The present invention relates to a cable attachment, for use particularly, but not exclusively to label cables for future reference.

Many modern devices are connected to other devices by electrical power or communications cables. Unfortunately such cables are often very similar to one another, and when a large number of devices are interconnected in close proximity to one another the cables can easily be confused.

This problem is exacerbated when cables are integrated into buildings, for example when a networked computer system is set up. Many different cables may be routed to a particular junction point where they can be mixed up, and where it is not possible to physically trace a cable back to its associated device.

It is of course possible to label such cables with tags or adhesive labels, but such solutions often fail because the attachment to the cable is weak, or because the attached item can move along a cable, away from where it is needed.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above problems.

Therefore, according to the present invention a cable attachment comprises a first part, a second part and connection means, in which the first part and the second part are moveable between an open position in which a subject cable is placable between them and a closed position in which they define a cable chamber, in which the connection means is adapted to connect the first part and the second part together in the closed position, in which an inner surface of the first part and/or the second part is provided with grip means adapted to retain a subject cable in the cable chamber. Thus, a cable attachment is provided which can be secured in a particular position on a cable, for the purposes of identifying it for future reference. This is particularly useful for attaching to the ends of cables before they are fed through a portion of a building to a junction point some distance away.

Whilst identification of cables is the primary purpose of the invention, it is also possible to use the cable attachment for other purposes, such as to mark the location on a cable of a certain point.

Preferably the cable chamber can have a main axis, and the grip means can comprise one or more projections which extend from the first part and/or the second part towards said main axis.

In one version of the invention the one or more projections can comprise a first wall provided on the inner surface of the first part, and a second wall provided on the inner surface of the second part. These walls can be axially spaced apart along said axis, and they can be adapted to pin the subject cable against the inner surface of the second part and the first part respectively. As such, a subject cable retained in the cable chamber is forced over one wall and then under another, and at the point where they pass these walls they are held in position. Such a construction provides a secure attachment to the cable.

As an alternative, or in combination with the above, the one or more projections can comprise a plurality of spring members provided on the inner surface of the first part and/or the second part, which spring members can be adapted to be placed under compression between the inner surface on which they are provided and a subject cable held in the cable chamber. This particular construction is advantageous because it allows for the cable attachment to be used with cables of varying diameters, which displace the spring members to a greater or a lesser degree. In one embodiment the one or more spring members can comprise a first pair of resilient panels provided at a first end of the first part, and a corresponding second pair of resilient panels provided at a first end of the second part. When the first part and the second part are arranged in the closed position upper and/or inner edges of the first and second pair of panels can co-operate to define a resiliently deformable aperture adapted to grip a subject cable passed therethrough. This particular arrangement is advantageous because cables of different diameters can be secured in the cable chamber, as the resilient panels can be displaced to a greater or a lesser extent to accommodate them.

Preferably the panels of the first pair can be arranged symmetrically at oblique angles to said axis and the panels of the second pair can also be arranged symmetrically at oblique angles to said axis, such that the first and second pair of panels can co-operate to define a concave structure with the resiliently deformable aperture at its centre, and which faces outwardly of the cable attachment. With this particular construction the panels are arranged at an oblique angle to a cable aligned with said axis, and when such a cable is disposed in the aperture in use each panel is flexed in a similar way toward the interior of the cable chamber, thereby gripping said cable.

The same construction can be provided at a second end of the cable attachment, comprising a third and fourth pair of resilient panels which co-operate to define a resiliently deformable aperture adapted to grip a subject cable passed therethrough. Again, the panels of the third and fourth pair can be arranged symmetrically at oblique angles to said axis such that they co-operate to define a concave structure with the resiliently deformable aperture at its centre, and which faces outwardly of the cable attachment.

It will be appreciated that any of the particular projections described above can be used, but in a preferred construction they are all present. -A-

The first part and the second part can be separate from one another, but in a preferred construction they can be connected together by a hinge. The first part, the second part and the hinge can be integrally formed with one another. This can be achieved using known plastics materials.

The connection means can be adapted to releasably connect the first part to the second part in the closed position. In one construction the connection means can comprise one or more resilient latches provided on the first part and one or more corresponding catches provided on the second part.

As referred to above, the cable attachment can be for any purpose, but preferably it can be for labelling cables. As such, the outer surface of the first part and/or the outer surface of the second part can be adapted to receive manually applied indicia. This can be achieved with a known finish or surface coating.

It is not necessary for the cable attachment to completely enclose the cable, but in one embodiment the cable chamber encloses the cable.

The invention can be performed in various ways but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cable attachment according to the invention in an open position;

Figure 2 is an end view of the cable attachment shown in Figure 1; and,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cable attachment shown in Figure 1 in a closed position. As shown in the Figures a cable attachment 1 comprises a first part 2, a second part 3 and connection means, in the form of hinge portions 4 between the first part 2 and the second part 3, resilient latches 5 provided on the first part 2, and catches 6 provided on the second part 3. The first part 2 and the second part 3 are moveble between an open position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which a subject cable (not shown) is placable between them, and a closed position, as shown in Figure 3, in which they define a cable chamber 7. As referred to further below, the connection means (5, 6) is adapted to connect the first part 2 and the second part 3 together in the closed position. As also referred to further below an inner surface 8, 9 of the first part 2 and/or the second part 3 is provided with grip means adapted to retain a subject cable in the cable chamber 7.

The first part 2 and the second part 3 are elongate trough-shaped components which are integrally formed with one another, and with the hinge portions 4, from moulded polypropylene. As shown in Figure 3, when the first part 2 and the second part 3 are arranged in the closed position they form an elongate tube with a generally square cross-section, which has a main axis down its middle, and which defines the cable chamber 7.

Referring to Figure 1, a first wall 10 is provided on the inner surface 8 of the first part 2, and a second wall 11 provided on the inner surface 9 of the second part 3. As is clear from Figure 1, the first wall 10 and the second wall 11 are arranged such that when the first part 2 and the second part 3 are arranged in the closed position as shown in Figure 3, the first wall 10 and the second wall 11 are spaced apart along the main axis of the cable chamber 7.

As shown in Figure 2, the first wall 10 and the second wall 11 are less than the height of the first part 2 and the second part 3 respectively, and as such when the first part 2 and the second part 3 are arranged in the closed position, a gap is provided between the upper edge 12 of the first wall 10 and the inner surface 9 of the second part 3, and between the upper edge 13 of the second wall 11 and the inner surface 8 of the first part 2. With this construction a generally "S" shaped passageway is created inside the cable chamber 7, and a subject cable placed therein is pinned against the inner surfaces 9 and 8 by the first wall 10 and the second wall 11. In other words, a subject cable retained in the cable chamber 7 is forced over one wall and then under another, and at the point where it passes these walls it is held in position.

It will be appreciated that this feature requires a subject cable to be small enough in diameter to pass between the upper edges 12 and 13 of the walls 10 and 11 and the opposite inner surfaces 9 and 8. Most cables are resilient to a certain extent, and as such a range of cable diameters can be accommodated by the construction shown in the Figures. However, cable attachment 1 is specifically sized to co-operate with cables of up to 6mm in diameter, and the walls 10 and 11 are sized appropriately.

The inner surface 8 is provided with a first pair of resilient panels 14 and 15 at a first end 16 thereof. The inner surface 9 is provided with a second pair of resilient panels 17 and 18 at a first end 19 thereof. As is clear from Figure 1, the panels 14 and 15 are arranged symmetrically at oblique angles to the main axis of the cable chamber 7. The same is true of panels 17 and 18. Panels 14, 15, 17 and 18 are provided with upper and inner edges 20 and 21, 22 and 23, 24 and 25 and 26 and 27 respectively.

Referring to Figure 3, when the first part 2 and the second part 3 are arranged in the closed position the panels 14, 15, 17 and 18 co-operate to define a concave structure with a resilient deformable aperture 28 at its centre, and which faces outwardly of the cable attachment 1. In the neutral position shown in Figure 1, the aperture 28 is defined by the four inner edges 21, 23, 25 and 27. However, it will be appreciated that when the cable attachment 1 is placed around a subject cable the panels 14, 15, 17 and 18 will flex towards the interior of the cable chamber 7, and the aperture 28 will open out into a cross-shape defined by the inner edges 21, 23, 25 and 27, and the upper edges 20, 22, 24 and 26. The aperture 28 will open out in this way because the orientation of the panels 14, 15, 17 and 18 is such that when they are forced against a subject cable they will flex towards the interior of the cable chamber 7. This flexure leads to the subject cable being gripped from four angles.

As referred to above the cable attachment 1 is adapted to be used with cables of up to 6mm in diameter, and the panels 14, 15, 17 and 18 are adapted to flex to accommodate such diameters. Again, it will be appreciated that the panels can accommodate a range of diameter sizes because they have a spring element to them, so cable attachment 1 can be used with cable diameters within a given range.

The same construction is provided at a second end 29 of the cable attachment 1, by third pair of panels 30 and 31, and fourth part of panels 32 and 33.

Referring to Figure 3, an outer surface 34 of the first part 2 is provided with a known finish adapted to receive manually applied indicia, in the form of pen written words or numbers. This outer surface 34 can also be used to support applied sticky labels.

Therefore, in use cable attachment 1 is applied to a subject cable by arranging the first part 2 and the second part 3 around the cable, and moving them into the closed position. As this action is performed the subject cable is forced into an "S" configuration inside the cable chamber 7 as the first wall 10 and the second wall 11 pin it against the opposite interior surfaces 9 and 8. At the same time, the panels 14, 15, 17, 18, and 30 to 33 are flexed towards the interior of the cable chamber 7, applying a spring-loaded gripping force to the subject cable.

The resilient latches 5 ride over the catches 6 in the known way, and snap into position behind them to lock the first part 2 and the second part 3 together, and thus the cable attachment 1 to the subject cable.

In this manner the cable attachment 1 is held securely to the cable, and in such a way that it is prevented from moving axially thereon. In particular, the subject cable is pinned in place by the walls 10 and 11, and in an "S" configuration which cannot easily pass through the cable chamber 7. In addition, the subject cable cannot pass in an outward direction of the aperture 28, because such movement would urge the panels 14, 15, 17 and 18 closer together, thus forming a tighter grip on the cable. The same is true of the panels 30 to 33 at the second end 29 of the cable attachment 1

Once in place a user can apply a labelling in the form of written words or numbers, or a sticky label, to the outer surface 34, which labelling relate to the identity of the subject cable.

If the cable attachment 1 needs to be removed from the subject cable, the latches 5 are forced inwardly, either manually or with the use of a tool, such that they can be released from the catches 6, and the first part 2 and the second part 3 can be rotated away from one another about the hinge portions 4.

The above described embodiment can be altered without departing from the scope of Claim 1. For example, in alternative embodiments (not shown) the resilient panels are omitted, or the walls are omitted. Cable attachment 1 is adapted for use with cables of up to 6mm in diameter, however in another alternative embodiment (not shown) a cable attachment is sized to accommodate cables of up to 12mm in diameter.

In one other alternative embodiment the first part is formed with trigger sections below the latches which can be depressed to release the latches from the catches.

Therefore, a cable attachment is provided which is very easy to manufacture and to use, and which can be applied to subject cables so they can easily be identified for future reference. This is useful when a number of devices are connected together in close proximity. As the cable attachment cannot be moved axially on the cable, it is also very useful for attaching to the ends of cables before they are fed through a portion of a building to a junction point some distance away. The cable attachment of the invention is also advantageous because it can be removed therefrom later without leaving any damage.