Patent Description:
Cable cleats or cleat assemblies are typically used to manage and secure <NUM>-phase power cables of various sizes along a cable ladder or ladder rung. In addition to securing cables laterally and axially, cable cleats must be rigid enough to retain cables during short-circuit events, where electromagnetic forces can cause the cables to repel one another at extremely high forces. Cable cleats hold the cables in place during a short-circuit event to prevent damage to people and property.

<CIT> describes a cleat for electrical wiring with two interchangeable members being transversely grooved to hold the wire when said members are brought together. At one side of the groove, each member has a hole from its outer to its inner face and at the opposite side of the groove each member has a projection or upturned boss such that the bosses enter snugly into the holes.

<CIT> describes a clamp configured such that first and second sections have a pair of semi-circular inner surfaces connected together using a thin hinge to clamp the metal pipe inserted between the semi-circular inner surfaces of the first and second sections.

<CIT>describes a support apparatus for supporting a substantially cylindrical elongate member wherein the cleat is formed of two halves that are bolted together.

<CIT> describes a clamp having two like members for securing service lines and cables to the frame of a motor vehicle. The members are fixed together by a nut and bolt with each held in an associated member recess by an associated tension tab.

<CIT> describes a clamp that includes at least two elements which interface together by a way of male and female members. The clamp may also have a rachet mechanism allowing first and second clamp to be positioned relative to one another in a controlled manner.

There is a need for an improved cable management assembly that can be used to manage and secure <NUM>-phase power cables during a short-circuit event.

A cable cleat according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>. A cable cleat assembly is defined in dependent claim <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a one-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> of the present invention. The one-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> is designed to secure one cable <NUM> to a ladder rack <NUM>.

The one-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> includes two identical cable cleat halves <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, each cable cleat half <NUM> includes an outer surface <NUM>, an inner surface <NUM>, sides <NUM>, a back <NUM> and a front <NUM>. Each cable cleat half <NUM> also includes a mounting hole <NUM> extending from the outer surface <NUM> to the inner surface <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> includes a plurality of strengthening ribs <NUM> that extend a length of the cable cleat half <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> may also include a plurality of core out slots <NUM> surrounding the mounting hole <NUM>. The core out slots <NUM> are for optimizing the molding or casting process of the cable cleat half <NUM>.

The sides <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> form a face <NUM> for logo or text placement. The face <NUM> may be angled to improve the visibility of the text. The back <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> includes a wider profile to allow the cable cleat half <NUM> to sit on open ladder rungs, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The front <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> also includes a wider profile with flared ends <NUM>. The increased width of the cable cleat halves <NUM> allows the user to mount the cable cleat assembly on an inverted or open channel rung without falling into the rung.

The inner surface <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> includes a studded gripping surface <NUM> to engage the cable <NUM> secured between the cable cleat halves <NUM>. The gripping surfaces <NUM> include a plurality of spaced apart square pyramid shapes with a cross design. A semi-circular key <NUM> extends from the inner surface <NUM> at the mounting hole <NUM>. The remainder of the mounting hole forms a slot <NUM> for receiving a key <NUM> from the opposing cable cleat half <NUM>, as discussed below.

<FIG> illustrate the interlocking cable cleat halves <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the key <NUM> of one cable cleat half <NUM> fits into the slot <NUM> of the other cable cleat half <NUM>. A bolt <NUM> extends through the mounting holes <NUM> and is secured by a nut <NUM> to clamp the cable cleat halves <NUM> together. The keys <NUM> surround the bolt <NUM> to protect the cable insulation from the bolt threads during a short-circuit event. The interlocking arrangement also keeps the cable cleat halves <NUM> parallel to one another while the bolt <NUM> is tightened thereby uniformly clamping the cable <NUM>. The interlocking arrangement also prevents rotation of the cable cleat halves <NUM> relative to one another to aid in installation.

The cable cleat halves <NUM> can accommodate a range of cable sizes. <FIG> illustrate the interlocking cable cleat halves <NUM> surrounding a small diameter cable. <FIG> illustrate the interlocking cable cleat halves <NUM> surrounding a large dimeter cable.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate various arrangements of the one-hole interlocking cable cleat assemblies <NUM> of the present invention secured to a ladder rung <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the one-hole interlocking cable cleat assemblies <NUM> arranged in a flat, parallel arrangement. The cable cleat assemblies <NUM> are secured to the ladder rung <NUM> using bolts <NUM> and nuts <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the one-hole interlocking cable cleat assemblies <NUM> arranged in a stacked formation. The interlocking cable cleat assemblies <NUM> are stacked upon one another and are secured to the ladder rung <NUM> via a threaded rod <NUM> and nut <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the one-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> securing a multicore cable <NUM> to a ladder rung <NUM>. The cable cleat assembly <NUM> is secured to the ladder rung <NUM> using a bolt <NUM> and nut <NUM>.

Water may collect in the recessed areas of the cable cleat halves when the interlocking cable cleat assemblies <NUM> are installed outdoors. If the water freezes, it could cause the cable cleat half <NUM> to crack. <FIG> illustrates an alternative embodiment of a cable cleat half <NUM> to prevent water collection. The cable cleat half <NUM> could include at least one drain hole <NUM> to allow water to drain away from the interlocking cable cleat assembly.

<FIG> illustrate an alternative embodiment of the one-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> of the present invention. Each cable cleat half <NUM> includes an outer surface <NUM>, an inner surface <NUM>, sides <NUM>, a back <NUM> and a front <NUM>. Each cable cleat half <NUM> also includes a mounting hole <NUM> extending from the outer surface <NUM> to the inner surface <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> includes a plurality of strengthening ribs <NUM> that extend a length of the cable cleat half <NUM>.

The sides <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> form a face <NUM> for logo or text placement. The face <NUM> may be angled to improve the visibility of the text. The back <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> includes a wider profile to allow the cable cleat assembly <NUM> to sit on open ladder rungs. The front <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> also includes a wider profile with flared ends <NUM>.

The inner surface <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> includes gripping ribs <NUM> to engage the cable <NUM> secured between the cable cleat halves <NUM>. The gripping ribs <NUM> are aligned and extend along the inner surface <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM>. A semi-circular key <NUM> extends from the inner surface <NUM> at the mounting hole <NUM>. The remainder of the mounting hole <NUM> forms a slot <NUM> for receiving a key <NUM> from the opposing cable cleat half <NUM>, as discussed above.

<FIG> illustrates an alternative embodiment of a cable cleat half <NUM> with at least one drain hole <NUM> to prevent water collection when using the cable cleat assembly in outdoor arrangements.

<FIG> illustrates a two-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> of the present invention. The two-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> is designed to secure one cable <NUM> to a ladder rack <NUM>.

The two-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> includes two identical cable cleat halves <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, each cable cleat half <NUM> includes an outer surface <NUM>, an inner surface <NUM>, sides <NUM>, a back <NUM> and a front <NUM>. Each cable cleat half <NUM> also includes two mounting holes <NUM> extending from the outer surface <NUM> to the inner surface <NUM>. The mounting holes <NUM> are positioned at the back <NUM> and front <NUM> of each cable cleat half <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> includes a plurality of strengthening ribs <NUM> that extend a length of the cable cleat half <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> also includes a strengthening rib <NUM> that extends between the mounting holes <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> may also include a plurality of core out slots <NUM> surrounding the mounting holes <NUM>. The core out slots <NUM> are for optimizing the molding or casting process of the cable cleat half <NUM>.

The sides <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> form a face <NUM> for logo or text placement. The face <NUM> may be angled to improve the visibility of the text. Each cable cleat half <NUM> includes a wide profile to allow the cable cleat half <NUM> to sit on open ladder rungs, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The increased width of the cable cleat halves <NUM> allows the user to mount the cable cleat assembly <NUM> on an inverted or open channel rung without falling into the rung.

The inner surface <NUM> of each cable cleat half <NUM> includes a studded gripping surface <NUM> to engage the cable <NUM> secured between the cable cleat halves <NUM>. The studded gripping surface <NUM> includes a plurality of spaced apart square pyramid shapes with a cross design. A semi-circular key <NUM> extends from the inner surface <NUM> at each mounting hole <NUM>. The remainder of the mounting hole <NUM> forms a slot <NUM> for receiving a key <NUM> from the opposing cable cleat half <NUM>, as discussed below.

<FIG> illustrate the interlocking cable cleat assemblies <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate one of the mounting holes <NUM> of the interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM>. The key <NUM> of one cable cleat half <NUM> fits into the slot <NUM> of the other cable cleat half <NUM>. A bolt <NUM> extends through the mounting hole <NUM> and is secured by a nut <NUM> to clamp the cable cleat halves <NUM> together. The keys <NUM> surround the bolt <NUM> to protect the cable insulation from the bolt threads during a short-circuit event. The interlocking arrangement also keeps the cable cleat halves <NUM> parallel to one another while the bolt <NUM> is tightened thereby uniformly clamping the cable <NUM>. The interlocking arrangement also prevents rotation of the cable cleat halves <NUM> relative to one another to aid in installation.

The cable cleat halves <NUM> can accommodate a range of cable sizes. <FIG> illustrate the interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> surrounding a small diameter cable. <FIG> illustrate the interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> surrounding a large dimeter cable.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate various arrangements of the two-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> of the present invention secured to a ladder rung <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the two-hole interlocking cable cleat assemblies <NUM> arranged in a flat, parallel arrangement. The cable cleat assemblies <NUM> are secured to the ladder rung <NUM> using bolts <NUM> and nuts <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates two-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> arranged in a stacked formation. The interlocking cable cleat assemblies <NUM> are stacked upon one another and are secured to the ladder rung <NUM> via a threaded rod <NUM> and nut <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the two-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> securing a multicore cable <NUM> to a ladder rung <NUM>. The cable cleat assembly <NUM> is secured to the ladder rung <NUM> using a bolt <NUM> and nut <NUM>.

As discussed above, water may collect in the recessed areas of the cable cleat assemblies when the interlocking cable cleat halves are installed outdoors. If the water freezes, it could cause the cable cleat half to crack. <FIG> illustrates an alternative embodiment of a cable cleat half <NUM> to prevent water collection. The cable cleat halves <NUM> could include at least one drain hole <NUM> to allow water to drain away from the interlocking cable cleat assembly. Drain holes <NUM> may be placed in all four corners of the cable cleat half <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate an alternative embodiment of the two-hole interlocking cable cleat assembly <NUM> of the present invention. Each cable cleat half <NUM> includes an outer surface <NUM>, an inner surface <NUM>, sides <NUM>, a back <NUM> and a front <NUM>. Each cable cleat half <NUM> also includes two mounting holes <NUM> extending from the outer surface <NUM> to the inner surface <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> includes a plurality of strengthening ribs <NUM> that extend a length of the cable cleat half <NUM>. The outer surface <NUM> also includes a strengthening rib <NUM> that extends between the mounting holes <NUM>.

The sides <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> form a face <NUM> for logo or text placement. The face <NUM> may be angled to improve the visibility of the text. The cable cleat halves <NUM> also include a wider profile to allow the cable cleat assembly <NUM> to sit on open ladder rungs.

The inner surface <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM> includes gripping ribs <NUM> to engage the cable <NUM> secured between the cable cleat halves <NUM>. The gripping ribs <NUM> are aligned and extend along the inner surface <NUM> of the cable cleat half <NUM>. A semi-circular key <NUM> extends from the inner surface <NUM> at each mounting hole <NUM>. The remainder of the mounting hole <NUM> forms a slot <NUM> for receiving a key <NUM> from the opposing cable cleat half <NUM>, as discussed above.

<FIG> illustrates an alternative embodiment of a cable cleat half <NUM> with at least one drain hole <NUM> to prevent water collection when using the cable cleat assembly in outdoor arrangements. Drain holes <NUM> may be placed in all four corners of the cable cleat half.

Claim 1:
An interlocking cable cleat for securing at least one cable to a ladder rack, the interlocking cable cleat comprising:
a first cable cleat half (<NUM>) having an outer surface (<NUM>), an inner surface (<NUM>), and at least one mounting hole (<NUM>) extending from the outer surface to the inner surface;
a second cable cleat half having an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one mounting hole extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; and
semi-circular keys (<NUM>) extending from the inner surface of the first cable cleat half and the inner surface of the second cable cleat half, each semi-circular key is positioned around the at least one mounting hole in the first cable cleat half and the at least one mounting hole in the second cable cleat half, thereby defining slots (<NUM>) in the remainder of each mounting hole,
whereby each slot is arranged to receive one of the semi-circular keys from an opposing inverted cable cleat half to interlock the first cable cleat half to the second cable cleat half,
wherein the outer surface of the first cable cleat half and the outer surface of the second cable cleat half have ribs (<NUM>) for strengthening the cable cleat halves.