Trigger actuated cable clamp

• US 7,219,399 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Siegrist, Stanley R., Hay, Robert G., Tamm, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/239,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 241/32.WL, 241/36.L, 241/15.M, 241/36.R, 403/314, 403/374.1, 403/369, 439/820, 439/821, 294/102.1
• US Class Current: 24/136.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/106 using a toothed surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/52 which is spring loaded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3956 Jaws locked together by cam, wedge, lever, or screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3969 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3973 Rope clamped between cone and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3996 Sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5793 including member wedging or camming means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7064 by wedge or cam

Abstract

A clamp for a cable having a housing with a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity to receive the cable. The clamp also includes a jaw assembly having a notch. The jaw assembly moves between locked and triggered positions within the cavity. A biasing member is disposed within the cavity to bias the jaw assembly towards the triggered position. A retainer is arranged within the cavity and has gripping fingers to engage the notches in the locked position. A trigger is positioned within the cavity. The trigger has an outer locking portion to engage with the gripping fingers to releasably secure the gripping fingers in the notches to retain the jaw assembly in the locked position. When the cable is inserted into the interior cavity and contacts the trigger device, the gripping fingers and notches disengage so that the biasing member biases the jaw assembly towards the first end of the clamp to clamp the cable.

Claims

1. A clamp for a cable, comprising:

a housing with a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity to receive the cable;

at least two jaws each having a notch, the at least two jaws being movable between locked and triggered positions within the cavity;

a biasing member within the cavity biasing the at least two jaws towards the triggered position;

a retainer within the cavity having at least two gripping fingers engaging the notches in the locked position; and

a trigger within the cavity having a outer locking portion engaged with the at least two gripping fingers to releasably secure the at least two gripping fingers in the notches to retain the at least two jaws in the locked position;

wherein when the cable is inserted into the interior cavity and contacts the trigger device, the at least two gripping fingers and notches disengage and the biasing member biases the at least two jaws towards the first end of the housing to clamp the cable.

2. A clamp according to claim 1, further comprises

a funnel guide is disposed on the second end.

3. A clamp according to claim 2, further comprises

a guide cup is disposed in the interior cavity proximate the second end.

4. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein

the housing is substantially conically shaped.

5. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein

the interior cavity has a surface that tapers outwardly from the first end to the second end of the housing.

6. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein

the retainer has a substantially annular biasing member nesting section to receive an end of the biasing member.

7. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein

the trigger has a inner ring defining a receiving section to make contact with a guide cup.

8. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein

the at least two gripping fingers have an inner surface with a boss disposed thereon to engage each notch.

9. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein

one of an inner surface of the outer locking portion or an outer surface of the at least two gripping fingers has at least one recess.

10. A clamp according to claim 9, wherein

the other of the inner surface of the outer locking portion or the outer surface of the at least two gripping fingers has a protrusion for insertion into the at least one recess.

11. A clamp, comprising:

a housing with a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity;

at least two jaws disposed within the cavity, each having a notch;

a biasing member within the cavity biasing the at least two jaws towards the first end;

a retainer within the cavity including at least two gripping fingers with an inner surface having a boss engaging the notches; and

a trigger within the cavity having a outer locking portion engaging an outer surface of the at least two gripping fingers, the trigger also having an inner ring defining a receiving section.

12. A clamp according to claim 11, further comprises

a guide cup configured to move within the cavity to contact the receiving section.

13. A clamp according to claim 12, further comprises

a funnel guide is disposed on the second end.

14. A clamp according to claim 11, wherein

the interior cavity has a surface that tapers from the first end to the second end of the housing.

15. A clamp according to claim 11, wherein

the retainer has a substantially annular biasing member nesting section to receive an end of the biasing member.

16. A clamp according to claim 11, wherein

the at least two gripping fingers include biasing member supports.

17. A clamp according to claim 11, wherein

the at least two gripping fingers include four gripping fingers each having a biasing member support.

18. A clamp according to claim 11, wherein

one of an inner surface of the outer locking portion or the outer surface of the at least two gripping fingers has at least one recess.

19. A clamp according to claim 18, wherein the other of the inner surface of the outer locking portion or the outer surface of the at least two gripping fingers has at least one protrusion for insertion into the at least one recess.

20. A device for splicing cables, comprising:

a body with opposing ends and a clamp located at each end, each of the clamps, includes;

a housing with a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity;

at least two jaws disposed within the cavity, each having a notch;

a biasing member within the cavity biasing the at least two jaws towards the first end;

a retainer within the cavity including at least two gripping fingers each with an inner surface having a boss configured to engage the notches;

a trigger within the cavity having a outer locking portion engaging an outer surface of each gripping finger, the trigger also having a receiving section; and

a guide cup within the cavity movable to contact the receiving section.