GB2157263A - Cable holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder for a length of electric power cable comprises a body portion of open framework construction. At both ends of the body portion open ended pockets are formed between a centre prong (1) and adjacent outer prongs (2). The holder is held by a handle (10) located between the ends and within the confines of the body portion. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to holders This invention relates to holders and has particular reference to holders for flexible elongate members, for example, electric cables and ropes.

Holders in the form of reels are well known but if these are to accommodate any reasonable length of electric power cable for example they must be relatively large and consequently cumbersome to handle.

Holders in the form of open frames are also known but these tend to be difficult to handle and, moreover, allow unwinding from one end only of the flexible member wound on the holders.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder that is easy to use and does not possess the disadvantages of the prior constructions referred to above.

According to the present invention, a holder for a length of elongate flexible member comprises a body portion having at each end side-by-side open-ended pockets formed between a centre prong and two outer prongs extending from the body portion, a handle located centrally of the body portion and within the confines of the latter and spacing bridges on each side of the handle for holding turns of a flexible member wound on the holder away from the handle.

The outer prongs may diverge outwardly in a direction away from the body portion. The outer prongs may each have a laterally extending rib which may be formed with at least one hole with a restricted entrance for releasably retaining one end of the member.

The body portion may be of open framework construction with a central portion whose width is less than the distance between the tips of the outer prongs.

The central portion may comprise two spaced parallel side elements, the handle being located centrally therebetween.

The side elements may interconnect cross members joined adjacent their ends to the respective outer prongs, the handle comprising a strut extending between the cross members and aligned with the centre prongs.

Each spacing bridge may include a finger adapted to interlock with a corresponding finger on a co-operating bridge to secure the bridges to the body portion, each cross member having a central slot in which the interlocked fingers locate.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, front and side elevations and end view of the embodiment, Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a section along the line V-V of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a scrap view partly in section of a detail, and Figure 7 is a side elevation of a component of the embodiment.

The embodiment which is suitable for holding a length of electric power cable is of a moulded plas tics material.

The body portion of the holder is a one piece moulding with end prongs resembling those of a trident and comprising a centre prong 1 and two outer prongs 2 each spaced from the centre prong and of a length that is slightly less than that of the centre prong 1. The ends of the prongs 1,2 are rounded as shown and the centre prong 1 has a hole 3 adjacent its tip.

The roots of the prongs 1,2 are joined to a com mon base member 4 at the ends of which the prongs 2 extend to a cross member 5.

The prongs 2 are both formed with longitudinal laterally extending narrow ribs 6 formed at 7, 8 with circular holes with restricted entrances as shown. The ribs 6 strengthen the prongs 2.

Between the cross members 5 extend spaced parallel side elements 9 and a handle 10 located centrally between the elements 9 within the confines of the body portion. The edges of the handle 10 are sinuous as shown to enable a user to grip the handle more securely. The handle 10 is substantially in line with the centre prongs 1 as can be seen from Figure 1.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the body portion is Qwaisted' between the cross members 5. That is to say the distance between the side elements 9 is less than the distance between the tips of the prongs 2.

Each cross member 5 has a central slot 11 (Figure 6) to receive interlocking fingers 12 on spacing bridges 13. Each finger 12 has a notch 14 close to its pronged end 15.

The bridges 13 each have a base member 16 contoured and sized to rest on the respective cross member 5 and from which extend outwardly diverging limbs 17 joined adjacent their outer ends by a cross member 18. A strengthening strut 19 extends centrally from the base member 16 to the cross member 18.

The bridges 13 are moulded separately from the body portion of the holder and assembled to the latter by inserting the fingers 12 into the slots 11 one from each side until the pronged ends 15 and notches interlock to retain the bridges in the positions shown in Figures 1-5. The slots 11 are sized to fit the interlocked fingers 12 closely so that once interlocked, the fingers cannot be withdrawn from the slots without damaging the fingers.

The holder is configured as described to provide, at its ends, two cable receiving pockets bounded by an outer prong 2 and the centre prong 1. As can be seen from Figure 1, the prongs 2 diverge slightly outwardly to provide a wider mouth for the pockets and thus facilitate the winding of a cable on to the holder as will now be described.

A user first locates the mid-point of the length of cable and loops this round a centre prong 1 at one end of the holder. Grasping the holder by means of the handle 10, one half of the length of cable is then wound round the holder between the pockets on one side of the centre prong 1 and the other half of the cable length is then wound round the holder between the pockets on the other side of the centre prongs.

The bridges 13 hold away from the user's hand on the handle 10, the strands of cable lying be tween the pockets and enable the user easily to withdraw his hand when the entire length of cable has been wound onto the holder. Withdrawal of the user's hand is also helped by the fact that be cause the pockets lie to each side of the prongs 1 and thus of the handle 10, the strands of cable fall into groups with a central gap in which the handle 10 is located.

Each cable end is inserted into first one of the holes 7, 8 and then into the other and is retained therein by the restricted entrance so reducing the chance of the cable turns becoming loose or un winding. It is also possible with certain types of electric plug to hold the plug firmly on the holder by pressing one of the prongs, for example the centre prong between two of the plug pins.

If now a user wishes to use the cable to connect an electric appliance to a power socket for example and does not need to use the entire length of ca ble, he first unwinds the cable turns on one side of the prongs 1 until he has enough cable. If more ca ble is required, the remaining turns on the other side of the prongs can be unwound as necessary.

It is also possible to unwind cable turns on both sides of the prongs 1 until a requisite length has been obtained.

The central location of the handle 10 gives a bal anced orientation to the holder and facilitates the winding on and unwinding of turns of cable.

Claims (9)

1. A holder for a length of elongate flexible member comprising a body portion having at each end side-by-side open-ended pockets formed be tween a centre prong and two outer prongs ex tending from the body portion, a handle located centrally of the body portion and within the con fines of the latter and spacing bridges on each side of the handle for holding turns of a flexible mem ber wound on the holder away from the handle.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer prongs diverge outwardly in a direction away from the body portion.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which each outer prong has a laterally extending rib.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3 in which each rib has at least one hole with a restricted entrance for releasably retaining an end of the flexible member.

5. A holder as claimed in any one of the pre ceding claims in which the body portion is of open framework construction having a central portion whose width is less than the distance between the tips of the outer prongs.

6. A holder as claimed in claim 5 in which the central portion comprises two spaced parallel side elements, the handle being located centrally be tween the side elements.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 6 in which the side elements interconnect cross members joined adjacent their ends to the respective outer prongs, the handle comprising a strut extending between the cross members and aligned with the centre prongs.

8. A holder as claimed in claim 7 in which each spacing bridge includes a finger adapted to interlock with a corresponding finger on a co-operating bridge to secure the bridges to the body portion, and in each cross member has a central slot in which the interlocked fingers locate.

9. A holder substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.