Patent Application
20090289152
The field of the invention relates to devices and methods for suspending telecommunication cables, power cables, and other items.
Telecommunication and power cables are present and used in most, if not all, commercial buildings today. Of course, such cables are a necessity to bring power to a building, and enable communication with other parties outside the building. Indeed, they are a basic necessity for any commercial building.
It is generally preferred to store telecommunication and power cables, or a substantial portion thereof, outside the view of the casual observer. For example, it is commonplace to store and suspend telecommunication and power cables within the ceiling of a building, such that the cables are not visible. This serves at least two purposes. First, it reduces the possibility of a particular cable, accidentally or purposely, being damaged or severed. Second, it creates a more aesthetically pleasing environment, when such cables are not visible. Importantly, however, these cables must still be readily accessible to maintenance personnel. In other words, the cables should not be contained in a device which prevents easy access to the same by maintenance personnel.
In many cases, telecommunication and power cables have been suspended within a ceiling (or other areas) of a building by placing the cables on a tray (or other device) that is positioned within the ceiling and attached to one or more walls. More particularly, a series of brackets or other devices are routinely attached to one or more walls using, for example, screws, nails, and other mechanical attachment means. The brackets may then hold the cables themselves, or otherwise support a tray or other surface that is capable of suspending and holding the cables.
While the foregoing approach may be effective to suspend a plurality of cables within a ceiling, it suffers from several drawbacks. Specifically, the need to attach the series of brackets or other devices to a wall is labor intensive. Furthermore, since the brackets or other devices are most often attached vis-à-vis a screw, nail, or other attachment means, this approach can be destructive to the walls of a building. Accordingly, a need exists for improved devices and methods for suspending telecommunication cables, power cables, and other items within a building.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, devices for supporting an article are provided. The article may be, for example, one or more telecommunication and/or power cables. According to certain embodiments, the devices comprise a support arm that is adapted to support the article. The support arm is preferably reversibly and adjustably connected to a vertical support. As described herein, the vertical support rests substantially adjacent to a first side of a wall. The apparatus further comprises a horizontal support, which makes contact with at least a portion of the top side of the wall. This horizontal support is, preferably, connected to or integrally formed with the vertical support. In certain embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a second vertical support, which rests substantially adjacent to a second side of the wall, i.e., the other side of the wall. The second vertical support may be connected to or integrally formed with the horizontal support.
According to another aspect of the present invention, methods for suspending and holding an article near a top side of a wall are provided. In certain embodiments of the invention, the methods generally comprise attaching a support arm to a vertical support. The support arm may be adapted to hold the article, such as one or more telecommunication cables, power cables, or a combination thereof. The invention provides that the vertical support will, preferably, rest substantially adjacent to a first side of the wall. Next, a horizontal support may be placed on the top side of the wall. This horizontal support is preferably connected to or integrally formed with the vertical support. A second vertical support may also, optionally, be placed substantially adjacent to a second side of the wall. The second vertical support may be connected to or integrally formed with the horizontal support. A second support arm may, optionally, be connected to or integrally formed with the second vertical support. Finally, the article may be placed, directly or indirectly, on the first and/or second support arm.
According to additional aspects of the present invention, kits are provided that may be used to construct the devices and/or carry out the methods described herein.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, devices for supporting an article are provided. The article may be, for example, one or more telecommunication and/or power cables. The devices are preferably used to hold and suspend the article within the ceiling of a building, or otherwise near the top side of a wall (which may or may not be located above a ceiling line). The invention provides that a plurality of the devices may be attached to the top side of a wall, such that the devices will collectively serve to support and suspend the cables near the top side of the wall. The invention further provides that the plurality of devices are, preferably, attached to the top side of a wall using a non-destructible means. More particularly, the plurality of devices are, preferably, attached to the top side of a wall using methods that do not require the use of screws, nails, adhesives, or other items that are inserted into the wall itself. In certain preferred embodiments, as described herein, the plurality of devices are attached to the top side of a wall, in a stable manner, through a gravity force, a clamping force imparted by such devices, or a combination thereof.
According to certain embodiments, and referring to
As used herein, the phrase “rests substantially adjacent to,” and similar phrases, generally means that a surface, or portion thereof, of a vertical support (e.g., vertical support 4 or the second vertical support 16) makes contact with a side of the wall 10. In certain embodiments, a significant portion of a vertical support 4,16 will make contact with a side 8,18 of the wall 10, such that it rests substantially adjacent to the wall 10.
The invention provides that the various components of the devices described herein are adjustable, in order to achieve a device of the desired dimensions and/or to accommodate the size and dimension of a particular wall. More specifically, for example, and referring to
In certain additional embodiments, referring to
The invention provides that the shape and configuration of the first 22 and second 24 slidably engageable parts may vary. In addition, the invention may employ more than two slidably engageable parts. For example, referring to
While the shape and configuration of the first 22, second 24, and/or third 42 slidably engageable parts may vary, it is preferred that such parts are generally capable of being reversibly connected to each other, as described herein, at different locations along the primary axis 20 of each part, such that the total length of the vertical support 4,16 may be adjusted as desired.
According to further embodiments, the invention provides that the horizontal support 12 comprises a first 32 and second 34 slidably engageable part, which together comprise the horizontal support 12. The first 32 and second 34 slidably engageable part may be reversibly connected to any of a plurality of positions along a primary axis 36 thereof (
The invention further provides that the support arm 2 may be adjustably and reversibly connected to the vertical support 4,16 at any of various locations along the primary axis 20 thereof. For example, a first end of the support arm 2 may be adjustably and reversibly connected to the vertical support 4,16, such that a majority of the support arm 46 (
Alternatively, for example, and referring to
The invention provides that the support arm 2 may further comprise a tray, which is adapted to support the article. The tray may be permanently or reversibly attached to the support arms 2 of a series of devices using any suitable means. For example, a tray may be attached to a plurality of support arms 2 using a screw/bolt combination (or other mechanical fasteners), whereby a screw may be disposed through corresponding apertures located in the tray and support arm 2 and bolted together.
In other embodiments, the support arm 2 may include a plurality of engaging elements, which are capable of engaging and receiving a corresponding element located on a bottom side of a tray, such that the tray may be securely attached to the support arm 2 (and, in certain embodiments, without the use of a screw/bolt combination or other fasteners). The shape, size, and configuration of the engaging elements may vary, so long as a correspondingly configured engaging element is located on a bottom side of a tray. Non-limiting examples of such engaging elements 50a-50d are shown in
The devices described herein may be constructed of any suitable material. For example, the devices may be constructed of stainless steel, aluminum, other metals or alloys, plastics or other polymers, or combinations of the foregoing. In addition, although certain embodiments of the present invention provide that the devices described herein may be secured to a wall without screws, nails, adhesives, or other fastening means that may damage a wall, the invention provides that such fastening means may, optionally, be used to further secure the devices to a wall.
According to yet further embodiments of the present invention, methods for suspending and holding an article near a top side of a wall are provided. In certain embodiments of the invention, the methods generally comprise attaching a series of the devices described herein to a top side of a wall, which comprise one or more support arms, and placing the article on the support arms (or on a tray that is supported by the plurality of support arms). The article may be one or more telecommunication cables, power cables, or a combination thereof. As described above, the invention provides that the devices will comprise a horizontal support, one or more vertical supports, and one or more support arms, with at least one vertical support, preferably, positioned such that it rests substantially adjacent to a first side of a wall. The horizontal support may be placed on the top side of the wall. This horizontal support is preferably connected to or integrally formed with the vertical support. A second vertical support may, optionally, also be placed substantially adjacent to a second side of the wall. The second vertical support may be connected to or integrally formed with the horizontal support.
The total length of the horizontal support 12 will preferably be adjusted to accommodate the width of the top side 38 of the wall 10. As described above, in certain embodiments, the total width of the horizontal support 12 may be adjusted by sliding a first 32 and second 34 slidably engageable part along the primary axis 36 thereof until the desired total length of the horizontal support 12 is achieved, at which point the first 32 and second 34 slidably engageable part may be reversibly connected to each other as described herein. In certain embodiments, the total length of the horizontal support 12 may be adjusted after the horizontal support 12 is placed on the top side 38 of the wall 10, such that the length of the horizontal support 12 may be adjusted to impart a clamping force on the wall (to further secure the device thereto). Finally, a tray may optionally be attached to the support arms of the plurality of devices. The article may then be placed on the plurality of support arms (or tray).
According to additional aspects of the present invention, kits are provided that may be used to construct the devices and/or carry out the methods described herein. For example, a kit encompassed by the present invention may comprise a plurality of the devices described herein (and/or components thereof), such that a series of the devices may be applied to a wall, and used to suspend cables.
Although certain example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers all methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
