The invention relates to an anchoring clamp for a cable, of the type comprising two jaws and clamping means adapted to drive the jaws toward each other along a clamping direction so as to clamp the cable between the jaws, the two jaws comprising two respective clamping parts facing each other, each clamping part comprising at least one groove therein extending along a centreline, the groove of one of the clamping part facing the groove of the other clamping part such that the grooves define between them a channel for accommodating the cable.

FR-A-2 834 590 discloses an anchoring clamp of this type, wherein the clamping parts are plastics linings, one lining having a convex face and the other having a concave face so that the grooves define curved accommodating channels. Nevertheless, such an anchoring clamp is expensive to manufacture.

An object of the invention is to provide an anchoring clamp of this type that can be manufactured at low cost, the anchoring clamp being nevertheless capable of withstanding high forces exerted on the cable.

This problem is at least partly solved by an anchoring clamp of the aforementioned type, wherein the clamping parts are identical, and the centreline of each of the grooves of the clamping parts comprises two successive coplanar portions having respective concavities oriented in opposite directions relative to said centreline. Thanks to these features, the clamping parts are identical. This allows to manufacture the clamp according to the invention with less parts.

The jaw of the invention may comprise one or several of the features corresponding to claims 2-9.

The invention also comprises use of an anchoring clamp as defined above for clamping a carrying cable of a cable assembly comprising said carrying cable and an insulated electric conductor connected to said carrying cable.

The invention will be better understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings representing, by way of a non- limiting example, an embodiment of an anchoring clamp according to the invention. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a clamp according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled clamp; Figure 3 is a front view the assembled clamp; and Figure 4 is a side view of the assembled clamp. The cable anchoring clamp 2 shown in the drawings comprises a first jaw 4, a second jaw 6, and screw and nut assemblies 8 for driving the jaws 4, 6 toward each other along a clamping direction D.

Each jaw 4, 6 is made of a metallic support plate respectively 10, 12 and a plastics lining 14 facing the other jaw 4, 6. The linings 14 of the jaws 4, 6 are identical.

As best seen in Figure 1 , each lining 14 is a moulded part having a general paralelipepedic shape, with a rear face 16 facing the corresponding support plate 10, 12, and an opposed front face 18 facing the other jaw 4, 6. The front face 18 of each lining 14 has two spaced apart parallel grooves 20, 22 therein, the grooves 20, 22 extending along opposite edges 24 of the front face 18. The grooves 20, 22 have respective longitudinal centrelines C1 , C2.

As best shown in Figure 4, each groove 20, 22 of each lining 14 has an asymmetrical "C" shaped transverse cross-section, with an external wall adjacent the edge 24 smaller in height than the opposed internal wall of the groove 20, 22. The groove 20 is smaller in width than groove 22.

In a plane view (not shown) of the front face 18 along the clamping direction D, the centrelines C1 , C2 are rectilinear.

As best shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, the front face 18 of each lining 14 exhibits a wave shape undulating in the longitudinal direction of the grooves

20, 22. More specifically, as seen in Fig.1 , the front face 18 comprises two

successive curved regions 26, 28 having respective concavities oriented in opposite direction relative to said front face 18, as illustrated by the arrows F1 and F2 on Figure 1. For example, the region 26 is convex, and the region 28 is concave. Consequently, each centreline C1 , C2 undulates in a plane P1 , P2 that is parallel both to the clamping direction D and the longitudinal direction, and has two successive coplanar curved regions 30, 32 having respective concavities oriented in opposite directions relative to said centreline C1 , C2.

Each lining 14 has an outwardly angled surface 34 extending along each edge 24 and between said edge 24 and an adjacent lateral face 36 of the lining 14.

The front face 18 of each lining 14 has an axis of symmetry S that is perpendicular to the direction D and to the centrelines C1 , C2.

The rear face 16 of each lining 14 defines cavities 38 separated by reinforcing webs 40 so as to obtain a robust though lightweight lining 14.

The rear face 16 comprises at each corner thereof a positioning pin 42 projecting opposite the front face 18.

The linings 14 are identical but disposed in inverted positions such that the concave region 28 of a lining 14 faces the convex region 26 of the other lining 14, and vice-versa. In this position, the front faces 18 mate with each other, and each groove 20, 22 of a lining 14 faces the corresponding groove 20, 22 of the other lining 14 having the same width, the centrelines C1 , C2 of the corresponding grooves 20, 22 being parallel to each other and contained in a common plane parallel to the direction D. The shape of the front faces 18 is fool proofing, as the grooves 20, 22 of same width face each other when the front faces 18 mate each other.

As best seen on Figures 2, 3 and 4, corresponding grooves 20, 22 define between them channels 44 extending along the centrelines C1 , C2 of said grooves 20, 22. Two channels 44 of different diameter are defined. Due to the asymmetrical "C" shape of the grooves 20, 22, each channel 44 has a lateral opening 46 emerging between the adjacent angled

surfaces 34 of the linings 14, said angled surfaces 34 diverging outwardly from said opening 46 (see Fig. 4).

Each support plate 10, 12 has two flat coplanar end portions 48, and an intermediate portion 50 extending between the end portions 48. Each end portion 48 is in contact with the rear face 16 of the corresponding lining 14, and has comers provided with positioning cut-outs 49 (Figure 1) adapted to accommodate the positioning pins 42 of the rear face 16.

The intermediate portion 50 of the second support plate 8 is coplanar with the end portions 48, so that the support plate 12 is flat.

As best seen on Figure 3, the intermediate portion 50 of the first support plate 8 is outwardly offset with respect to the end portions 48. The portion 50 has the shape of an "M" with two legs 51 connected to the end portions 48 and a central portion 52 in a "V" shape having its concavity oriented opposite the corresponding lining 14.

A best seen on Figures 1 and 2, the end portions 48 and the linings 14 are provided with aligned through-holes 53 accommodating the screws 54 of the assemblies 8. Heads 56 of the screws 54 abut against the support plate

10, and rings 58 and nuts 60 are fitted on the opposite ends of the screws 54 to abut against the second support plate 12.

The holes 53 of the support plate 10 are square in shape to mate with a square-end section 55 of the screw 54 to prevent the screw 54 from pivoting about its axis relative to the support plate 10.

The intermediate portions 50 and the linings 14 are provided with aligned through-holes 62 adapted to accommodate a rod (not shown) for fixing the clamp 2 on a stud, for example a concrete stud.

As best seen on Figure 1 , the legs 51 are provided with elongated slots 64 adapted to accommodate a strip (not shown) for fixing the clamp 2 on a stud by passing said strip around said stud. Each support plate 10, 12 has a tab 66 (Figures 1 and 2) projecting from an end portion 48. The tabs 66 face each other and have lumens 68

adapted to accommodate wheels for unwinding a conductor assembly to be clamped by the anchoring clamp 2.

As shown in dash-dot lines in Figure 2, in use, an insulated electric conductor 70 equipped with an insulated carrying cable 72 connected thereto by a plastic web 74 is to be attached to a fixed element such as a stud (not shown) by means the above-described clamp 2.

The assemblies 8 are loosened and the jaws 4, 6 are spread apart.

Depending on the diameter of the cable 72, a section of the cable 72 is introduced in one of the channels 44 such that the web 74 passes through the corresponding opening 46 and the conductor 70 is outside the channel

44.

The assemblies 8 are then tied. Thereby, the jaws 4, 6 are driven toward each other, and the cable 72 is clamped into the channel 44.

The clamp 2 is placed such that the conductor 70 hangs below the cable 72. The diverging angled surfaces 34 prevent the web 74 from being damaged in case of swinging movement of the conductor 70, for example due to the wind.

The grooves 20, 22 having curved regions 30, 32 with opposed concavities provide a wedging effect improving the clamping of the cable 72. To increase the wedging of the cable 72, the bottoms of the grooves 20, 21 are for example provided with transverse ribs 76 (figure 1 ).

As the centrelines C1 , C2 extend in a plane P1 , P2 parallel to the clamping direction D, the cable 62 will easily adopt the curvature of the grooves 20, 22 when clamping the jaws 4, 6. It is possible to manufacture the anchoring clamp 2 with two linings 14 having identical front faces 18, and more advantageously, two identical linings 14. Therefore, a single mould is necessary to manufacture the linings 14, and the manufacturing cost of the clamp 2 is decreased.

Furthermore, the rear face 16 of each lining 14 extends in a flat plane, Therefore the support plates 10, 12 can have a comparatively flat and thin shape. Hence, the clamp 2 is more compact.

Alternatively, the linings 14 are provided with only one groove. Alternatively, each lining and the corresponding support plate are made of a single piece.