MULTI-PURPOSE CABLE SUPPORT HAVING BENDABLE STEM

• US 20120074268A1
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Caringella, Anthony, McMath, Justin C., Siddiqui, Asim, Colangelo, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/63
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1218 the pipe being only supported and not fixed
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/133 and hanging from a pendant F16L3/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/32 using mounting clamps

Abstract

A cable support has a body formed from a strap of self-supporting material, with a hook portion having a free end and an opposite attachment end. A stem is formed by the attachment end and includes an end segment movable relative to a main segment between a first, linearly-aligned position, and a second, normally-oriented position for facilitating selective mounting of the support on vertical and horizontal substrates.

Claims

1. A cable support, comprising:

a body formed from a strap of self-supporting material and having a hook portion having a free end, and an opposite attachment end; and

a stem formed by said attachment end and including an end segment movable relative to a main segment between a first, linearly aligned position, and a second, normally oriented position for facilitating selective mounting of said support on vertical and horizontal substrates.

2. The cable support of claim 1 wherein said stem has a transverse bend line defining said end segment and said main segment of said stem, and forming a hinge point of movement of said end segment between said first and second positions.

3. The cable support of claim 2 wherein said bend line is defined by a plurality of linearly spaced slots.

4. The cable support of claim 2, wherein said body has at least one support corrugation provided with a hinge recess aligned with said bend line for enabling said end segment to bend to a designated angle relative to said main segment.

5. The cable support of claim 4, further including a pair of said support corrugations disposed in generally spaced parallel orientation on said body and extending from said free end of said hook to said end segment.

6. The cable support of claim 4, wherein each said hinge recess has a pair of sides oriented at an approximate 45°

angle to an axis transverse to a plane defined by said stem, so that upon said end segment bending on said bend line, a right angle is defined between said end segment and said main segment.

7. The cable support of claim 1, further including at least one gripping formation for enhancing frictional engagement between said body and a corresponding substrate.

8. The cable support of claim 7, wherein said at least one gripping formation is a stamped tab projecting from a rear surface of said body.

9. The cable support of claim 7, wherein said at least one gripping formation is located on said stem.

10. The cable support of claim 9 wherein said stem has an end segment, and said at least one gripping formation is located on said end segment.

11. The cable support of claim 1 further including a fastener removal channel with a malleable locking tab constructed and arranged for being deformed by a user to enable disengagement of said cable support from a fastener driven in to the substrate.

12. The cable support of claim 11 wherein said fastener removal channel is generally “

L”

-shaped and defines an opening in an upper edge of said stem, said locking tab being located adjacent said opening.

13. The cable support of claim 11 wherein said locking tab is dimensioned to be generally flush with an upper edge of said stem.

14. A cable support, comprising:

a J-shaped body formed from a strap of self-supporting material and having a hook portion having a free end, and an opposite attachment end; and

a fastener removal channel is formed in said body and has a malleable locking tab constructed and arranged for being deformed by a user to enable disengagement of said cable support from a fastener driven in to the substrate.

15. The cable support of claim 14 wherein said attachment end forms a stem, said fastener removal channel is generally “

L”

-shaped and defines an opening in an upper edge of said stem, and said locking tab being located adjacent said opening for preventing passage of a fastener until the tab is moved.

16. The cable support of claim 14 further including a transverse bend line defining an end segment and a main segment of said stem, said end segment movable about said bend line relative to a main segment between a first, linearly aligned position, and a second, normally oriented position for facilitating selective mounting of said support on vertical and horizontal substrates.

17. The cable support of claim 14, further including at least one gripping formation for enhancing frictional engagement between said body and a corresponding substrate.

18. The cable support of claim 17, wherein said at least one gripping formation is a stamped tab projecting from a rear surface of said body.

19. A cable support, comprising:

a body formed from a strap of self-supporting material and having a hook portion having a free end, and an opposite attachment end;

a stem formed by said attachment end and including at least one gripping formation for enhancing frictional engagement between said body and a corresponding substrate; and

said at least one gripping formation is a stamped tab projecting from a rear surface of said body.

20. The cable support of claim 19 wherein said substrate attachment portion has an end segment movable relative to a main segment between a first, linearly aligned position, and a second, normally oriented position for facilitating selective mounting of said support on vertical and horizontal substrates, and said at least one gripping formation is located on said end segment.