Theft-resistant cable clamp

• US 9,915,281 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Reinke Management Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Reinke Management Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Weatherl, Bradley George
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Application Number:
  US15/700,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20170370398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 183 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/092 movable around a pivot centre
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/24 by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against the object locking to the screw-thread F16B39/14 , F16B39/34, F16B39/36
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 2200/10 Prevention of theft of valuable metals
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/32 using mounting clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49838 by stringing

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide a theft-resistant cable clamp that increases the time and effort required to remove the cable from the irrigation equipment, thereby deterring thieves As the extensions that protrude from the cable-reception loop are forced together, the walls of the cable-reception loop compress against the cable. Openings in the extensions on the cable clamp allow the cable clamp to fit over a component of the irrigation equipment. A plurality of teeth can protrude from the perimeter of an opening to grip the exterior of the component. A coupler or other component may have a groove into which the teeth engage when the cable clamp is in a final location on the component.

Claims

1. A method for securing a cable to an irrigation system with a theft-resistant cable clamp, the method comprising:

inserting the cable into a cable-reception loop by sliding the cable between an upper extension and a lower extension;

installing the lower extension onto a component on a water conduit of the irrigation system by causing the component to pass through a lower opening in the lower extension; and

installing the upper extension onto the component on the water conduit by applying a sufficient force on the upper extension to slide a plurality of teeth extending from a perimeter of an upper opening in the upper extension over an exterior surface of the component and to force a lower face of the upper extension towards an upper face of the lower extension, the lower extension having a lower face oriented towards the water conduit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the force is applied by a tool having an interior volume sized to receive the component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is a coupler, and wherein the method further comprises removing an existing plug in the coupler and installing a new plug that has a groove sized to receive the plurality of teeth.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein method further comprises discontinuing the application of force upon the plurality of teeth engaging a groove in the component.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of teeth are sized and shaped to engage the groove in a component onto which the theft-resistant cable clamp is installed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein teeth in the plurality of teeth are evenly spaced around the perimeter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is a coupler, and wherein a distal end of the teeth, which are opposite an end that adjoins the perimeter, forms an interior perimeter with a circumference that is smaller than an exterior circumference of the coupler onto which the theft-resistant cable clamp is to be installed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable-reception loop has an interior diameter of between 0.5 inches and 2 inches.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each tooth of the plurality of teeth is substantially square.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth are oriented to extend above the first upper face of the upper extension.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is a cylindrical coupler having an exterior diameter of between 1 and 4 inches.

12. A method for securing a cable to an irrigation system with a theft-resistant cable clamp, the method comprising:

inserting the cable into a cable-reception loop by sliding the cable between an upper extension and a lower extension;

installing the lower extension onto a component on a water conduit of the irrigation system by causing the component to pass through a lower opening in the lower extension; and

installing the upper extension onto the component of the irrigation system by applying a sufficient force on the upper extension to cause a plurality of teeth extending from a perimeter of an upper opening in the upper extension to slide down an exterior of the component.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the force is applied by a tool having an interior volume sized to receive the component.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the component is a coupler, and wherein the method further comprises removing an existing plug in the coupler and installing a new plug that has a groove sized to receive the plurality of teeth.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein method further comprises discontinuing the application of force upon the plurality of teeth engaging a groove in the component.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the component is a coupler, and wherein the method further comprises removing an existing irrigation head in the coupler in order to install the theft-resistant cable clamp and then reinstalling the irrigation head in the coupler.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of teeth are oriented to extend above the first upper face of the upper extension.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the component is a cylindrical coupler having an exterior diameter of between 1 and 4 inches.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein teeth in the plurality of teeth are evenly spaced around the perimeter.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the cable-reception loop has an interior diameter of between 0.5 inches and 2 inches.