WO2025259298A1

WO2025259298A1 - Cable manager device and cable management system using same

Info

Publication number: WO2025259298A1
Application number: PCT/US2024/035706
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Leonard BLACKBURN
Original assignee: Workrite Ergonomics LLC
Current assignee: Workrite Ergonomics LLC
Priority date: 2024-06-11
Filing date: 2024-06-27
Publication date: 2025-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-11

Abstract

A cable manager device including a dip having an elongated body including a proximal end, a distal end and an upper surface. The proximal end further including a hook having an arm spaced from the upper surface of the body and including a ramped leading edge and a first projection extending normal to and opposite the upper surface of the body. The body further including a second projection extending normal to and opposite the upper surface of the body and being spaced from the first projection and toward the distal end, and a cable receiving area. Also provided is a cable management system for a table including an aforementioned cable manager device that connects to a support member of the table frame.

Description

TITLE

Cable Manager Device And Cable Management System Using Same

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/658,608, filed June 11 , 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] The present disclosure is generally directed to devices for holding cables and/or wires adjacent a work table. More particularly , the present disclosure is directed to a cable manager device and a cable management system that uses the cable manager device to connect cables and/or wires to a table frame to hold the cables and/or wires close to the frame and underlying a tabletop.

Description of Related Art

[0003] Many tables have electrically powered features, such as power outlets or motors used to raise, lower or tilt a tabletop. Inclusion of such electrically powered features requires power to be carried to the table and provided to the energized features. This generally requires cables and/or wires to be routed along the frame and underside of a table, in an effort to avoid a user of the table from interfering with, pushing or pulling on such cables or wires. Cable retention devices, which also may be known as cable managers, may be difficult to connect to a table frame or tabletop and may require the use of screws and tools to secure such devices. Issues may arise as gravity and the weight of cables or wires may tend to cause the devices to sag or bend, potentially subjecting the cables or wires to being contacted by a user or by objects placed underneath the table. SUMMARY

[0004] The disclosure pertains to improved apparatus to hold cables and/or wires adjacent a table frame and/or lower surface of a tabletop. The improved apparatus is in the form of a cable manager device, which may be employed in a cable management system for a table.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a cable manager device including a clip having an elongated body including a proximal end, a distal end and an upper surface. The proximal end further including a hook having an arm spaced from the upper surface of the body and including a ramped leading edge and a first projection extending normal to and opposite the upper surface of the body. The body further including a second projection extending normal to and opposite the upper surface of the body and being spaced from the first projection and toward the distal end, and a cable receiving area.

[0006] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a cable management system for a table including a cable manager device according to the first aspect. The cable management system includes a tabletop having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a table frame connected to the lower surface of the tabletop. The table frame includes at least one support member adjacent the lower surface of the tabletop and the at least one support member includes a bridge element spaced downward from the tabletop and providing a slot between the lower surface of the tabletop and the bridge element. A cable manager device according to the first aspect is connected to the at least one support member of the table frame, wherein the proximal end of the body of the cable manager device extends through the slot between the bridge element and the lower surface of the tabletop, the cable manager device receives the bridge element between the first and second projections and the upper surface of the body engages the lower surface of the tabletop.

[0007] The present disclosure provides several aspects of the subject matter which may be embodied separately or together in the device and system described and claimed herein. These aspects may be employed alone or in combination with other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and the description of these aspects together is not intended to preclude the use of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspects separately or in different combinations as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] In describing the preferred example embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like parts have like reference numerals, and wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a lower perspective view of an example of a table frame and tabletop having a cable management system using a plurality of cable manager devices, which are included in an area designated Detail A;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged lower perspective view showing the area designated Detail A in FIG. 1 ;

[001 1 ] FIG. 3 is a lower perspective view of one of the cable manager devices shown in FIGS. 1-2;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the cable manager device shown in FIG. 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a cable manager device connected to a support member extending along an end of a table leg head assembly; and

[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a cable manager device connected to a support member extending along a side of a table leg head assembly.

[0015] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with some views enlarged for enhanced viewing. While some details of the example cable manager devices and cable management systems using such cable manager devices, including other views may not be shown, such details are considered to be within the comprehension of those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. It also should be understood that the present disclosure and claims are not limited to the preferred embodiments illustrated. DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The embodiments disclosed herein are for the purpose of providing a description of the present subject matter, and it is understood that the subject matter may be embodied in various other forms and combinations not shown in detail. Therefore, specific designs and features disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting the subject matter as defined in the accompanying claims.

[0017] Referring generally to FIGS. 1-6, it will be appreciated that a cable manager device, used in a cable management system to hold cables and/or wires adjacent a table frame and tabletop of the present disclosure may be embodied in numerous configurations.

[0018] An example cable manager device 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-6. The cable manager device 10 includes a clip having an elongated body 14 including a proximal end 16, a distal end 18 and an upper surface 20. The proximal end 16 further includes a hook 22 having an arm 24 spaced from the upper surface 20 of the body 14. The hook 22 includes a ramped leading edge 26 and a first projection 28 extending normal to and opposite the upper surface 20 of the body 14. The body 14 further includes a second projection 30 extending normal to and opposite the upper surface 20 of the body 14 and being spaced from the first projection 28 and toward the distal end 18, and a cable receiving area 32.

[0019] As best shown in FIG. 4, the body 14 of the cable manager device 10 has a planar surface 34 between the first and second projections 28, 30. The planar surface 34 is parallel to an opposed portion 36 of the upper surface 20 of the body 14. The proximal end 16 of the body 14 further includes an extension 38, which extends the upper surface 20 of the body 14 and is parallel to the arm 24 of the hook 22.

[0020] The body 14 of the present example is shown with at least one central retainer 40 defining a central cable receiving area 42 for holding at least one cable 44 or wire 46. The at least one central retainer 40 further includes at least one central retainer arm 48 extending from and along a central portion 50 of the body 14 and defines the central cable receiving area 42 between the at least one central retainer arm 48 and the central portion 50 of the body 14. [0021] It will be appreciated that the at least one central retainer arm 48 is constructed to have at least some resilience, which permits holding and gripping of cables 44 and/or wires 46. Due to its resilience, length and optional shape having adjacent multiple convex surfaces, the at least one central retainer arm 48 arm may be configured to receive a plurality of different cables 44 or wires 46 in the central cable receiving area 42. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the at least one central retainer arm 48 is configured to receive cables 44 or wires 46 having a plurality of different sizes in the central cable receiving area 42.

[0022] The body 14 of the present example cable manager device 10 also is shown as including at least one distal retainer 52 defining a distal cable receiving area 54 for holding at least one cable 44 or wire 46. The at least one distal retainer 52 further includes at least one distal retainer arm 56 extending from and along a distal portion 58 of the body 14 and defines the distal cable receiving area 54 between the at least one distal retainer arm 56 and the distal portion 58 of the body 14. It will be appreciated that the body 14 may include at least one central retainer 40 and/or at least one distal retainer 52, as needed.

[0023] It will be appreciated that the at least one distal retainer arm 56 is constructed to have at least some resilience, which permits holding and gripping of cables 44 and/or wires 46. Due to its resilience, length and optional shape having multiple adjacent convex surfaces, the at least one distal retainer arm 56 may be configured to receive a plurality of different cables 44 or wires 46 in the distal cable receiving area 54. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the at least one distal retainer arm 56 is configured to receive cables 44 or wires 46 having a plurality of different sizes in the distal cable receiving area 54.

[0024] The body 14 of the cable manager device 10 may be formed of a semirigid material. This provides resilience sufficient to flex to receive cables 44 or wires 46, while also holding or gripping such items to be suspended by the cable manager device 10. Materials, such as various plastics, may provide preferred and suitable characteristics, consistent with this disclosure, for construction of the cable manager device 10. Indeed, in addition to providing some resilience with repeatable or long duration holding capacity, plastics, such as polyoxymethylene (POM), also sometimes referred to as acetal or by its branded name Delrin®, tends to offer suitable performance with respect to stiffness, resilience, insulative properties, low weight and ease of manufacturing.

[0025] The elongated body 14 of the cable manager device 10 also preferably is camber-shaped. This is best shown in FIG. 4 and will be discussed further in the context of a cable manager device 10 with respect to its installation in a cable management system 60.

[0026] The present disclosure also provides a cable management system 60 for a table 62 including a cable manager device 10 according to above description, including a tabletop 64 having an upper surface 66 and a lower surface 68, and a table frame 70 connected to the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64. The table frame 70 includes at least one support member 72 and/or 74, for example, adjacent the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64. The at least one support member 72 and/or 74 includes a bridge element 76 spaced downward from the tabletop 64 and which provides a slot 78 between the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64 and the bridge element 76. The cable management system 60 further includes a cable manager device 10 according to the above description. The cable manager device 10 is connected to the at least one support member 72 and/or 74 of the table frame 70, wherein the proximal end 16 of the body 14 of the cable manager device 10 extends through the slot 78 between the bridge element 76 and the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64. The cable manager device 10 receives the bridge element 76 between the first and second projections 28, 30 and the upper surface 20 of the body 14 engages the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64.

[0027] It will be appreciated that each bridge element 76 is deformed out of a plane associated with a horizontal portion of a support member 72 and/or 74 of the table frame 70. The at least one support member 72 and/or 74 of the table frame 70 of the cable manager system 60 is constructed of a rigid material. For example, the rigid material of the at least one support member 72 and/or 74 preferably is metal, but it will be understood that other suitable rigid materials, including for example some plastics, may be used.

[0028] Inclusion of a bridge element 76 that provides a slot 78 advantageously permits toolless assembly of a cable manager device 10 to a support member 72 and/or 74. The ramped leading edge 26 of the hook 22 facilitates insertion of the proximal end 16 and its first projection 28 through the slot 78 until insertion is stopped by the second projection 30. Thus, the cable manager device 10 is automatically self-locating and self-locking and needs no adjustment. The cable manager device 10 also may be removed by flexing the arm 24 of the hook 22 toward the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 62 and then pulling from the distal end 18 to withdraw the proximal end 16 from the slot 78 between the bridge element 76 and the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64.

[0029] The elongated body 14 of the cable manager device 10 also preferably is camber-shaped. This is best shown in FIGS. 3-4. The bend or camber shape in the body 14 provides some spring bias that has multiple functions. For instance, the camber helps to counteract the force of gravity and the weight of the cables 44 and/or wires 46, which assists in keeping the cable manager device 10 tight to a lower surface 68 of a tabletop 64. The camber improves retention of the cable manager device 10 by biasing the hook 22 toward the bridge element 76. The camber also tends to reduce lateral movement of the cable manager device 10, due to friction exerted by the planar surface 34 of the body 14 against the bridge element 76 and by the upper surface 20 of the body 14 against the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64. The camber additionally is helpful to eliminate the potential for rattling or noise that may be associated with a loose connection of the cable manager device 10 to the table frame 70 and tabletop 64. It will be appreciated that the bend or camber-shape in the body 14 of the cable manager device 10 is shown in FIGS. 3-4, but is not shown in the assembly views in FIGS. 1-2 and 5-6, wherein the cable manager device 10 is installed in the slot 78 against the bridge element 76 and the lower surface 60 of the tabletop 64, wherein it is flexed generally to a planar shape. [0030] As shown, for example in FIGS. 1-2 and 6, the at least one support member 72 of the table frame 70 is adjacent the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64 and the support member 72 extends along an end 80 of a table leg head assembly 82. As further shown, for example in FIGS. 1-2 and 5, the at least one support member 74 of the table frame 70 is adjacent the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64 and the support member 74 extends along a side 84 of a table leg head assembly 82.

[0031 ] It will be appreciated that a table frame 70 may include various further components, including a leg assembly 86 and foot assembly 88. In the example shown, the ieg assembly 86 is a motorized, height-adjustable telescopic leg assembly having at least an inner leg member 90 slidably connected at its upper end to the table leg head assembly 82 and an outer leg member 92 fixedly connected to the foot assembly 88. It will be appreciated that the table leg head assembly 82 is shown with an inner end 94 having ports to receive ends of cables 44 and/or wires 46. For further support of a central portion of the tabletop 64, the table frame 70 also may include a central support 96 connected at each end to a table ieg head assembly 82, via suitable fasteners.

[0032] It also will be appreciated that the cable management system 60, which includes at least one support member 72 and/or 74 of the table frame 70 adjacent the lower surface 68 of the tabletop 64 may further include a plurality of bridge elements 76 and slots 78 available to receive a plurality of cable manager devices 10. This is shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-2, wherein both the support member 72 extending along an end 80 of the leg head assembly 82 and the support member 74 extending along a side of the leg head assembly 82 include two bridge elements 76, which provide slots 78 for connection to cable manager devices 10.

[0033] As noted, the example embodiments and methods disclosed herein are for the purpose of providing a description of the present subject matter, and it is understood that the subject matter may be embodied in various other forms and combinations not shown in detail. Therefore, specific designs and features disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting the subject matter as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1 . A cable manager device comprising: a clip having an elongated body including a proximal end, a distal end and an upper surface; the proximal end further comprising a hook having an arm spaced from the upper surface of the body and including a ramped leading edge and a first projection extending normal to and opposite the upper surface of the body; the body further comprising a second projection extending normal to and opposite the upper surface of the body and being spaced from the first projection and toward the distal end, and a cable receiving area.

2. The cable manager device according to claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a planar surface between the first and second projections, with said planar surface being parallel to and opposed portion of the upper surface of the body.

3. The cable manager device according to claim 1 . wherein the proximal end of the body further comprises an extension, which extends the upper surface of the body and is parallel to the arm of the hook.

4. The cable manager device according to claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises at least one central retainer defining a central cable receiving area for holding at least one cable or wire.

5. The cable manager device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one central retainer further comprises at least one central retainer arm extending from and along a central portion of the body and defining the central cable receiving area between the at least one retainer arm and the central portion of the body.

6. The cable manager device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one central retainer arm is configured to receive a plurality of different cables or wires in the central cable receiving area.

7. The cable manager device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one central retainer arm is configured to receive cables or wires having a plurality of different sizes in the central cable receiving area.

8. The cable manager device according to claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises at least one distal retainer defining a distal cable receiving area for holding at least one cable or wire.

9. The cable manager device according to claim 4, wherein the body further comprises at least one distal retainer defining a distal cable receiving area for holding at least one cable or wire.

10. The cable manager device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one distal retainer further comprises at least one distal retainer arm extending from and along a distal portion of the body and defining the distal cable receiving area between the at least one distal retainer arm and the distal portion of the body.

11. The cable manager device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one distal retainer arm is configured to receive a plurality of different cables or wires in the distal cable receiving area.

12. The cable manager device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one distal retainer arm is configured to receive cables or wires having a plurality of different sizes in the distal cable receiving area.

13. The cable manager device according to claim 1 , wherein the body is formed of a semi-rigid material.

14. The cable manager device according to claim 13, wherein the material is plastic.

15. The cable manager device according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is camber-shaped.

16. A cable management system for a table including a cable manager device according to claim 1 , comprising: a tabletop having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a table frame connected to the lower surface of the tabletop; the table frame including at least one support member adjacent the lower surface of the tabletop; the at least one support member including a bridge element spaced downward from the tabletop and providing a slot between the lower surface of the tabletop and the bridge element; a cable manager device according to claim 1 connected to the at least one support member of the table frame; wherein the proximal end of the body of the cable manager device extends through the slot between the bridge element and the lower surface of the tabletop, the cable manager device receives the bridge element between the first and second projections and the upper surface of the body engages the lower surface of the tabletop.

17. The cable manager system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one support member of the table frame is constructed of a rigid material.

18. The cable manager system according to claim 17, wherein the rigid material is metal.

19. The cable manager system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one support member of the table frame adjacent the lower surface of the tabletop further comprises a support member extending along a side of a table leg head assembly.

20. The cable manager system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one support member of the table frame adjacent the lower surface of the tabletop further comprises a support member extending along an end of a table leg head assembly.

21. The cable manager system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one support member of the table frame adjacent the lower surface of the tabletop further comprises a plurality of bridge elements and slots available to receive a plurality of cable manager devices according to claim 1 .