Side-entry cable gripper
The side-entry cable gripper addresses the inflexibility and complexity of existing systems by allowing lateral cable insertion from any point, facilitating quick and cost-effective assembly and modification of cable display systems.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/IN2023/051061
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-09-23
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing cable gripping systems are cumbersome and inflexible, requiring cables to be inserted through the grippers before ends are fixed, making it difficult to add or remove grippers without dismantling the system, and requiring prepared cable ends for insertion.
A side-entry cable gripper design that allows lateral insertion of cables from any point, using a plunger with a side slot and spring-loaded gripping components that can be easily pressed onto tensioned cables without disassembly, and can be locked in place with a threaded locking nut.
Enables quick, cost-effective assembly and modification of cable display systems by allowing cable insertion from any point, reducing assembly time and costs, and accommodating cables with unprepared ends, while maintaining flexibility in system configuration.
Smart Images

Figure IN2023051061_27032025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
“SIDE-ENTRY CABLE GRIPPER”FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is generally related to cable gripping devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to cable gripping devices that allows lateral entry of a cable to be gripped.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] In general, the Cable Grippers have many applications in Shelf-holders, Banner holders etc. They are also used in the suspended cable display system in the range of (a) Wall to Wall, (b) Ceiling to Floor, (c) Slat Wall, (d) Ceiling to Wall, (e) Wall to Floor Display Systems etc. for display / storage of articles at exhibition stalls, shops, industrial undertakings, homes, and other establishments etc. In all these display systems, the cables are laid out from ceiling to floor, wall to wall, ceiling to wall etc. and, also in slat walls. In all these systems, before the cables are fixed at both ends, the cable has to be inserted through the cable grippers integral with the shelf-holders, Banner holders etc. The Shelf- holders / Banner holders are then adjusted to different positions as required.
[0003] The present art known for Cable Grippers are mostly cylindrical having a tapered bore inside, wherein runs a tapered spring-loaded Plunger with central hole and generally a number of radial holes. These radial holes house steel balls of appropriate size, which when moves along the tapered hole of the Cable Grippers Body under spring pressure, the balls grip the cable pushed through the central hole of the plunger. However, the prior art suffers following disadvantages:
[0004] 1) The cables of the suspended cable display systems or other cable layouts, have to be inserted through the cable grippers of the shelf / Banner holders etc. before the cable ends are fixed. Thus, cable ends are fixed along with the cable grippers. This becomes a tedious and cumbersome time-consuming procedure for assembly / erecting such display systems.
[0005] 2) Once a predetermined number of cable grippers are installed in the display systems, it is not possible to either add or remove any cable grippers from the system, without dismantling the already erected cable layout.
[0006] 3) Once the cable grippers integral with different holders / fittings are fitted in a particular order, thy cannot be altered without dismantling the fixed cable layout.
[0007] 4) For inserting the cable / rod through the Cable Gripper, the cable / rod ends have to be especially prepared with smooth ends to facilitate entry through the cable gripper. Often the cable ends get frayed / out of dimension, making it difficult to push through the cable gripper.
[0008] Hence, there is a need for designing and developing a cable gripper that can overcome at least the above-mentioned disadvantages.OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0009] To solve the above -described problems, it is an objective of the present invention to make the present invention more advantageous, user friendly and technically sound.
[0010] The present invention discloses a side-entry cable gripper that provides the users quick, convenient, and cost-effective way of building up display systems etc.
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible system which can allow a user to engage / disengage any number of cable grippers, anytime, before or after the installation.
[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable gripper that can be easily pressed on the already laid out tensioned cable / rods, without any need to uninstall an already laid out cable installation, in order to insert a cable gripper from one of the ends of the cable / rod.
[0013] Another object of the present invention to save the time of assembly and the cost.
[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to freely allow a user to insert the cable into the cable gripper, from any point of the cable, and not just the ends; thus, obviating the difficulties due to frayed / poorly prepared cable ends.
[0015] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more elaborate description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope.SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0016] In the present invention, a screwed end of a plunger is fully depressed and then pressed against the already laid out cable / rod through the side slot, upon which the cable gets lodged between the gripping balls. While releasing the plunger it moves up on a spring pressure carrying gripping balls, which in turn slides along a tapered hole surfaceof the body and firmly grips the cable / rod and prevents any downward movement of the cable gripper / shelf-holder. To prevent the upward movement, a threaded nipple with side slit is screwed on the screwed plunger to prevent any movement of the plunger.
[0017] For disengaging the cable gripper / shelf-holder from the cable, the threaded nipple is screwed on the plunger to an indicator hole and then the plunger is fully depressed. With side way movement of the cable gripper, the cable is released through the side slots. The cable is not required to be inserted through its end, thus obviating the difficulties due to frayed / poorly prepared cable ends.
[0018] The present invention obviates the disadvantages of the prior art by:
[0019] (i) Providing slits on the side of the gripper body, plunger and spring retaining nut, appropriate for the cable size for lateral entry of the cable in the side-entry cable gripper;
[0020] (ii) Providing single or double springs seated on the side of the plunger;
[0021] (iii) Providing anti-rotation features for the plunger, springs and the spring retaining nut;
[0022] (iv) Providing proper spacing and sizes for the gripping balls for easy side entry and withdrawal of the cable.
[0023] (v) Since the cables are inserted laterally, cables with un-prepared ends / frayed ends can be used. This offers great advantages in terms of convenience and cost savings.
[0024] An aspect of the present invention discloses a device for gripping a wire comprising a housing with an internal tapered channel; a gripping component that is free to move within the tapered channel; a spring to push the gripping component towards anarrower end of the tapered channel; and a slot through the housing to allow insertion of the wire into the tapered channel in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the wire, wherein, when the wire is placed within the device and a load is applied to the wire in the same direction as which the tapered channel tapers, then the wire is gripped between the gripping component and the tapered channel.
[0025] An embodiment of the present invention provides the gripping component is a ball, or a wedge or a roller.
[0026] An aspect of the present invention provides a cable gripper comprising a body 108 with an internal tapered channel 134; a tapered plunger 110, situated within the tapered channel 134, with a through hole along its length, the plunger 110 including at least one gripping component 114 that is free to move within the tapered plunger 110 in the tapered channel 134; at least one spring 116 around the plunger 110; and at least one side slot 106 in the body 108 to laterally insert a cable into the cable gripper from any position on the cable, and not just from the ends of the cable, and the side slot 106 meets the through hole of the plunger 110 to allow the cable to make a side entry into the cable gripper and the cable stays into the through hole of the plunger 110, and wherein, when a slot of the plunger 110 and the side slot 106 on the body 108 are aligned, and the plunger 110 is fully pressed, compressing the at least one spring 116, the cable is then inserted into the cable gripper, from any position along the length of the cable, laterally from the side slot 106, to be lodged between the griping components 114 and the tapered channel 134 when the spring 116 is decompressed.
[0027] An embodiment of the present invention discloses the tapered plunger 110 includes at least three radial holes 128, each housing the at least one gripping component 114.
[0028] A further embodiment of the present invention discloses the cable gripper further includes a locking nut 112 situated on a threaded top end of the plunger 110, the locking nut 112 locks a gripping position of the cable gripper into which the gripping components 114 grip the cable firmly; and wherein to insert the cable into the cable gripper, a slot on the locking nut 112 is also aligned with the slot of the plunger 110 and the side slot 106 on the body 108.
[0029] An aspect of the present invention discloses the cable gripper allows to insert the cable laterally and lock at the gripping position by: the locking nut 112 is first screwed on the threaded end of the plunger 110 aligning a slot on the locking nut 112 along with a slot of the plunger 110 with the side slot 106 on the body 108 to allow the cable to be inserted laterally through the side slot 106; the plunger 110 is fully pressed, compressing the spring 116; the cable is inserted into the cable gripper, from any position on the cable, laterally from the side slot 106, to be lodged between the griping components 114; the plunger 110 is then released, and the spring 116 is decompressed, moving up the plunger 110 and the gripping components 114 under the decompressed spring 116 pressure;the gripping components 114 while moving along the surface of the tapered plunger 110, radially close on the cable and grip the cable; and the gripping position into which the plunger 110 is released and the spring 116 is decompressed, while the gripping components 114 grip the cable, is then locked by screwing the locking nut 112 fully home.
[0030] An embodiment of the present invention provides the side slot 106 to be in any direction along the length of the plunger 110.
[0031] An embodiment of the present invention provides at least one of the radial holes 128 is of any shape to accommodate any number of the gripping components 114, the shape of the radial holes 128 includes radial, oval, semicircular, circular, or square, and like, and at least one of the gripping components 114 are of any shape, including balls, or radial, or oval, or semicircular, or circular, or square, or wedge, or rollers and like.
[0032] An embodiment of the present invention provides the plunger 110 is put under pressure with any type and number of pressure-retaining components, including the spring 116, or a coil, or a leaf, or flexible pipes.
[0033] Another embodiment of the present invention provides wherein the radial holes 128 are so spaced that the plunger 110 with the plunger slot cut axially retains maximum strength at the plunger slot and at least at the two radial holes meeting points.
[0034] Another embodiment of the present invention provides the body 108 includes internal grooves for accommodating the spring 116, and wherein the spring seats 130 in the plunger 110 and the corresponding internal grooves on the body 108, prevent rotationof the plunger 110 when assembled with the spring 116, thus maintaining orientation of the plunger slot with side slot 106 of the body 108.
[0035] An embodiment of the present invention provides the cable gripper is either in the form of a stand-alone gripper or is inbuilt in any attachment including shelf-holders.
[0036] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides the cable gripper includes single or multiple rows of gripping components 114 in a slotted plunger with anti-twisting features, the single or multiple rows of gripping components 114 grip single or multiple cables.
[0037] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides the cable gripper includes an auto release mechanism of the plunger 110 and a slotted design of the locking nut 112 for different sizes of cables.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0038] For a better understanding of the embodiments of the machine and methods described herein, and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, references will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements / components throughout and wherein:
[0039] FIGs. 1-4 illustrate exemplary representations of a side-entry cable gripper, FIG. 1 showing an exemplary isometric view, FIGs. 2 and 3 showing right side view and left side view respectively, and FIG. 4 showing top view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIGs. 5A and 5B illustrate exemplary diagrams showing an isometric view 500 of an assembly of a side-entry cable gripper with a shelf holder body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a front view 600 of the assembly of the side-entry cable gripper with the shelf holder body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a rear view 700 of the assembly of the side-entry cable gripper with the shelf holder body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a top view 800 of the assembly of the side-entry cable gripper with the shelf holder body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a bottom view 900 of the assembly of the side-entry cable gripper with the shelf holder body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a left-side view 1000 of the assembly of the side-entry cable gripper with the shelf holder body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a right-side view 1100 of the assembly of the side-entry cable gripper with the shelf holder body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a sectional view 1200 of the assembly of the side-entry cable gripper with the shelf holder body, with internal and external components of the assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0048] FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary representation showing radial holes and spring seats in a plunger, with internal and external components of the side entry gripper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0049] FIGs. 14-16 illustrate exemplary representations of a side-entry cable gripper in its simplest form showing only minimal components for its working principle, FIG. 14 showing an exemplary isometric view, FIG. 15 showing a side view, and FIG. 16 showing top view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0050] This patent describes the subject matter for patenting with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The principles described herein may be embodied in many different forms.
[0051] Illustrative embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0052] The present invention provides an innovative side-entry cable gripper for allowing a cable / rod to be inserted from any position along the length of the cable / rod and not just the ends of the cable / rod, by allowing a side entry of the cable / rod into the gripper for gripping. Because the inventive side-entry cable gripper provides a side entry of any cable for gripping, the cable gripper can be easily pressed on the already laid out tensioned cable / rods. There is no need to partially or completely uninstall an already laid out cable installation in order to insert a cable gripper from one of the ends of the cable / rod.
[0053] According to an embodiment, the present invention provides quick, easy, convenient and cost-effective way of assembly and erection of suspended cable / rod display systems apart from versatility in different applications and forms especially in wall to wall, wall to floor, ceiling to floor, ceiling to wall, slat wall display systems and other conceivable quick fixing of any attachment on suspended cable / rod systems.
[0054] According to an embodiment, the present invention provides the side-entry cable gripper either in the form of a stand-alone or an inbuilt in any attachment, shelf-holders etc., with one or more entry slots provided in any direction on the side-entry cable gripper, such that the entry slots allow for side entry of the cable / rod / pipes etc. of any sizes into the side-entry cable gripper.
[0055] According to an embodiment, the present invention also provides side-entry cable gripper, which can be made of different materials and finishes and can be of different outward shapes depending on various fitments / usage to suit various sizes of cables / rod / pipes etc.
[0056] According to another embodiment, the present invention also provides innovative slotted cable gripper plunger with anti- twisting features (the body inclusive), with the incorporation of single or multiple rows of gripping balls in appropriate numbers / sizes for gripping of cables / rods / pipes etc. Plunger pressure could be provided with a coil / leaf or any other form of spring in numbers one to multiple numbers.
[0057] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a variant with auto release of the plunger for gripping of cables / rod / pipes and a slotted design of screwed locking nut for different sizes of cables / rods / pipes can be provided.
[0058] Referring to FIGs. 14-16 showing the simplest form of a side -entry cable gripper 102 that is shown in FIGs. 1-13, the side-entry cable gripper 102 in FIGs. 14-16 is a stand-alone gripper and can be equipped with any holders or fixing equipment, such as a shelf holder, or a display holder, etc. An isometric simple view 1300 of the side-entry cable gripper 102 shows minimum internal components of the gripper 102 that are required in the basic working principle of the gripper 102. It may be obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art that there may be more components involved in the working principle of the gripper, and not just the ones shown in FIGs. 14-16, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention. FIGs. 14-16 illustrating the isometric view 1300, the side view 1400 and the top view 1500 show the gripper 102 including at least a housing or a body 108 with an internal tapered channel 134; a gripping component or a gripping element 114 that is free to move within the channel 134; a spring 116 (not shown here, but shown in FIG. 12) to push the gripping component 114 towards the narrower end of the tapered channel 134; and a slot 106 through thelength of the housing 108 to allow insertion of a wire / cable 132 into the tapered channel 134 in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the wire 132. Such that when the wire 132 is placed within the gripper 102 and a load is applied to the wire 132 in the same direction as which the channel 134 tapers, then the wire 132 is gripped between the gripping component 114 and the tapered channel 134. Because the gripper 102 allows insertion of the wire / cable 132 into the tapered channel 134 in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the wire 132, the wire 132 can be inserted into the slot 106 from any position along the length of the wire 132, also allowing a side entry of the wire 132 into the slot 106, and not just from the ends of the wire 132.
[0059] In an embodiment, the load for gripping the wore 132 between the gripping component 114 and the tapered channel 134 can be applied by a combination of a tapered plunger, the spring 116 and a locking nut, as will be explained below.
[0060] In an embodiment, the gripping component 114 may be a ball, or a wedge or a roller.
[0061] Now referring to FIGs. 1-13, which shows more illustrations of the gripper 102 with more components. An exemplary assembly 100 of a side-entry cable gripper 102 with a shelf holder body 104 is shown. The side-entry cable gripper 102 allows a cable to be inserted into the cable gripper 102, from any point of the cable, and not just the ends of the cable. The cable gripper 102 allows a user to laterally insert the cable into the gripper 102, from a side slot 106 provided in the body 108 of the gripper 102. The side slot 106 is provided along the length of a tapered plunger 110 of the gripper 102. Because the gripper 102 provides a side entry of any cable for gripping, the cable gripper 102 canbe easily pressed on the already laid out tensioned cables / rods that are tied at both their ends. There is no need to partially or completely dismantle an already laid out cable installation, such as an LED display installation, in order to insert the cable gripper 102 from one of the ends of the cable / rod because the cable gripper 102 can easily be inserted via its side slot 106 into the already installed cable at any position along the cable length.
[0062] It may be apparent to the person ordinarily skilled in the art that the side slot 106 can be provided in any direction along the length of the plunger 110, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention. The side slot 106 meets the through hole of the plunger 110, and thus the cable makes a side entry into the gripper and stays into the through hole of the plunger 110.
[0063] In the example shown in figures, the side-entry cable gripper 102 in-built in the shelf-holder body 104 incorporates the side slot 106 for side entry of a cable / rod.
[0064] The gripper 102 further includes a locking nut 112 for locking the decompressed position of the plunger 110 while, the gripping components 114 are gripping the cable wire. The plunger 110 includes at least 3 radial holes 128 for housing the gripping components 114. It may be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the plunger 110 may have any number of radial holes 128, to accommodate any number of gripping components 114, depending on the design and requirements of the gripper 102, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention. Also, it may be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the plunger 110 may have any shape of cavities, or holes for accommodating any number of gripping components, such as including and not limited to radial, oval, semicircular, circular, square, etc., depending onthe design and requirements of the gripper 102, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention. It may also be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the gripping components 114 may have any shape, such as including and not limited to balls, radial, oval, semicircular, circular, square, etc., depending on the design and requirements of the gripper 102, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention.
[0065] In an embodiment, the plunger 110 also have spring seats 130 to accommodate a spring 116 around the plunger 110, and also include a plunger slot that aligns with the slot 106 in the body 108, when in operation. It may also be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the plunger 110 may be put under pressure with any type of pressure retaining component, such as spring 116, coil, leaf, flexible pipes, etc., depending on the design and requirements of the gripper 102, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention.
[0066] In an exemplary operation, a locking nut 112 is screwed on a threaded end of the plunger 110, aligning a slot on the locking nut 112 along with a slot of the plunger 110. Then, the plunger 110 is fully pressed, compressing the spring 116. In this compressed condition, the cable gripper is pressed on the already laid out tensioned vertical cable / rods, so as to allow the cable / Rod getting lodged between the griping components 114 accommodated in the plunger 110.
[0067] The plunger 110 is then released, and the spring 116 is decompressed, putting pressure on the plunger 110. Consequently, the plunger 110 along with the gripping components 114 under spring 116 pressure, moves up. The gripping components 114while moving along the surface of the tapered hole / channel of the gripper body 108, radially close on the cable / rods, thus griping it firmly. The positions of the released plunger 110 and the decompressed spring 116 are then locked in this position by screwing the locking nut 112 fully home. This way, the gripper 102 allows the cable to be inserted into the gripper laterally through the side slot 106, along any position on the cable. Hence, it is not mandatory that the cable has to be inserted into the gripper 102 from the cable ends only.
[0068] For disengaging the Cable Gripper 102 from the Cable, the reverse sequence of operation is carried out: 1) The locking nut 112 is screwed up to a level that the plunger 110 is exposed to be pressed, at the same time aligning the locking nut 112 slot along with the plunger 110 slot. 2) The plunger 110 is then pressed fully, putting pressure on the spring 116, upon which the gripping components 114 get loosened enough for disengaging the Cable / rod, and then the Cable Gripper 102 is moved away from the Cable / Rod.
[0069] While assembly & operation of the Side Entry Cable Gripper 102, the gripping components 114 remains lodged in the radial holes 128 under spring 116 pressure. The radial holes 128 are so spaced that the plunger 110 with the plunger slot cut axially retains maximum strength at the plunger slot and two radial holes meeting points. The spring seats 130 in the plunger 110 and corresponding grooves on the body 108 for accommodating the spring 116, prevent rotation of the plunger 110 when assembled with the spring 116, thus maintaining orientation of the plunger slot with cut slot 106 of the body 108.
[0070] The gripper 102 may also include more components, such as including and not limited to circular clip 120, stopper 118 and washer 122 situated around the body 108 of the gripper, according to an embodiment.
[0071] In an exemplary application, the gripper 102 is in-built with a shelf holder 104, as shown in FIG. 12. This assembly may include a grub screw 124 and a minus head screw 126, along with other necessary parts.
[0072] Advantageously, the side entry gripper 102 provides for lateral entry of the cables / rods, while gripping the cables / rods at any position at the cables / rods, and not just the ends of the cables / rods. The side entry gripper 102 allows for quick, convenient, and cost-effective way of building up display systems etc. Also, the side entry gripper 102 provides a flexible system which can allow a user to engage / disengage any number of cable grippers, anytime, before or after the installation.
[0073] The side entry gripper 102 saves the time of assembly and the cost.
[0074] The side entry gripper 102 also provides an advantage of using it on the already laid out / installed cables / rods. Because the inventive gripper 102 provide a side entry of any cable, the cable gripper 102 can be easily pressed on the already laid out tensioned cable / rods, so as to allow the cable / rod getting lodged between the griping components 114 accommodated in the plunger 110. There is no need to uninstall an already laid out cable installation in order to insert a cable gripper from one of the ends of the cable / rod.
[0075] It is intended that the disclosure and examples be considered exemplary only. Though the present disclosure includes examples from shelf / glass holder body 104, theside entry cable gripper disclosed herein may be employed with other uses as well, e.g., a hook or an eye loop etc.
[0076] It is further intended that the disclosure and examples be considered exemplary only. Though the present disclosure includes examples from suspended cable display systems, the cable gripper disclosed herein may be employed for various applications as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art. The references to devices and structures used here are intended to be applied or extended to the larger scope and should not be construed as restricting the scope and practice of the present invention.
[0077] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods, devices, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods, devices, and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.
Claims
CLAIMS1. A device 102 for gripping a wire 132 comprising: a housing 108 with an internal tapered channel 134; a gripping component 114 that is free to move within the tapered channel 134; a spring 116 to push the gripping component 114 towards a narrower end of the tapered channel 134; and a slot 106 through the housing 108 to allow insertion of the wire 132 into the tapered channel 134 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the wire 132, and wherein, when the wire 132 is placed within the device 102 and a load is applied to the wire 132 in the same direction as which the tapered channel 134 tapers, then the wire 132 is gripped between the gripping component 114 and the tapered channel 134.
2. A device as described in claim 1 wherein the gripping element is a ball, wedge or roller.
3. A cable gripper 102 comprising: a body 108 with an internal tapered channel 134; a tapered plunger 110, situated within the tapered channel 134, with a through hole along its length, the plunger 110 including at least one gripping component 114 that is free to move within the tapered plunger 110 in the tapered channel 134; at least one spring 116 around the plunger 110; and at least one side slot 106 in the body 108 to laterally insert a cable into the cable gripper from any position on the cable, and not just from the ends of the cable, and the side slot 106 meets the through hole of the plunger 110 to allow the cable to make a side entry into the cable gripper and the cable stays into the through hole of the plunger 110, and wherein, when a slot of the plunger 110 and the side slot 106 on the body 108 are aligned, and the plunger 110 is fully pressed, compressing theat least one spring 116, the cable is then inserted into the cable gripper, from any position along the length of the cable, laterally from the side slot 106, to be lodged between the griping components 114 and the tapered channel 134 when the spring 116 is decompressed.
4. The cable gripper of claim 1, wherein the tapered plunger 110 includes at least three radial holes 128, each housing the at least one gripping component 114.
5. The cable gripper of claim 2, wherein the cable gripper further includes a locking nut 112 situated on a threaded top end of the plunger 110, the locking nut 112 locks a gripping position of the cable gripper into which the gripping components 114 grip the cable firmly; and wherein to insert the cable into the cable gripper, a slot on the locking nut 112 is also aligned with the slot of the plunger 110 and the side slot 106 on the body 108.
6. The cable gripper of claim 3, wherein for the cable gripper to insert the cable laterally and lock at the gripping position: the locking nut 112 is first screwed on the threaded end of the plunger 110 aligning a slot on the locking nut 112 along with a slot of the plunger 110 with the side slot 106 on the body 108 to allow the cable to be inserted laterally through the side slot 106; the plunger 110 is fully pressed, compressing the spring 116; the cable is inserted into the cable gripper, from any position along the length of the cable, laterally from the side slot 106, to be lodged between the griping components 114; the plunger 110 is then released, and the spring 116 is decompressed, moving up the plunger 110 and the gripping components 114 under the decompressed spring 116 pressure; the gripping components 114 while moving along the surface of the tapered plunger 110, radially close on the cable and grip the cable; and the gripping position into which the plunger 110 is released and the spring 116 is decompressed, while the gripping components 114 grip the cable, is then locked by screwing the locking nut 112 fully home.
7. The cable gripper of claim 1, wherein the side slot 106 is provided in any direction along the length of the plunger 110.
8. The cable gripper of claim 2, wherein at least one of the radial holes 128 is of any shape to accommodate any number of the gripping components 114, the shape of the radial holes 128 includes radial, oval, semicircular, circular, or square, and like, and wherein the gripping components 114 are of any shape, including balls, or radial, or oval, or semicircular, or circular, or square, or wedge, or rollers and like.
9. The cable gripper of claim 2, wherein the plunger 110 is put under pressure with any type and number of pres sure -retaining components, including the spring 116, or a coil, or a leaf, or flexible pipes.
10. The cable gripper of claim 2, wherein the radial holes 128 are so spaced that the plunger 110 with the plunger slot cut axially retains maximum strength at the plunger slot and at least at the two radial holes meeting points.
11. The cable gripper of claim 8, wherein the body 108 includes internal grooves for accommodating the spring 116, and wherein the spring seats 130 in the plunger 110 and the corresponding internal grooves on the body 108, prevent rotation of the plunger 110 when assembled with the spring 116, thus maintaining orientation of the plunger slot with side slot 106 of the body 108.
12. The cable gripper of claim 1, wherein the cable gripper is either in the form of a stand-alone gripper or is inbuilt in any attachment including shelf-holders.
13. The cable gripper of claim 1, wherein the cable gripper includes single or multiple rows of gripping components 114 in a slotted plunger with antitwisting features, the single or multiple rows of gripping components 114 grip single or multiple cables.
4. The cable gripper of claim 1, wherein the cable gripper includes an auto release mechanism of the plunger 110 and a slotted design of the locking nut 112 for different sizes of cables.
Citation Information
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