Anchor for receiving cable bundling straps

• US 5,752,682 A
• Filed: 01/17/1996
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Anderson, DeWayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US08/588,032
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 248/65, 248/68.1, 248/69, 248/74.2, 248/74.3, 248/316.7
• US Class Current: 248/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/26 Installations of cables, lines, or separate protective tubing therefor directly on or in walls, ceilings, or floors by means of insulators H02G3/24; supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing F16L3/00; hose-clips F16L33/02

Abstract

A cable bundling strap anchor made by forming a number of tongues along an elongate band or bracket of flat, resilient metal or plastic by removing material in a form of a cutout such that the sides and one end of the cutout form a tongue attaching member. An open bundling strap is placed around the tongue from the tongue free end. Thereafter, a cable bundle is placed over the anchor and the strap is closed about the bundle. The stiffness of the cable bundle and the inability to move the bundle away from the plane of the band prevents removal of the strap from the anchor.

Claims

1. A bundling strap anchor for supporting at least one cable bundle adjacent a mounting surface employing at least one bundling strap for each of said at least one cable bundle, encircling a respective cable bundle, said bundling strap anchor comprising:

a) a bracket having a first planar member having a first and a second marginal edge and a front surface and a rear surface and a second planar member having a third and a fourth marginal edge and a front surface and a rear surface, said first planar member second marginal edge joined to said third marginal edge of said second planar member to form a right angle between said front surface of said first planar member and said front surface of said second planar member, said front surfaces of said first and second planar members adapted to be positioned adjacent said at least one cable bundle and said rear surface of at least one of said first and second planar members adapted to be positioned adjacent the mounting surface;

b) at least one first tongue in said first planar member severed from said first planar member along two generally parallel marginal edges and a top edge to provide said at least one first tongue with two first generally parallel marginal edges and a first top edge spaced from corresponding marginal edges and a top edge of said first planar member;

c) at least one second tongue in said second planar member severed from said second planar member along two generally parallel marginal edges and a top edge to provide said at least one second tongue with two second generally parallel marginal edges and a second top edge spaced from corresponding marginal edges and a top edge of said second planar member;

d) said first and second marginal edges of each of said at least one first and second tongues and said corresponding first and second marginal edges of said first and second planar members, respectively, and

e) said first and second top edges of each of said at least one first and second tongues and said corresponding top edges of said first and second planar members, respectively, separated by a predetermined distance whereby a bundling strap of a predetermined twistediness must be twisted to introduce said bundling strap distance into a space between said first top edge and said second top edge and the respective top edge of said first and second tongues of said first and second planar members and once inserted into said space, said at least one bundling strap can move along said at least one first tongue and said at least one second tongue but not exit through said respective spaces without again being twisted.

2. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 1, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one first tongue is two and said two first tongues extend towards said first end and said at least one second tongue is two and said two second tongues extend towards said first end.

3. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 1, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one first tongue is two and one of said first tongues extends towards said first end and a second of said first tongues extends towards said second end and said at least one second tongue is two and one of said second tongues extends towards said first end and a second of said second tongues extends towards said second end.

4. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 3, wherein said top edges of said two first tongues face one another and said top edges of said two second tongues face one another.

5. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on one of said rear surfaces of said first and second planar members whereby said bundling strap anchor can be adhered to a mounting surface.

6. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on each of said rear surfaces of said first and second planar members whereby said bundling strap anchor can be adhered to a mounting surface using the pressure sensitive adhesive on one of said first and second planar members rear surfaces.

7. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a) said bracket has a first end and a second end; and

b) mounting apertures, one at each said first and second ends in each of said first and second planar members, each of said apertures extending inwardly from said first and second ends to permit said bundling strap anchor to be mounted to a mounting surface by fasteners passed through the apertures of one of said first and second planar members.

8. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 1, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one first tongue is four and a first and third ones of said first tongues extend toward said first end and a second and fourth ones of said first tongues extend toward said second end and said at least one second tongues is four and a first and third ones of said second tongues extend toward said first end and a second and fourth ones of said second tongues extend toward said second end.

9. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 1, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one first tongue is five and a first group of said first tongues extend towards said first end and a second group of said first tongues extend towards said second end and said at least one second tongue is five and a first group of said second tongues extend towards said first end and a second group of said second tongues extend towards said second end.

10. A bundling strap anchor for supporting a cable bundle adjacent a mounting surface employing at least one bundling strap encircling the cable bundle, said bundling strap anchor comprising:

a) a bracket having a top planar surface adapted to be positioned adjacent the cable bundle and a bottom planar surface adapted to be positioned adjacent the mounting surface;

b) at least one tongue partially severed from said bracket to provide said at least one tongue having two parallel marginal edges and a top edge and provide said bracket with at least one cutout where said at least one tongue was partially severed, said cutout having two corresponding parallel marginal edges and a top edge corresponding, respectively, to said two parallel marginal edges and said top edge of said at least one tongue;

c) said two parallel marginal edges of said at least one tongue, each separated from a corresponding marginal edge of said cutout; and

d) said top edge of each of said at least one tongue separated from a corresponding top edge of said cutout by a distance, whereby to insert at least one bundling strap each having a thickness less than said distance into said cutout and below said at least one tongue, said at least one bundling strap must be twisted to introduce said at least one bundling strap between the top edge of said tongue and the corresponding top edge of said at least one cutout, said at least one bundling strap thereafter can move along said at least one tongue but can not exit through said distance without again being twisted.

11. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 10, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one tongue is two and each of said two tongues extend towards said first end.

12. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 10, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one tongue is two and a first tongue extends towards said first end and a second tongue extends towards said second end.

13. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

a) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on said bottom planar surface whereby said bundling strap anchor can be adhered to a mounting surface.

14. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 10, wherein:

a) said bracket has a first end and a second end; and

b) mounting apertures, one at each said first and second ends extending inwardly from said first and second ends to permit said bundling strap anchor to be mounted to a mounting surface by fasteners passed through said apertures.

15. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 10, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one tongue is two and a first tongue extends towards said first end and a second tongue extends towards said second end and the top edges of said first and second tongues are confronting.

16. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 10, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one tongue is four and first and third tongues extend towards said first end and second and fourth tongues extend towards said second end.

17. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 16, wherein said top edges of said first and second tongues face one another and said top edges of said third and fourth tongues face one another.

18. A bundling strap anchor, as defined in claim 10, wherein said bracket has a first end and a second end and said at least one tongue is five and a first group of said tongues extend towards said first end and a second group of said tongues extend towards said second end.