Cable management device

Abstract

A cable management device (200) for mounting on a rivet racking 101 having a plurality of mounting apertures (102), the cable management device comprising: a body (202) comprising: a securing means (2

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cable management device for mounting on a rivet racking having mounting apertures. BACKGROUND

[0002] Rivet racking (also known as rivet storage shelves, rivet stands, or metal rivet stands) are a known apparatus which act as a storage solution, the rivet racking having large, open bays making it a useful shelving and racking solution for storing large and bulky products. A schematic of a known rivet racking 100 including its frame 101, the frame 101 comprising apertures 102, is shown in Figure 1. There is also depicted (right-hand-side of image) a closer (zoomed-in) view of the frame 101 of the rivet racking 100 including apertures 102 for receiving rivet fixings of shelf support beams. The apertures of Figure 1 are keyhole apertures, however it is understood that other types of apertures may be included.

[0003] It is sometimes required to run cables or piping (herein a cable will refer to any cable, pipe, piping, or any elongated wire-like structure which requires management) around the rivet racking. A well-known method of managing these cables is to drill a hole into the metal rivet stands in order to fit cable brackets. However, drilling holes into the rivet racking to fix brackets is an unintuitive process, which hinders the ease of use and cable management product variety, sometimes leading to using cable management products / methods which are not fit for purpose. Furthermore, drilling into the rivet racking can lead to the racking having a weakened structure, which compromises the stability and integrity of the rivet racking for holding and storing large and bulky products.

[0004] Therefore, a solution is required to deal with these technical disadvantages and / or to provide improvements generally. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cable management device for mounting on a rivet racking with a plurality of mounting apertures. The cable management device comprises a body comprising securing means configured to be mounted on the rivet racking via the mounting apertures. The body further includes one or more slots formed in the body. The device further includes one or more cable management brackets for supporting a cable, the one or more cable management brackets having attachment means configured to be received in the one or more slots of the body to secure said one or more the cable management brackets to the body. The attachments means are any suitable fixing element that is able to secure the bracket to the body when inserted into a slot. The term cable is used broadly to mean electrical cables, wires, pipes, tubes, or other conduits.

[0006] Advantageously, this allows the cables to be secured to the rivet racking by providing a mount that utilises the mounting apertures of the rivet racking. The mount supports the cable management brackets and by securing the mount to the mounting apertures it is not necessary to drill into the frame members of the rivet racking, thereby preventing the weakening of the structure of the rivet racking that would result from drilling, leading to a more stable rivet racking for holding and storing large and bulky products. Securing the mount to the mounting apertures of the rivet racking allows the cables to be secured or mounted to the rivet racking in a simple and intuitive manner. The cable management bracket is an intermediate component that fixes the cables to the body. The cable management bracket may comprise connection means for securing the cable to the bracket, which may be a push fit connection such as a c-clip, a strap, locking arm, mounting aperture through which the cable is threaded, or any other suitable means. The term ‘rivet racking’ is used generally herein to mean any racking, shelving or similar structure having apertures intended in normal use for securing component parts of the structure together and / or for securing items to the structure.

[0007] In an embodiment, the body may be a plate. The plate may be a rectangular polyhedron with first and second parallel spaced faces. The first face is configured to face the rivet racking and the second face configured to face away from the rivet racking. Preferably the securing means is provided on the first face and the one or more slots accessed via the outwardly facing second face. Preferably the slots extend through the body from the second face to the first face.

[0008] In an embodiment, the securing means may be insertable into the apertures of the rivet racking. Advantageously, this provides a simple solution to securing the device to the rivet racking. The racking has keyhole shaped apertures having an opening with a first diameter and a slot extending from the opening having a second diameter that is less than the diameter of the opening. The securing means includes a securing plate spaced from the body by an arm, stem or similar bridging member. The diameter of the stem is less than the diameter of the slot such that it may slide within the slot. The diameter of the securing plate is less than the diameter of the opening such that it may be inserted into the opening and greater than the diameter of the slot, such that it cannot be removed when the stem has been moved downwardly into the slot. The securing plate defines an engagement element that engages the rear surface of the rivet racking to prevent removal.

[0009] In an embodiment, the securing means may be shaped so that once inserted into the apertures of the rivet racking in a first insertion direction it engages side walls of the rivet racking apertures, that is to say the region of the racking frame surrounding the aperture, to resist removal of the cable management device from the aperture in a second direction. This provides a strong and secure mounting of the device onto the rivet racking.

[0010] The securing means may have an upper end and a lower end and comprise a protrusion or locking tab extending from the upper end that is arranged to engage an upper part of the aperture when the securing means is receive therein to resist removal of the upper part of the securing means from the aperture. Engagement of the locking tab with the upper end of the aperture resists pivoting of the upper part of the securing means away from the rivet racking. Alternatively, or in addition, the locking tab prevents the securing means from slidingly upwardly when engaged the upper edge of aperture, thereby preventing removal. The tab is preferably flexible and may be flexed away from the upper edge of the aperture, for example using a release tool, to allow the securing means to slide upwardly for removal from the aperture.

[0011] The securing means may comprise a lower locking part that slides and seats at the lower end of the mounting aperture and engages the region of the racking frame surrounding the aperture, and an upper locking part longitudinally spaced above the lower locking part which extends into the aperture and is configured to engage the top of the aperture i.e. the region of the racking frame immediately above the upper edge of the aperture, to resist removal of the cable management device from the aperture. The upper locking part prevents the body from pivoting downwardly away from the racking frame about the lower locking part.

[0012] The cable management device may comprise two securing means configured to engage two apertures of the rivet racking. The two securing means are spaced on the body by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the mounting apertures of the racking frame. Advantageously, this provides a stronger securement of the device to the rivet racking; and it may be adapted for a larger cable management device, capable of attaching more cable management brackets.

[0013] The cable management brackets may include attachment means that includes a locking portion that is configured for insertion into the one or more slots in a first direction and to resist removal from the slot in a second direction. The attachment means may comprise a firtree or arrowhead mount attachment configured to allow insertion of the brackets into the one or more slots and to resist removal of the brackets from the one or more slots. Advantageously, this enables the brackets to be easily and readily attached to the mount and resists removal.

[0014] The attachment means and slots are preferably configured such that the cable management brackets are slidable within the slots to enable the position of the cable management brackets along the slots to be adjusted.

[0015] The one or more slots may be elongated apertures which extend across the body parallel to the first and second surfaces. The elongate slots allow the cable management brackets to be moved across the surface of the body once the cable management brackets are attached to the body by sliding within the slots. This allows the cable management brackets to be secured in a plurality of mounting positions relative to the body and for the position to be readily adjusted, thereby providing a convenient means of selecting and adjusting the position of the brackets to a suitable and convenient location for receiving the cables.

[0016] The one or more slots extend in vertical and / or horizontal directions of the surface of the body. Advantageously, this may allow cable management brackets to engage and attach with cables running in the vertical and / or horizontal directions and align the cable management brackets accordingly.

[0017] The one or more slots may further comprise a cable management bracket entrance portion configured to allow the insertion and removal of the cable management brackets, wherein the entrance portion has a greater diameter than a non-entrance portion of the one or more slots. Advantageously, this may allow easy insertion of the cable management brackets into the one or more slots of the cable management device. Preferably, the one or more slots comprise a cable management bracket opening configured to allow the insertion and removal of the attachment means of the cable management brackets, the opening having a greater diameter than the slots, thereby enabling easy insertion and removal of the attachment means.

[0018] The cable management bracket may comprise connection means for securing the cable to the bracket, which may be a push fit connection such as a c-clip, cable clip, a strap, locking arm, mounting aperture through which the cable is threaded, or any other suitable means.

[0019] The one or more cable management brackets may be rotatable within the respective slot within which they are inserted.

[0020] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a system comprising the cable management device of the first aspect and / or its associated embodiments, and further comprising a rivet racking with apertures.

[0021] In another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method of securing cables to racking having a plurality of mounting apertures, the method comprising the steps of providing a cable management device as described above; securing the body of the device to the racking by locating the securing means within an aperture of the racking; connecting a cable management bracket to the body by inserting the attachment means into a slot of the body; and securing a cable to the cable management bracket. The cable management bracket may comprise connection means for securing the cable to the bracket, which may be a push fit connection such as a c-clip, a strap, locking arm, mounting aperture through which the cable is threaded, or any other suitable means. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1A and 1B depict rivet racking according to the prior art; Figure 2a depicts a front view of a first embodiment of a cable management device, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 2b depicts a front view of a first embodiment of a cable management device including an attached cable management bracket, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 3a depicts a front view of the first embodiment of the cable management device attached to a rivet racking, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 3b depicts a back view of the first embodiment of the cable management device attached to a rivet racking, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 4 depicts a front view of the first embodiment of the cable management device attached to a rivet racking with attached cable management brackets attached to cables, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 5 depicts a front view of a second embodiment of a cable management device, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 6a depicts a front view of the second embodiment of the cable management device attached to a rivet racking, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 6b depicts a back view of the second embodiment of the cable management device attached to a rivet racking, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 7 depicts a front view of the second embodiment of the cable management device attached to a rivet racking, with an attached rotatable arm, in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure; DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0023] With reference to Figure 2a, there is depicted a cable management device 200 in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure as viewed from the front. The cable management device 200 comprises a body 202, the body 202 comprising several slots 206 (In Figures 2a, 2b, 3a and 4 there are depicted five slots, however any number of slots may be included). The slots 206 are suitable for receiving and retaining cable management brackets 212 (as depicted in Figure 2b). The slots 206 are depicted as each having a same diameter / cable bracket entrance width over the entirety of the slots 206, however alternative examples are described below in relation to Figure 7. The slots 206 comprise linear portions (i.e. the straight sections) and non-linear portions (i.e. the curving sections which go around corners). Some of the slots 206 are arranged parallel to one another. Some other of the slots 206 have a first linear section arranged lengthwise along to the body which is oriented in a vertical direction when in use, a second linear section which is arranged transversely across the body that is oriented in a horizontal direction when in use, and non-linear sections bridging the first and second linear sections.

[0024] Figure 2a further depicts that the cable management device 200 comprises two securing means 204 configured to be mountable on the rivet racking 100 via the apertures 102. Figures 2a and 2b show two securing means 204, each of which are configured to be mountable on the rivet racking 100 via the apertures 102 of the rivet racking 100 (in two separate apertures 102). The two securing means 204 and transversely aligned and longitudinally spaced from each other on the body 202.

[0025] With reference to Figure 2b, there is depicted the cable management device 200 of Figure 2a with an attached cable management bracket 212received within the upper slot 206. It can be seen from Figure 2b that the cable management bracket 212 is moveable when within the slot 206 to different positions, as depicted by the arrows. Figure 2b depicts an example cable management bracket 212 within the topmost slot 206 of the device 200. The bracket 212 is moveable within this slot 206 from a first linear portion (on the left) of the body 202, around a non-linear portion to a second linear portion, around a further non-linear portion and to a third linear portion (on the right of Figure 2b), the third linear portion being parallel to the first linear portion, along a substantially u-shaped path. The cable management bracket 212 includes a fixing portion that is inserted into the slot 206 and a connector portion that secures to the cable. The connector portion is a c-clip that allows a push fit mounting of the cable to the cable management bracket 212, as described further below.

[0026] With reference to Figure 3a, there is depicted an exemplary front-view 300 of a cable management device 200, the same cable management device 200 as depicted in Figure 2a, when attached to a rivet racking 100 via the apertures 102 of the rivet racking 100. Figure 3a shows the frame 101 and the apertures 102 of the rivet racking 100, and the cable management device 200 is shown attached to the rivet racking 100.

[0027] With reference to Figure 3b, there is depicted an exemplary rear view 310 (from behind the rivet racking 100) of the cable management device 200 when attached to a rivet racking 100 via the apertures 102. There is shown two securing means 204 inserted and attached to two apertures 102 of the rivet racking 100. Each of the two securing means shown in Figure 3b comprises a wedge (or spade) shaped lower section 314. When inserted into the keyhole shaped apertures 204, the wedge shaped lower section 314 engages side walls of the rivet racking 100 (in particular, it engages the frame 101 of the rivet racking 100). The wedge shaped lower section 314 is configured to resist removal of the cable management device 200 from the apertures 102 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the aperture.

[0028] The top-most securing means 204 comprises a protrusion or tab 312 which extends into the aperture 102 and is configured to engage the top of the aperture 102 to resist removal of the cable management device 200 from the aperture 102. Specifically, any lifting motion of the cable management device 200 will be resisted. To detach the cable management device 200 from the rivet racking 100, it is required that the wedge shaped lower section 314 is lifted up into the larger diameter (topmost) section of the keyhole shaped aperture 102 in order to not meet resistance from the frame 101 of the rivet racking 100. The protrusion 312 resists this motion by protruding through the aperture 102 and engaging the top-most section of the aperture side-wall (i.e. the frame 101). To remove the cable management device the tab is flexed to a release position away from engagement with the upper end of the aperture to allow the cable management device to be slid upwardly.

[0029] With reference to Figure 4, there is depicted another exemplary view 400 of the cable management device 200 attached to the rivet racking 100, comprising cable management brackets 212. It is seen that there are three cable management brackets 212, and in particular there are two c-shaped brackets holding a first cable (herein the terms cable and pipe are used synonymously, as described above) and one alternative cable management bracket design holding a second cable. The cable management brackets 212 are holding / gripping pipes 402 allowing for efficient cable management, using a re-useable implement (the cable management brackets) which can be repositioned as required.

[0030] With reference to Figure 5, there is depicted an alternative exemplary design 500 of the cable management device 200. It can be seen that the cable management product of Figure 5 comprises a circular body 202; curved slots 206 concentrically arranged with each other and the body 202. The slots 206 are radially aligned and interspaced by bridging portions. A securing means 204 is centrally arranged .

[0031] With reference to Figure 6a, there is depicted an exemplary view 600 of a plurality of the alternative design 500 of the cable management device 200, when mounted onto the rivet racking 100.

[0032] With reference to Figure 6b, there is depicted an exemplary rear-view 610 of the alternative design 500 of the cable management device 200. Figure 6b depicts the one securing means 204 of the alternative design 500 when attached to the rivet racking 100 with the lower locking element 204b at the lower end of the slot of the aperture. The securing means 204 is the same as is described in relation to Figure 3b (in particular, in relation to the top-most securing means shown in Figure 3b). The locking tab 204a can be seen in engagement with the upper end of the aperture.

[0033] With reference to Figure 7, there is depicted an exemplary view 700 of a cable management device 200 comprising a rotating arm 702 (a type of cable management bracket 212). Each of the slots 206 further comprise a cable management bracket entrance portion 706. The cable management bracket entrance portion 706 is configured to allow the insertion and removal of the cable management brackets, wherein the entrance portion 706 has a greater diameter / entrance width than a non-entrance portion of the one or more slots, allowing for an alternative means of inserting and removing a cable management bracket in the cable management device 200. The cable management bracket 702 is inserted or removed at the entrance portion / opening 706 and then slid into position along the slot.

[0034] Figure 7 further discloses a cable management bracket in the form of a rotatable arm 702 having a slot 704 at a distal end for receiving a cable managamet bracket. The rotatable arm 702 includes attachment means similar to the attachment means of the mounting brackets, that are receivable in the slots 206 of the body 202. The rotatable arm 702 is configured to rotate while inserted in the respective slots 206 and is also able to slide along the slot similarly to the mounting brackets. In this way, the mounting position for the cable receiving bracket defined by the slot 704 of the arm can be repositioned by sliding the arm 702 along the slot 206 and by rotating the arm 702 through 360 degrees, enabling the mounting position to be moves radially inwardly and outwardly of the circular path of the slots 206.

[0035] Although not shown in Figures 2-7, the cable management bracket 212 comprises an attachment means for the one or more slots. An example of an attachment means is given below.

[0036] It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are given by way of example only, and that various modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0037] For example, in use the body 202 of the cable management device 200 may be made from a plastic (for example a plastic mould may be used to construct the body 202 of the device 200). Although the cable management device 200 depicted in Figures 2-7 has more than one slot, the device 200 may comprise one slot 206 or more than one slot 206. In relation to the device 200 depicted in Figures 2-4, the two securing means 204 are mounted in use into different apertures of the same rivet racking 100.

[0038] In use, there may be one cable management bracket 212 inserted into each slot 206 of the one or more slots 206, or more than one cable management bracket 212 may be inserted into each of the slots 206. Various cable management brackets may be used in any of the cable management products 200, including but not limited to a C-shaped bracket, a cable clip, a rotatable arm or a mount for cables. As depicted in Figure 2b, the cable management brackets 212 may be moveable when attached to the cable management device 200 via the slots 206. In use, the one or more slots 206 may allow a more precise placement / positioning of the brackets 212, depending on a preferred position of the bracket 212, by guiding them along the path of the slots 212 in the device 200.

[0039] The cable management bracket 212, for example depicted in Figure 2b, has an attachment means which may comprise a firtree mount attachment, where the firtree mount attachment is shaped to provide a secure grip when inserted into the one or more slots 206. The firtree attachment means is shaped like a jagged fir-tree which provide low frictional resistance when the cable management bracket 212 is being inserted into the slots 206, but which provide a higher resistance when the cable management bracket 212 is being removed from the slots 206. [0040 In use, and as depicted in Figure 2b, the cable management brackets 212 could be moved, when inserted into the one or more slots 206, from a vertical direction on a first side of the product, to a horizontal direction and to a vertical direction again on another side of the product, depending on the shape / design of the one or more slots 206 in the body 202 of the cable management device 200.

[0041] In relation to Figure 3b (and Figure 6b), the wedge shaped lower section 314 engages the side walls to resist removal of the cable management device 200. However, other designs may be used which also achieve this function. For example, a design which resists removal of the cable management device 200 from the apertures 102 of the rivet racking 100 may be used instead of the wedge shaped lower section 314. For example, any securing means which is shaped so that once inserted into the apertures 102 of the rivet racking 100 it engages side walls of the rivet racking apertures 102 to resist removal of the cable management device 200 from the aperture 102.

[0042] The protrusion 312 (which may also be called an engagement peg) of Figure 3b extends into the aperture and is configured to engage the top of the aperture to resist removal of the cable management product from the aperture. In use, to remove the cable management device 200 of Figures 2-7 from the rivet racking a significant force is required to deform the body 202 of the cable management device 200 so that the protrusion 312 no longer extends into the aperture 102. Once the protrusion 312 has been removed from the aperture 102 and no longer abuts the top of the aperture 102 then the device 200 may be lifted until the wedge shaped lower section 314 no longer engages the side walls of the aperture 102, and the device 200 can then be removed from the rivet racking 100. An opposite process is performed to attach the cable management device 200 to the rivet racking 100.

[0043] In relation to Figure 4, although this depicts the management of piping using the cable management brackets 212 of the device 200, it is understood that a cable, pipe, tube, or any elongated wire-like structure which requires management may be used.

[0044] In relation to Figure 7, a cable management bracket entrance portion 706 is described. In use, the cable management bracket entrance portion 706 could be used with any design of cable management device 200. Furthermore, a cable management device 200 may use a combination of the standard slots with a single diameter / entrance width, as described in relation to Figure 2a, and slots with the cable management bracket entrance portion 706, as described in relation to Figure 7.

Claims

1. A cable management device for mounting on a rivet racking having a plurality of mounting apertures; the cable management device comprising:a body comprising a securing means configured to mount the body on the rivet racking via the mounting apertures, and one or more slots formed in the body; andone or more cable management brackets for supporting a cable, the one or more cable management brackets having attachment means configured to be received in the one or more slots of the body to secure said one or more cable management brackets to the body; whereinthe attachment means and slots are configured such that the attachment means are slidable within the slots to enable the position of the cable management brackets along the slots to be adjusted.

2. The cable management device of claim 1, wherein the body is a plate.

3. The cable management device of claim 2, wherein the plate comprises a firstface configured to face the rivet racking and a second face configured to face away from the rivet racking and the securing means is arranged on the first face and the one or more slots are on the second face.

4. The cable management device of any preceding claim, wherein the securing means is configured to be insertable into the apertures of the rivet racking and comprises an engagement element that prevents release once inserted.

5. The cable management device of any preceding claim, wherein the securing means includes an engagement element and is shaped such that once inserted into the apertures of the rivet racking the engagement element engages side walls of the rivet racking apertures to resist removal of the securing means from the aperture.

6. The cable management device of any preceding claim, wherein the securing means has an upper end and a lower end and comprises a locking tab extending from the upper end that is arranged to engage an upper part of the aperture whenthe securing means is received therein to resist removal of the upper part of the securing means from the aperture.

7. The cable management device of any preceding claim, wherein the cable management device comprises two securing means configured to engage two corresponding apertures of the rivet racking.

8. The cable management device of claim 1 wherein the attachment means are configured to be inserted into the slots in a first direction and to engage with the body when so inserted to prevent removal of cable management bracket from the slot in a second direction.

9. The cable management device of claim 8 wherein the attachment means is an arrowhead or firtree mount attachment configured to allow insertion of the brackets into the one or more slots and to resist removal of the brackets from the one or more slots.

10. The cable management device of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more slots further comprise a cable management bracket opening configured to allow the insertion and removal of the attachment means of the cable management brackets, the opening having a greater diameter than the slots.

11. The cable management device of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more cable management brackets include a cable connector for securing a cable to the cable management bracket.

12. The cable management device of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more cable management brackets are rotatable within the respective slot within which they are inserted.

13. A cable management system comprising rivet racking having a plurality of mounting apertures, and one or more cable management devices according to any preceding claim.

14. The cable management system according to claim 13 wherein the apertures of the rivet racking are keyhole shaped.

15. The cable management system according to claim 13 or 14 further 5 comprising an intermediate mounting arm having an attachment means configured to be received in the one or more slots of the body to secure said arm to the body and an aperture configured to receive the attachment means of a mounting bracket, wherein the arm is rotatable when received within the one or more slots of the body.10 16. A method of securing cables to racking having a plurality of mountingapertures, the method comprising:providing a cable management device according to any one of claims 1 to 12;securing the body to the racking by locating the securing means within an aperture of the racking;15 connecting a cable management bracket to the body by inserting theattachment means into a slot of the body; andsecuring a cable to the cable management bracket.

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