AU2002245931B2

AU2002245931B2 - Cable supporting device

Info

Publication number: AU2002245931B2
Application number: AU2002245931A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Warrick Smith
Original assignee: ELLICE HOLDINGS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ELLICE HOLDINGS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-20
Filing date: 2002-03-28
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-28

Description

004298298 PCT/AU02/00405 Received 21 May 2003 1 CABLE SUPPORTING DEVICE This invention relates to a device and method for supporting cables, such as power leads and communication cables, on a metal structure or other metallic object. However, as used herein, the term cable encompasses not only power leads and communication cables, but also other forms of non-rigid elongate items, such as, wires, cords, ropes, chains and the like.

In the building industry, there is a trend towards more use of steel frame members in the construction of a building. In International Patent Application No.

W001/19569 there is disclosed a magnetic holding device and method for holding sheet materials, such as insulating paper or sarking, to metallic frame members of a wall or roof. However, there remains the problem of holding electrical cables, power leads and other cables in position during the construction of a building so that the cables are supported above the ground away from pools of water which may form on the ground and out of the way of building site traffic. It is therefore desirable to provide a device and method for supporting cables during the construction of a building.

It is also desirable to provide a device for supporting an electrical cable on a metallic object while ensuring that the cable is insulated from the metallic object.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cable supporting device comprising an elongate body including at least one magnet, and a cable clip provided on the body, wherein the cable clip has a plurality of resilient projections extending from the elongate body and a plurality of cable-receiving recesses between adjacent projections adapted to receive a plurality of cables inserted in the recesses, wherein adjacent resilient projections are shaped to grip a cable inserted in a recess between the adjacent projections.

Preferably, said plurality of projections have enlarged head portions which assist in retaining a cable inserted into a recess or clipping point between the projections. The projections are preferably formed from a resilient plastics material so that adjacent projections can flex slightly away from each other to facilitate insertion of a cable into the clipping point.

MENDED SHEU M=A/Al I S004204035 PCT/AU02/00405 Received 29 January 2003 2 The cable clip may be unitary with the body of a magnetic holding device.

For example, a magnetic holding device may be provided of the type disclosed in WO 01/19569 which comprises an elongate member including at least one magnet and having a substantially flat magnetic surface on or in close proximity to the magnet. In such a magnetic holding device, a plurality of projections defining at least one cable-receiving recess or clipping point may be integral with the body and provided on a surface of the body of the elongate member remote from the substantially flat magnetic surface. Preferably, at least one retaining member is provided on the elongate member. The retaining member preferably has a retaining surface extending from the elongate body at an angle to the substantially flat magnetic surface.

Alternatively, the cable clip may comprise a separate element which is attachable to an elongate body, such as a magnetic holding device of the type disclosed in WO 01/19569, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

A separate cable clip is preferably constructed and arranged so as to be slid over and be received on the body of the magnetic holding device. The cable clip preferably has a main body portion adapted to extend along a surface of the magnetic holding device, a plurality of projections extending from the main body portion defining the at least one cable-receiving recess and a plurality of attachment members adapted to extend partly around the body of the magnetic holding device.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cable supporting device comprising a magnetic holding device and a cable clip provided on the magnetic holding device, the magnetic holding device having an elongate body and including at least one magnet and a substantially flat magnetic surface, the cable clip having a plurality of projections extending from the elongate body to form at least one cable receiving recess between adjacent projections adapted to receive and grip a cable inserted between the projections, wherein at least one retaining member is provided on the elongate body, the retaining member having AENDED SHEET I PAV S004204035 PCT/AU02/00405 Received 29 January 2003 3 a retaining surface extending from the elongate body at an angle to the substantially flat magnetic surface.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a cable clip adapted for mounting on an elongate body, the cable clip having a main body portion adapted to extend along a surface of the elongate body, a plurality of projections extending from the main body portion and defining at least one cablereceiving recess, and a plurality of attachment members adapted to extend partly around the elongate body for attaching the cable clip to the elongate body.

Preferably, the elongate body is a magnetic holding device, such as an elongate magnetic holding device of the type described in WO 01/19569.

Preferably, the attachment members extend from opposite sides of the main body portion of the cable clip.

The cable clip is preferably adapted to be located over a retaining member of a magnetic holding device. In a particularly preferred construction the cable clip has a pair of attachment members extending from one side of the main body portion, the attachment members having inwardly directed portions adapted to engage with complementary formations on the body of the magnetic holding device on either side of the retaining member. The clip preferably has a centrally located attachment member extending from the opposite side of the main body portion of the clip.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of supporting a cable on a structure comprising: providing at least one cable supporting device or cable clip in accordance with any one of the other aspects of the invention; attaching the cable supporting device or cable clip to elongate member of the structure; and attaching a cable to the cable supporting device or cable clip.

AMENDEDSHEVT

004204035 PCT/AU02/00405 Received 29 January 2003 3a Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the use of magnetic holding devices for attaching sheet material to a metal framework of a building; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the use of cable supporting devices in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a side view of one embodiment of a magnetic cable supporting device in accordance with the invention; AMENDED SHE~~kr WO 02/087047 PCT/AU02/00405 4 Figure 4 is a top plan view of the cable supporting device of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view of another embodiment of a magnetic cable supporting device in accordance with the invention including a removable cable clip; Figure 6 is an opposite side view of the magnetic cable supporting device of Figure Figure 7 is a perspective view from one side of a magnetic holding body of the device of Figure Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cable clip of the cable supporting device of Figure Figure 9 is a perspective view of the cable clip of Figure 8 mounted on one end of the body of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a section on the line X X of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a view showing the use of cable supporting devices to support a power lead in a roof structure; Figure 12 is an enlarged detail of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a side view of the detail of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the use of cable supporting devices to support a cable on a metal clad roof; Figure 15 is a side view of the roof structure of Figure 14; Figure 16 is an enlarged detail of Figure WO 02/087047 PCT/AU02/00405 Figure 17 is a perspective view showing the use of cable supporting devices in a modular scaffold; Figure 18 is a front view showing use of the cable supporting devices in a modular scaffold; Figure 19 is a side view of the modular scaffold of Figure 18.

Figure 1 illustrates two trades-persons 11, 12 utilising magnetic holding devices 20 in accordance with the invention of WO 01/19569 to attach a sheet of insulating material 14 to vertical frame members or wall studs 16 of a steel framework 18 of a building.

As shown in Figure 1, one tradesperson 11 is holding one end of the sheet material 14 as the other tradesperson 12 unrolls the sheet material from a roll alongside front surfaces 17 of steel frame members or wall studs 16. As the sheet material is unrolled, the magnetic holding devices 20, which comprise elongate rods containing magnets 30, are used to hold the sheet material 14 in position with the sheet material sandwiched between magnetic surfaces of the holding devices and magnetically receptive front surfaces 17 of the steel frame members or wall studs.

Figure 2 shows a tradesperson 13 utilizing magnetic cable supporting devices 40 in accordance with the invention to support a cable 45, such as a power lead, to the steel framework 18 of a building. As shown in Figure 2, the magnetic cable supporting devices 40, which comprise elongate bodies 42 containing magnets 30 with cable clips 50 on the bodies, are attached to magnetically receptive front surfaces 17 of steel frame members or wall studs 16 of the framework 18. The cable or power lead 45 is supported at spaced intervals by the cable clips 50 of the magnetic cable supporting devices 40. In this manner, the cable or power lead 45 is supported above the ground away from water puddles and site traffic on the building site. The bodies 42 of the cable supporting devices 40 are preferably formed from an insulating plastics material so as to maintain effective electrical isolation between the power lead 45 and the steel WO 02/087047 PCT/AU02/00405 6 frame members 16 notwithstanding any insulation that the power lead 45 may have.

A first embodiment of a magnetic cable supporting device 40 in accordance with the invention is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The device 40 comprises an elongate body 42 containing a pair of magnets 30 with cable clips 50 formed on the body 42 at each end. The body 42 is preferably formed from a moulded plastics material, although it may be formed from other suitable materials, such as wood. The elongate body 42 has an upper bulbous part 44 with rounded sides and a lower, narrower part 46 so that the device may be conveniently grasped by a user. Two short tubular extensions 48 extend from the lower surfaces of the part 46 and have recesses 49 within which the magnets 30 are housed. The lower surfaces 31 of the tubular extensions 48 thus provide substantially flat magnetic surfaces at longitudinally spaced apart locations of the body 42.

The cable clips 50 at the ends of the body 42 each comprise a plurality of projections 52 extending from the upper surface of the body 42 with recesses 54 between adjacent projections forming clipping points for receiving and gripping a cable 45 inserted into a recess 54.

As shown in Figure 3, the projections 52 have enlarged upper parts or heads 52 and, being formed from a resilient plastics material, can flex apart slightly to facilitate insertion of a cable 45 into a recess 54. After insertion, the projections 52 reassume their original position so that their enlarged heads 53 grip the cable 45 securely within the recess 54.

The cable clips 50 of the cable supporting device 40 shown in Figures 3 and 4 have six projections 52 and five cable-receiving recesses 54 so that a plurality of cables 45 can be supported from the device 40. It will, however, be appreciated that the number of projections and recesses may be varied for different applications. Although the recesses 54 are of the same size in Figures 3 and 4, the projections 52 and the cable-receiving recesses 54 may be of different sizes so as to allow the device 40 to support cables 45 of different diameters.

WO 02/087047 PCT/AU02/00405 7 Another preferred embodiment of a cable-supporting device in accordance with the invention is illustrated in Figures 5 to 10. This cable supporting device comprises an elongate magnetic holding device 20 and a separate cable clip which is adapted to be slidably mounted on an end of the magnetic holding device The magnetic holding device 20 is substantially identical to the magnetic holding device of WO 01/19569 and is in the form of an elongate rod having a pair of magnets 30 contained in an elongate body 22. The elongate body 22 is preferably formed from a moulded plastics material, although the body may be formed from other insulating materials, such as wood. As shown in Figure 7, the elongate body has an upper bulbous part 24 with rounded sides and a lower, narrower part 26 so that the magnetic holding device may be conveniently grasped by a user. Two short tubular extensions 28 extend from the lower surfaces of the part 26 and have recesses 29 within which the magnets 30 are housed. The lower surfaces 31 of the tubular extensions 28 thus provide substantially flat magnetic surfaces at longitudinally spaced apart locations of the body 22.

A particularly advantageous feature of the magnetic holding device 20 of Figures 5 to 7 is illustrated in Figures 6, 9 and 10 which show an adjustable retaining member 60 provided on one side of the elongate body 22 towards one end of the body 22. Another similar retaining member 60 may be provided at the other end of the body 22. In the region of each retaining member 60, the body 22 of the device 20 has a substantially flat surface 23 on the side where the retaining member 60 is provided. The flat surface 23 is provided between rounded shoulders 25 of the bulbous part 24 of the body 22. The adjustable retaining member 60 comprises a circular body part 62 and a lip part 64 extending from one side of the body part 62. The circular body part 62 is attached to a side of the lower part 26 of the body 22 by a threaded bolt 65 having an enlarged head 66 with a hexagonal recess 67 for receiving a hexagonal key for tightening the bolt 43 in a threaded recess in the side of the lower body part 26. The bolt 43 is preferably tightened to a sufficient extent to secure the adjustable retaining member 60 to the housing 22 while allowing the retaining member to rotate WO 02/087047 PCT/AU02/00405 8 through approximately 900 about the axis of the bolt 65 between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position (not shown), the lip part 64 extends from the circular body part 62 substantially in the longitudinal direction of the elongate housing 22, whereas in the extended position of Figures 9 and 10, the lip part 64 extends downwardly from the lower part 26 of the housing 22 for a greater distance than the short tubular extensions 28. The lip part 64 of the adjustable retaining member 60 may also have a ridge or rib 69 extending radially outwards from the circular body part 62 to assist a user in moving the retaining member 60 between its retracted and extended positions.

Referring more particularly to Figure 10, the lip part 64 in its extended position presents a retaining surface 61 extending beyond and generally perpendicularly to the substantially flat magnetic surface 31 of the holding device for engagement with a side surface of the steel frame member 16. The extended lip part 64 of the retaining member 60 helps to prevent the magnetic holding device 20 from slipping relative to a steel frame member 16 to which it is attached.

Referring particularly to Figure 8, the separate cable clip 70 for mounting on the magnetic holding device 20 has a main elongate body portion 71, a plurality of projections 72 extending upwardly from the main body portion 71, a plurality of cable-receiving recesses 74 between adjacent projections 72 and attachment member 75, 76 and 77 extending downwardly from the sides of the main body portion 71.

Two of the attachment members 75 and 76 extend from one side of the main body portion 71 and are in the form of limbs provided at each end of the body portion 71. The attachment limbs 75 and 76 each have a curved portion 78 and a lug portion 79. Each curved portion 78 extends from the body portion 71 and is shaped to conform substantially to the external shape of the bulbous part 24 of the magnetic holding device 20. The lug portions 79 are provided on the ends of the curved portions 78 and extend longitudinally towards each other.

Each lug portion 79 is shaped to confirm with the rounded shoulders 5 of the bulbous part 24 of the body 22 of the magnetic holding device WO 02/087047 PCT/AU02/00405 9 The other attachment member 77 is centrally located and extends from the opposite side of the main body portion 71. Attachment member 71 is curved and is shaped to confirm substantially to the external shape of the bulbous part 24 of the magnetic holding device In use, the cable clip 70 is mounted on the magnetic holding device 20 by sliding it over the end of the device 20 until the lug portions 79 of the attachment members 75, 76 engage with the shoulders 25 of the bulbous part 24 of the device to retain the cable clip 70 securely in position on the magnetic holding device The magnetic holding device 20 with the cable clip 70 mounted thereon can then be used as a magnetic cable supporting device in similar manner to the magnetic cable supporting device 40 of Figures 3 and 4.

The cable clip 70 is preferably formed from a resilient plastics material, which allows the attachment members 75, 76 and 77 to flex outwardly to facilitate mounting on the magnetic holding device. As shown in Figure 5 to 9, the projections 72 of the cable clip 70 have enlarged head portions 82. As the projections 72 are also formed from the same resilient material they can also flex apart slightly to facilitate insertion of a cable or power lead into a recess 74. After insertion of a cable, the projections reassume their original position so that the enlarged heads grip the cable securely within the recess 74.

As in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, there are six projections 72 and five cable-receiving recesses 74, though the number of projections and recesses may be varied to accommodate different numbers of cables. The distance between the projections varies, so that some of the recesses 74 are wider than others. This allows the cable clip 70 to support cables of different diameters.

Figures 11 to13 show a use of cable supporting devices 40 in accordance with the invention to support a power lead 45 on a metal roof structure 90. The roof structure 90 has a longitudinally extending steel beam 92, a plurality of transversely extending steel roof members or purlins 94 attached to the steel beam 92 by cleats 95 and a metal roof sheeting 96 mounted on the purlins 94.

WO 02/087047 PCT/AU02/00405 As shown in detail in Figures 12 and 13 the magnetic cable supporting devices 40 are attached by the magnets 30 to the roof sheeting 96 above the roof purlins 94. The power lead 45 is secured in one of the cable-receiving recesses 54 of one of the cable clips 50 of each magnetic cable supporting device Thus, the power lead is supported above and isolated from the metal roof sheeting 96 by a plurality of the cable-supporting devices Figures 14 to 16 show a similar application to that of Figures 11 to 13 in which a power lead 45 extending from a power source 99 at a side of the roof structure 90 is supported above by steel roof cladding 98 by a plurality of magnetic cable supporting devices 40 attached at spaced intervals to the roof cladding 98.

A further magnetic cable supporting device 40 is provided on steel guttering 97 at the side of the roof structure 90 to support and isolate the power lead 45 from the guttering 97. In this situation, the cable supporting device 40 not only isolate the power lead from the metal roof cladding 98, they also prevent the power lead from sliding off the roof 90 onto the ground. This sliding effect would otherwise occur because of the weight of the lead 45 and whatever is attached to it, the slope of the roof 90 and the smooth surface of the metal roof Figures 17 to 19 show use of cable supporting devices 40 in accordance with the invention in a modular scaffold 100. The scaffold 100 comprises a plurality of elongate scaffold members 101 to 104 joined together by connectors 105. The scaffold members include uprights 101, substantially horizontal members or transoms 102, 103 and diagonal members 104. Work platforms 106 may be supported by the horizontal members 102, 103. The upright and diagonal scaffold members 101, 104 are preferably formed from steel tubing, and the horizontal members 102, 103 are preferably formed from angle sections of steel.

As shown in Figures 17 to 19, magnetic cable supporting devices 40 in accordance with the invention are attached to the undersurfaces of the horizontal members 102 and a cable or power lead 45 is supported by cable clips 50 of the cable supporting devices 40. In this manner the power lead 45 is supported below the horizontal members 102 and isolated from the scaffolding 100.

WO 02/087047 PCT/AU02/00405 11 It will be appreciated from the description above that the present invention provides a cable supporting device which can be used to support cables, power leads or the like from a variety of metal structures in which the cables or leads are isolated from the metal structure and supported away from pools of water and building site traffic.

Various modifications and alterations may be made to the magnetic cable supporting devices described above without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cable supporting device comprising an elongate body including at least one magnet, and a cable clip provided on the body, wherein the cable clip has a plurality of resilient projections extending from the elongate body and a plurality of cable-receiving recesses between adjacent projections adapted to receive a plurality of cables inserted in the recesses, wherein adjacent resilient projections are shaped to grip a cable inserted in a recess between the adjacent projections.

2. A cable supporting device according to claim 1 wherein the projections have enlarged head portions.

3. A cable supporting device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one of said cable receiving recesses is a different size from one or more other cable receiving recesses of said device.

4. A cable supporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elongate body comprises a magnetic holding device which has a substantially flat magnetic surface on or in close proximity to the magnet.

A cable supporting device according to claim 4 wherein the plurality of projections defining the plurality of cable-receiving recesses are provided on a surface of the body remote from the substantially flat magnetic surface and the projections extend in a direction away from the magnetic surface.

6. A cable supporting device according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the elongate body houses a plurality of magnets at spaced intervals along the body.

7. A cable supporting device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein at least one retaining member is provided on the elongate body, the retaining member having a retaining surface extending from the elongate body at an angle to the substantially flat magnetic surface.

8. A cable supporting device comprising a magnetic holding device and a cable clip provided on the magnetic holding device, the magnetic holding device having an elongate body and including at least one magnet and a substantially flat AMEVDED SHEET I P EN AU 004204035 PCT/AU02/00405 Received 29 January 2003 13 magnetic surface, the cable clip having a plurality of projections extending from the elongate body to form at least one cable receiving recess between adjacent projections adapted to receive and grip a cable inserted between the projections, wherein at least one retaining member is provided on the elongate body, the retaining member having a retaining surface extending from the elongate body at an angle to the substantially flat magnetic surface.

9. A cable supporting device according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the retaining member is adjustable having a lip part movable between an extended position in which the lip part presents a retaining surface extending outwardly from the elongate member generally perpendicularly to the substantially flat magnetic surface, and a retracted position.

A cable supporting device according to any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the plurality of projections are spaced apart along the length of the elongate body.

11. A cable supporting device according to any of claims 4 to 10 wherein the cable clip is unitary with the elongate body.

12. A cable supporting device according to any one of claims 4 to wherein the cable clip comprises a separate element which is attachable to the elongate body.

13. A cable supporting device according to claim 12 wherein the cable clip is arranged to slide over and be mounted on the elongate body.

14. A cable supporting device according to claim 13, wherein the cable clip has a main body portion adapted to extend along a surface of the elongate body, a plurality of projections extending from the main body portion and defining at least one cable-receiving recess, and a plurality of attachment members adapted to extend partly around the elongate body for attaching the cable clip thereto.

AM DSHEE IPEAIAU S004204035 PCT/AU02/00405 Received 29 January 2003 14 A cable clip adapted for mounting on an elongate body, the cable clip having a main body portion adapted to extend along a surface of the elongate body, a plurality of projections extending from the main body portion and defining at least one cable-receiving recess, and a plurality of attachment members adapted to extend partly around the elongate body for attaching the cable clip to the elongate body.

16. A cable clip according to claim 15 wherein the projections have enlarged head portions.

17. A cable supporting device or a cable clip according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the attachment members extend from opposite sides of the main body portion of the cable clip.

18. A cable supporting device or a cable clip according to claim 17 wherein the cable clip is adapted to be located over a retaining member of the body of a magnetic holding device.

19. A cable supporting device or a cable clip according to claim 18 wherein the cable clip has a pair of attachment members extending from one side of the main body portion, the attachment members having inwardly directed portions adapted to engage with complementary formations on the elongate body of the magnetic holding device on either side of the retaining member.

20. A cable supporting device or a cable clip according to claim 19 wherein the clip has a centrally located attachment member extending from the opposite side of the main body portion of the clip.

21. A method of supporting a cable on a structure comprising: providing at least one cable supporting device or cable clip in accordance with any one of the preceding claims; attaching the cable supporting device or cable clip to an elongate member of the structure; and ,Awuim MEET IFFEAVAU, 1E 004204635 PCT/AU02/00405 Received 29 January 2003 attaching a cable to the cable supporting device or cable clip.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein a plurality of magnetic cable supporting devices are provided and attached to a metal structure at spaced intervals, and the cable is attached to cable clips of the devices to support the cable on the structure.

23. A method according to claim 21 or claim 22 wherein at least one magnetic cable supporting device is attached to a substantially horizontal member of a steel framework.

24. A method according to claim 21 or claim 22 wherein at least one magnetic cable supporting device is attached to a substantially vertical frame member of a steel framework.

A method according to any one of claims 21 to 23 wherein the structure is a roof structure.

26. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 24 wherein the structure is a scaffold. 14"ammp