Patent Description:
This disclosure relates to a lockout device, as for example shown in <CIT>, in which multiple cables can be formed into separate cable loops that are independently closeable and which may be, for example, used to lockout a control or energy isolation point.

Lockout devices are conventionally used to secure controls or energy isolation points during the maintenance or servicing of equipment. For instance, if a particular control or energy isolation point needs to be turned off to safely perform maintenance on equipment, then a lockout device may be installed on the control or the energy isolation point to physically prevent others from mistakenly turning that control back on until the work is complete. Such lockout devices often include the ability for multiple users to lockout a control simultaneously, for example, by permitting each user to attach their own separate padlock to the lockout device to secure the lockout device in place on the control. In such case, the lockout device cannot be removed and the control operated until all the individual padlocks are removed from the lockout device.

One type of lockout device is a cable lockout device. These cable lockout devices are so named because they include a cable as part of the lockout device in which that cable can be run through the control and formed into a closed loop, with the closed loop preventing the operation of that control while the cable lockout device remains in place. An example of a cable lockout device can be found, for example, in <CIT> and <CIT>, respectively.

Such cable lockout devices can be well suited for locking out the rotatable spoked handles of valve controls, for instance, but may be used in other contexts as well.

While cable lockout devices are known, most cable lockouts involve a single cable that may be routed through various elements before being secured. This can result in long cable runs and potentially messy installation of the lockout device.

Disclosed herein in an improved cable lockout device in which multiple cable are used having cable gripping structures with at least one shared stationary cleat. Each of the cables can be run between that shared stationary cleat and another rotatable or biased cleat in which that rotatable or biased cleat is unique to and corresponds to the individual cable being secured. In this way, two or even more cables can be secured by a cleat set having fewer than an expected number of cleats and with a lockout device having less complex construction. So, for example, rather than having two sets of biased cleats, to accommodate two cables, for a total of four biased cleats, three cleats total could be employed one of which is stationary or fixed and two of which are biased cleats.

Such a multicable lockout device could be used various applications in which having multiple independent loops would be of utility. For example, two valve handles could be secured to one another using independent loops that can be separately tightened. Still further, such a multicable lockout device could be standalone device; combined with another structure or device in which that other structure or device includes other lockout modalities or not; or mounted on a fixed surface such as a wall, floor, or stationary apparatus.

According to one aspect, a multicable lockout device is disclosed. The device includes a housing including at least two cable end securement points for receiving ends of corresponding cables. The housing has a base section and cover section that is movable relative to the base section between an opened position and a closed position. The device further includes a stationary cleat fixed relative to the base section of the housing and at least two rotatable cleats attached to the base section. Each of the respective rotatable cleats is positioned adjacent to the stationary cleat with a respective cable-receiving pathway being defined between the stationary cleat and each of the respective rotatable cleats. The respective rotatable cleats each have a tip biased towards the stationary cleat to facilitate one-way gripping action of a corresponding cable along the respective cable-receiving pathway. When in the closed position, the respective cable-receiving pathways between the stationary cleat and each respective rotatable cleat can be securely covered by the cover section and this cover section can be lockable relative to base section to prevent the cover section from being taken out of the closed position while locked.

In some forms, the multicable lockout device may further include at least two cables. Each one of the at least two cables may have a respective first end secured at one of the at least two cable end securement points of the housing. This securement can involve, for example, the housing having an opening through which one of the cables can be received and the cable can have a collar on one end that is larger than the opening to secure the end of the cable relative to that opening. Each one of the cables also may have a respective second end that is receivable through one of the respective cable-receiving pathways. In this way, multiple loops may be formed, with the cables being anchored at the cable end securement points and being pullable in one direction through the cable-receiving pathways at least while the cover section is locked in the closed position. The cable can be withdrawn from the cable-receiving pathways after the cover section is moved to the opened position, thereby permitting any formed loops to be broken.

In some forms, the multicable lockout device may further include a hinge connecting the base section to the cover section. The hinge may include a pair of hinge parts in which one of the hinge parts is an integral part of the base section and another of the hinge parts is an integral part of the cover section.

In some forms, the rotatable cleats may be on opposing sides of the stationary cleat such that the respective cable-receiving pathways are also on opposing sides of the stationary cleat. Each of the rotatable cleats may have a respective axis of rotation and the stationary cleat may be positioned along a line between or connecting the respective axes of rotation of the rotatable cleats.

In some forms, the base section may have a tab with a plurality of lock openings and the cover section may have a slot for receiving the tab when the cover section is in the closed position. When the cover section is in the closed position, the plurality of lock openings may be on a side of the cover section opposite the stationary cleat and at least two rotatable cleats. The plurality of lock openings may be sized to receive a shackle of a padlock to lock the cover section in the closed position.

In some forms, the cable end securement points may be on oppositely facing peripheral sides of the housing.

In some forms, the housing may include peripheral walls as part of one or more of the base section and cover section. The peripheral walls can include cable openings formed therein between the base section and the cover section for accommodating passage of a cable therethrough, which cable is also passable through at least one of the respective cable-receiving pathways.

In some forms, the rotatable cleats may be biased by a respective torsion spring with legs that separately engage the base section of the housing and part of the respective rotatable cleats.

In some forms, the rotatable cleats may include guidance pegs that are received in guidance slots in the base section of the housing. An interaction of the guidance pegs with the guidance slots can delimit an angular rotation of the rotatable cleats relative to the housing.

In some forms, the stationary cleat may include at least one fixation peg that is received in at least one fixation hole in the base section of the housing. An interaction of the fixation peg and the fixation hole can prevent the stationary cleat from rotating relative to the base section of the housing.

These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of some preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms as used in the claims and the description should be construed in a generic meaning as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. The terms "first", "second", or the like as used in the description and claims of the patent application do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. The terms "a", "an" or "the" like do not denote a quantity limitation but mean that there is at least one. The terms "include", "comprise" or the like mean that the elements or objects that precede "include" or "comprise" encompass the elements or objects and their equivalents that appear after "include" or "comprise" and do not exclude other elements or objects. The terms "connect", "connected" or the like are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, nor are they limited to direct or indirect connections.

The terms "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "left", "right", and so forth used herein are exemplary directions defined only for facilitating the description. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the directions toward the reader are front, left, and top (given the perspective view) and the directions away from the reader is rear, right, and bottom. Of course, those skilled in the art would be able to understand that the directions such as "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "left", and "right" can be defined in other ways, which also fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

A structure having an "integral design" is a component formed from one piece of material, such as a molded piece. A structure having a "composite design" is a component formed from more than one distinct piece (or part), which upon assembly are combined.

Referring to <FIG>, a multicable lockout device <NUM> is illustrated. This exemplary multicable lockout device <NUM> can be used to create a pair of cable loops using a three-cleat arrangement in which the loops can be independently reduced. The multicable lockout device <NUM> potentially can be used in various types of lockout applications for which having more than one secured cable loop would be of utility and can be integrated into other structures.

As illustrated, the multicable lockout device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> having a base section <NUM> and cover section <NUM>, three cleats including a stationary cleat <NUM> and a pair of rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM> (which rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM> have corresponding torsion springs <NUM> and <NUM> for biasing the rotation of the rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM>), and two cables <NUM> and <NUM>.

Looking first at the housing <NUM>, the housing includes the base section <NUM> and cover section <NUM>. The cover section <NUM> is movable relative to the base section <NUM> between an opened position, as is depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, and a closed position, as is depicted in <FIG>.

In the form illustrated, a hinge <NUM> connects the base section <NUM> to the cover section <NUM> to provide the movability of the sections <NUM> and <NUM> with respect to one another. The hinge <NUM> as shown includes a pair of hinge parts <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the right side of the base section <NUM> relative to the orientation of the device <NUM> in the figures. One of the hinge parts <NUM> is an integral part of the base section <NUM> and provides a pin portion for the hinge <NUM>. The other one of the hinge parts <NUM> is an integral part of the cover section <NUM> and provides a C-shaped portion for the hinge <NUM>. The C-shaped portion is snappable onto a forward-facing section of the pin portion when the cover section <NUM> is opened sufficiently with respect to the base section <NUM> to connect the pin portion of the hinge part <NUM> and the C-shaped portion of the hinge part <NUM> together and to establish the mechanical connection of the hinge <NUM>. When the cover section <NUM> is closed relative to the base section <NUM> as is depicted in <FIG>, the C-shaped portion rotates with the movement of the cover section <NUM> to a rearward side of the pin portion (again relative to the orientation of the device on the page) such that the hinge <NUM> cannot be separated by unsnapping the hinge parts <NUM> and <NUM> from one another when the housing <NUM> is closed, as attempting to move the C-shaped portion away from the pin portion is prevented by the interference of the cover section <NUM> and the base section <NUM> in this closed position.

It is contemplated that the cover section <NUM> could be movable relative to the base section <NUM> in other ways, whether hinged or not. The hinged arrangement particularly depicted in the figures is merely provided as one exemplary way of creating a hinged connection between the sections of the housing <NUM> to limit access to the cleat gripping structure supported by the base section <NUM>. However, it is envisioned the hinge or connection between the sections <NUM> and <NUM> could take other forms, while providing the same functionality with respect to the movability of the cover section <NUM> with respect to the base section <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. It is contemplated that, in some forms, the hinge as depicted could be replaced by a living hinge and thereby make the base section <NUM> and the cover section <NUM> of the housing <NUM> one continuous solid body having an integral design.

With additional and particular reference being made to <FIG>, the base section <NUM> includes a base wall <NUM> and peripheral or lateral walls <NUM> that extend forwardly from the base wall <NUM>. Various features are formed in the base wall <NUM> and lateral walls <NUM> that support operation of the multicable lockout device <NUM>.

It is understood that while <FIG> depict a housing <NUM> with a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, the housing <NUM> is not limited to such cross-sectional shape. Nonlimiting examples of suitable housing <NUM> cross-sectional shapes include square, rectangle, trapezoid, triangle, pentagon, oval, circle, and semi-circle.

The base wall <NUM> includes three posts that extend perpendicularly to and forwardly from the base wall <NUM> for attaching the cleats <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. These three posts include a post <NUM> that is centrally located for axially receiving the stationary cleat <NUM> and a pair of posts <NUM> and <NUM> that are each for axially receiving one of the pair of rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

On the base wall <NUM> around the post <NUM> for the stationary cleat <NUM>, a set of fixation holes <NUM> are formed in the base wall <NUM> for engaging corresponding fixation pegs <NUM> on the stationary cleat <NUM> to prevent the stationary cleat <NUM> from rotating or moving relative to the base section <NUM> once the stationary cleat <NUM> is attached to the post <NUM> by mounting hardware. More particularly and as depicted in <FIG>, the stationary cleat <NUM> has an opening <NUM> extending axially therethrough in which the post <NUM> is received and then a screw <NUM> and washer <NUM> are then used to axially secure the stationary cleat <NUM> onto the post <NUM> which, in conjunction with the engagement of the fixation holes <NUM> and the fixation pegs <NUM>, fix the stationary cleat <NUM> relative to the base wall <NUM>.

On the base wall <NUM> around the posts <NUM> and <NUM> for the rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM>, a pair of guidance slots <NUM> and <NUM> are formed that are generally arcuate in shape that are for engaging a corresponding guidance peg <NUM> and <NUM> on an axially facing side of the rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM>. The interaction of the guidance slots <NUM> and <NUM> and the guidance pegs <NUM> and <NUM> can delimit the angular rotational range of motion of the rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM> relative to the base section <NUM> and, by the fact it is fixed to the base section <NUM>, the stationary cleat <NUM>. The rotational cleats <NUM> and <NUM> have axial openings <NUM> and <NUM> that are axially received on the posts <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, and can be attached to the base section <NUM> of the housing <NUM> by the use of screws <NUM> and <NUM> and washers <NUM> and <NUM> that axially retain the rotational cleats <NUM> and <NUM> on the posts <NUM> and <NUM>, but still allow rotational movement of the rotational cleats <NUM> and <NUM> about their respective shared axis with the posts <NUM> and <NUM> and as limited by the guidance slots <NUM> and <NUM> and the guidance pegs <NUM> and <NUM>.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the fixation pegs <NUM> and the fixation holes <NUM> as well as the guidance slots <NUM> and <NUM> and the guidance pegs <NUM> and <NUM> could be oppositely arranged on the components to similar effect. For instance, fixation pegs could extend outwardly from the base wall and engage fixation holes formed on a facing side of the stationary cleat.

Additionally in the proximity of the posts <NUM> and <NUM> for the rotatably cleats <NUM> and <NUM>, spring receiving recesses <NUM> and <NUM> are formed in the base wall <NUM> that encircle the posts <NUM> and <NUM>. These spring receiving recesses <NUM> and <NUM> have spring leg receiving slots <NUM> and <NUM> that extend generally radially outwardly therefrom (slightly more accurately, the spring leg receiving slots <NUM> and <NUM> can be approximately tangent to the central ring of the recesses <NUM> and <NUM> about the posts <NUM> and <NUM> as depicted in <FIG>). The spring leg receiving slots <NUM> and <NUM> receive the legs <NUM> and <NUM> of corresponding torsion springs <NUM> and <NUM> which are interposed between the posts <NUM> and <NUM> and the rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM> and that are used to the bias the rotation of the rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM> about their shared axes with the posts <NUM> and <NUM>. The other of the legs <NUM> and <NUM> of the torsion springs <NUM> and <NUM> are received against an internal feature, such as a wall or internal ledge, in the axial openings <NUM> and <NUM> on the rear axial side of the rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM>.

Turning to other prominent features on the base section <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the base section <NUM> also provides a pair of cable end securement points <NUM> and <NUM> formed in the housing <NUM>. In the device <NUM> illustrated, these cable end securement points <NUM> and <NUM> are positioned on the top and bottom sides of the peripheral walls <NUM> and each include an opening <NUM> and <NUM> formed through the top and bottom sides of the peripheral wall <NUM>. The cables <NUM> and <NUM> have stops or collars <NUM> and <NUM> secured on one of their ends and, as can be seen in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a free end of the cable <NUM> and <NUM> can be first be threaded through the respective openings <NUM> and <NUM> and the cable <NUM> and <NUM> advanced until the stop <NUM> and <NUM> blocks the end of the cable <NUM> and <NUM> from further advancing and passing through the respective opening <NUM> and <NUM> of the respective cable end securement point <NUM> and <NUM> (by virtue of the size of the stop <NUM> and <NUM> being larger than the size of the opening <NUM> and <NUM>). To prevent the end of the cable <NUM> and <NUM> from being fed back into the interior side of the peripheral walls <NUM> and becoming tangled or jamming or interfering with the operation of the cleats as will be described in further detail below, the cable end securement points <NUM> and <NUM> can also have guard walls <NUM> and <NUM> that prevents the cables <NUM> and <NUM> with the stops <NUM> and <NUM> from being pushed into the cleats. It will be appreciated that while the figures depict cables <NUM> and <NUM> with stops or collars <NUM> and <NUM> securable to the housing <NUM>, the cables <NUM> and <NUM> could alternatively be fastened (such as with a screw), or otherwise connected to the housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, the cables <NUM> and <NUM> are replaceable with another cable for any one of several reasons (such as, for example, cable wear, replacing the cable with a cable of a different diameter or material, and so on). A nonlimiting example of a suitable cable <NUM>, <NUM> is a nylon and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated steel cable.

The peripheral walls <NUM> of the base section <NUM> also have cable inlet openings <NUM> and <NUM> and cable outlet openings <NUM> and <NUM> to permit passage of the free end of the cables <NUM> and <NUM> into and out of the interior of the housing <NUM> when the sections <NUM> and <NUM> are closed. As can be best seen in <FIG> and <FIG> (with the housing <NUM> opened), there are cable-receiving pathways <NUM> and <NUM> between the stationary cleat <NUM> and the rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The cable inlet opening <NUM> is positioned above the cable-receiving pathway <NUM> and the cable outlet opening <NUM> is positioned below the cable-receiving pathway <NUM> such that the free end of the cable <NUM> would pass through the cable inlet opening <NUM>, through the cable-receiving pathway <NUM> between the rotational cleat <NUM> and the stationary cleat <NUM>, and down and out of the cable outlet opening <NUM>. Likewise, the cable inlet opening <NUM> is positioned below the cable-receiving pathway <NUM> and the cable outlet opening <NUM> is positioned above the cable-receiving pathway <NUM> such that the free end of the cable <NUM> would pass through the cable inlet opening <NUM>, through the cable-receiving pathway <NUM> between the rotational cleat <NUM> and the stationary cleat <NUM>, and up and out of the cable outlet opening <NUM>. In the form illustrated, the cable inlet openings <NUM> and <NUM> and the cable outlet openings <NUM> and <NUM> are rounded V-shaped groves formed through the peripheral wall <NUM> of the base section <NUM> and corresponding truncated teeth <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are formed on peripheral walls of the cover section <NUM> to closely retain the cables <NUM> and <NUM> in place when the housing <NUM> is in the closed position as is best depicted in <FIG>.

As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the base wall <NUM> also has a tab <NUM> extending forwardly therefrom on the left side of the base section <NUM> of the housing <NUM> that is opposite the left side with the hinge <NUM>. This tab <NUM> includes at least one, or a plurality of lock openings <NUM>. The cover section <NUM> has a slot <NUM> which is received through a corresponding area of the cover section <NUM> when the cover is closed so that the tab <NUM> is received through the slot <NUM> and the plurality of lock openings <NUM> are on a side or face of the cover section <NUM> opposite the stationary cleat <NUM> and at least two rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM>. The lock openings <NUM> can be sized to receive a shackle <NUM> of a padlock <NUM> or other locking or securement devices (see for example, <FIG> illustrating an attached padlock <NUM>) so that when the cover section <NUM> is closed relative to the base section <NUM>, the presence of one or more locking devices on the tab <NUM> can prevent the cover section <NUM> from being opened until the locking devices are all removed. It is understood that while <FIG>, <FIG> depict a tab <NUM> with four lock openings <NUM>, the tab <NUM> may alternatively include a single lock opening <NUM>, or two or more lock openings <NUM>. In an embodiment, the tab <NUM> includes from <NUM>, or <NUM> to <NUM>, or <NUM>, or <NUM>, or <NUM>, or <NUM> lock openings <NUM>. In another embodiment, the tab <NUM> includes from <NUM> to <NUM>, or from <NUM> to <NUM>, or from <NUM> to <NUM> lock openings <NUM>. Each of the lock openings <NUM> may have the same size, or may have a different size than the other lock openings <NUM>; wherein the size of the lock opening <NUM> is the diameter of the lock opening <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the base section <NUM> has an integral design with one, some, or all of (i) the tab <NUM>, (ii) the hinge part <NUM>, (iii) the guard walls <NUM> and <NUM>, (iv) the posts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, (v) the spring receiving recesses <NUM> and <NUM>, (vi) the spring leg receiving slots <NUM> and <NUM>, (vii) the guidance slots <NUM> and <NUM>, and/or (viii) the set of fixation holes <NUM>. For example, the base section <NUM> may have an integral design with each of (i) the tab <NUM>, (ii) the hinge part <NUM>, (iii) the guard walls <NUM> and <NUM>, (iv) the posts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, (v) the spring receiving recesses <NUM> and <NUM>, (vi) the spring leg receiving slots <NUM> and <NUM>, (vii) the guidance slots <NUM> and <NUM>, and (viii) the set of fixation holes <NUM>. In another example, the base section <NUM> may have an integral design with the hinge part <NUM>, and a composite design with each of (i) the tab <NUM>, (ii) the guard walls <NUM> and <NUM>, (iii) the posts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, (iv) the spring receiving recesses <NUM> and <NUM>, (v) the spring leg receiving slots <NUM> and <NUM>, (vi) the guidance slots <NUM> and <NUM>, and (vii) the set of fixation holes <NUM>. Nonlimiting examples of materials from which to form the base section <NUM> include metal, plastic, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the cover section <NUM> has an integral design with one or both of (i) the hinge part <NUM> and/or (ii) the truncated teeth <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Nonlimiting examples of materials from which to form the cover section <NUM> include metal, plastic, and combinations thereof. The cover section <NUM> and the base section <NUM> may be formed from the same material or from different materials.

With reference being had to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the cleats will now be further described geometrically and operationally. Looking at <FIG> in particular and at the stationary cleat <NUM>, the stationary cleat <NUM> is American football-shaped and has a pair of tips, with one tip that points up and slightly to the right and with one tip that points down and slightly to the left. The rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM> are teardrop-shaped also each having a tip. In the case of the leftmost rotatable cleat <NUM>, the tip points down and to the right and is biased in a counterclockwise direction to be urged towards the tip on the stationary cleat <NUM> that points down and to the left to provide part of the cable-receiving pathway <NUM> for cable <NUM>. In the case of the right-most rotatable cleat <NUM>, the tip points up and to the left and is biased in a counterclockwise direction to be urged towards the tip on the stationary cleat <NUM> that points up and to the right to provide part of the cable-receiving pathway <NUM> for cable <NUM>. With this geometric arrangement and the afore-mentioned biasing, the tips and the cleats or grooves will engage the cables and permit them to be pulled through the respective cable-receiving pathways <NUM> and <NUM> in one direction, but not the other. For example, the free end of the cable <NUM> can be pulled downward relative to the orientation of <FIG> to reduce the size of a cable loop, but not upward without being pinched and held by the converging tips of the cleats <NUM> and <NUM>. Likewise, the free end of the cable <NUM> can be pulled upward relative to the orientation of <FIG> to reduce the size of a cable loop, but not downward without being pinched and held by the converging tips of the cleats <NUM> and <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the multicable lockout device <NUM> includes three and only three cleats within the housing <NUM>, including (i) one and only one stationary cleat <NUM> and (ii) two and only two rotatable cleats <NUM> and <NUM>.

With the various structural parts of the multicable lockout device <NUM> having been described, the overall operation of the multicable lockout device <NUM> will now be described.

First, the multicable lockout device <NUM> is put in an opened position, like the position shown in <FIG> and <FIG> (although the degree to which the cover section <NUM> is opened may vary somewhat from that which is shown). If the cables <NUM> and <NUM> are not present already (that is, not already attached or connected to the housing <NUM>), then the free end of the cables <NUM> and <NUM> are fed through the openings <NUM> and <NUM> of the cable end securement points <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, until the stops <NUM> and <NUM> prevent the further advancement of the cables <NUM> and <NUM> and secure the stopped ends.

At this point, cables <NUM> and <NUM> may be routed and positioned either with the housing <NUM> opened or, the housing <NUM> may be closed and then the cables <NUM> and <NUM> routed and positioned and then fed into the housing <NUM> with the housing <NUM> in the closed position. In the latter case, it may be helpful to have walls or other structures internal to the housing to direct the free tip of the cable because otherwise it may be very difficult for the opening to be aligned with the cable outlet opening and the tip could dead-end into an internal wall of the housing. Thus, it is contemplated the more preferred situation is initial placement of the cables <NUM> and <NUM> while the cover section <NUM> is still open. In either case, the free end of the cable <NUM> can be routed through whatever external objects or controls that cable <NUM> needs to be looped through to form a first loop <NUM> between the cable end securement point <NUM> and the cable inlet opening <NUM>, through the cable inlet opening <NUM>, between the stationary cleat <NUM> and the rotatable cleat <NUM>, and out the cable outlet opening <NUM>. The free end of the cable <NUM> can be routed though whatever external objects or controls that cable <NUM> needs to be looped through to form a second loop <NUM> between the cable end securement point <NUM> and the cable inlet opening <NUM>, through the cable inlet opening <NUM>, between the stationary cleat <NUM> and the rotatable cleat <NUM>, and out the cable outlet opening <NUM>.

In either case, the cover portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is then to be closed as in <FIG> to ultimately isolate the various cleats from being accessible and to prevent the cables <NUM> and <NUM>, once extended through the housing <NUM>, from being withdrawn counter to the gripping action of the cleats. In this way and with the cover section <NUM> secured, the first loop <NUM> and the second loop <NUM> can be made smaller, but not larger, to secure whatever objects or controls the cables <NUM> and <NUM> are run. Still further, with the cover section <NUM> closed, the cables <NUM> and <NUM> cannot be pulled forwardly (relative to the orientation on the page) to remove them from the cable receiving pathways <NUM> and <NUM> and to disengage them from their respective cleats by virtue of the cover section <NUM> restricting this forward movement of the cables <NUM> and <NUM>. To truly prevent access into the closed housing and to establish a lock out of the device <NUM>, a shackle <NUM> of a padlock <NUM> can be inserted through one or more of the openings <NUM> in the tab <NUM> to prevent the cover portion <NUM> from being opened relative to the base section <NUM>. In this way, the multicable lockout device <NUM>, can be used to "lockout" objects or controls and the first loop <NUM> and second loop <NUM> cannot be broken until the padlock <NUM> is removed and the cover section <NUM> is opened. Further, in the case where multiple users have secured padlocks through different lock openings <NUM>, the housing <NUM> can be secured shut until all the various padlocks are removed. This can be useful in a circumstance in which the same controls to be locked out for various users simultaneously, and the multicable lockout device <NUM> not removed until all users have completed their work and removed their respective padlocks.

Once the lockout device <NUM> is no longer required and all users have removed their locking devices, then the cover section <NUM> may be opened and the cables <NUM> and <NUM> pulled forward out of their respective cable-receiving pathways <NUM> and <NUM> to remove the cables <NUM> and <NUM> from between the various cleats and from their previous one-way engagement therewith. Thus, with the housing <NUM> opened, the first loop <NUM> and the second loop <NUM> can be broken and the multicable lockout device <NUM> removed from whatever controls or objects to which it may be attached.

This multicable lockout device <NUM> could be used on its own, or in combination with other features/lockout elements. When used on its own, for example, one cable could wrap around a valve handle and the other could wrap around a neighboring pipe to lock the valve handle in place relative to the pipe. In yet another alternative, each cable could be wrapped around a different valve handle to lock them both in place. Still further, the multiple cable lockout might be included in a device having other lockout mechanism in it. For example, the housing itself could be attached to a wall or another structure (including a structure with further lockout structures), or it may not be attached to anything. In one embodiment, the multicable lockout structure could be used as the cable lockout element of a structure having a combined clamping lockout and cable lockout such as is described in <CIT>; however, that cable lockout device only depicted a single cable lockout with a clamping mechanism in which both could be locked out at a single point, even though both were separately operable. It is contemplated that that structure could be modified to include the two-cable design or a multicable design as disclosed herein instead of a single cable lockout and clamp.

In an embodiment, a user may utilize the present multicable lockout device <NUM> to lock the handle of a valve control (such as a quarter-turn ball valve handle, a butterfly handle, a gate valve handle, a three-way valve handle, a four-way valve handle, a five-way valve handle, a T-handle, or a ring handle), thereby preventing the handle from being inadvertently moved.

Furthermore, while multicable lockout device is illustrated with two cables and three cleats, some variations to this system might be made without deviating from the scope of this disclosure.

As one example, while the cable end securement points are on opposing sides of the housing, the cable end securement points could be positioned on the same sides. Further, it is contemplated that in such an arrangement, the tips of the cleats could be differently arranged so that perhaps both free ends enter cable inlet openings on the same side of the peripheral walls of the housing. While it is likely easier to route the cables entirely through the housing with the housing still open, in the case where the housing is closed before the cables would be routed through the housing, this could create a better sense of directionality with respect to which opening on the housing are inlets versus outlets (although it is also contemplated these openings could also be marked).

As another example, rather than having three cleats for independently securing two cables, it is contemplated that other cleat and cable configurations could be employed in which there is a shared stationary cleat. For example, a differently shaped housing and cleat arrangement could have a single central stationary cleat with three rotatable cleats evenly spaced around the stationary cleat, perhaps with rotational axes that are spaced at approximately <NUM> degrees from center of the stationary cleat. The device could then potentially include three cables with the housing providing three cable end securement points for the securable ends of the cables. This arrangement might provide three cable-receiving pathways between the stationary cleat and the respective rotatable cleats.

Claim 1:
A multicable lockout device (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) including at least two cable end securement points, the housing having a base section (<NUM>) and cover section (<NUM>) that is movable relative to the base section between an opened position and a closed position;
a stationary cleat (<NUM>) fixed relative to the base section of the housing;
at least two rotatable cleats (<NUM>,<NUM>) attached to the base section, in which each of the respective rotatable cleats is positioned adjacent to the stationary cleat with a respective cable-receiving pathway (<NUM>,<NUM>) being defined between the stationary cleat (<NUM>) and each of the respective rotatable cleats (<NUM>,<NUM>), the respective rotatable cleats each having a tip biased towards the stationary cleat to facilitate one-way gripping action of a cable along the respective cable-receiving pathway; and
wherein, when in the closed position, the respective cable-receiving pathways between the stationary cleat and each respective rotatable cleat are securably covered by the cover section (<NUM>) and the cover section is lockable relative to base section to prevent the cover section from being taken out of the closed position while locked.