SPECIFICATIONCleat for clamping an electric cable, pipe run or the like to a support barThe invention relates to a cleat for clamping an electric cable, pipe run or the like to a support bar, such as a bar of a ladder racking type support, by which the cable or the like, extending transversely to the bar, is to be supported.
Hitherto such cleats have consisted of castings or mouldings having two clamping loop portions, for embracing the support bar and electric cable or the like respectively, disposed at right angles to each other. Such cleats are expensive and their fixing is time-consuming and involves difficulties, particularly where the working space available is restricted. Another known form of cleat comprises a loop of strip metal which extends over the cable or the like and has its ends twisted through 90 and formed into hooks which extend around the underside of the support bar, the clamping being effected by a screw which extends through the loop portion and is screwed down on to the cable or the like. Although cheaper and simpler to install than cast cleats, the clamping screw can cause damage to the cable or pipe.
The present invention has for its object to provide a cleat which is simple and cheap to manufacture, which provides a substantial area of support for the cable or the like, and which can be clamped to the support bar simultaneously with securing a cable or cables or the like to the cleat by means which are universal as regards the diameter of the cable or cables or the like and by an operation which requires only a small operating space and can be carried with minimal risk of damage to the cable, pipe or the like.
Summary of the InventionThe cleat according to the invention comprises a strip-like member shaped to form a loop portion with a first arm portion extending substantially tangentially from one end of the loop portion and a second arm portion extending from the other end of the loop portion in a direction such that it will lie substantially parallel to said first arm portion when the loop portion is fitted around and is in clamping relation with a support bar for which the cleat is dimensioned for use, the free end of said second arm portion being provided with a projection or lip which extends away from said first arm portion. When the cleat is fitted on the support bar, the first arm projects substantially tangentially from the support bar and provides a surface area on which the cable or the like rests.A clamping band or strap is fastened tightly around the cable or the like and around the arms of the cleat, thereby forcing the arms together to clamp the loop portion of the cleat on the support bar, and simultaneously securing and clamping the cable or the like to the surface of the arm of the cleat against which it rests. The projection or lip at the free end of the second arm portion serves to prevent the clamping band or strap from slipping off the end of the second arm portion.
Brief Description of the DrawingFigure 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a cleat according to the invention, as manufactured,Figure 2 is a side view of the cleat of Fig. 1 after fitting to a support bar, andFigure 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of the cleat of Fig. 1 with a clamping band or strap clamping an electric cable to the cleat and clamping the cleat to a support bar.
Description of Preferred EmbodimentThe cleat 1 shown in the drawing comprises a metal strip bent to the shape shown in Fig.
1 with a loop portion 2, one end of which extends into a first arm portion 3 which is substantially tangential to the loop portion, and which is bent at its other end to form a second arm portion 4 which extends in a direction such that it will lie substantially parallel to the first arm portion 3 when the loop portion is fitted around and is in clamping relation with a support bar 5 as shown inFig. 2. The free end of the second arm portion is bent to form a lip 6 extending away from the first arm portion.
The first arm portion 3 is also shown as having at its free end a lip 7 which bears against the second arm portion 4 in the clamping position. The lip 7 is not, however, essential for the invention.
The cleat is manufactured and supplied with the shape shown in Fig. 1 to facilitate its fitting over a support bar, after which the arm portions 3, 4 are closed together as shown inFig. 2. The loop portion 2 is formed to a suitable shape and size to grip tightly on the support bar on which it is designed to be fitted. To ensure that the loop portion bends as desired when closing the arm portions together from the Fig. 1 configuration to theFig. 2 configuration, a hole 8 may be formed in the metal strip approximately at the position indicated in Fig. 1.
The surface area of the arm portion 3 provides a substantial supporting surface on which the electric cable 9 to be supported and clamped may rest. After resting the cable 9 on the arm portion 3, a length of metal strapping 10 is looped around the cable and across the underside of the second arm portion 4 and has its ends fastened together after the strapping has been tightened to the desired extent to clamp the cable to the cleat and to close the arm portions 3, 4 together sufficiently for the cleat to be clamped to the support bar 5. The strapping 10 may be applied by the use of any of the various hand tools available on the market for performing strapping operations. The fastening together of the ends of the strapping may be effected with or without the use of special fastener members as required by the strapping tool used. The position at which the ends of the strapping are fastened together may be selected as operating convenience and space requirements may dictate.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the cleat may be made of a suitable plastics or other material and that the clamping band or strapping may also be made of a plastics or other suitable material. The cleats may be made of different width according to requirements, and may be of a width appropriate for securing a plurality of cables, pipes or the like within a single loop of strapping.