distal opening  14   b  at a second end. The proximal opening  14   a  and the distal opening  14   b  are connected by a longitudinal bore. In one embodiment, the body  12  has a lateral cross-section that is cylindrical in shape. In another embodiment, the lateral cross-section is square-shaped. In another embodiment, the lateral cross-section is triangular-shaped. The body  12  includes a notch  16  formed between the proximal opening  14   a  and the distal opening  14   b.  In one embodiment, the opening is formed near a longitudinal center of the body  12 . In one embodiment, the notch  16  is generally cut in the shape of a “V,” and forms an opening in a wall of the body  12 . The edges of the notch  16  include a first side  18   a  and a second side  18   b,  which meet at an intersection  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the body  12  is made from a soft, rubber-like material. In one embodiment, the body  12  is made from rubber. In another embodiment, the body  12  is made from a polymeric material. In a further embodiment, the body  12  is made from any material, known to those of ordinary skill in the art, that has a coefficient of friction sufficiently great to minimize slippage between the body  12  and the rigid member. 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the cable attachment device  10 , along with a cable  22  and a fastener  24 . In various embodiments of the present invention, the cable  22  is a support cable, an electrical cable, a hose, or a hydraulic line. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fastener  24  is a tie wrap. The unique shape of the cable attachment device  10  provides several functions. The notch  16  keeps the cable  22  in line with a rigid member (as shown in FIG. 3) that the cable  22  is being mounted to. The notch  16  provides an open area in the body  12  where the fastener  24  can pass over a surface of the cable  22  facing away from the rigid member. The generally “V”shape of the notch  16  allows the fastener  24  to be readily manipulated through the openings  14   a,    14   b  and around the cable  22 . This design also makes it possible to install the cable attachment device  10  to an existing cable  22 . 
     The size and design of the opening of the notch  16  is important as it holds the cable attachment device  10  in position on the cable  22  when the fastener  24  is inserted through the body  12 . The cable attachment device  10  is also held in place by the frictional forces between the body  12 , the cable  22 , and the rigid member. This allows the cable attachment device  10  to be installed at a pre-measured location on the cable  22  and to remain in that location even when the fastener  24  is not fastened. 
     A cable attachment method  30  is illustrated in FIG.  3 . As shown in FIG. 3, the cable attachment device  10  is used, with the fastener  24 , to secure the cable  22  to a rigid member  32 . As shown, the fastener  24  enters the proximal opening  14   a,  exits the notch  16 , before the cable  22 , passes over the top of the cable  22 , enters the body  12  through the notch  16 , on the other side of the cable  22 , and exits the distal opening  14   b.  The fastener  24  is then tightened. The body  12  of the cable attachment device  10  is made of a soft rubber-like material that will flex and bend to conform to the surface of the rigid member  32 . This will provide maximum surface are contact between the cable attachment device  10  and the rigid member  32 , and thus maximum friction to prevent slippage. The soft, rubber-like material of the body  12  will also conform to any irregularities in the shape of the cable  22  and thus will maintain maximum friction to prevent slippage. The physical characteristics of the body  12  will also act to dampen any vibration in the rigid member  32 , and prevent the vibration from reaching and damaging the cable  22 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cable attachment device  40  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the cable attachment device  10  includes a body  42  that is cylindrical in shape with a proximal opening  44   a  at a first end and a distal opening  44   b  at a second end. The body  42  includes a first cable opening  46   a  and a second cable opening  46   b  configured for insertion of the cable  22 . The body  42  further includes a first fastener opening  48   a  and a second fastener opening  48   b  configured for insertion of the fastener  24 . The body  12  is made from a soft, rubber-like material. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of a cable attachment method  50 . As shown in FIG. 5, the cable attachment device  40  is used, with the fastener  24 , to secure the cable  22  to the rigid member  32 . As shown, the cable  22  is threaded through the cable openings  46   a,    46   b,  such that it is in line with the rigid member  32 . The fastener  24  enters the proximal opening  44   a,  exits the first fastener opening  48   a,  passes over the top of the cable  22 , which is located inside the body  12 , reenters the body  12  through the second fastener opening  48   b,  and exits the distal opening  44   b.  The fastener  24  is then tightened. The body  42  of the cable attachment device  10  is made of a soft rubber-like material that will flex and bend to conform to the rigid member  32 . This will provide maximum surface are contact between the cable attachment device  40  and the rigid member  32 , and thus maximum friction to prevent slippage. The soft, rubber-like material of the body  12  will also conform to any irregularities in the shape of the cable  22  and thus will maintain maximum friction to prevent slippage. The physical characteristics of the body  12  will also act to dampen any vibration in the rigid member  32 , and prevent the vibration from reaching and damaging the cable  22 . 
     The cable attachment method  50  also addresses a technique for protecting the cable  22  from being damaged by fasteners  24  that have sharp edges. In this embodiment, the fastener  24  tightens against the body  42  of the cable attachment device  50  and thus eliminates direct contact between the fastener  24  and the cable  22 , which serves to protect the cable  22  from damage. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.