Patent ID: 12188588

Referring toFIGS.1to9of the drawings, there is shown a securing bracket10, in the form of a cable securing bracket. The securing bracket10can be attached to a planar surface of a support12such as a wall, ceiling, desk or floor. The purpose of the securing bracket10is to secure articles14against the support12. In the embodiments described herein, the articles14used with the securing bracket10are elongate articles, which may be cables, such as electrical cables. The securing bracket10allows the articles to be strung through a building in a manner that is simple and quick to install.

The securing bracket10shown inFIGS.1to9comprises a single elongate member16in the form of a length of wire formed of a malleable material, such as a metal. The securing bracket10comprises a fastening arrangement18at which the securing bracket10can be fastened to the support12by means of a fastener20, such as a bolt or screw (seeFIGS.7to9). The fastening arrangement18comprises a loop portion22, which defines an hole24through which the fastener20can extend into the support12. The loop portion22is formed by shaping the elongate member16so that it defines the hole24.

The securing bracket10further includes two arrays26extending from the fastening arrangement18in opposite directions. Each of the arrays26comprises a holding arrangement28for gripping the article14against the support12, and a resilient urging arrangement30to urge the holding arrangement28towards the support12. The arrays26are formed by shaping the elongate member16into each of the two arrays26.

The fastening arrangement18further includes a connecting portion32extending between the urging arrangement30and the loop portion22. In the embodiment shown, the connecting portion32is substantially straight, but it could be any other configuration, for example curved. The connecting portion32connects the urging arrangement30of each array26to the loop portion22. The urging arrangement30of each array26is arranged between the fastening arrangement18and the holding arrangement28.

Each urging arrangement30extends transverse to the respective fastening arrangement18, and comprises a substantially U-shaped portion34of said elongate member16.

Each urging arrangement30is resiliently flexible to allow the respective holding arrangement28to be moved away from the support12thereby allowing the article14to be inserted easily between the holding arrangement28and the support12.

Each urging arrangement30has first and second arms36,38, and a curved region40extending between the first and second arms36,38. The first arm36extends from the curved region40to the connecting portion32. The second arm38extends from the curved region40to the holding arrangement28. The first arm36is longer than the second arm38. This difference in length of the arms spaces the holding arrangement28away from the support12in use.

The holding arrangement28of each array26extends from the respective urging arrangement30, and comprises a substantially straight gripping portion42for gripping the article14. The gripping portion42extends from the second arm38of the urging arrangement30.

Each holding arrangement28further includes a retaining portion44for retaining the article14between the gripping portion42and the support12. The retaining portion44extends from one end of the gripping portion42. The retaining portion44is substantially V shaped, having an apex46and two arms48,50, the arm48being attached to the gripping portion42. In use, the apex46and the fastening arrangement18engage the support12.

In use, the securing bracket10is fastened to the support12in a position as shown inFIGS.7to9, by inserting the fastener20through the hole24defined by the loop portion22and screwed into the support12. When the securing bracket10is so fastened to the support12, the fastening arrangement18and the apex46of each retaining portion44engage the support12and thereby space the gripping portion42from the support12.

The gripping portion42of each array26is moved away from the support12, thereby creating a gap between the respective retaining portion44and the support12. The articles14are slid through the gaps into the regions between the gripping portions42and the support12.

Each gripping portion42is then moved back so that the respective retaining portion44engages the support12. In this position, each gripping portion42engages the articles14, which are thereby gripped between the gripping portions42and the support12.

Referring toFIGS.10to12, a further securing bracket is shown which comprises many of the features of the securing bracket10shown inFIGS.1to9. These features inFIGS.10to12are designated with the same reference numerals as the corresponding features inFIGS.1to9.

The securing bracket110differs from the securing bracket10in that the securing bracket110possesses only one of the arrays26comprising the urging arrangement30and the holding arrangement28. The array26of the securing bracket110comprises the same features as each of the arrays26shown inFIGS.1to9and is used in the same way. The fastening arrangement18and the single array26are formed from an elongate member16bent into the fastening arrangement18and the array26.

There are thus described two embodiments of a securing bracket10,110used to secure articles14, such as electrical cables to a wall or a ceiling. Each of the securing brackets10,110is formed from an elongate member16bent into the fastening arrangement18and the, or each, array26.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Reference is now made toFIGS.13to18, in which a further securing brackets, generally designated110are shown. The securing bracket110comprises a single elongate member112in the form of a length of wire formed of a malleable material, such as a metal.

Each of the securing brackets110comprises a fastening arrangement18, which is the same as the fastening arrangement18described above and shown inFIGS.1to12. The fastening arrangement18shown inFIGS.13to18has the same features as the fastening arrangement18shown inFIGS.1to12. These features have been designated inFIGS.13to18with the same reference numerals as the corresponding features inFIGS.1to12.

The holding arrangement28of the further securing bracket110comprises a coil114which is connected to the fastening arrangement18by the connecting portion32. The coil114is formed of 1.25 turns of the elongate member112, and comprises a main portion116and an overlapping portion118. The main portion116defines a circular space120. The overlapping portion118overlaps the main portion116at the connecting portion32, and helps to prevent the articles14from being inadvertently dislodged from the coil114.

In use, a plurality of the securing brackets110are fastened to a support12, for example a ceiling, by screwing respective fasteners20through the holes24into the support12. The securing brackets110are secured to the support12in a line, so that the coils114are aligned with each other. A plurality of the articles14are then threaded through the circular spaces120to be supported by the securing brackets110.

FIGS.15to17show the use of the securing bracket110on a horizontal support12, such as a ceiling. It is also possible to use the securing brackets110on a vertical support12, such as a wall. An example of the securing bracket110in use on a vertical support12is shown inFIG.18.