AU2020201632B2

AU2020201632B2 - Bracket for cable management

Info

Publication number: AU2020201632B2
Application number: AU2020201632A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rodney G. Rouleau
Original assignee: Panduit Corp
Current assignee: Panduit Corp
Priority date: 2019-03-06
Filing date: 2020-03-05
Publication date: 2025-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-05
Also published as: AU2020201632A1

Abstract

A bracket that manages cables on a ladder rack. The bracket includes a rung insertion area and an upper member. The rung insertion area is defined by a bottom, sidewalls extending from the bottom, and gussets extending from the bottom and positioned between the sidewalls. Each sidewall includes a top and two curved arms and each gusset includes a top and two sides. Slots are formed between each curved arm of the sidewalls and each side of the gusset. A ladder rung is inserted in the slots of the bracket to secure the ladder rung to the bracket. 1/15 0 (0 (0 Co Iq~ Co~ 00 C~CO 2/15 0 (0 (0 C~Co Coj CD GoN 0 CC) It N 10 0 0 N CIO

Description

1/15

(0

(0 Co

Iq~

Co~

00

C~CO

2/15

0 (0 (0

C~Co

Coj

CD

GoN

0

CC)

It N 10

0 N CIO

BRACKET FOR CABLE MANAGEMENT

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/814,380,

filed March 6, 2019, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its

entirety.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a bracket for cable management, and more

particularly to a bracket for cable management on a U-shaped ladder rung of a ladder rack.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Conventional cable cleats have been typically used to secure wire or cable

bundles to panels, ladder racks, or similar structural members. The cable cleats include a

mounting surface and a body portion that receives the wires or cable bundles. Conventional

cable cleats, however, are generally difficult and time consuming to install. Thus, it is

desirable to provide a bracket that is efficiently installed thereby significantly reducing labor

costs and increasing productivity.

[0003A] Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgement or

suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction

or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be combined with any other piece of

prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] A bracket for securing to a U-shaped ladder rung. The bracket includes a rung

insertion area and an upper member. The rung insertion area is defined by a bottom, two

sidewalls extending from the bottom, and two gussets extending from the bottom and

positioned between the sidewalls. The upper member extends from the top of one of the

sidewalls. Each sidewall includes a top and two curved arms. Each gusset includes a top

and two sides. Slots are formed between each curved arm of the sidewalls and each side of the gusset. The bracket is configured to receive the sidewalls of the U shaped ladder rung in the slots, thereby securing the U-shaped ladder rung to the bracket and wherein the slots are narrower than the thickness of the sidewalls of the U-shaped ladder rung, thereby providing an interference fit with the U-shaped ladder rung.

Also disclosed is a cable management assembly for securing cables to a U-shaped ladder

rung of a ladder rack, wherein the cable management assembly comprises: the bracket

previously described, wherein the upper member of said bracket is configured to receive

cables; and a metal tie arranged to wrap around the upper member and cables positioned

thereon, wherein the bracket is arranged to receive the sidewalls of the ladder rung in the

slots of the bracket and the metal tie is arranged to secure the cables to the bracket and the

ladderrung.

[0005] A cable management assembly that secures cables to a ladder rung of a ladder

rack. The cable management assembly includes a bracket and a metal tie. The bracket

includes a rung insertion area and an upper member that receives cables. The rung insertion

area is defined by a bottom, sidewalls extending from the bottom, and gussets extending

from the bottom and positioned between the sidewalls. Each sidewall includes a top and

two curved arms and each gusset includes a top and two

1A sides. Slots are formed between each curved arm of the sidewalls and each side of the gussets. The bracket receives the ladder rung in the slots of the bracket and the metal tie secures the cables to the upper member of the bracket.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the bracket for cable management of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a top view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a right side view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a front side view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a left side view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a rear side view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 1 with a U-shaped

ladderrung.

[0014] FIG. 9A is a side view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 8 with a U-shaped ladder

rung positioned to be installed.

[0015] FIG. 9B is a side view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 9B with the U-shaped

ladder rung installed in the bracket.

[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bracket for cable management of FIG. 8 with a U-shaped

ladder rung installed in the bracket.

[0017] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bracket for cable management with the U-shaped ladder

rung installed in the bracket of FIG. 10 with a plurality of cables positioned thereon.

[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the bracket for cable management with the U-shaped ladder

rung installed in the bracket of FIG. 11 with the plurality of cables secured via a stainless-steel tie.

[0019] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the bracket for cable management with the U-shaped ladder rung

installed in the bracket of FIG. 12 with the plurality of cables secured by a stainless-steel tie.

[0020] FIG. 14 is a right side view of the bracket for cable management with the U-shaped ladder rung

[0021] FIG. 15 is a rear view of the bracket for cable management with the U-shaped ladder rung

Detailed Description

[0022] The present invention is directed to a bracket that is securely attached to a U-shaped ladder

rung of a ladder rack.

[0023] FIGS. 1-7 illustrate the bracket 20 of the present invention. The bracket 20 includes a rung

insertion area 30 defined by two sidewalls 32, two gussets 42, and a bottom 54. Each sidewall 32

includes a top 34 and two curved arms 36. Each curved arm 36 includes an angled ramp 38 that leads

to a pointed barb 40 that extends in a direction away from the sidewall 32.

[0024] The gussets 42 include a top 44 and two sides 46. The tops 44 of the gussets 42 and the tops

34 of the sidewalls 32 are in the same plane. The gusset 42 also include angled ramps 48 that lead to

a pointed barb 50 extending from each side 46. The pointed barbs 40 extending from each sidewall

32 align with one of the pointed barbs 50 extending from the gusset 42 to form narrow slots 52. The

slots 52 are narrower than the thickness of the sidewalls 84 of the U-shaped rung 80 (see FIG. 9B)

thereby providing an interference fit with the U-shaped ladder rung 80. Once installed, the barbs 40,

50 hold the bracket 20 in place on the U-shaped ladder rung 80.

[0025] The bracket 20 also includes an upper member 60 with a first curved end 62 that extends from

the top 34 of one of the sidewalls 32, a horizontal member 64, and a downwardly extending flange 66.

The horizontal member 64 provides a tie or strap locator that receives a cushion sleeve 100 and

stainless-steel tie 110 or strap to secure the cables 90 positioned thereon. The edges of the upper

member 60 are coined or rounded to remove any sharp edges that could damages cables 90.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the U-shaped ladder rung 80 includes a top member 82 and two

sidewalls 84 extending from the top member 82 to form a U-shape. The U-shaped ladder rung 80 does

not include slots or holes in the top member 82 or in the sidewalls 84.

[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the bracket 20 is installed by holding the barbs 40, 50 against

the sidewalls 84 of the U-shaped ladder rung 80. The bracket 20 is impacted with a hammer (not

illustrated), or similar tool. The angled ramps 38, 48 above the barbs 40, 50 help locate the bracket

and reduce the installation force required. As described above, the slots 52 formed by the barbs 40,

50 of the bracket 20 are narrower than the thickness of the sidewalls 84 of the U-shaped ladder rung

80 thereby providing an interference fit with the sidewalls 84 of the ladder rung 80. Once the barbs

40, 50 are separated or opened enough to slide up the sidewalls 84 of the U-shaped ladder rung 80, the

hammer is used to tap the bracket 20 into a final position.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the upper member 60 of the bracket 20 is flush with the top 82 of the

U-shaped ladder rung 80. The height and the length of the bracket 20 can be selected based on different

manufacturing dimensions of U-shaped ladder rungs.

[0029] As illustrated in FIGS. 11-15, after the bracket 20 is secured to the U-shaped ladder rung 80,

cables 90 can be positioned on the bracket 20 and ladder rung 80. Alternatively, since the bracket 20

is positioned below the cables 90, the bracket 20 can also be installed without moving the cables 90

already positioned on a ladder rack. The cables 90 are secured to the bracket 20 by a cushion sleeve

100 and a stainless-steel tie 110 or strapping.

[0030] The bracket 20 of the present invention is used for cable management and short circuit

applications. As discussed above, the bracket 20 attaches a cable bundle 90 to a U-shaped ladder rack

80. If all three phases of AC current short out at the same time, the cables 90 repel and attract each

other with forces that can be significant. The stainless-steel tie 110 or strapping holds the cable 90

together, while the bracket 20 holds the cable 90 to the ladder rung 80.

[0031] The sections of cable 90 between the stainless-steel ties 110 or strapping expand during a short

circuit due to the forces exerted on the cables 90. As the cables 90 expand, they often contact the

ladder rungs 80 and exert a force on the brackets 20 holding the cable bundle 90 in place. The force

is mainly in the direction toward the cable bundle 90. To hold the bracket 20 in place, a force equal

and opposite in direction must be applied. Typically, this equal and opposite force would be achieved

with the use of a mechanical fastener. However, the bracket 20 of the present invention does not

require a mechanical fastener to hold it in place to create the equal and opposite force necessary for

proper performance. The bracket 20 of the present invention creates the equal and opposite force via

the reinforced barbs 40, 50. The barbs 40, 50 located on the sidewalls 32 and the gusset 42 of the

bracket 20 hold the bracket 20 in place when an upward force is applied to the upper member 60 of

the bracket 20. The barbs 40, 50 of the sidewalls 32 and the gusset 42 exert a force on the inner surface

of the U-shaped ladder rung 80 holding the bracket 20 in place. The barbs 40, 50 hold the bracket 20

in place, hands free, while the stainless-steel tie 110 or strap is being installed.

[0032] Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been

shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may

be made without departing from the teaching of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing

description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation.

The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in

their proper perspective based on the prior art.

[0033] By way of clarification and for avoidance of doubt, as used herein and except where the context

requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises"

and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additions, components, integers or steps.

Claims

Claims:

1. A bracket for securing to a U-shaped ladder rung, the bracket comprising:

a rung insertion area defined by a bottom, two sidewalls extending from the

bottom, and two gussets extending from the bottom and positioned between the sidewalls;

wherein each sidewall includes a top and two curved arms and each gusset includes a top and

two sides, wherein slots are formed between each curved arm of the sidewalls and each side of

the gusset; and

an upper member extending from the top of one of the sidewalls,

wherein the bracket is configured to receive the sidewalls of the U-shaped ladder rung in the slots, thereby securing the U-shaped ladder rung to the bracket and wherein the slots are narrower than the thickness of the sidewalls of the U-shaped ladder rung, thereby providing an interference fit with the U-shaped ladder rung.

2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein each curved arm of each sidewall includes an angled ramp that leads to a pointed barb, wherein each pointed barb extends in a direction away from the sidewall.

3. The bracket of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the gussets include angled ramps that lead to a pointed barb extending from each side.

4. The bracket of any one of the preceding claims, wherein tops of the gussets and the tops of the sidewalls are in the same plane.

5. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the slots are defined by pointed barbs extending from each sidewall and pointed barbs extending from each gusset.

6. The bracket of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper member includes a first curved end, a horizontal member, and a downwardly extending flange.

7. The bracket of claim 6, wherein edges of the upper member are rounded for preventing damage to cables secured to the horizontal member.

8. The bracket of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the horizontal member provides a tie locator for receiving a tie to secure cables positioned on the horizontal member.

9. The bracket of claim 1, wherein each curved arm of each sidewall includes an angled ramp that leads to a pointed barb, wherein each gusset includes an angled ramp that leads to a pointed barb.

10. A cable management assembly for securing cables to a U-shaped ladder rung of a ladder rack, wherein the cable management assembly comprises: the bracket of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper member of said bracket is configured to receive cables; and a metal tie arranged to wrap around the upper member and cables positioned thereon, wherein the bracket is arranged to receive the sidewalls of the ladder rung in the slots of the bracket and the metal tie is arranged to secure the cables to the bracket and the ladder rung.