Cable mount for fastening a cable to an object

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable mount (1) for fastening a cable (2) to an object, the cable mount (1) comprising: - a contact side (Z) which is designed to be brought into contact with a cable (2) to be fastened, - a fastening region (1a) which is designed to arrange fastening elements there for fastening a cable (2), and - a front region (1b) which adjoins the fastening region (1a) and is formed in such a way that its front edge points away from the contact side (Z). The invention also relates to an apparatus and to a cable system.

Description

[0001] 202421837

[0002] 1

[0003] Description

[0004] Cable holder for attaching a cable to an object

[0005] The invention relates to a cable holder for attaching a cable to an object, and to a device and a cable system with such a cable holder.

[0006] The secure routing of cables in electrical devices and systems is essential for their functionality. This is typically achieved by guiding power or data cables along the structure of the device or system using cable holders. These cable holders can be individual components attached to the structure or be integral parts of the structure itself.

[0007] Currently, exposed T-shaped cable holders (components or mounting geometries) are often used, which can, however, potentially damage the cable insulation. Such situations can arise if the edges of the cable holder are not deburred (a quality issue) or if the cable is routed improperly, causing it to rub against a sharp edge of the cable holder (degree of freedom in cable routing during final assembly).

[0008] Currently, manufacturing drawings only mention deburring, or the final assembly department of the respective plant is advised that special attention must be paid to the routing of the cables. This is not very reliable.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable holder for fastening a cable to an object, a device, and a cable system that avoid the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a cable holder that allows for secure cable fastening even without deburring.

[0010] This problem is solved by a cable holder according to claim 1, a device according to claim 9 and a cable system according to claim 10.

[0011] A cable holder according to the invention serves to attach a cable to an object. It comprises the following components:

[0012] - a contact side designed to be brought into contact with a cable to be attached,

[0013] - a mounting area designed to accommodate mounting elements for securing a cable, and202421837

[0014] 2

[0015] - a front area that connects to the mounting area and is shaped so that its front edge points away from the contact side (i.e., basically upwards).

[0016] A cable holder serves to securely and efficiently fasten cables to an object. This device has at least a mounting area and a front section. If the cable holder is part of a larger structure, these two sections are generally sufficient. If the cable holder is a standalone component, an additional attachment point beyond the front section should be present on the mounting area.

[0017] It should be noted that position or direction specifications refer to the underside, starting from the contact side. The contact side is at the bottom, its surface normal points upwards, and the front section is angled upwards in the direction of the contact side's surface normal. The longitudinal axis runs from the mounting area to the front section, i.e., in the direction of a cable to be mounted. The side sections of the cable holder lie to the right and left of the longitudinal axis, and the end faces lie on, above, or below the longitudinal axis, preferably perpendicular to it.

[0018] The contact surface of the cable holder is specifically designed to make direct contact with the cable being secured. It serves as a support surface for the cable and is typically equipped with a smooth or soft, yet durable surface to protect the cable from mechanical stress. The contact surface can be coated with an elastic material, but this is not necessary. For cost reasons, it may be preferable for the contact surface to be uncoated. The contact surface can be flat or curved downwards, with the curve running from the mounting area towards the front, in the direction of the cable being secured. This prevents the secured cable from slipping to the sides of the cable holder.

[0019] The mounting area is designed to accommodate various types of fasteners, such as screws, clamps, cable ties, or adhesive strips, to secure the cable to the cable holder. The mounting area can be directly attached to a structure or to a structure using a mounting bracket. It simply needs to be shaped to provide space for a fastener and allow a cable to be secured to the cable holder with the fastener within the mounting area. For example, the mounting area might be tapered to allow a cable tie to grip the cable and prevent it from slipping along the longitudinal axis of the cable holder. Alternatively, the mounting area could incorporate a screw-type cable clamp or similar fastener. 202421837

[0020] 3

[0021] The front section connects seamlessly to the mounting area and is shaped so that its leading edge points away from the contact side (and thus from the cable). This provides additional protection against mechanical impacts or accidents, as an edge on the front face of the front section does not press against a mounted cable but rather points away from it. The only "edge" is the bend or crease that the contact side has due to its special angled shape. However, this is not shaped in such a way as to damage the surface of the cable. No recesses should be present in the cable holder in the area of ​​the bend, as the edges of the holes could damage a cable.

[0022] The cable holder according to the invention essentially has an angled or curved tongue (front area). This can be somewhat narrower than the adjacent part of the cable holder, so that, together with a waist in the mounting area, a cross shape can result.

[0023] The advantages of this cable holder compared to conventional holders are improved process reliability, as the angled tongue prevents contact between a finished edge on the front face and a cable. This increases process reliability, for example, in the case of quality problems with delivered sheet metal components (undurned edges), and improves the assembly process by increasing the degree of freedom for cable routing during final assembly.

[0024] A device according to the invention (basically a device or system that is or is to be provided with cables) comprises a number, preferably a plurality, of cable holders according to the invention.

[0025] A cable system according to the invention comprises a number, preferably a plurality, of cables which are attached to a cable holder according to the invention, wherein each cable rests on the contact side of a cable holder and is attached to it by a fastening element and wherein the front area of ​​the cable holder points away from the cable with its front edge.

[0026] Further, particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description, wherein the claims of one claim category may also be further developed analogously to the claims and parts of the description of another claim category, and in particular, individual features of different embodiments or variants may be combined to form new embodiments or variants.

[0027] 4

[0028] A preferred cable holder is characterized by a mounting area that is wider at the transition to the front than the front itself. This shape is particularly advantageous because the lip does not need to be much wider than the cable being secured, thus saving material.

[0029] A preferred cable holder has a tapered section or holes in the mounting area shaped to allow a cable tie to be inserted. The tapered section prevents the cable tie from slipping off the holder. Preferably, the cable holder has the same width before and after the tapered section. If the cable holder is an extension of a structure, it may well begin narrowly and then widen at the end. The tapered section then results from the wide end and the trailing edge of the structure.

[0030] A preferred cable holder is characterized by its mounting area and front section forming a cross shape. It is preferred that the cross shape is formed by a tongue-like shape of the front section and a tapered shape of the mounting area. This shape allows for maximum cable protection with optimal mounting security and minimal material usage.

[0031] A preferred cable holder is characterized by a front section that is straight and angled along one axis relative to the mounting area. This means that, viewed from the side, the cable holder has two straight elements: the flat mounting area and the angled, but straight, front section. The angle at which the front section is angled should be acute, preferably less than 45°, and particularly less than 30°.

[0032] A preferred cable holder is characterized by a front section that is curved upwards, preferably as a segment of an elliptical arc or circular arc. Viewed from the side, the front section thus describes an upward arc away from the contact side. This has the advantage that the contact side has no edge in the mounting area or front section that can come into contact with a cable surface.

[0033] A preferred cable holder is characterized by a stepped front section. It is preferred that this step is angled at angles less than 90°, particularly less than 45°. Preferably, the front section is first angled upwards (straight) by an angle as described above and then angled downwards by 202421837

[0034] 5

[0035] angled downwards at the same angle, so that it then runs parallel to the contact surface at a distance from it.

[0036] A preferred cable holder is characterized by a rolled front section, so that its leading edge points upwards away from the contact side. This is essentially a special variation of the bend described above.

[0037] A preferred cable holder is characterized by its angled or stepped front section and its rounded contact surface in the transition area between the mounting area and the front section, where the front section is angled or stepped. This has the advantage that the contact surface has no edge that can interact with the surface of a cable.

[0038] A preferred cable holder is characterized by the fact that its mounting area is attached to an object. This means that the cable holder was initially a separate component and was then attached to the structure of an object (e.g., a device or system). For example, the cable holder's mounting area can be glued, welded, or soldered to the object's structure.

[0039] A preferred cable holder is characterized by the fact that the front section and the mounting area are part of an object. The cable holder is, for example, an extension of the object's structure.

[0040] A preferred cable holder is characterized by having an attachment area adjacent to the mounting area, such that the front area, mounting area, and attachment area are aligned in that order, and the attachment area is designed to be attached to an object (glued, soldered, welded, screwed, or riveted). This means that the cable holder is a custom component and can be attached to the structure of an object (e.g., a device or system). For example, the cable holder can be screwed to the object's structure using the attachment area.

[0041] The cable holder is preferably a single-piece component. This has the advantage that it can be manufactured simply and inexpensively.

[0042] A preferred cable holder is characterized by the fact that it is made of metal, in particular sheet steel or aluminum. 202421837

[0043] 6

[0044] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures and exemplary embodiments. The same components are designated with identical reference numerals in the various figures. The figures are generally not to scale. They show:

[0045] Figure 1 shows a cable holder according to the state of the art from above,

[0046] Figure 2 shows a cable holder with an attached cable according to the prior art, viewed from the side.

[0047] Figure 3 shows a cable holder according to the invention from above,

[0048] Figure 4 shows a cable holder according to the invention with a cable attached to it, viewed from the side.

[0049] Figures 1 and 2 show a prior art cable holder 1 from above and from the side. In Figure 2, a cable 2 is visible, which is held by this cable holder 1. The cable 2 rests against the contact side Z of the cable holder 1 and is held by a cable tie 3 as a fastening element 3. The edge Y of the end face X rubs against the surface of the cable 2 and damages it, as indicated in the enlarged view at the top left of Figure 2.

[0050] Figures 3 and 4 show a cable holder 1 according to the invention from above and from the side. Figure 4 also shows a cable 2, which is held by this cable holder 1. The cable 2 rests against the contact side Z of the cable holder 1 and is held in a fastening area 1a by a cable tie 3 as a fastening element 3 in a recess T. The cable holder has a front area 1b adjacent to the fastening area 1a, which is angled at an acute angle a such that its front edge points away from the contact side Z. As the enlarged view above in Figure 4 indicates, there is no edge here that could damage the surface of the cable 2.

[0051] In this example, the mounting area 1a is wider at the transition to the front area 1b than the front area 1b and is shaped like a lip. Due to the waist T of the mounting area 1a, the mounting area 1a and the front area 1b form a cross shape, which is formed on the one hand by the tongue-like shape of the front area 1b and on the other hand by the waist T of the mounting area 1a (see Figure 3).

[0052] Finally, it should be noted once again that the invention described in detail above is merely an exemplary embodiment, which is dated 202421837

[0053] 7

[0054] The invention can be modified in various ways by a person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not preclude the possibility that the features in question may be present multiple times.

[0055] Similarly, terms like "unit" do not preclude the possibility that the components in question consist of several interacting sub-components, which may also be spatially distributed. The term "a number" should be read as "at least one." Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons of male, female, or other gender identities are included. 202421837

[0056] 8

[0057] Reference symbol list

[0058] 1 cable holder

[0059] 1a Mounting area

[0060] 1b Front area

[0061] 2 cables

[0062] 3 Fastening element / cable tie

[0063] a angle

[0064] T-waist

[0065] X Front

[0066] Y edge

[0067] Z Contact page

Claims

202421837 9 Patent claims 1. Cable holder (1) for attaching a cable (2) to an object, the cable holder (1) comprising: - a contact side (Z) designed to be brought into contact with a cable (2) to be attached, - a mounting area (1a) designed to accommodate mounting elements (3) for securing a cable (2), and - a front area (1b) that connects to the attachment area (1a) and is shaped so that its front edge points away from the contact side (Z).

2. Cable holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening area (1a) in the transition to the front area (1b) is wider than the front area (1b), preferably wherein the front area (1b) is formed in the form of a lip.

3. Cable holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a waist (T) in the fastening area (1a) or holes shaped such that a cable tie (3) can be pushed through them.

4. Cable holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein its fastening area (1a) and front area (1b) form a cross shape, preferably wherein the cross shape is formed on the one hand by a tongue-like shape of the front area (1b) and on the other hand by a waist (T) of the fastening area (1a).

5. Cable holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front area: - has a straight shape, and is angled on an axis to the mounting area (1a), or - is curved, preferably as a segment of an elliptical arc or circular arc, or - is set off in the form of a step, or - rolled up, so that its leading edge points upwards away from the contact side (Z).

6. Cable holder (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that its front area (1b) is angled or stepped and it is rounded on the contact side (Z) in the transition area from the mounting area (1a) to the front area (1b), where the front area (1b) is angled or stepped.

7. Cable holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein 202421837 10 - the attachment area (1a) is attached to an object or - Front area (1b) and attachment area (1a) are part of an object or - the cable holder (1) has an attachment area adjoining the mounting area (1a), such that the front area (1b), mounting area (1a) and attachment area are in a line in that order and the attachment area is designed to be attached to an object, preferably wherein the cable holder (1) is a one-piece component.

8. Cable holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of metal, in particular of a sheet of steel or aluminium.

9. Device comprising a number of cable holders (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Cable system (2) comprising a number of cables (2) which are attached to a cable holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each cable (2) rests on the contact side (Z) of a cable holder (1) and is attached to it by a fastening element (3) and wherein the front area (1b) of the cable holder (1) points away from the cable (2) with its front edge.

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