Cable support and method

• US 5,964,434 A
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ERICO International Corporation (nVent Electric Plc)
• Original Assignee: ERICO International Corporation (nVent Electric Plc)
• Inventors: Lynch, Edward J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERGER, DEREK JOEL
• Application Number:
  US08/891,168
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 248/58, 248/59, 248/60, 248/68.1, 248/317, 248/100, 294/152, 294/156, 294/74
• US Class Current: 248/60
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/30 Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/10 Flexible members or lashings wrapped around both the supporting wire and the line or cable

Abstract

A fireproof cable loop forming strap of substantial width has pockets at each end and may have one intermediate pocket to receive front and rear spreader bars which project beyond the lateral edges of the strap. The projecting ends of the bars are configured to be received in hook tabs projecting from the face of a hanger plate or yoke. The rear spreader bar interfits with the plate or yoke and is preassembled therewith so it cannot be removed. The fireproof strap may be formed of fireproof cloth and has folded and sewn lateral edges in addition to the pockets. The hanger plate or yoke may be mounted directly to a variety of structures or surfaces. With an angle flange and intermediate fasteners the hanger may be secured to a wide variety of structures.

Claims

1. A cable bundle and hanger combination for organizing and supporting a bundle of communications cable comprising a yoke, a flexible strap having two ends, and means operative to secure first one end of said strap to said yoke, means then to secure the other end to said yoke after encircling a bundle of cables, to suspend said bundle properly organized and supported from said yoke, said yoke including means to secure said yoke to a structure.

2. A cable bundle and hanger combination as set forth in claim 1 including laterally spaced hooks on said yoke forming a part of said means operative to secure first one and then the other end of said strap to said plate.

3. A cable bundle and hanger combination as set forth in claim 2 including laterally projecting spreader bars in each end of said strap, said spreader bars having projecting ends received in said hooks.

4. A cable bundle and hanger combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one end said strap is assembled to said plate before the bundle is encircled.

5. A cable bundle and hanger combination for organizing and supporting a bundle of cables comprising a yoke, a flexible strap operative to form a loop, a spreader at each end of said loop to keep said strap of uniform width, and means to secure first one spreader to said yoke, and means then to secure the other spreader to said yoke to form said loop to encircle said cable bundle and hang it in organized fashion from the yoke.

6. A cable bundle and hanger combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said strap includes transverse pockets at each end to receive said spreaders and form a loop of one size to encircle a cable bundle.

7. A cable bundle and hanger combination comprising a yoke, a strap having two ends, and first means operative first to secure one end of said strap to said yoke, and second means then to secure the other end of said strap to said yoke to encircle said bundle of cables and suspend said bundle in organized fashion from said yoke, and third means operative to secure said yoke directly or indirectly to a variety of structures to support said cable bundle therefrom.

8. A cable bundle and hanger combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said one end is assembled to said yoke before said bundle is encircled.

9. A cable hanger as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first means includes a spreader bar extending through a pocket in said strap.

10. A support strap hanger combination with a bundle of communications cable comprising a hanger, a fireproof strap, a transverse pocket at each end, each adapted to recieve a transverse spreading and locking bar for adjacent fastening to said hanger, said strap then forming a cable supporting loop sling having a front and back supporting said bundle in organized fashion from said hanger.

11. A method of supporting and organizing a bundle of communications cable with respect to a support structure comprising the steps of securing one end of a flexible strap to a yoke, looping said strap beneath said bundle of such cable, and securing said strap at one location along said strap to said yoke to form a loop having a front and back, and securing the yoke to said support structure.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of optionally securing said strap at two different locations along said strap for optionally forming a loop of two different sizes with the same strap.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of first assembling one end of the strap to the yoke before forming said loop.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of providing the strap with transverse pockets at each end to receive spreader bars, and securing the spreader bars to the yoke to form the loop.

15. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of securing said yoke to one of a variety of intermediate hangers to enable the yoke to be supported by a variety of said support structures.

16. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said one end of the strap forms the back of the loop.

17. A method of supporting and organizing a bundle of communications cable with respect to a structure comprising the steps of securing a yoke to said structure, securing one end of a flexible strap to said yoke so that said one end of said strap is supported throughout the strap width, looping the strap beneath said bundle, securing said strap at another location along said strap to said yoke to encircle said bundle and support said bundle from said structure so that said another location is supported throughout its width from said yoke while maintaining the width of the strap throughout the loop being formed.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 including the step of forming the strap of fireproof material.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 including the step of folding the edges of said strap.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 including the step of optionally forming a loop of two different sizes with the same strap by securing said strap at an alternative another location along said strap.

21. A cable hanger for communications cable comprising a plate, a flexible strap having two ends, means operative to secure first one end of said strap to said plate, means then to secure the other end to said plate after encircling a bundle of cables, to suspend said bundle from said plate, laterally spaced hooks on said plate forming part of said means operative to secure first one and then the other end of said strap to said plate, laterally projecting spreader bars in each end of said strap, said spreader bars having projecting ends received in said hooks, and respective holes in said plate from which said hooks are struck.

22. A cable hanger as set forth in claim 21 including projections on one of said spreader bars adapted to project into said holes so the spreader bar cannot be removed.

23. A cable hanger as set forth in claim 22 wherein said hooks are dimensioned to receive both one and the other spreader bars in a tight fit.

24. A cable bundle hanger comprising a yoke, a flexible strap operative to form a loop, a spreader at each end of said loop to keep said strap of uniform width, means to secure first one spreader to said yoke, means then to secure the other spreader to said yoke to form said loop to encircle a cable bundle and hang it from the yoke, said strap including transverse pockets at each end to receive said spreaders and form a loop of one size to encircle a cable bundle, and a transverse pocket in said strap intermediate said transverse pockets at each end whereby said other spreader may be received in said intermediate pocket to form a smaller size loop.

25. A cable bundle hanger as set forth in claim 24 wherein said strap is fabricated from fire resistant cloth.

26. A cable bundle hanger as set forth in claim 25 wherein said strap has a length of about 1.5 to about 5 times its width.

27. A cable bundle hanger as set forth in claim 26 wherein said strap has reinforced edges.

28. A cable bundle hanger as set forth in claim 27 wherein said strap has folded and sewn edges forming said reinforced edges.

29. A cable hanger comprising a plate, a strap having two ends, first means operative first to secure one end of said strap to said plate, and second means then to secure the other end of said strap to said plate to encircle a bundle of cables and suspend said bundle from said plate, said first means including a spreader bar extending through a pocket in said strap, said spreader bar including end projections extending through respective holes in said plate.

30. A cable hanger as set forth in claim 29 wherein said projections are bent after insertion through said holes to secure said one end of the strap to said plate.

31. A support strap hanger for a bundle of communications cable comprising a hanger, a fireproof strap, a transverse pocket at each end, each adapted to receive a transverse spreading and locking bar for adjacent fastening to said hanger, said strap then forming a cable supporting loop sling having a front and back supporting the bundle from said hanger, and an intermediate transverse pocket between said ends adapted to receive a spreading and locking bar whereby a cable supporting loop of smaller size may be formed.

32. A support strap as set forth in claim 31 including means to assemble one locking bar to the hanger before said cable supporting loop is formed.

33. A support strap as set forth in claim 32 including means to fasten said hanger to an intermediate hanger whereby said hanger may be supported from a variety of structures.

34. A support strap as set forth in claim 32 wherein said hanger includes an angle flange, and means to fasten an intermediate hanger to said angle flange whereby said hanger may be supported from a variety of structures.

35. A support strap as set forth in claim 32 wherein said one locking bar forms the back of the loop sling while the other locking bar forms the front of the loop sling.