U.S. patent application number 09/728151 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for cable hanger.
This patent application is currently assigned to CommScope, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ferrill, Jess Britton, Mills, W. Joe, Morgan, Jerry Douglas.
Application Number | 20020066833 09/728151 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24925627 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066833 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferrill, Jess Britton ; et
al. |
June 6, 2002 |
Cable hanger
Abstract
A hanger for mounting a cable to a support structure includes a
flexible resilient unitary metallic strip. The strip has a medial
portion shaped in a generally circular configuration about a
longitudinal axis to form a cable holding section defining a
longitudinally extending passageway for receiving and at least
partially surrounding the cable. The strip has attachment legs
extending from opposite ends of the medial portion in opposing
spaced apart relation to one another generally perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis. The attachment legs are configured for being
inserted into an installation opening. The cable holding section
includes a first circumferentially extending slot extending at
least partially around the circumferential extent of the
passageway, and a pair of second circumferentially extending slots
formed in the cable holding section on opposite sides of the first
slot. The first slot and the pair of second slots define in the
cable holding section along opposite sides of the first slot a pair
of torsion springs extending at least partially around the
passageway and capable of torsional deflection, a pair of bands
adjacent the second slots, and at least one cantilevered gripping
tab projecting from each torsion spring laterally into the
adjoining second slot and oriented for grippingly engaging the
surface of a cable placed in the passageway. The bands extend
circumferentially at least partially around the passageway. A
gripping protrusion is formed in each gripping tab and faces
inwardly toward the passageway for gripping the surface of a cable
placed in the passageway.
Inventors: |
Ferrill, Jess Britton;
(Madison, NC) ; Mills, W. Joe; (Troutman, NC)
; Morgan, Jerry Douglas; (China Grove, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Assignee: |
CommScope, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
24925627 |
Appl. No.: |
09/728151 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/62 ;
248/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 3/32 20130101; F16L
3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/62 ;
248/73 |
International
Class: |
F16L 003/00; E21F
017/02 |
Claims
That which is claimed:
1. A hanger for mounting a cable to a support structure, the hanger
including a flexible resilient strip shaped to form a cable holding
section defining a longitudinally extending passageway for
receiving and at least partially surrounding the cable, and the
cable holding section including a slot extending at least partially
around the circumferential extent of the passageway and defining in
the cable holding section along at least one side of the slot a
torsion spring extending at least partially around the passageway
and capable of torsional deflection, and at least one gripping
projection projecting from the torsion spring and oriented for
grippingly engaging the surface of a cable placed in the
passageway.
2. A hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein the strip has attachment
legs formed at opposite ends thereof configured for being inserted
into an installation opening on a support structure, the strip has
a medial portion between the attachment legs, and the medial
portion is shaped to form the cable holding section.
3. A hanger as defined in claim 2, wherein the slot extends around
at least about one-half the circumferential extent of the
passageway, and the gripping projection is a gripping tab that
projects laterally into the slot.
4. A hanger as defined in claim 3, wherein the cable holding
section of the metallic strip has opposed opposite edges extending
at least partially around the passageway, and said slot extends
between and generally parallel to the opposed opposite edges.
5. A hanger as defined in claim 4, including an additional slot
formed in the cable holding section and extending at least
partially around the circumferential extent of the passageway and
defining in the cable holding section an additional torsion spring
extending at least partially around the passageway and capable of
torsional deflection, and at least one cantilevered gripping tab
projecting from said additional torsion spring.
6. A hanger as defined in claim 2, wherein the gripping projection
is a gripping tab including a gripping protrusion formed in the
gripping tab and facing inwardly toward the passageway for gripping
the surface of a cable.
7. A hanger as defined in claim 6, including at least one
additional gripping protrusion formed on the cable holding section
at a location spaced from the gripping tab for gripping another
portion of the surface of the cable.
8. A hanger for mounting a cable to a support structure, the hanger
including a flexible resilient strip, the strip having attachment
legs formed at opposite ends thereof configured for being inserted
into an installation opening on a support structure, and the strip
having a medial portion between the attachment legs shaped to form
a cable holding section defining a longitudinally extending
passageway for receiving and at least partially surrounding the
cable, and the cable holding section including a first
circumferentially extending slot formed in the cable holding
section and extending at least partially around the circumferential
extent of the passageway, and a pair of second circumferentially
extending slots formed in the cable holding section on opposite
sides of said first slot, the first slot and the pair of second
slots defining in the cable holding section along opposite sides of
the first slot a pair of torsion springs extending at least
partially around the passageway and capable of torsional
deflection, and at least one gripping projection projecting from
each torsion spring and oriented for grippingly engaging the
surface of a cable placed in the passageway.
9. A hanger as defined in claim 8, wherein said first slot is of
substantially uniform width along its extent, and wherein each of
said second slots include respective reduced width portions
defining the gripping projections in the form of cantilevered
gripping tabs projecting laterally into the respective second
slots.
10. A hanger as defined in claim 8, wherein the cable holding
section of the metallic strip has opposed opposite edges extending
at least partially around the passageway, and said slots extend
between and generally parallel to the opposed opposite edges, and
the cable holding section includes a pair of bands extending
circumferentially at least partially around the passageway.
11. A hanger as defined in claim 8, wherein each gripping
projection is a cantilevered gripping tab that includes a gripping
protrusion formed therein and facing inwardly toward the passageway
for gripping the surface of a cable.
12. A hanger as defined in claim 11, including at least one
additional gripping protrusion formed on the cable holding section
at a location spaced from the gripping tabs for gripping another
portion of the surface of the cable.
13. A hanger for mounting a cable to a support structure, the
hanger including a flexible resilient unitary strip, the strip
having a medial portion shaped in a generally circular
configuration about a longitudinal axis to form a cable holding
section defining a longitudinally extending passageway for
receiving and at least partially surrounding the cable, and the
strip having attachment legs extending from opposite ends of the
medial portion in opposing spaced apart relation to one another
generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and configured
for being inserted into an installation opening on a support
structure, and the cable holding section including a first
circumferentially extending slot extending at least partially
around the circumferential extent of the passageway, and a pair of
second circumferentially extending slots formed in the cable
holding section on opposite sides of said first slot, the first
slot and the pair of second slots defining in the cable holding
section along opposite sides of the first slot a pair of torsion
springs extending at least partially around the passageway and
capable of torsional deflection, and a pair of bands adjacent said
second slots, said bands extending circumferentially at least
partially around the passageway, at least one cantilevered gripping
tab projecting from each torsion spring laterally into the
adjoining second slot and oriented for grippingly engaging the
surface of a cable placed in the passageway, and a gripping
protrusion formed in each gripping tab and facing inwardly toward
the passageway for gripping the surface of a cable placed in the
passageway.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a cable hanger
and, more particularly, to a cable hanger including a flexible
metallic strip, with the metallic strip having attachment legs
formed at opposite ends thereof for being inserted into an
installation opening of a support structure, and a medial portion
between the attachment legs for releasably holding a section of
cable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is well known to use cable hangers of the above-described
type to secure cables to towers. More specifically and for each
cable and tower, multiple cable hangers hold the cable and are
removably mounted to the tower at positions that are spaced apart
along the height of the tower. It is typical for the towers to be
of considerable height. Because of safety considerations as well as
the time and expense involved with installing cables to towers, it
is advantageous to minimize both the amount of time and the
complexity of the work required for running cables up the towers.
Consequently, cable hangers that can be used to easily and rapidly
attach cables to towers and other types of support structures
without the need for conventional hardware, such as bolts, washers,
nuts or other small parts, have been developed. Examples of these
cable hangers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,763,132; 4,813,639;
5,393,021 and 5,967,468.
[0003] A problem with some cable hangers of the above-described
type is that they do not strike an optimal balance between
performance characteristics. For example, some that are capable of
being sufficiently securely mounted to a support structure and
capable of sufficiently securely gripping a cable are relatively
difficult to install by hand.
[0004] Another problem stems from the fact that it is common for
the size of installation openings of support structures and the
diameters and cross-sectional shapes of cables to vary. Some cable
hangers of the above-described type are disadvantageously very
sensitive to these variations. For example, some cable hangers can
be very difficult to install or uninstall when used with oversized
or misshaped cables, and the ability of some cable hangers to hold
a cable diminishes considerably when used with slightly undersized
or misshaped cables.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a cable hanger that can be
easily attached to a support structure manually, and which will
securely grip and retain a cable in position on a support
structure.
[0006] Additionally, there is a need for a cable hanger having an
enhanced tolerance for variations in cable size or variations in
the installation openings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
cable hanger is provided which includes a flexible resilient strip.
The strip preferably has attachment legs formed at opposite ends
thereof configured for being inserted into an installation opening
on a support structure. The strip also has a medial portion between
the attachment legs and shaped to form a cable holding section
defining a longitudinally extending passageway for receiving and at
least partially surrounding the cable. The cable holding section
includes a slot extending at least partially around the
circumferential extent of the passageway. The slot defines a
torsion spring in the cable holding section. The torsion spring
extends along at least one side of the slot and at least partially
around the passageway. The slot preferably extends around at least
about one-half the circumferential extent of the passageway. At
least one gripping projection projects from the torsion spring and
is oriented for grippingly engaging the surface of a cable placed
in the passageway so that the torsion spring is torsionally
deflected. The gripping projection is preferably a cantilevered
gripping tab that projects laterally into the slot.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
an additional slot is formed in the cable holding section and
extends at least partially around the circumferential extent of the
passageway. The additional slot defines an additional torsion
spring in the cable holding section. The additional torsion spring
extends at least partially around the passageway and is capable of
torsional deflection. At least one gripping projection, which is
preferably a gripping tab, projects from the additional torsion
spring and is oriented for grippingly engaging the surface of a
cable placed in the passageway so that the additional torsion
spring is torsionally deflected.
[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, each gripping tab includes a gripping protrusion formed
therein and facing inwardly toward the passageway for gripping the
surface of a cable. Preferably at least one additional gripping
protrusion is formed on the cable holding section at a location
spaced from the gripping tabs for gripping another portion of the
surface of the cable.
[0010] Also in accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
the cable holding section includes a first circumferentially
extending slot formed in the cable holding section and extending at
least partially around the circumferential extent of the
passageway, and a pair of second circumferentially extending slots
formed in the cable holding section on opposite sides of the first
slot. The first slot and the pair of second slots define in the
cable holding section along opposite sides of the first slot a pair
of torsion springs extending at least partially around the
passageway and capable of torsional deflection. For each torsion
spring, at least one gripping projection projects from the torsion
spring and is oriented for grippingly engaging the surface of a
cable placed in the longitudinal passageway.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
first slot is of substantially uniform width along its extent, and
each of the second slots include respective reduced width portions
defining the gripping projections so that they are in the form of
cantilevered gripping tabs. Each gripping tab preferably includes a
gripping protrusion formed therein and facing inwardly toward the
passageway for gripping the surface of a cable.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
cable holding section further includes a pair of bands adjacent the
second slots. The bands extend circumferentially at least partially
around the passageway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable hanger exploded away
from a section of cable and a support structure, in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hanger of FIG. 1 with the
cable and support structure schematically illustrated, and the
bottom plan view is identical to the top plan view;
[0016] FIG. 3 is partially schematic, isolated, right side
elevation view of the hanger of FIG. 1, and the left side elevation
view is a mirror image of the right side elevation view; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partially schematic cross-sectional view of the
hanger taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a
preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a cable hanger in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is designated by the
numeral 10, and the hanger is shown exploded away from a section of
conventional cable 12 and a conventional support structure 14. In
accordance with this embodiment, the hanger 10 includes a flexible
resilient metallic strip. The strip preferably has attachment legs
15 formed at opposite ends thereof, and a medial portion that is
between the attachment legs 15. The medial portion forms a cable
holding section 16 of the hanger that is for extending around and
releasably holding the section of cable 12. In FIG. 1, the pair of
dashed lines that extend from the cable 12 are schematically
illustrative of the cable extending through the cable holding
section 16. The attachment legs 15 are for being inserted into an
installation opening 20 defined by the support structure 14 to
releasably connect the hanger, and the cable 12 held by the hanger,
to the support structure.
[0020] As will be discussed in greater detail below and in
accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the hanger 10 is
configured to include one or more springs, preferably torsion
springs, which provide for enhanced tolerance in dimensional
variations while assuring secure fastening of the cable. The
springs function, preferably in combination with gripping
protrusions 21 (also see FIGS. 2-4), to assure that the hanger
performs its intended function. In accordance with the exemplary
embodiment, components of the cable holding section 16 function as
a compound spring, including both a torsion spring element and a
cantilever spring element. As will be discussed in greater detail
below, intermediate bands 22 function as the torsion springs, and
gripping projections (e.g., gripping tabs 24) respectively project
from the intermediate bands for grippingly engaging the surface of
a cable 12 held by the cable holding section 16. The gripping
projections are preferably in the form of gripping tabs 24 that
function as cantilever springs. Advantageously and as a result, the
hanger 10 has an enhanced tolerance to inconsistencies in
installation openings 20 and cables 12, can be relatively easily
manually attached to the support structure 14 without requiring the
use of tools, such as pliers, remains securely (but removably)
attached to the support structure, and is capable of securely
gripping cables. These advantages are particularly important when
the hangers 10 are used, for example, to install cables 12 along
tall towers (not shown), as will be discussed in greater detail
below.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, it is noted for the purpose of
providing a frame of reference, as opposed to being for purposes of
limitation, that the section of cable 12 extends in a longitudinal
direction through the cable holding section 16 while being held by
the hanger 10. Referring also to FIG. 2, the cable holding section
16 has a generally circular configuration and extends at least
partially around a longitudinal axis to define a longitudinal
passageway 26. As schematically illustrated by dashed lines in FIG.
2, the cable 12 extends approximately coaxially within the
longitudinal passageway 26 while being held by the cable holding
section 16.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, the cable holding section 16 includes
longitudinally extending marginal portions 28 that are spaced apart
from one another in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to
the longitudinal direction. A lateral opening or passageway 30 that
is open to the longitudinal passageway 26 is partially defined
between the marginal portions 28. Referring also to FIG. 4 and in
accordance with the exemplary embodiment, each marginal portion 28
includes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, generally
cone-like, and inwardly oriented gripping protrusions 21 that
function to engage and hold a cable 12 within the passageway 26, as
will be discussed in greater detail below.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3-4 and in accordance with the
exemplary embodiment, the intermediate bands 22 (i.e., torsion
springs) include opposite ends that are respectively connected to
the marginal portions 28. Additionally, the intermediate bands 22
extend at least partially around the circumferential extent of the
longitudinal passageway 26 of the cable holding section 16 that is
for receiving the cable 12. The intermediate bands 22 are spaced
apart from one another in the longitudinal direction so that an
intermediate slot 34 is defined between the intermediate bands. The
intermediate slot 34 extends at least partially around the
circumferential extent of the longitudinal passageway 26.
[0024] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the cable
holding section 16 further includes outer bands 36 that include
opposite ends that are respectively connected to the marginal
portions 28. The outer bands 36 also extend at least partially
around the circumferential extent of and at least partially define
the longitudinal passageway 26. In accordance with the exemplary
embodiment, the outer bands 36 respectively include opposite edges
37 of the cable holding section 16, and the opposite edges 37
extend at least partially around the circumferential extent of the
longitudinal passageway 26 and define opposite end openings to the
longitudinal passageway 26. The outer bands 36 are spaced apart
from the intermediate bands 22 in the longitudinal direction so
that outer slots 38 are respectively defined between the
intermediate bands and the outer bands. The outer slots 38 extend
at least partially around the circumferential extent of the
longitudinal passageway 26. The intermediate and outer slots 34 and
38 extend between and generally parallel to the opposite edges 37
of the cable holding section 16.
[0025] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the
intermediate and outer slots 34 and 38 each extend at least
approximately one half of the way around the circumferential extent
of the longitudinal passageway 26; however, other lengths are also
within the scope of the present invention. The intermediate and
outer slots 34 and 38 advantageously allow the intermediate bands
22 to function as torsion springs that operate independently of one
another and independently of the outer bands 36, as will be
discussed in greater detail below. More specifically, the
intermediate and outer slots 34 and 38 define the intermediate
bands 22 (i.e., torsion springs) and the outer bands 36. The
intermediate slot 34 defines a substantially uniform width along
its extent. In contrast, the outer slots 38 include respective
reduced width portions that define the gripping tabs 24.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1-3, the gripping projections or gripping
tabs 24 are oriented for grippingly engaging the surface of a cable
12 within the longitudinal passageway 26. The gripping tabs 24
respectively extend laterally from the intermediate bands 22 into
the outer slots 38 and toward the outer bands 36. Referring to
FIGS. 2-3, the gripping tabs 24 also extend at least partially
inwardly into the longitudinal passageway 26. In accordance with
the exemplary embodiment, the gripping tabs 24 extend into the
longitudinal passageway 26 at least in part due to generally
cone-like and inwardly oriented gripping protrusions 21 that are
integral with the gripping tabs. In accordance with the exemplary
embodiment, each gripping tab 24 includes one gripping protrusion
21. Referring to FIG. 2, the gripping protrusions 21 are in a
triangular arrangement in plan views of the hanger 10.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the laterally spaced apart attachment
legs 15 respectively extend from the marginal portions 28 of the
cable holding section 16 generally perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the longitudinal passageway 26. The lateral
passageway 30 that is partially defined between the marginal
portions 28 is further partially defined between the attachment
legs 15. Each of the attachment legs 15 includes an outwardly
extending locking barb 42. Referring to FIG. 4, the attachment legs
15 preferably define inwardly facing concave-shapes. Referring to
FIGS. 1-4, strengthening ridges 44 extend across contiguous
portions of the attachment legs 15 and marginal portions 28.
Resilient stabilizers 46 respectively extend from the same sides of
the marginal portions 28 as the attachment legs 15. A wide variety
of attachment legs 15 and stabilizers 46 are within the scope of
the present invention.
[0028] Use of the hanger 10 will now be described in greater
detail, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. The hanger 10
is positioned on the cable 12 by manually passing the cable through
the lateral passageway 30, so that the cable becomes positioned in
and at least approximately coaxial with the longitudinal passageway
26. It is preferably necessary to manually spread the attachment
legs 15 apart so that the lateral passageway 30 is sufficiently
wide for the cable 12 to pass therethrough.
[0029] The hanger 10 is attached to the support structure 14 while
the cable 12 is within the longitudinal passageway 26 (i.e., while
the hanger 10 is holding the cable), which results in the cable
being attached to and stationary with respect to the support
structure. Generally described, this attachment is initiated by
moving the attachment legs 15 toward one another to decrease the
width of the lateral passageway 30. For example, this moving of the
attachment legs 15 can preferably and advantageously be facilitated
by the installer of the hanger 10 manually squeezing the attachment
legs together between their thumb and forefinger (i.e., pinching
the attachment legs together). Although it is preferable for the
attachment legs 15 to be manually pinched together as described
above and usage of the hanger 10 is described hereafter in the
context of pinching, the present invention is not limited to manual
manipulation of the attachment legs by pinching.
[0030] Attaching the hanger 10 to the support structure 14 is
completed by inserting the attachment legs 15 together into the
installation opening 20 while the attachment legs are pinched
together. The stabilizers 46 are oriented toward the outer surface
48 of the support structure 14 while the hanger 10 is attached to
the support structure. Preferably, the stabilizers 46 or the
leading ends of the strengthening ridges 44 firmly abut the outer
surface 48 of the support structure 14 and the barbs 42 of the
attachment legs 15 firmly abut the inner surface 50 of the support
structure while the hanger 10 is attached to the support
structure.
[0031] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the hanger 10 attached to
the support structure 14 generally as described above. More
specifically, the wall of the support structure 14 that defines the
installation opening 20 is schematically illustrated by dashed
lines and the attachment legs 15 are extending through the
installation opening in FIG. 2. Likewise, the cable 12 is
schematically illustrated by dashed lines as being within the
longitudinal passageway 26 in FIG. 2. The cable 12 is removed from
the support structure 14 and hanger 10 by performing the foregoing
operations in reverse order, although it may be preferred to use a
pair of pliers, or the like, to pinch the attachment legs 15
together for removal purposes.
[0032] As the attachment legs 15 are pinched together in the
furtherance of attaching the hanger 12 to the support structure 14,
the lateral passageway 30 is partially closed and the gripping tabs
24 biasingly engage the outer jacket, or the like, of the cable 12
within the longitudinal passageway 26. More specifically and
advantageously, the gripping tabs 24 interact with the cable 12
such that the gripping tabs function as cantilever springs and the
intermediate bands 22 function as twisting torsion springs while
the hanger 10 holds the cable and is mounted to the support
structure 14 in the manner described above. Accordingly, the
gripping tabs 24 can be characterized as cantilever springs and the
intermediate bands 22 can be characterized as torsion springs. The
intermediate bands 22 can more specifically be characterized as
torsion bars, although other types of torsion springs are also
within the scope of the present invention.
[0033] Regarding the torsion springs more specifically, the
gripping tabs 24 respectively extend from the intermediate bands 22
(i.e., torsion springs) to grippingly engage the surface of a cable
12 within the longitudinal passageway 26. For each intermediate
band 22, when its associated gripping tab 24 grippingly engages the
cable 12 within the longitudinal passageway 26, the intermediate
band twists about its elongate axis to function as a torsion
spring. The gripping tabs 24 can be replaced with other types of
gripping projections for grippingly engaging a cable 12 within the
longitudinal passageway 26 and causing the intermediate bands 22 to
twist about their elongate axes to function as torsion springs.
Additionally, whereas in accordance with the exemplary embodiment
the gripping tabs 24 can be characterized as both radial portions
of torsion springs and cantilever springs, in accordance with an
alternative embodiment of the present invention the gripping tabs
function substantially solely as radial portions of torsion
springs, and not as cantilever springs.
[0034] The openings specifically characterized herein as the outer
and intermediate slots 38 and 34 advantageously allow for the
independent resilient deflection of the gripping tabs 24 and
intermediate bands 22 that allows these elements to optimally
function as spring elements. Stated differently, the outer and
intermediate slots 38 and 34 define the intermediate bands 22 and
gripping tabs 24 to advantageously provide the spring-like
functionality of the present invention. Regarding this
functionality more specifically, the solid-lined illustrations of
the hanger 10 in FIGS. 1-4 are illustrative of the hanger being in
a free or relaxed state, in which the hanger is separated from the
cable 12 and support structure 14. In the relaxed state, the
maximum distance between the outer surfaces of the attachment legs
15 is wider than the widest point of the installation opening 20.
In contrast, the dotted lines in FIGS. 3-4 respectively
schematically illustrate the gripping tabs 24 and intermediate
bands 22 in deflected configurations that exaggerate but are
representative of their deflected configurations while the hanger
10 holds the cable 12 and is attached to the support structure 14
as described above. More specifically, the dotted lines in FIG. 3
schematically illustrate the gripping tabs 24 functioning as
cantilever springs, and the dotted lines in FIG. 4 schematically
illustrate the torsional deflection of the intermediate bands 22
functioning as torsion springs.
[0035] The combined cantilever and torsion spring aspect of the
present invention offers many advantages. For example, the hanger
10 can be easily used and is fully functional with cables of
slightly different diameters and shapes and mounting holes of
slightly different diameters. Additionally, the combined cantilever
and torsion spring aspect can be characterized as a spring system
with a predetermined spring rate selected so that it is not
necessary to apply too much force to the attachment legs 15 while
attaching or detaching the hanger, so that the attachment legs can
preferably be manually squeezed together by the user during
installation or removal, and so that an optimal amount of spring
energy is provided for gripping the cable 12 and keeping the hanger
10 attached to the support structure 14 after installation.
[0036] The gripping of the cable 12 by the cable holding section 16
is enhanced by the generally cone-like gripping protrusions 21. In
accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the tips of the gripping
protrusion 21 penetrate slightly into the outer jacket of the cable
12, with the penetration being limited, if necessary, by the broad
surface areas that extend around the bases of the gripping
protrusions. Additionally, the tips of the gripping protrusions 21
are preferably slightly rounded to limit the penetration of the
gripping protrusions into the cable 12.
[0037] The gripping protrusions 21 of the gripping tabs 24 are
capable of readily moving into or out of the longitudinal
passageway 26 by virtue of the spring-like characteristics of the
intermediate bands 22 and gripping tabs 24. In accordance with this
exemplary embodiment, this motion of the gripping protrusions 21
associated with the gripping tabs 24 advantageously provides the
variation in the clamping function of the cable holding section 16
that compensates for variations in cables 12 and installation
openings 20.
[0038] In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present
invention, the gripping protrusions 21 are not required. In
accordance with one example of this alternative embodiment, the
gripping tabs 24 are bent so that the free ends of the gripping
tabs extend into the longitudinal passageway 26 while the hanger 10
is in its relaxed state, and the free ends of the gripping tabs
engage the cable 12 while the cable is within the longitudinal
passageway and the hanger is attached to the support structure 14
in a manner generally like that specified above, so that the hanger
functions generally as described above.
[0039] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the outer bands
36 advantageously protect the intermediate bands 22 from damage. In
accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the outer bands 36 also
serve as relatively rigid structures that can be manually pressed
against while installing the hanger 10, and they also aid in
keeping the stabilizers 46 aligned, which helps to keep the hanger
from cocking from side to side during installation. In accordance
with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a hanger
is identical to the hanger 10 of the exemplary embodiment, except
that it does not include the outer bands 36 or stabilizers 46.
[0040] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the hanger 10
is manufactured by cutting an appropriate piece from a flat sheet
of metal, and then bending the piece accordingly. The thickness of
the piece of metal and the amount of material removed to form the
intermediate and outer slots 34 and 38 are selected so that the
resulting lengths and widths of the intermediate bands 22 and
gripping tabs 24 allow them to respectively function as torsion and
cantilever springs. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment,
the circumferential length of each intermediate band 22 is at least
approximately ten times the narrowest width of the intermediate
band, with the width measured in the longitudinal direction. In
accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the hanger 10 is unitary,
meaning that it is absent of originally separate parts that have
been joined. The hanger 10 can also be constructed through the use
of other materials and manufacturing techniques. For example, in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the
hanger 10 is molded from polymeric material (e.g., plastic).
[0041] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the cable 12 is
a conventional coaxial cable that is at least generally circular in
an end elevation view, although other types and shapes of cables
are within the scope of the present invention. Similarly and in
accordance the exemplary embodiment, the support structure 14 and
installation opening 20 are conventional. Other types of support
structures and combinations of support structures for receiving the
attachment legs 15 are within the scope of the present invention.
More specifically and in accordance with one example, multiple of
the hangers 10 are used to secure a section of cable 12 that
extends from a conventional communications facility (not shown)
that is on the ground to a conventional communications antenna (not
shown) mounted at the top of a conventional tower (not shown).
Multiple of the hangers 10 that hold the cable 12 are mounted to
the tower and are spaced apart along the height of the tower. More
specifically, multiple of the support structures 14 are mounted to
the tower and are spaced apart along the height of the tower, each
support structure receives a hanger 10, and each hanger holds a
section of the cable 12 that extends along the height of the tower.
The tower itself may be characterized as a support structure, as it
can itself define the installation openings 20 such that support
structures 14 separate from the tower are not required.
Alternatively, support structures 14 attached to the tower can be
characterized as being portions of the tower.
[0042] In accordance with a more specific example, hangers 10 of
the present invention are used in place of the hangers disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,021, to hold and support a cable extending from
a communications facility that is on the ground to a communications
antenna mounted at the top of a tower.
[0043] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention
will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention
pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the
foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it
is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the
specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other
embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the
appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they
are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for
purposes of limitation.
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