CABLE SUPPORT

• US 20180050646A1
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Published: 02/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HellermannTyton Ltd. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: HellermannTyton Ltd. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Chapman, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 10,399,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/18 allowing movement in axial direction
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/32 using mounting clamps

Abstract

A cable support is provided that includes an elongate support member for supporting a cable or cables secured thereto. A mounting member is connected to the support member and secures the support member to amounting stud on a trim panel or other support substrate. The mounting member comprises a bore for receiving the mounting stud. A locking member is provided that has an aperture formed therein for receiving the mounting stud. The locking member is connected to the mounting member in axial alignment with the bore and rotatably connected to the mounting member such that the mounting member and support member are rotatable relative to the locking member.

Claims

1. A cable support comprising:

a support member for supporting a cable or cables secured thereto;

a mounting section for securing the cable support to a corresponding mounting stud, the mounting section comprising a bore for receiving said mounting stud; and

a locking member having an aperture formed therein for receiving said mounting stud, the locking member being connected to the mounting section in axial alignment with the bore;

wherein the locking member is rotatably connected to the mounting section such that the mounting section and the support member are rotatable relative to the locking member.

2. The cable support according to claim 1, wherein the support member is an elongate blade.

3. The cable support according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is axially fixed relative to the mounting section.

4. The cable support according to claim 2, wherein the cable support has a support surface to which the cable or cables are secured, and the support surface has a concave profile in a direction transverse to a length of the elongate blade.

5. The cable support according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is annular having an inner diameter configured to provide an interference fit with the mounting stud when inserted thereon.

6. The cable support according to claim 5, wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of radially extending elongate slots extending radially outwards from the inner edge defining a plurality of annularly arranged teeth.

7. The cable support according to claim 6, wherein the bore of the support member includes an innermost opening and an outermost opening with an insertion direction being defined in a direction extending from the outermost opening towards the innermost opening which in use is the direction in which the mounting section is inserted onto the mounting stud, wherein at least a radially innermost portion of the plurality of teeth are angled in an axial direction with the locking member being mounted to the mounting section such that the plurality of teeth are angled in an opposite axial direction to the insertion direction to inhibit axial removal of the locking member from the mounting stud.

8. The cable support according to claim 7, wherein the locking member is formed of metal.

9. The cable support according to claim 8, wherein the locking member is mounted within the of the mounting section.

10. The cable support according to claim 9, wherein the locking member is inserted into the mounting section in the insertion direction with the mounting section including one or snore stop members to limit axial insertion of the locking member and one or more retaining members to prevent removal of the locking member in the opposite axial direction once inserted.

11. The cable support according to claim 10, wherein the one or more retaining members is a retaining clip arranged to flex in the axial direction from a retaining position to an insertion position the retaining clip being arranged to flex to the insertion position on locking member, and to return to the retaining position allowing insertion of the locking member.

12. The cable support according to claim 10, wherein an axial spacing between the one or more stop members and retaining member is substantially equal to a thickness of the locking member to limit axial movement of the locking member within the bore.

13. The cable support according to claim 10, wherein the one or more stop members includes an curved inner surface having a radius corresponding to an inner radius of the locking member such that an inner edge of the locking member at the one or more stop members are radially aligned.

14. A cable support configured to support a cable secured to a mounting stud, said cable support comprising:

a support member configured to support the cable secured thereto; and

a mounting member connected to the support member and configured to secure the support member to the mounting stud, wherein the mounting member defines a circular bore configured to receive the mounting stud, wherein a locking member is disposed within the bore, the locking member defining an aperture therein configured to receive the mounting stud, wherein the locking member is connected to the mounting member such that is the locking member is rotatable relative to the mounting member, and wherein the locking member is in axial alignment with the bore.

15. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the locking member is a metal disk having an annular planar surface surrounding the aperture and wherein the locking member comprises a plurality of elongate slots extending radially outwards from an inner edge of the annular planar surface, thereby defining a plurality of annularly arranged teeth, said plurality of teeth configured to engage the mounting stud.

16. The cable support according to claim 15, wherein an inner diameter of the plurality of teeth is sized to provide an interference fit with the mounting stud.

17. The cable support according to claim 16, wherein the locking member further includes a reinforcing wall surrounding an outer edge of the annular planar surface.

18. The cable support according to claim 17, wherein the mounting member includes a stop member extending in a circumferential direction from a bore edge and a retaining clip extending in the circumferential direction from the bore edge axially separated from the stop member, wherein the reinforcing wall is disposed intermediate the stop member and the retaining clip.

19. The cable support according to claim 18, wherein the mounting member includes two stop members diametrically opposed to one another and each extending in the circumferential direction around approximately one quarter of the bore edge.

20. The cable support according to claim 19, wherein the mounting member includes two retaining clips diametrically opposed to one another and wherein the two retaining clips include a tapered leading edge which is engaged by the locking member as the locking member is inserted into the bore.

21. The cable support according to claim 20, wherein the two retaining clips are flexible and configured to axially flex as the locking member is inserted within the bore.

22. The cable support according to claim 20, wherein radially curved inner edges of the two stop members have a radius substantially equal to a radius of an inner edge of the plurality of teeth.

23. The cable support according to claim 20, wherein an axial spacing between an axially outer facing surface of the stop member and tan axially inner facing surface of the two retaining clips is such that the axial spacing is substantially equal to a height of the reinforcing wall.

24. The cable support according to claim 23, wherein a radial spacing between the axially outer facing surface of the stop member and the axially inner facing surface of the two retaining clips is such that the locking member is able to rotate within the bore.

25. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the support member is an elongate blade.

26. The cable support according to claim 25, wherein the cable support has a support surface to which the cable is secured and wherein the support surface has a concave profile in a direction transverse to a length of the elongate blade.

27. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the bore axially extends at least a length of the mounting stud.

28. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the mounting member includes a pair of tabs extending laterally from both sides of the mounting member in a radial direction.

29. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the mounting member includes a flange extending radially from both a base of the mounting member.

30. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the support member further comprises an elongate strap defining a plurality of serrations and a tie head defining a strap aperture configured to receive the elongate strap.

31. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the support member defines a channel configured to longitudinally receive the cable.

32. The cable support according to claim 31, wherein the cable support comprises a plurality of mounting members.

33. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the support member defines a first cable tie slot beneath a mounting surface, said first cable tie slot extending therethrough and configured to receive a cable tie.

34. The cable support according to claim 33, wherein the support member defines a second cable tie slot beneath the mounting surface and wherein the first cable tie slot is generally perpendicular to the second cable tie slot.

35. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the support member further comprises a clamp configured to engage and retain the cable to the cable support.

36. The cable support according to claim 34, wherein the clamp is rotatably attached to the cable support.

37. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the support member further comprises a flexible clip configured to engage and retain the cable to the cable support.

38. The cable support according to claim 37, wherein the clip is rotatably attached to the cable support.

39. The cable support according to claim 14, wherein the support member further comprises a connector locking feature configured to retain a connector body to the cable support.