Supports – Pipe or cable – Brackets
Patent
1994-08-15
1996-01-09
Foss, J. Franklin
Supports
Pipe or cable
Brackets
248 741, F16L 308
Patent
active
054822343
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to cleats such as are used for securing elongate articles, particularly cables or pipes or the like, to walls or other supporting structures.
Background Art
Prior patent GB 2191812B describes a cleat, for securing a cylindrical object such as a cable, pipe or the like therein, comprising a relatively flexible elongate strap part and a relatively rigid end part at each end of said strap part, clamping means operable to clamp said end parts together in face-to-face disposition, and pivot means disposed between said end parts at that side of said clamping means remote from said strap part whereby in use said end parts are caused to pivot relative to each other about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of said cylindrical object secured in said cleat as said clamping means is tightened, said end parts having a combined thickness when in contact with each other which is greater than the outside diameter of a loop formed by said strap part.
As specifically described in the above patent by way of example, the end parts of the cleat have through bores and the end parts are fixed to a wall and are clamped together around a cable by means of a bolt passed through the bores and engaged with a nut at its outer end.
With this known arrangement, the bolt is fixed to the wall, the cleat already looped around the cable is mounted on the bolt, and then the nut is fitted and tightened. There is therefore the problem that installation of the cable can be complicated, inconvenient and time consuming.
An object of the present invention is to overcome or at least minimize this problem.
Disclosure of the Invention
According to the invention therefore there is provided a cleat, for securing an elongate article (1) to a support structure (2), comprising a flexible strap (3) with a respective rigid end part (4, 5) at each end thereof, each said end part having therein a through bore (12, 13), an elongate clamping element (15) arranged to be fixed at one end to the support structure (2) and to be passed through the bores (12, 13) in the end parts (4, 5) with the strap (3) looped around the elongate article (1), and a clamping member (17) at the other end of the clamping element (15) to clamp the end parts (4, 5) against each other, characterized by the provision of a slot (14) through one end part (4) in communication with the side of the respective bore (13) whereby such end part (4) can be moved sideways into and out of engagement with the clamping element (15) by displacement of the clamping element (15) relative to the end part (4) through the slot (14).
With this arrangement it is possible to mount the cleat and clamping element with the cleat open. A cable or other elongate article can then be installed with such an open cleat by inserting the article into position and then pushing the slotted end part onto the clamping element and tightening the clamping member. It is not necessary to install the clamping element, cleat and article together in a single operation. Also, removal of the article as desired can be readily achieved by releasing the clamping member and pulling off the slotted end part.
The strap and end parts may be formed integrally in one piece as a plastic molding.
The clamping element may be a threaded bolt and the clamping member may be a nut as with the above mentioned known arrangement. However, preferably the element is a bolt or screw and the clamping member is the head of the bolt or screw. This is particularly advantageous because there is only one part to manipulate (which can be effected by unskilled personnel) and the bolt or screw when fitted may have its head close to the outer side of the cleat rather than having an inconvenient (and possibly dangerous) projecting threaded end.
Preferably, the bore in one of the end parts, which does not have the said slot, is elongated sideways so that the position of this end part relative to the clamping element can be adjusted.
By using cooperable configurations on the inner faces of the end parts which mate
REFERENCES:
patent: 429057 (1890-05-01), Peterson
patent: 4709889 (1987-12-01), Erickson
patent: 4799444 (1989-01-01), Lisowski
patent: 4971272 (1990-11-01), Gudriage
Foss J. Franklin
Vigil Thomas R.
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