Support structure for supporting a cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11754203-B2
Application number	US-202117188620-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2021
Priority date	May 25, 2016
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

A support structure is provided for supporting a cable. The support structure includes a body portion extending circumferentially about an axis. The body portion includes a first wall, a second wall extending substantially parallel to the first wall, and a third wall coupled between the first wall and the second wall. The first wall, the second wall, and the third wall define an opening extending along a circumferential length of the body portion. The body portion receives the cable within the opening. A retention structure is coupled to the first wall and projects from the first wall towards the second wall. The retention structure extends substantially parallel to the third wall. The retention structure retains the cable within the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support structure for supporting a cable, the support structure comprising:
a body portion extending circumferentially about an axis, the body portion comprising:
a first wall having a first surface and a second surface;
a second wall having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface of the second wall extends substantially parallel to the second surface of the first wall;
a third wall coupled between the first wall and the second wall and having a first surface, the first surface of the first wall, the first surface of the second wall, and the first surface of the third wall defining an opening extending along a circumferential length of the body portion, the body portion configured to receive the cable within the opening, wherein a width of the opening, measured between the first wall and the second wall, continuously varies from a top of the first wall to a bottom of the opening;
a first end; and
a second end, wherein:
the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall extend between the first end and the second end, and
the first end is spaced apart from the second end; and

a first retention structure coupled to the first wall, the first retention structure movable between a first orientation, in which the first retention structure extends substantially perpendicular to the third wall, and a second orientation, in which the first retention structure extends substantially parallel to the third wall, the first retention structure configured to retain the cable within the opening when the first retention structure is in the second orientation, wherein, in a direction of the circumferential length of the body portion, the first retention structure comprises a first planar surface facing the direction of the circumferential length and extending radially, a second planar surface facing the direction of the circumferential length and extending radially, and a third non-planar surface extending between the first planar surface and the second planar surface.

2. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein, in the first orientation, the first retention structure extends substantially parallel with the first wall.

3. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein, in the second orientation, the first retention structure extends substantially perpendicular to the first wall.

4. The support structure of claim 1 , comprising a second retention structure coupled to the second wall, the second retention structure movable between a third orientation, in which the second retention structure extends substantially perpendicular to the third wall, and a fourth orientation, in which the second retention structure extends substantially parallel to the third wall, the second retention structure configured to retain the cable within the opening when the second retention structure is in the fourth orientation.

5. The support structure of claim 4 , wherein:
the first retention structure extends along a first retention structure axis when the first retention structure is in the second orientation,
the second retention structure extends along a second retention structure axis when the second retention structure is in the fourth orientation, and
the first retention structure axis and the second retention structure axis are substantially parallel.

6. The support structure of claim 4 , wherein:
the first wall is spaced apart from the second wall by a first distance, and
when the first retention structure is in the first orientation and the second retention structure is in the third orientation, the first retention structure is spaced apart from the second retention structure by a second distance greater than or equal to the first distance.

7. The support structure of claim 4 , wherein:
when the first retention structure is in the second orientation and the second retention structure is in the fourth orientation, the first retention structure is co-planar with the second retention structure.

8. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the first retention structure is integrally formed with the first wall.

9. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the third wall defines an inner radial side of the body portion, and
the opening borders an outer radial side of the body portion.

10. The support structure of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the first retention structure facing the cable when the first retention structure is in the second orientation is planar.

11. The support structure of claim 1 , comprising a second retention structure coupled to the first wall, wherein the first retention structure faces a first direction, the second retention structure faces a second direction diametrically opposite to the first direction, and a top surface of the first wall forms a continuous arc between the first retention structure and the second retention structure.

12. A support structure for supporting a cable, the support structure comprising:
a body portion extending circumferentially about an axis, the body portion comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall extending substantially parallel to the first wall; and
a third wall coupled between the first wall and the second wall, wherein:
the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall define an opening extending along a circumferential length of the body portion,
the body portion is configured to receive the cable within the opening,
a surface of the first wall facing the opening is planar,
a surface of the second wall facing the opening is planar, and
a surface of the third wall facing the opening is non-planar; and

a first retention structure coupled to the first wall and configured to retain the cable within the opening, wherein, in a direction of the circumferential length of the body portion, the first retention structure comprises a first planar surface facing the direction of the circumferential length and extending radially, a second planar surface facing the direction of the circumferential length and extending radially, and a third non-planar surface extending between the first planar surface and the second planar surface.

13. The support structure of claim 12 , wherein the first retention structure is movable between a first orientation, in which the cable is not retained by the first retention structure, and a second orientation, in which the cable is retained by the first retention structure.

14. The support structure of claim 12 , wherein the first retention structure is integrally formed with the first wall.

15. The support structure of claim 12 , wherein:
the third wall defines an inner radial side of the body portion, and
the opening borders an outer radial side of the body portion.

16. The support structure of claim 12 , comprising a second retention structure coupled to the first wall, wherein the first retention structure faces a first direction, the second retention structure faces a second direction diametrically opposite to the first direction, and a top surface of the first wall forms a continuous arc between the first retention structure and the second retention structure.

17. The support structure of claim 12 , wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential length of the body portion, the first retention structure comprises a fourth planar surface and a fifth planar surface, and the third non-planar surface extends between the fourth planar surface and the fifth planar surface.

18. A support structure for supporting a cable, the support structure comprising:
a body portion extending circumferentially about an axis, the bo

Assignees

• Preformed Line Products Co

Inventors

• Alban Rebecca Marie
• Hanneman Andrew James
• Vargo Phillip Steven
• Maiano Bruno Aldo
• Lambert Théo Dominique

Classifications

• H02G3/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• F16G11/02 Primary

  with parts deformable to grip the cable or cables; Fastening means which engage a sleeve or the like fixed on the cable · CPC title

• F16L3/1226 Primary

  elongated supports, e.g. to support a curved pipe · CPC title

• H02G3/0437

  Channels · CPC title

• F16G11/146

  Eyes · CPC title