Cable Clip

Abstract

A cable clip comprises a body providing a cable receiving portion at one end thereof and a pin extending away from a longitudinal axis of the body. The cable receiving portion is v-shaped in cross-

Claims

1. A cable clip comprising a body and a pin, the body having a longitudinal axis and providing a first cable receiving portion at one end thereof, and the pin extending in a direction away from the longitudinal axis of the body and at substantially 90 degrees therefrom, wherein the body includes a domed portion having a center, the pin extending from the center of the domed portion, wherein the pin is fixed to the domed portion, wherein the cable receiving portion presents an open side, and wherein the open side of the cable receiving portion faces in the same direction as the pin.

2. A cable clip according to claim 1, wherein the cable receiving portion is v-shaped in cross-section.

3. A cable clip according to claim 2, wherein an included angle of the cable receiving portion is obtuse.

4. A cable clip according to claim 2, wherein a v-shape of the cable receiving portion is formed by a first side and a second side, and wherein the first side distal from the pin is shorter than the second side proximate the pin.

5. A cable clip according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed of a metallic material.

6. A cable clip according to claim 1, wherein the body is pressed from a single piece of metal.

7. A cable clip according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a resilient material.

8. A cable clip according to claim 1, further comprising a second cable receiving portions.

9. A cable clip according to claim 8, wherein the first and second cable receiving portions are situated on opposing sides of the pin.

10. A cable clip according to claim 1, wherein the pin is welded to the body.

11. A cable clip according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed of a plastic& material.

12. A cable clip according to claim 1, wherein the pin is formed of metal and is molded into the body during manufacture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0040] FIGS. 1 shows a schematic representation and a side view of a cable clip;

[0041] FIGS. 2 shows a schematic representation and a side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, with the apex of the v-shaped grip portion set at different angles;

[0042] FIG. 3a is side view of an embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 3b is a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3a;

[0044] FIG. 3c is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b in use;

[0045] FIGS. 4a to 4f illustrate perspective, end, side and plan views of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; and

[0047] FIG. 6 illustrates another further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0048] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 show a clip 1, 1′ having a grip portion 2, 2′ with a V shaped profile. The V shaped profile allows a user to insert a pin 3, 3′ that extends from a planar region 4, 4′ of clip 1, 1′ into a fold between for example a carpet and skirting board such that the lower V face of the clip may be inserted or pivoted progressively into the fold, further helping to hold the clip in place.

[0049] This allows a user to ensure that the clip will be somewhat hidden and in attachment should be at least partly held in place as the user hammers or pushes it in.

[0050] FIGS. 3a to 3c illustrate another embodiment of the invention. The cable clip 10 comprises a body including a cable grip portion 11 and pin 13 extending from a domed portion 14 of the body. The domed portion 14 contributes to the strength of the clip 10 in the region of the pin 13. The cable clip 10 may be used in the manner of a drawing pin. The domed portion 14 assists in directing the force exerted thereon by a user along the axis of the pin 13.

[0051] The cable grip portion 11 is v shaped in cross-section with the open side 12 of the v facing in the same direction as the free end of the pin 13. It can be seen from FIG. 3a that the included angle 0 is obtuse and approximately 120 degrees. The reason for so forming the v-shaped grip portion is explained in relation to FIG. 3c.

[0052] Whilst the clip 10 may be used in many applications, it is particularly useful for laying telephone wires. As can be seen from FIG. 3c, a telephone wire 15 is secured against a skirting board 16 only fractionally above the level of the surface of a carpet 17. The obtuse angle 0 allows the free end of the cable grip portion 11 to be inserted between the surface of the skirting board and the edge of the carpet.

[0053] In use the workman or DIYer simply lays out the cable, takes a number of cable clips 10 and one at a time places the cable grip portion 11 over the cable, pushes the grip portion 11 between the skirting and carpet and presses the pin 13 into the skirting board 16. All this can be done without the need for tools.

[0054] Of course larger versions may be formed and may require a hammer to knock the pin into the wood, or the material into which the pin 13 is to be inserted may be particularly hard and therefore a hammer may be required.

[0055] FIGS. 4a to 4d illustrate an alternative embodiment of the clip 10′. The cable grip portion 11′ is v-shaped. The grip portion 11′ has two sides 11a′, 11b′. The side 11a′ is shorter than the side 11b′. Hence, the free edge 11a″ of the side 11a′ lies above the plane x-x of the underside of the domed portion 14′. The grip portion 11′ and preferably the whole clip 10′, is formed of a resilient material, for example a metal such as brass or steel. The longitudinal axis passing through the grip portion 11′ and the domed portion 14′ is indicated as Y-Y in FIG. 4a.

[0056] The feature of the side 11a′ being shorter than the side 11b′ and the clip being made of a resilient material each enable different sized cables to be held in the grip portion 11′ to secure cables of differing diameters. Incorporating both these features into a clip further enhances the range of sizes of cable which may be secured by the clip. FIGS. 4c, 4e and 4f each show different sizes of cable 15′, 15a′, 15c′ held in the grip portion. Referring to FIGS. 4c and 4f, it can be seen that the underside of the cable 15′ lies on the plane x-x, that is when the pin 13 13′ is pressed into a skirting board, the underside of the domed portion 14′ and the underside of the cable 15′ will both engage the surface of the skirting board.

[0057] When the clip 10′ is used to attach a larger diameter cable to an object such as a skirting board, when the pin 13′ is pressed into the skirting, the resilience of the clip 10′ allows the free edge 11a″ of the side 11a′ to be lifted away from the plane x-x, thereby allowing a larger diameter cable to be gripped by the same clip 10′.

[0058] The dome shape of the domed portion is preferably stamped into the material from which the clip 10′ is formed.

[0059] The pin 13′ is preferably attached the dome using the same technique as used in drawing pins to attach the pin to the head 14′.

[0060] Alternatively, the pin may be pressed out of the head 14′.

[0061] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a clip 10″ providing two grip portions 11″, one to either side of the pin 13″, which itself extends from domed portion 14″.

[0062] FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the cable clip 20 of the invention in which the pin 23″ and domed head 24″ are comprised in one part, namely a drawing pin, and the grip portion 21″ is comprised in another part. The grip portion 21″ includes a pin receiving hole 23a. To use the cable grip 20 the open side 22 of the grip portion is placed over a cable, and the grip portion 21″ presented up to a surface, such as that of a skirting board. The pin 23″ is aligned with hole 23a. The user presses on the domed portion 24′, with a finger or thumb for example, to press the pin 23″ into the surface thereby securing the cable to the surface with the cable grip 20.