U.S. patent application number 17/160604 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-20 for adapter for mounting cable hangers.
The applicant listed for this patent is CommScope Technologies LLC. Invention is credited to Aviral Joshi, Christopher Stockman, Ronald A. Vaccaro.
Application Number | 20210151972 17/160604 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005362495 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-20 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210151972 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Joshi; Aviral ; et
al. |
May 20, 2021 |
ADAPTER FOR MOUNTING CABLE HANGERS
Abstract
An adapter for a cable hanger includes: a housing having a
floor, a vertical wall extending generally perpendicularly from the
floor, and side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the
floor and vertical wall, each of the side walls including a finger
extending generally parallel to the floor, the fingers including
first engagement features, the vertical wall including a mounting
hole; and a plunger having a main panel and second engagement
features on opposite sides of the main panel, the second engagement
features configured to engage the first engagement features to
restrict relative movement of the plunger relative to the
housing.
Inventors: |
Joshi; Aviral; (Chicago,
IL) ; Vaccaro; Ronald A.; (Taylorsville, NC) ;
Stockman; Christopher; (Bella Vista, AR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CommScope Technologies LLC |
Hickory |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005362495 |
Appl. No.: |
17/160604 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16904803 |
Jun 18, 2020 |
10910805 |
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17160604 |
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16707437 |
Dec 9, 2019 |
10920911 |
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16904803 |
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62784986 |
Dec 26, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 2/04 20130101; F16B
31/021 20130101; F16B 2/065 20130101; F16B 35/06 20130101; B25B
5/00 20130101; H01R 4/36 20130101; H02G 3/32 20130101; F16B 35/005
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02G 3/32 20060101
H02G003/32; F16B 2/04 20060101 F16B002/04; F16B 31/02 20060101
F16B031/02 |
Claims
1. An adapter for a cable hanger, comprising: a housing having a
floor, a rear wall extending generally perpendicularly from the
floor, a ceiling extending generally parallel to the floor, and
side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the floor and
rear wall, the rear wall including a mounting hole; wherein the
housing includes an open-ended slot generally parallel to the
floor, wherein one of the side walls forms an upper edge of the
slot, and wherein a toothed surface forms a portion of the lower
end of the slot; and wherein the ceiling includes first features
configured to engage a securing member; the adapter further
comprising a securing member that engages the features in the
ceiling and is movable relative to the ceiling in a direction
generally normal to the floor, the securing member including second
features that engage the first features; wherein movement of the
securing member toward the floor engages a mounting structure
positioned in the slots, and wherein the first and second features
resist movement of the securing member in a direction away from the
floor when the securing member engages the mounting structure.
2. The adapter defined in claim 1, wherein the housing is formed of
a polymeric material.
3. The adapter defined in claim 1, wherein the securing member is
formed of a polymeric material.
4. The adapter defined in claim 1, wherein the toothed surface is
in the floor.
5. The adapter defined in claim 1, wherein the toothed surface is
in the side wall.
6. The adapter defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole has a
nominal diameter of 3/4 inch.
7. The adapter defined in claim 1, wherein the first features are
first threads, and the second features are second threads that mate
with the first threads.
8. The adapter defined in claim 1, wherein the first features are
first teeth, and wherein the second features are second teeth that
enmesh with the first teeth.
9. The adapter defined in claim 1, in combination with the mounting
structure.
10. The combination defined in claim 9, wherein the mounting
structure is a ladder rung.
11. The combination defined in claim 9, further in combination with
a cable hanger mounted in the mounting hole.
12. An adapter for a cable hanger, comprising: a housing having a
floor, a rear wall extending generally perpendicularly from the
floor, a ceiling extending generally parallel to the floor, and
side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the floor and
rear wall, the rear wall including a mounting hole having a nominal
diameter of 3/4 inch; wherein the housing includes an open-ended
slot generally parallel to the floor, wherein one of the side walls
forms an upper edge of the slot, and wherein a toothed surface in
the side wall forms a portion of the lower end of the slot; and
wherein the ceiling includes first features configured to engage a
securing member; the adapter further comprising a securing member
that engages the features in the ceiling and is movable relative to
the ceiling in a direction generally normal to the floor, the
securing member including second features that engage the first
features; wherein movement of the securing member toward the floor
engages a mounting structure positioned in the slots, and wherein
the first and second features resist movement of the securing
member in a direction away from the floor when the securing member
engages the mounting structure.
13. The adapter defined in claim 12, wherein the housing is formed
of a polymeric material.
14. The adapter defined in claim 12, wherein the securing member is
formed of a polymeric material.
15. The adapter defined in claim 12, wherein the first features are
first threads, and the second features are second threads that mate
with the first threads.
16. The adapter defined in claim 12, wherein the first features are
first teeth, and wherein the second features are second teeth that
enmesh with the first teeth.
17. The adapter defined in claim 12, in combination with the
mounting structure.
18. The combination defined in claim 17, wherein the mounting
structure is a ladder rung.
19. The combination defined in claim 17, further in combination
with a cable hanger mounted in the mounting hole.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation of and claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/904,803, filed Jun.
18, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,910,805, which is a
continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/707,437, filed Dec. 9, 2019, which claims
priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/784,986, filed Dec. 26, 2018, the disclosures of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in full.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to devices for
supporting cables and, in particular, to hangers for securing
cables to support structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Cable hangers are commonly used to secure cables to
structural members of antenna towers and other structures.
Generally, each cable is attached to a structural member by cable
hangers mounted at periodically-spaced attachment points.
[0004] Antenna towers may be crowded due to the large numbers of
cables required for signal-carrying. Over time, as systems are
added, upgraded and/or expanded, installation of additional cables
may be required. To conserve space, it may be desirable for each
set of cable hangers to secure more than a single cable. Certain
cable hangers have been constructed to secure multiple cables;
other cable hangers have a stackable construction that permits
multiple cable hangers to be interlocked extending outwardly from
each mounting point/structural member. Stacked and multiple-cable
hangers significantly increase the number of cables mountable to a
single attachment point.
[0005] One popular stackable cable hanger is discussed in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,191,836 to Korczak, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated herein in its entirety. Hangers disclosed therein have
generally a U- or C-shaped profile with rounded arms. A locking
projection extends from the free end of each arm, and the "root" of
the hanger that spans the fixed ends of the arms has a large
aperture. The hanger can hold a cable between the arms; gripping of
the cable is enhanced by short fingers that extend inwardly from
the arms to engage the cable. Hangers can be "stacked" onto each
other by inserting the locking projections of one hanger into the
large aperture of the next hanger.
[0006] One variety of cable hanger of this type is the
SNAP-STAK.RTM. hanger, available from CommScope, Inc. (Joliet,
Ill.). Other cable hangers are shown in U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 15/081,177, filed Mar. 25, 2016, Ser. No. 15/081,240,
filed Mar. 25, 2016, and Ser. No. 15/335,614, filed Oct. 27, 2016,
the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in full.
[0007] Another available stackable cable hanger is discussed in
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018/0045336 to Vaccaro, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety. This cable hanger (versions of which are available from
CommScope, Inc. under the name SNAPTAK) is formed of a polymeric
material and is typically employed for smaller cables. In addition,
the polymeric SNAPTAK hanger can reduce or eliminate passive
intermodulation (PIM) near an antenna. PIM, which can negatively
impact antenna performance, can be caused by a variety of factors,
one of which is metal-to-metal interfaces of components near the
antenna. Using a polymeric hanger that is mounted on a metallic
antenna mount or other structure can eliminate potential PIM that
might otherwise be caused by a metal hanger mounted to a metal
antenna leg.
[0008] In some instances, it may be desirable to mount multiple
stacks of cable hangers in close proximity. In such instances, it
may be desirable to employ an adapter, such as that shown at 10 in
FIG. 1. The adapter 10 has a trapezoidal profile, with a base panel
12 and three serially-attached mounting panels 14. Each of the
mounting panels 14 includes a mounting hole 16 (typically a nominal
3/4 inch hole) that can receive a cable hanger such as those
described above, one of which is designated 20 in FIG. 2. The base
panel 12 of the adapter 10 has a hole 18 that can be used to mount
the adapter 10 to a mounting structure via a bolt. The base panel
12 also includes slots 22 on either side of the hole 18 that can
receive a hose clamp 26 or the like to mount the adapter 10 to a
pole 24, as shown in FIG. 3. This mounting approach may be
desirable when the pole 24 has no pre-formed holes to receive a
typical cable hanger.
[0009] It may be desirable to provide additional configurations for
mounting cable hangers, particularly to structures without
pre-formed holes, and particularly in a manner that can reduce or
eliminate PIM.
SUMMARY
[0010] As a first aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed
to an adapter for a cable hanger. The adapter comprises: a housing
having a floor, a vertical wall extending generally perpendicularly
from the floor, and side walls extending generally perpendicularly
from the floor and vertical wall, each of the side walls including
a finger extending generally parallel to the floor, the fingers
including first engagement features, the vertical wall including a
mounting hole; and a plunger having a main panel and second
engagement features on opposite sides of the main panel, the second
engagement features configured to engage the first engagement
features to restrict relative movement of the plunger relative to
the housing.
[0011] As a second aspect, embodiments of the invention are
directed to an adapter for a cable hanger, comprising: a housing
comprising a floor, first and second side walls and a ceiling that
define an opening, an edge of the opening including first
engagement features, the ceiling including a mounting hole, the
first side wall including a first aperture and the second side wall
including a second aperture; a wheel comprising a generally
cylindrical body and second engagement features extending radially
outwardly of the body; and a strap with a retaining feature at a
first end and a plurality of third engagement features. The strap
is routed from the first aperture, around the first side wall, a
mounting feature adjacent the floor, and the second side wall, and
through the second aperture, the retaining feature retaining the
first end of the strap within the opening, the third engagement
features of the strap engaging the second engagement features of
the wheel to retain a second end of the strap within the opening.
The second engagement features of the wheel engage the first
engagement features of the housing to prevent relative rotation of
the wheel relative to the housing.
[0012] As a third aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed
to an adapter for a cable hanger comprising: a housing having a
floor, a rear wall extending generally perpendicularly from the
floor, a ceiling extending generally parallel to the floor, and
side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the floor and
rear wall, each of the side walls including an open-ended slot
generally parallel to the floor, at least one of the floor and the
rear wall including a mounting hole, and the ceiling including a
threaded opening; and a securing screw having a shank with threads
and a head structure, the shank inserted into the threaded opening
and having threads that mesh with the threaded opening.
[0013] As a fourth aspect, embodiments of the invention are
directed to an adapter for a cable hanger comprising: a housing
having a floor, a rear wall extending generally perpendicularly
from the floor, a ceiling extending generally parallel to the
floor, and side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the
floor and rear wall, each of the side walls including an open-ended
slot generally parallel to the floor, at least one of the floor and
the rear wall including a mounting hole, and the ceiling including
a threaded opening; and a securing screw formed of a polymeric
material and having a shank with threads and a head structure, the
shank inserted into the threaded opening and having threads that
mesh with the threaded opening, wherein the head structure
comprises a lower head attached to the shank, a transition section
attached to the lower head, and an upper head attached to the
transition section, and wherein the transition section is
configured to fracture at a predetermined torque threshold.
[0014] As a fifth aspect, embodiments of the invention are directed
to a method of mounting an adapter for a cable hanger on a mounting
structure comprising the steps of: [0015] (a) providing an adapter
for a cable hanger comprising: a housing having a floor, a rear
wall extending generally perpendicularly from the floor, a ceiling
extending generally parallel to the floor, and side walls extending
generally perpendicularly from the floor and rear wall, each of the
side walls including an open-ended slot generally parallel to the
floor, at least one of the floor and the rear wall including a
mounting hole, and the ceiling including a threaded opening; and a
securing screw having a shank with threads and a head structure,
the shank inserted into the threaded opening and having threads
that mesh with the threaded opening; [0016] (b) positioning the
adapter on a mounting structure so that the mounting structure is
received in the opening-ended slots; and [0017] (c) rotating the
securing screw relative to the housing so that a lower end of the
securing screw engages the mounting structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art adapter for
cable hangers.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of the adapter of FIG. 1 with a cable
hanger mounted therein.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 1
mounted to a pole via a hose clamp.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a housing for an
adapter for cable hangers according to embodiments of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the housing of FIG. 4.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a rear view of a plunger used with the housing of
FIG. 4.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the housing of FIG. 4
and the plunger of FIG. 6 combined to form an adapter for cable
hangers according to embodiments of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the adapter of FIG. 7.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 7.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 7
mounted on the rung of a ladder.
[0028] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a housing, a wheel
and a strap of an adapter for cable hangers according to additional
embodiments of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the housing and wheel
of FIG. 11 with the teeth of the wheel engaged with the teeth in
the opening of the housing.
[0030] FIG. 13 is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 11 with the
strap inserted into the housing and wrapped around a mounting
structure.
[0031] FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the adapter of FIG.
13 with the strap in place.
[0032] FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the adapter of FIG.
13 with a cable hanger inserted into the housing to engage the
strap and wheel to maintain the adapter in a secured condition.
[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a housing of another
adapter for a cable hanger according to embodiments of the
invention.
[0034] FIG. 17 is a front view of the housing of FIG. 16.
[0035] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a securing screw of the
adapter of FIG. 16.
[0036] FIG. 19 is a front view of the securing screw of FIG.
18.
[0037] FIG. 20 is a front view of the adapter of FIG. 16.
[0038] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 16.
[0039] FIG. 22 is a perspective schematic view of the adapter of
FIG. 16 mounted on a ladder rung.
[0040] FIG. 23 is a perspective schematic view of the mounted
adapter of FIG. 22 with the upper head and transition section of
the screw broken off.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] The present invention is described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the
invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in
many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments that are pictured and described 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. It will also be appreciated that the
embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in any way and/or
combination to provide many additional embodiments.
[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms
that are used in this disclosure have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. The terminology used in the below description is
for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is
not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in this
disclosure, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to
include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that when an
element (e.g., a device, circuit, etc.) is referred to as being
"connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly
connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements
may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as
being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another
element, there are no intervening elements present.
[0043] Referring now to the figures, an adapter for mounting a
cable hanger to a mounting structure, designated broadly at 100, is
shown in FIGS. 4-10. The adapter 100 comprises two separate parts:
a housing 102 and a plunger 104. These components are described in
greater detail below.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the housing 102 is shown
therein. The housing 102 is generally C-shaped in profile, with a
base 106, a vertical wall 108 that extends from one end of the base
106, side walls 107 that extend from the side edges of the vertical
wall 108, and a ceiling 109 that extends from the end of the
vertical wall 108 opposite the base 106 and spans the upper ends of
the side walls 107. The base 106 includes a series of teeth 110
that protrude upwardly and extend transversely across the base 106.
Each tooth 110 includes a recess 112 that extends for much of the
length of the tooth 110. The vertical wall 108 includes a hole 114
(typically nominally 3/4 inch in diameter) for the mounting of a
cable hanger. Two fingers 116 extend from the upper forward edges
of the side walls 107. Each of the fingers 116 includes a series of
asymmetric teeth 118 that are more shallowly sloped on their lower
edges.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 6, the plunger 104 has a main panel
120. A flange 122 extends perpendicularly to each of the side edges
of the main panel 120. Each flange 122 has asymmetric teeth 124 on
its lateral surface that are configured to mesh with the teeth 118
of the housing 102. A hook 126 extends from and generally normal to
the lower end of the main panel 120, then gently curves below the
lower edge of the main panel 120. A leverage hole 128 is located in
the main panel 120 near the base of the hook 126.
[0046] The housing 102 and plunger 104 can be formed of a variety
of materials, but are typically formed of a polymeric material.
Exemplary polymeric materials include acetal and nylon 6,6. The
housing 102 and plunger 104 may be formed in any suitable manner,
but ordinarily are injection-molded. The housing 102 and plunger
104 may be formed of the same material or different materials as
desired.
[0047] Use of the adapter 100 can be understood from FIGS. 7-10.
The housing 102 is first inserted onto a mounting structure, such
as a rung 150 of a ladder on an antenna tower (see FIGS. 8 and 10).
The housing 102 is positioned on the rung 150 with the base 106
below the rung 150 and the fingers 116 above the rung 150;
typically, the rung 150 will also abut the edges of the side walls
107. The plunger 104 is then inserted from above between the
fingers 116, such that the teeth 124 on each side of the plunger
104 engage the teeth 118 of the fingers 116, and lowered until the
hook 126 engages the upper surface of the rung 150. The shapes of
the teeth 118, 124 permit the plunger 104 to be lowered relative to
the housing 102 but prevent the plunger 120 from rising relative to
the housing 102. Thus, once the plunger 104 is lowered to snugly
engage the rung 150, the adapter 100 is mounted firmly to the rung
150. A cable hanger such as that shown in FIG. 2 can be mounted in
the hole 114 in the vertical wall 108 of the housing 102 to serve
to capture and organize cables.
[0048] Notably, lowering of the plunger 104 relative to the housing
102 can be facilitated with the use of a screwdriver or other
leverage-type tool. The blade of the screwdriver can be inserted
through the hole 114 and into the leverage hole 128 in the plunger
104. The handle of the screwdriver can then be raised to contact
the upper edge of the hole 114, which serves as a fulcrum to drive
the blade of the screwdriver (and in turn the plunger 104)
downwardly. This capability can enable the plunger 104 to fit
tightly within the fingers 116, thereby improving the retention of
the adapter 100 on the rung 150.
[0049] Those of skill in this art will appreciate that other
configurations for the housing 102 and plunger 104 may be employed.
For example, although teeth 118,124 are described herein, other
engagement features that enable the plunger 104 to be retained in a
desired position relative to the housing 102 may be employed. For
example, the teeth 118,124 may be symmetric rather than asymmetric,
or one of the sets of teeth may be replaced with a single tooth or
ridge. Moreover, the teeth may be replaced with other protrusions
and indentions, such as scallops, detents and mating recesses, or
the like. In other embodiments, the engagement features may be
latches (e.g., on the plunger 104) and receptacles (e.g., on the
housing 102). Other variations are also possible.
[0050] In addition, the housing 102 and/or plunger 104 may be
modified in other ways. For example, the leverage hole 128 in the
plunger may be omitted, and a tab or other graspable member may be
employed instead to facilitate installation. Moreover, the hook 126
may be omitted, or may be replaced with a different engagement
feature, such as a sharpened edge or the like. Other variations may
also be suitable.
[0051] Referring now to FIGS. 11-15, another adapter for mounting
cable hangers, designated broadly at 200, is shown therein. This
adapter 200 includes a housing 202, a wheel 204 and a strap 206.
These components are described in greater detail below.
[0052] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the housing 202 is generally
square or rectangular, with a floor 210, side walls 212 and a
ceiling 214 that surround an opening 218. The ceiling 214 includes
a mounting hole 220 that is typically nominally 3/4 inch in
diameter. Each of the side walls 212 includes a slot 222 near its
upper end. A lower edge 224 of the opening 218 is arcuate and has
asymmetric teeth 226 that are inclined toward one of the side walls
212.
[0053] The wheel 204 has a generally cylindrical body 230 with a
length that is greater than the depth dimension of the housing 202.
Near one end, the body 230 includes a plurality of holes 232. At
the opposite of the body 230, asymmetric teeth 234 extend radially
outwardly, the teeth 230 are configured to mesh with the teeth 226
on the housing 202.
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 11, the strap 206 has an elongate body
240 with regularly-spaced rectangular holes 242. The holes 242 are
sized to capture the teeth 234 of the wheel 204. A knob 244 is
located at one end; the knob 244 is sized to fit through the
mounting hole 220 in the ceiling 214 of the housing 202, but to be
unable to fit through the slots 222 in the side walls 214. The body
240 of the strap 206 is sized to be able to fit through both of the
slots 222.
[0055] The housing 202, wheel 204 and strap 206 may be formed of
any suitable material, but is typically formed of a polymeric
and/or elastomeric materials. Exemplary polymeric materials include
acetal and nylon 6,6. The housing 202, wheel 204 and strap 206 may
be formed in any suitable manner, but ordinarily are
injection-molded. In some embodiments, the housing 202 and wheel
204 may be formed of the same material, and may be injection-molded
together as a single unit, with the wheel 204 being attached to the
housing 202 via breakaway tabs or the like. The strap 206 is
typically formed of a material that is more flexible than that of
the housing 202 and wheel 204 to enable it to bend easily.
[0056] As can be seen in FIGS. 13-15, the adapter 200 can be
mounted to a mounting structure 270, such as a leg of an antenna
tower or a monopole, that lacks a pre-formed mounting hole. To
mount the adapter 200, first the housing 202 is positioned with the
floor 210 resting against the mounting structure 270. The strap 206
is threaded through the mounting hole 220 into the opening 218,
through one of the slots 222 and out of the housing 202, along the
remainder of the side wall 214, around the mounting structure 270,
along the opposite side wall 214, and back into the opening 218
through the opposite slot 222. The wheel 204 is positioned in the
opening 218. The strap 206 is tightened somewhat, then laid over
the surface of the wheel 204 near the mounting hole 220, with the
teeth 234 of the wheel 204 being received in the holes 242 in the
strap 206. The wheel 204 is then forced against the lower edge 224
of the opening 218, then rotated relative to the housing 202. The
shapes of the teeth 226, 232 enable the wheel 204 to rotate in one
rotative direction (e.g., counterclockwise from the vantage point
of FIG. 13), but not rotate in the opposite rotative direction. It
should be noted that rotation of the wheel 204 can be assisted by
inserting a screwdriver or similar tool into one or two of the
holes 232 in the wheel 204 to provide leverage.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 15, once the strap 206 is tightened
sufficiently, the strap 206 can be held in place by inserting a
cable hanger 280 into the mounting hole 220. The hooks of the
inserted cable holder 280 engage the wheel 204 and/or the strap 206
and force the wheel 204 against the lower edge 224 of the housing
202. As such, the wheel 204 is unable to rotate relative to the
housing 202, which prevents the strap 206 from loosening. The
mounting hole 282 in the cable hanger 280 is then positioned for
the mounting of additional cable hangers adjacent the mounting
structure 270.
[0058] Those of skill in this art will appreciate that the housing
202, wheel 204 and/or strap 206 may take other forms. For example,
features on the housing 202 and wheel 204 that engage and resist
movement other than the teeth 226, 232 may be employed. Exemplary
alternatives include symmetric teeth on both components, a single
tooth or ridge on one component (e.g., the housing 202) and
multiple teeth on the other component (e.g., the wheel 204), a
system of mating recesses and flexible fingers, or the like. As a
further alternative, the housing 202, wheel 204 and strap 206 may
include high-friction material (akin to a clutch belt). Other
variations may also be suitable.
[0059] It is also notable that each of the adapters 100, 200 may be
formed of polymeric materials, with the result that cable hangers
can be mounted to metallic structures (such as monopoles or antenna
tower ladders) that lack mounting holes, and can do so without
generating PIM that could otherwise negatively impact antenna
performance.
[0060] Referring now to FIGS. 16-23, another adapter according to
embodiments of the invention is illustrated therein and designated
broadly at 300. The adapter comprises a housing 302 and a securing
screw 304. These components are discussed in greater detail
below.
[0061] Referring first to FIGS. 16 and 17, the housing 302 includes
a floor 310, a rear wall 312, a ceiling 314, and side walls 316.
These structures are arranged to form generally a cube with an open
front side. Each of the side walls 316 has a slot 318 that is open
at its front end. Teeth 320 are present in the lower edge of each
slot 318 to improve grip. The ceiling 314 has an opening 322 with
threads 324. The floor 310 also has a mounting hole 326. As can be
seen in FIG. 17, the rear wall 312 has a mounting hole 328 that is
sized and configured to receive a cable hanger in the manner of the
adapter 100, 200 above. Typically, the mounting holes 326, 328 have
a nominal 3/4 inch diameter. Each of the floor 310, rear wall 312,
ceiling 314, and side walls 316 has a pattern of ribs that can
provide strength and stiffness.
[0062] Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 19, the securing screw 304
includes a shank 340 with threads 342 configured to mesh with the
threads 324 of the housing 302. The bottom surface of the shank 340
has nubs 344 or some other variety of grip-enhancer (e.g., a
roughened surface, teeth, spikes, etc,). At its upper end, the
securing screw 304 has a compound head structure 346, which
includes an upper head 348, a transition section 350, and a lower
head 352. The upper and lower heads 348, 352 are configured to
receive a rotatable fastening tool (e.g., a wrench) that is used to
tighten the screw 304. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper and
lower heads 348, 352 have the same shape and size, to permit the
same fastening tool to be used on them, but in some embodiments the
size and/or shape of the upper and lower heads 348,352 may differ.
The transition section 350 is generally configured as a panel or
wall 354 that includes a rib 356 extending between the upper and
lower heads 348, 352, although other configurations may also be
employed.
[0063] As can be seen in FIGS. 20 and 21, the securing screw 304
can be inserted into the opening 322 in the ceiling 314 of the
housing 302. The threads 324 of the opening 322 mesh with the
threads 342 of the screw 304.
[0064] Referring now to FIG. 22, the adapter 300 is illustrated
mounted on a mounting structure 370, such as the rung of a ladder.
The housing 302 of the adapter 300 is attached to the mounting
structure 370 by aligning the slots 318 in the side walls 306 of
the housing 302 with the mounting structure 370, and slipping the
housing 302 onto the mounting structure 370 so that the mounting
structure 370 is received in the slots 318. Once the mounting
structure 370 is in position in the slots 318, the securing screw
304 is rotated relative to the housing 302 to cause it to advance
onto the mounting structure 370. Movement of the securing screw 370
ceases when the lower end of the shaft 340 engages the surface of
the mounting structure 370 (see FIG. 21). At this point a cable
hanger can be mounted in either of the mounting holes 326, 328.
[0065] Once the shaft 340 engages the mounting structure 370,
continued rotation of the securing screw 304 tightens the screw 304
in place. Typically, there exists a lower threshold pressure for
securing the adapter 300 onto the mounting structure 370, which may
be generated via a corresponding threshold torque on the securing
screw 304. Overtightening the securing screw 304 beyond a second,
higher threshold pressure raises the risk of damaging the housing
302 or the securing screw 304. Ordinarily, a wrench W or other
fastening tool (see FIG. 22) is employed to rotate and advance the
screw 304 via engagement with the upper head 348. The configuration
of the securing screw 304 is such that, once the second, upper
threshold torque is reached (e.g., 3-5 ft-lbs), the transition
section 350 of the securing screw 340 fractures, so that the upper
head 348 breaks away from the remainder of the securing screw 340
(see FIG. 23). As a result, the screw 304 is installed and engages
the mounting structure 370 at the desired pressure.
[0066] As one example, if the securing screw 304 is formed of a
polymeric material such as acetal or polyethylene, and if the
transition section has a height of 8 mm, a width of 5.7 mm and a
thickness of 3.8 mm with ribs having a depth of 5.7 mm, the
resulting torque to fracture is typically between about 3 and 5
N-m.
[0067] It should also be noted that the presence of the nubs 344 on
the lower end of the shaft 340 of the securing screw 304 can
improve the grip of the screw 304 on the mounting structure 370. In
addition, the presence of the teeth 320 in the slots 318 can
improve the grip of the housing 302 on the mounting structure.
370.
[0068] Like the adapters 100, 200, because the adapter 300 may be
formed of polymeric materials, cable hangers can be mounted to
metallic structures (such as monopoles or antenna tower ladders)
that lack mounting holes, and can do so without generating PIM that
could otherwise negatively impact antenna performance.
[0069] The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and
is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although exemplary
embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in
the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are
possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing
from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention.
Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included
within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The
invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of
the claims to be included therein.
* * * * *