Apparatus for securing a line such as a cable

• US 7,922,020 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Wronski, Grzegorz
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, JEFFREY R
• Application Number:
  US11/430,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20070261881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 220/254.7, 220/3.3, 220/3.4, 220/3.5, 220/3.6, 220/3.7, 220/4.02, 220/3.2, 220/254.3, 161/08, 16/22, 16/21, 174/666, 174/153.G, 174/650, 174/659, 248/56, 248/73
• US Class Current: 220/3.2
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings

Abstract

An apparatus for securing a line such as, for example, a cable or the like, thereto is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus is coupled to an electrical box into which the cable extends.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a trap to which a line is adapted to be secured, the trap comprising;

a base;

a first pair of arms coupled to the base and between which a first cavity is defined, each of the first pair of arms comprising;

a substantially horizontal portion comprising a top surface;

a pair of ears, each ear extending upward from one of the respective first pair of arms;

a cover rotatably coupled to the base, the cover comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side comprises a first tab and the second side comprises a second tab;

a second pair of arms, each of the second pair of arms extending from one of the respective first pair of arms in a direction generally opposite the pair of ears, the second pair of arms configured to receive the line therebetween;

wherein the cover is rotatably adjustable from an open configuration to a closed configuration;

wherein when the cover is in the closed configuration, the bottom surface of the cover abuts the top surface of the first pair of arms and at least a portion of each tab extends between one of the ears and the top surface of the first pair of arms to maintain the cover in the closed configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the second pair of arms is inwardly biased toward the other arm in the second pair arms when the line extends between the second pair of arms.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of ears comprises:

at least one substantially vertical member extending upward from the top surface of one of the first pair of arms, wherein each substantially vertical member comprises a first end and a second end, the first end of each second substantially vertical member coupled to the top surface;

a least one substantially horizontal member coupled to the substantially vertical members along the second end of the substantially vertical member the substantially horizontal member extending inward towards a vertical centerline defined by the first and second cavity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises:

a first protrusion extending from a bottom surface of the base adjacent a front side of the base, the front side being disposed between the first side and the second side; and

a second protrusion extending from the bottom side of the base;

wherein the first and second protrusions define a slot disposed along the bottom surface of the base, the slot configured to receive a tool therein for adjusting the cover from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each tab further comprises a chamfer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cover is integral with and hingedly coupled to the base of the trap.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second protrusion comprises a perimeter substantially corresponding to a perimeter of the first cavity.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical box comprising a plate comprising a notch, wherein the trap is operable to slidably insert into the notch.

2. An apparatus comprising:

an electrical box comprising a plate comprising a notch; and

a trap inserted into the notch so that the trap is coupled to the plate, wherein a line is adapted to be secured to the trap so that the line extends into the electrical box;

wherein the trap comprises;

a first pair of arms between which the line is adapted to extend;

a second pair of arms extending from the first pair of arms, respectively, and between which the line is adapted to extend, each arm in the second pair of arms comprising a curved distal end portion that is adapted to engage the line so that the respective curved distal end portions secure the line to the apparatus;

a base from which the arms in the first pair of arms extend;

a cover hingedly coupled to the base;

an open configuration in which the line is permitted to extend between the first pair of arms;

a closed configuration in which the cover prevents the line from extending between the first pair of arms; and

a pair of ears extending from the first pair of arms, respectively upward from a surface defined by a top side of the base and the first pair of arms;

wherein the cover comprises a pair of tabs;

wherein, when the apparatus is in the closed configuration, at least a portion of each tab extends between one of the ears and the surface to maintain the apparatus in the closed configuration;

wherein each curved distal end portion curves towards and then away from the other curved distal end portion;

wherein each curved distal end portion comprises at least one tooth extending in a direction towards the other curved distal end portion and away from the first pair of arms;

wherein, when the curved distal end portions engage the line, the teeth resist relative movement between the line and the curved distal end portions in at least one direction;

wherein each arm in the second pair of arms is inwardly biased toward the other arm in the second pair arms when the line extends between the second pair of arms;

wherein each curved distal end portion comprises a slanted transition portion that is adapted to facilitate the insertion of the line between the curved distal end portions in a lateral direction;

wherein each arm in the first pair of arms comprises an angularly-extending portion that extends away from the other arm in the first pair of arms;

wherein each arm in the second pair of arms comprises an angularly-extending portion that extends from the respective angularly-extending portion of the respective arm in the first pair of arms and towards the other arm in the second pair of arms;

wherein the curved distal end portions extend from the respective angularly-extending portions of the arms in the second pair of arms;

wherein each arm in the first pair of arms comprises a channel into which at least a portion of the plate extends; and

wherein each of the arms in the first pair of arms comprises a web adapted to extend into at least a portion of the notch to secure the apparatus to the plate when the apparatus is inserted into the notch.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an electrical box comprising a notch;

a trap to which a line is adapted to be secured inserted into the notch, the trap comprising;

a base;

a first pair of arms extending from the base and between which a first cavity is defined, the base and the first pair of arms defining a top surface;

a second pair of arms between which a second cavity is defined, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity define a pathway through which the line is adapted to extend, each of the second pair of arms coupled to and extending generally downward from a respective one of the first pair of arms, each of the second pair of arms comprising a curved distal end portion operable to engage the line so that the respective curved distal end portions secure the line to the apparatus;

a first ear extending upward from one of the first pair of arms;

a second ear extending upward from the other of the first pair of arms; and

a cover comprising a top side, a bottom side and a hinge portion rotatably coupled to the base, wherein the bottom side further comprises a first protrusion having a perimeter substantially corresponding to a perimeter of the first cavity, wherein the cover is rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position at least a portion of the bottom side of the cover abuts the top surface and a portion of the top side of the cover abuts each of the first and second ears.