Multiple bit height snap fit cable holder apparatus

• US 5,189,766 A
• Filed: 01/31/1992
• Issued: 03/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nexans Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel Network Systems India Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Weber, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US07/829,121
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 24/459, 24/458, 24/455, 24/530, 24/536, 24/541, 24/572, 248/73, 16/2, 403/3, 403/4, 411/920, 411/457
• US Class Current: 24/459
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/02 Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/085 for pipes being in an angled relationship to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/2235 each pipe being supported by a common element fastened to the base
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/263 Installation, e.g. suspension, of conduit channels or other supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/92 Staple
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44034 Dissociable gripping members

Abstract

A snap fit cable retainer is illustrated for accommodating multiple diameter cables in a snug fit configuration by having the bit portion between adjacent side legs being closer to the extremities of the legs than is the main bit portion of the overall connector. In this way, large diameter cables can be run lengthwise through the retainer and smaller diameter cables can be run crosswise through the retainer. The retainer can also accommodate a layer of cables in each direction simultaneously by placing the lower level in the crosswise direction through the retainer and the second layer on top in the lengthwise direction.

Claims

1. Cable holder apparatus comprising, in combination:

U-shaped flexible material having a main bit portion with first and second side portions extending from said main bit portion for, as a first alternative, enclosing a cable oriented in a first direction with respect to the apparatus, the side portions each having surface projections for coaction with an opening in a base and said side portions having extremities extending a distance X from said main portion as viewed from an end of said U-shaped flexible material; and

said side portions each having an opening therein, for, as a second alternative, enclosing a cable oriented in a direction orthogonal said first direction thereby defining two legs extending to the extremity of said portion which legs are shorter than the distance X as viewed from a side of said U-shaped flexible material.

2. The method of providing a multilevel cable clamping capability comprising the steps of:

forming flexible material into a U-shaped clamp configuration having legs with different height inside and outside snap fit and hold projections;

inserting the legs of said clamp into two support openings whose outside edges are spaced apart substantially the distance between said legs to hold cable of a first maximum diameter; and

inserting the legs of said clamp into two support openings whose inside edges are spaced apart substantially the distance between said legs to hold cable of a second maximum diameter.

3. The method of providing a multilevel cable clamping capability comprising the steps of:

forming flexible material into a U-shaped clamp configuration having at least 4 legs and at least 2 of said legs having snap fit and hold projections, said U-shaped clamp having legs of a first length as viewed from an end and having legs of a second length as viewed from a side;

inserting the legs of said clamp into openings in a support to contain cable run in an end to end direction of a first maximum diameter; and

inserting the legs of said clamp into openings in a support to contain cable run in a side to side direction of a second maximum diameter.

4. The method of clamping two orthogonally oriented layers of cable to a support comprising the steps of:

positioning a bottom layer of cable on a support in a first direction between snap fit openings;

positioning a top layer of cable on said support and over said bottom layer of cable in a second direction orthogonal said first direction between said snap fit openings;

inserting a U-shaped snap fit clamp, having a first bit portion and two side portions with two legs on each side portion defining a further bit portion between the legs on each side, into said snap openings wherein said further bit portion between the legs of said side portions hold said bottom layer of cable and the first bit portion holds said top layer of cable.

5. Snap fit cable clamp apparatus comprising, in combination:

U-shaped base bit having flexible side portions, where said side portions include snap fit projections, extending therefrom and defining a first distance X from an underside of said base bit to the extremities of said flexible side portions; and

a U-shaped opening in each of said flexible side portions defining two legs and an enclosed auxiliary bit portion, the distance from said auxiliary bit portion to the extremities of said legs being less than said first distance X.