Title of Invention

A CABLE GRIP FOR AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE

Abstract A cable grip has a fixed member 30 on one side of the cable path and a flexible arm 36 on the other side, with a clamping screw 40 to clamp the flexible arm against the cable. The fixed member may have ridges 32, and the flexible arm may have steps 48 so that it overlaps the cable slightly. The combination of a flexible arm with a clamp makes the grip easy to use but grips the cable securely.
Full Text "Cord Clamp"
This invention relates to electrical cable or cord grip devices for mains plugs,
sockets, or other electrical appliances, and in particular, to a clamping device which is
capable of securely gripping cables of different diameters.
Various types of cable clamping devices have been proposed previously, in order
to facilitate the wiring of electrical appliances and particularly, in order to make it easier
to insert a wire into a cord grip, whilst holding it securely against subsequent removal.
A number of such prior devices, depend upon the use of flexible arms, positioned
on one or both sides of the cable entry point, and typically, at least one of these arms
extends inwardly, i.e. towards the interior of the plug, and has a toothed surface which
engages the cord, in order to resist any outwardly directed pull. However, such devices
commonly have the shortcoming that depending upon the opening size of the entry
point, they can only be used with a limited range of cable sizes, and they are not as
secure as devices incorporating clamping screws.
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a cord grip which is capable of
securely damping cables having a wide range of diameters, whilst still allowing them to
be easily inserted into-the plug for assembly purposes.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a cord grip for an electrical appliance
comprising a cable entry path having a first, fixed abutment member on one side of the
path, and a second, flexible arm member on the opposite side of the path, which is
provided with an adjustable clamping means, to urge it in a direction towards the fixed
member, so as to clamp a cable between them.
Preferably, the flexible member comprises an arm which extends generally parallel
to the path of the cable, and has one end fixed in the appliance, whilst the other end is
free, but can be engaged by a clamping screw, to urge it towards the fixed member.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed member has a ridged or
stepped surface, with the ridges extending at right angles to the path of the cable, whilst
the flexible member has a ridged or stepped surface on which the ridges or steps extend
parallel to the path of the cable. In the way. it is possible to ensure that the cable is not
only held securely against being pulled directly out of the plug or appliance, or pushed
in. but is also secured against twisting, which'could otherwise cause the conductors to
become detached from their terminals.
Alternatively the ridges may be provided on the flexible member and the steps on
the fixed member, or one or both members may carry an arrangement of steps each of
which has a surface which is also transversely ridged
One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figures 1 to 5 are examples of various known types of electrical cord grips,
Figure 6 is a plan view of a cord grip arrangement according to the present
invention;
Figure 7 is a cross-section taken on the line A-A of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cord grip of Figure 6 and 7; and
Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 5. which are diagrammatic views of various known
types of cord grip designs, it will be seen that these generally fall into two categories: the
types shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the cable is clamped into position by means of
screws, and the type shown in Figures 3 to5. in which the clamping effect depends on
resilient arms of various configurations. In the first type, screws 2 and 4 as shown in
Figure 1 are used to tighten a semi-rigid baar 6 down onto the cable 8. to clamp it into the
entry channel, while Figure 2 shows an arrangement with a single clamping screw 10
which carries an enlarged head 12, to bear direclly on the cable
In the alternative types of arrangement, shown in Figures 3 to 5, the cable is
typically held in position by means of shaped flexible arms 14. 16 having ridged surfaces
18. 20 These engage !he cable in such a way that any attempt to pull the cable out of
the cord grip, in the direction (B) of Figure 3. flexes the arms so as to engage them more
tightly with the cable Instead of two arms, there may be a single arm 22 or 24 as shown
respectively in Figures 4 and 5. which forces the cable into engagement with an
opposed surface 26 or 28. These however do not stop the cable from being pushed in
and have limited twisting capabilities.
Whilst cord grips of the first type, including screws, have the advantage that they
hold the cable very securely, they also have the disadvantage that, in contrast to the
grips of the second type, it is usually more difficult to attach and secure the cable,
whereas, with the second type, assembly is simpler but. generally speaking, the cable is
then not quite so well secured
By contrast, as will be seen from the plan view of Figure 6. the cord grip of the
present invention combines the ease of assembly of a "flexible arm" type of clamp, with
the security of a screw fixing damp. A fixed abutment member 30 is fitted on one side of
the cable entry path, and has a ridged surface 32 facing the adjacent side of the cable
34. The ridges extend at right angles to the direction of the cable entry path, so as to
resist any tendency for the cable to be pulled out of the appliance. On the opposite side
of the cable entry path, a flexible arm 36 extends generally parallel to the path of the
cable, with its inner end 38 fixed to the interior of the appliance. A clamping screw 40 is
threaded into a fixed mounting block 42 in the appliance, and its inner end 44 bears
against the outer end of arm 36. so that when the screw is tightened, the outer end of
the arm moves to the dashed position 46 indicated in Figure 6, where it engages the
side of the cable
As best seen in Figures 7 and 8. the facing surface 48 of the arm 36 carries a
stepped format-on. with the steps extending parallel to the cable direction, so that when
the arm is moved to the engaged position as shown in Figure 6. the upper edge 50
overlaps the cable somewhat, so that the cable is held firmly in position against the
opposing ridged surface 32.
It will be appreciated that, in addition to the conventional action of the ridged
surface 32 in preventing the cable from being pulled out of the appliance, the stepped
back formation 48 of the flexible arm 36 tends to force the cable downwardly into the
entry path, as well as laterally against the ridge surface 32. This holds it very securely
against any twisting action which could otherwise result in the conductors 52 being
detached from the electrical terminals of the appliance.
Referring to Figure 9. this illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the end of
the flexible arm 36 has a stepped formation (44). in a similar way to the embodiment of
Figures 7 and 8. but in addition, the surface carries a series of transverse ridges 46
which extend parallel to the ridges 32 on the opposite, fixed abutment surface (Figure 8)
These ridges are so arranged that there is a set of ridges (46) on each of the "steps",
extending transversely to the steps, so that the cable is effectively gripped in two
directions. Again, this arrangement ensures that in the engaged position of the movable
arm 36, the upper steps 44 wHI partly overlie the cable so as to hold it more firmly, as in
the case of the Figure 8 embodiment.
Although the exemplary embodiments show the arm 36 as extending outwardly
relative to the cable entry, it could alternatively extend inwardly.
WE CLAIM
1. A cable grip for an electrical appliance comprising a cable entry path
having a first, fixed abutment member on one side of the path, and a
second, flexible arm member on the opposite side of the path, and
extending parallel to path, which is provided with an adjustable clamping
means, to urge it in a direction towards the fixed member, so as to clamp
a cable between itself and the fixed member, the fixed member and the
flexible member both being formed with transverse ridges on their
surfaces, and one of the surfaces also being stepped with the edges of
the steps extending parallel to the cable path so as to inhibit twisting of
the cable.
2. A cable grip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible member comprises
an arm which has one end fixed in the appliance, and wherein the other
end is free, but can be engaged by a clamping screw, to urge it towards
the fixed member.
3. A cable grip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the steps are so
arranged that the corresponding member partially overlaps the cable
when the grip is in the engaged position.
4. A cable grip as claimed in claim 3 wherein the steps are so arranged that
the width of the cable entry path varies progressively, from a relatively
greater width at one side of the cable, to a relatively smaller width at the
other side of the cable, so that the member carrying the steps partially
overlaps the cable when the grip is in the engaged position.
5. A cable grip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the adjustable
clamping means comprises a screw which is threaded into a fixed
mounting block.
6. A cable grip substantially as herein described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.

A cable grip has a fixed member 30 on one side of the cable path and a flexible
arm 36 on the other side, with a clamping screw 40 to clamp the flexible arm
against the cable. The fixed member may have ridges 32, and the flexible arm
may have steps 48 so that it overlaps the cable slightly. The combination of a
flexible arm with a clamp makes the grip easy to use but grips the cable
securely.

Documents:

187-kolnp-2004-abstract.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-assignment.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-claims.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-correspondence.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-description (complete).pdf

187-kolnp-2004-drawings.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-examination report.pdf

187-KOLNP-2004-FOR ALTERATION OF ENTRY IN THE PATENT REGISTER.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-form 1.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-form 18.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-form 2.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-form 26.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-form 3.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-form 5.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-form 6.pdf

187-KOLNP-2004-FORM-27-1.pdf

187-KOLNP-2004-FORM-27.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-reply to examination report.pdf

187-kolnp-2004-specification.pdf


Patent Number 236282
Indian Patent Application Number 187/KOLNP/2004
PG Journal Number 42/2009
Publication Date 16-Oct-2009
Grant Date 15-Oct-2009
Date of Filing 11-Feb-2004
Name of Patentee EATON ELECTRIC LIMITED
Applicant Address NORFOLK STREET, WORSLEY, ROAD NORTH WORSLEY, MANCHESTER M28 3ET
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 CARL DUNFORD 75 HIGHFIELD DRIVE, ROYTON, OLDHAM OL2 6AS
PCT International Classification Number H01R 13/58
PCT International Application Number PCT/GB2002/03266
PCT International Filing date 2002-07-16
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 0117656.9 2001-07-19 U.K.