GB2443285A

GB2443285A - Device to support an electric cable on to a person

Info

Publication number: GB2443285A
Application number: GB0716192A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John James Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-28
Filing date: 2007-08-20
Publication date: 2008-04-30
Also published as: GB0716192D0; GB0621557D0

Abstract

A device 1 to support an electric cable A on to a person, said device 1 comprising a clip 2 to clip the device onto a garment D on said person, and at least one arm 3A,3B extending laterally of the clip 2 and having the form of a coil to encompass a section of electric cable A. In specific embodiments at least one turn of said coil, preferably the turn most distal from the clip 2, is of smaller diameter than and/or is directed in a direction opposite to, one or more other such turns.

Description

ELECTRIC CABLE SUPPORTS

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

This invention relates to electric cable supports.

Background

When using an electric power cutting tool, e.g. mowing a lawn, sawing logs, or cutting a hedge, the cable leading to the power tool can be cut by the tool. This can be very dangerous leading to electric shocks. It also means that the power tool becomes unusable until the cable is repaired.

It is therefore considered desirable to provide a device to support an electric cable on a person and aid in preventing it becoming cut by a power tool.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device to support an electric cable on to a person, said device comprising a clip to clip the device onto a garment on said person, and at least one arm extending laterally of the clip and having the form of a coil to encompass section of electric cable.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one turn of said coil, preferably the turn most distal from the clip, is of smaller diameter than and/or is directed in a direction opposite to, one or more other such turns.

Preferably a pair of said arms is provided extending laterally one to each side of the clip.

111.101 2007 Advantageously the device has the form of a generally T-shaped member comprising a shank provided by the said clip and from which said pair of opposed arms extend normally.

In one embodiment the device is formed from a single length of wire. Advantageously the wire is plastic coated.

Preferably the shank is formed from the wire in a generally W-shape" with the central V' of the W-shape" in the same plane as, or in a plane spaced parallel from, the plane of two side limbs of the "W-shape".

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example one embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a device according to this invention and supporting an electric cable.

Detailed Description of Example(s) of the Invention Referring to the drawing there is shown a support device 1 for an electric cable "A" having a plug "B" at one end and a power tool such as a hedge trimmer "C" at the other end. The cable support device 1 is formed from a single length of plastic coated wire into a generally T-shaped member. The central shank 2 of the member is generally "W-shaped" with the central "V" portion 2A thereof in the same plane as, or in a plane slightly spaced parallel from, the plane of two side limbs 2B,2C of the "W-shaped" shank 2. The shank 2 forms a clip which can receive a belt "D" (or other garment part such as top edge of a pair of trousers) about the waist of a user, that garment part being threaded between the central "V" 2A and the two side arms 2B,2C of the shank 2.

The device 1 of this illustrated embodiment also comprises a pair of opposed arms provided by the wire of the device being wound into the shape of coils 3A and 3B, these arms extending laterally of, preferably normal to, the shank 2 and at one end of JJJ-IOi*.I.* 2OO7 Cl the shank. These arms 3A, 3B are wound into the form of coils to encompass loosely a section of electric cable A' (which can be considered as wound loosely into them).

However, the last coil turn of each of arms 3A, 3B -i.e. the coil turn most distal from the shank 2 -is wound more tightly and of a smaller diameter than the other coil turns, and/or is preferably wound in the opposite direction to said other coil turns. The last coil turn of each of arms 3A, 3B can thus grip the cable A' tightly and prevent sliding movement of the cable through the arms 3A,3B but such grip can be readily released manually by the user in order to adjust the length of slack in the cable A' between the device 1 and either the plug B' or the power tool C'.

In use, the shank 2 of support device I can be clipped onto the belt or trouser waist of a user, and the electrical cable "A" -leading from a power tool such as C' in the hands of the user -can be placed or wound loosely into the coils 3A,3B and the degree of slack desired adjusted until set by threading the cable A' into the final coil turn described above to be gripped thereby substantially immovably. The cable A' can thus run from the power tool C' directly to the device 1 with little slack in the cable, and in consequence there is little danger of cutting the cable. Also, the length of cable A' between a user and the power socket into which plug B' is connected always follows the user and remains clear of the power tool C'. * 20

It will be appreciated that the above-described and illustrated cable support device 1 can be used both left handed and right handed.

It will also be appreciated that the coiled, spring-like form of arms 3A, 3B of the cable support device 1 provide a measure of resilient support for the cable A' whereby it can accommodate working and/or walking movements of the user/wearer of the device 1.

Embodiments of the invention may take a form different to that specifically described above with reference to the drawings. For example the support device 1 could be formed from plastics, e.g. injection moulded, rather than from plain wire or plastics-coated wire.

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Other modifications and embodiments of the invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, are to be deemed within the ambit and scope of the invention, and the particular embodiment(s) hereinbefore described may be varied in construction and detail, e.g. interchanging (where appropriate or desired) different features of each, without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

JJJ.iOi.1 812007

Claims

1. A device to support an electric cable on to a person, said device comprising a clip to clip the device onto a garment on said person, and at least one arm extending laterally of the clip and having the form of a coil to encompass a section of electric cable.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein a pair of said arms is provided extending laterally one to each side of the clip.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the device has the form of a generally T-shaped member comprising a shank provided by the said clip and from which said pair of opposed arms extend normally.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein the shank is generally W-shaped with the central V' of the W-shape disposed in the same plane as, or in a plane spaced parallel from, the plane of two side limbs of the W-shape.

5. A device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the device is formed from a single length of wire.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the wire is plastic coated.

7. A device according to any one of Claim 1 to 5, wherein the device is formed as a molding of plastics material.

8. A device according to any preceding Claim, wherein at least one turn of said coil is of smaller diameter than one or more other such turns.

9. A device according to any preceding Claim, wherein at least one turn of said coil is directed in a direction opposite to one or more other such turns.

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10. A device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein said at least one turn is the turn most distal from said clip.

11. A device to support an electric cable on to a person, said device being substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

JJJ.tOl..I.W2007