k k k

The present invention relates to a support collar for cables, tubes or the like.

As is known, the supporting of cables or pipes in the telecommunications and building sector is achieved by using one or more support collars that can be fixed on perforated plates.

Support collars in fact comprise relatively elastic structures obtained by means of respective open profiles, which can be splayed to be rapidly fitted onto the cables or tubes to be supported.

In the document EP 2464907, a support collar is described comprising a laminar structure provided with a flat head portion with a central opening, two side portions extending transversely from said head portion and each having a coupling element suitable for engaging said collar on a support plate or a flat head portion of a further support collar, a retaining clip for a long-shaped article positioned in the area determined by said head portion and said two side portions. Said retaining clip is formed from the structure of a respective side portion of the collar.

This allows a saving of the material used for the production of the support collars; however it limits the possibility of freeing the shape and dimensions of the arms of the clip from the dimensions of the side portions. The elasticity of the retaining arms of said clip together with the presence of side portions without structural folds gives an elastic yield which allows the support collar to easily adapt to different geometries and/or dimensions of the cables or pipes.

It is evident, however, also from the figures, that the collar described in the document EP 2464907 cannot adapt, without the use of sleeves, to cables or pipes having an extremely reduced diameter.

The negative impact of the passive intermodulation or Pirn phenomenon on the infrastructure of mobile radio networks is also known.

Basically, passive intermodulation takes place when various radiofrequency signals, coming from one to several radio base stations, mix together in a site that houses a cell, giving rise to a signal that contains a new set of frequencies.

Undesired signals due to passive intermodulation are generated due to some form of mechanical non-linearity. One of the major causes is the inconsistency of the contacts between metal and metal in the areas affected with high current intensities, such as those inside the transmission lines or within the radiofrequency (RF) components. This may be due to the imperfect preparation of the RF terminations or non-optimal assembly procedures, loosening of screws or rivets inside the RF components, contaminated or oxidized surfaces of the connectors or RF connectors that are not properly tightened.

Passive intermodulation can therefore potentially considerably degrade the quality of the service of new networks, for example Lte (Long Term Evolution) and Hdspa+ (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), and it is of primary importance for telecommunications operators to reduce the negative effects of passive intermodulation in order to be able to install more advanced network infrastructures capable of supporting the transporting of broadband data, without a significant increase in costs and without jeopardizing the performance level.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a support collar for cables, pipes or the like capable of solving the problems described above.

In particular, the objective of the present invention is to provide support collars with an elastically deformable structure and suitable for supporting cables having different geometries and sections, i.e. cables whose thicknesses vary from narrow cross-sections to wide sections.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide stackable support collars which are easy to position along the longitudinal development of the cables or pipes and which guarantee the stable locking of cables and pipes, or the like.

Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the production and marketing costs of support collars. Yet another objective of the present invention to provide support collars which can eliminate the problem of the passive intermodulation phenomenon.

The objectives described above are achieved by means of a support collar produced according to what is expressed in the claims .

The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear even more evident from the following description, referring to the attached schematic drawings, which show non-limiting embodiment examples of the invention itself. In the drawings:

figure 1 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables; figures la and lb are perspective views of the collar of figure 1;

figure 2 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables with a larger diameter than the diameter of the cable lockable in the collar of figure 1;

figures 2a and 2b are perspective views of the collar of figure 2;

figure 3 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables with a larger diameter than the diameter of the cable lockable in the collar of figure 1 or 2;

figures 3a and 3b are perspective views of the collar of figure 3;

figure 4 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables with a larger diameter than the diameter of the cable lockable in the collar of figure 1, 2 or 3;

figures 4a and 4b are perspective views of the collar of figure 4;

figure 5 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a second embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables; figures 5a and 5b are perspective views of the collar of figure 5;

figure 6 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a second embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables with a larger diameter than the diameter of the cable lockable in the collar of figure 5;

figures 6a and 6b are perspective views of the collar of figure 6; figure 7 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a second embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables with a larger diameter than the diameter of the cable lockable in the collar of figure 5 or 6;

figures 7a and 7b are perspective views of the collar of figure 7;

figure 8 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a second embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables with a larger diameter than the diameter of the cable lockable in the collar of figure 5, 6 or 7;

figures 8a and 8b are perspective views of the collar of figure 8;

- figure 9 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a third embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables; figures 9a and 9b are perspective views of the collar of figure 9;

- figure 10 is a front view of a support collar for cables, pipes or the like, partly splayed, produced according to a third embodiment of the present invention, for locking cables with a larger diameter than the diameter of the cable lockable in the collar of figure 9;

figures 10a and 10b are perspective views of the collar of figure 10;

- figure 11 is a schematic front view of two support collars, according to the previous figures, stacked on top of each other;

- figures 11a and lib are perspective views of the stacked collars of figure 11;

- figure 12 is a schematic front view of two support collars, according to the previous figures, stacked on top of each other and engaged on a support plate.

With reference to the figures, a support collar for cables, pipes or the like is indicated as a whole with 1.

The support collar 1 is made of plastic material.

In particular it is made of flexible, elastic and resistant plastic material.

According to the present invention the support collar 1 for cables, pipes or the like comprises:

a head portion 2, having at least one pass-through opening 3; two side portions 4 extending transversely and substantially perpendicularly from said head portion 2 and ending with two respective abutment portions 9 positioned parallel to said head portion 2;

each of said abutment portions 9 being provided with at least one respective coupling element 5 suitable for engaging said collar 1 on a support plate 15 or a head portion 2 of a further support collar 1, said side portions 4, said abutment portions 9 and said head portion 2 of said support collar 1 delimiting an area 6 for the partial housing of said cable or pipe C to be supported;

retaining means in correspondence with said housing area 6 to keep said cable or pipe C firmly within said area 6.

Said retaining means comprise at least one clip 7 provided with at least two retaining arms 7 ' which extend inside said housing area 6.

Said arms 7' of said retaining clip 7 are flexibly connected to at least one of said portions 2, 4, 9 of the collar 1 and can be elastically splayed to engage said cable or pipe C and withhold the latter within said housing area 6 upon the action of an elastic pressure exerted transversely with respect to the longitudinal development of said cable or pipe C.

The support collar 1 further comprises at least one flap 8 configured to cooperate with each of said at least two retaining arms 7', wherein said at least one flap 8 extends from the surface facing said housing area 6 of each abutment portion 9 towards said head portion 2 and extends into the housing area 6, said at least one flap being positioned opposite the retaining arms 7', so that said at least one flap 8 is abutted against said at least one retaining arm 7' when the cable or pipe C is engaged in said at least one clip 7.

Said opening 3, shown as circular, can have any shape, such -g-

as, for example, rectangular, square, elliptical or the like.

Furthermore, the opening 3, according to an embodiment not shown, can be surrounded by a reinforcement collar.

Said head portion 2, said two side portions 4 and said abutment portions 9 preferably have a substantially flat development .

Thanks to the coupling element 5, each abutment portion 9 of the support collar 1 can therefore be arranged against a corresponding surface of the support plate 15 or the head portion 2 of another support collar 1.

Said two side portions 4 extend perpendicularly, or obliquely, with respect to the head portion 2 to define a square, inverted U-shaped open profile.

Each of said two side portions has at least one window 4' so that said side portion is produced in the form of a frame, giving the collar 1, in particular the two side portions 4, a certain lightness and elastic yield along directions transverse to said side portions side 4.

As is evident from the figures, the two side portions 4, the two abutment portions 9 and the head portion 2 of each collar 1 delimit an area 6 for the partial housing of an electric cable, a conduit, a pipe, a bar or similar objects having an elongated shape C (figure 12) .

The retaining means such as at least one clip 7, with at least two arms 7', and flaps 8 are provided within said area 6, in order to keep the cable or pipe C in a stable position.

As illustrated in the figures, said retaining arms 7' are preferably flexibly connected to the corresponding edge 2' of said head portion 2 with said side portions 4 and said at least one flap 8 extends from the surface facing said housing area 6 of each abutment portion 9 towards said head portion 2.

Each of the two arms 7 ' of said retaining clip 7 cooperates with at least one flap 8 which extends obliquely from the surface, facing the housing area 6, of each abutment portion 9 towards the corresponding side portion 4.

More specifically, said at least one flap 8 bends slightly towards the corresponding side portion 4, when it is abutted or in direct or indirect contact through at least one abutment element 11, as described hereunder, with the corresponding retaining arm 7' in the presence of the cable or pipe C inserted between said two arms 7 ' .

The retaining arms 7' can be elastically splayed to withhold the cable or pipe C by transversely exerting on the latter, in combination with said flaps 8, a pressure sufficient for keeping it in a stable position, whatever the diameter of said cable or pipe C may be.

The arms 1' , cooperating with the respective flap(s) 8, transversely constrain the cable or pipe C to the support collar 1, thus facilitating the operators in mounting the cables or pipes C. According to an embodiment not illustrated, the cable or pipe C can be held by arms 7 ' which extend from respective edges positioned on the opposite side of the head portion 2, in correspondence with the coupling elements 5, said arms Ί' cooperating with flaps 8 provided on the head portion 2, laterally with respect to the pass-through opening 3, and which extend inside the housing area 6.

There can obviously also be the provision that the arms 7' extend inside the housing area 6 starting directly from the side portions 4 or from the head portion 2, adjacent to the opening 3.

With reference to the retaining means 7 and in particular to the arms 7', each retaining arm 7' comprises a first substantially V-shaped segment 7a which extends from a respective edge 2', 2'' of the collar 1 towards the centre of the housing area 6. A second curved segment 7b develops from said first segment 7a, with a concavity directed towards the centre of the housing area 6 which provides a suitable resting surface for the outer surface of the cable or pipe C to be supported.

A third segment 7c extends from the first segment 7a, in the opposite direction to the second curved segment 7b, towards the centre of the housing area 6, with a curvature similar to the second segment 7b to define a further housing and engagement portion of the cable or pipe C. In order to increase the grip of the arms 7 ' , one or more teeth, dowels or retaining blades 10 can be provided on the curved surface of said second segment 7b and/or third segment 7c, facing the centre of the housing area 6 and destined for coming into contact with the outer surface of the cable or pipe C to be supported.

As can be seen from the figures, said segments 7a, 7b and 7c can have different dimensions and curvatures so as to adapt to the dimensions of the cable or pipe C to be supported.

In particular, as shown in figures 1-4 and 5-8, the second segment 7b has dimensions and/or curvature which vary according to the diameter of the cable or pipe C.

As is evident from the figures, the second segment 7b of the arm 7' of each side portion 4, in particular its surface opposite to that facing the centre of the housing area 6 and therefore its surface opposite to that in contact with the cable or pipe C, cooperates with at least one flap 8 provided on each abutment portion 9 and facing the housing area 6.

Said flap 8 ensures a stable and secure positioning of the cable or pipe C between the arms 7' of the retaining means 7, when the support collar 1 is constrained to the support plate 15 or to a further support collar 1.

When the cable or pipe C is engaged between the arms 7' of the retaining means 7, as said arms 7' are elastically yielding, they receive the cable in correspondence with the second segment 7b and rest on the surface of said flaps 8, which, as they are elastically yielding, offer an elastic resistance to a further and excessive splaying of the arms 7', guaranteeing a stable retention of the cable in the housing area 6 of the support collar 1.

In particular, the outer surface of said arms 7 ' , facing the side portions 4, in correspondence with the second segment 7b, comes into contact, directly or indirectly, with the surface of said flaps 8.

At least one flap 8 for each of the two abutment portions 9 can be provided.

According to an embodiment illustrated for example in figures 1-8, two flaps 8 are preferably provided, positioned parallel to each other, for each of the two abutment portions 9, the second flap 8 of each portion 9 increasing the elastic resistance offered for splaying the arms 7' when the cable or pipe C is inserted in the retaining means 7.

Figures 9 and 10, on the other hand, show a further embodiment with a flap 8 extending from each of the two abutment portions 9.

As illustrated in the figures, in particular in figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, in order to ensure contact between the arms 7', in particular between the second segments 7b and said flaps 8, at least one abutment element 11, in the form of a tooth or the like, can be provided on the outer surface of each of said second segments 7b of the arms 7', i.e. on the surface of said second segments 7b directed towards each side portion 4, which ensures indirect contact between the flaps 8 and arms 7' even when the cable or pipe C has a reduced diameter and consequently the retaining means 7 of said cable or pipe C, in turn having reduced dimensions, are positioned centrally in the housing area 6, occupying a small space inside said area 6, and thus being positioned spaced apart from said flaps 8.

As is evident from the figures, the function of retaining the cable or pipe C by the retaining means 7 is independent and not conditioned by the coupling function of the support collar 1 to the support plate 15 or to a further support collar 1.

The retaining arms Ί' ensure the engagement of the collar 1 to the cable or pipe C independently of the engagement of the support collar 1 and another collar 1 or plate 15.

This offers the advantage of making it easier for operators to mount the cables.

The coupling element 5 of each side portion 4 of the support collar 1 extends, externally to the housing area 6, from the surface of a respective abutment portion 9, said abutment portion 9 extending substantially parallel to the head portion 2 with a substantially flat development to ensure a stable support of the support collar 1 to the plate 15 or to the head portion 2 of another support collar 1.

Thanks to the coupling element 5 the collar 1 is abutted on another collar 1 or a plate 15.

With reference to figures 1-4, each coupling element 5 comprises a plate 5a which extends transversely, perpendicularly to the surface of the abutment portion 9, on the opposite side with respect to the head portion 2. A wedge- shaped element 5b with a rounded profile and an inclined surface 5c with respect to the plate 5a, is provided on the surface of said plate 5a, to facilitate the introduction of the coupling element 5 into the opening 3 of a second support collar 1 or into the hole of a plate 15.

Said wedge 5b has an abutment surface 5d substantially parallel to the surface of the abutment plate 9 which is abutted against the surface of the abutment portion 9 of a second collar 1, as shown in figure 11 or against the surface of a plate 15, as illustrated in figure 12.

According to a further embodiment illustrated in figures 5- 8, and clearly visible in figures 5a-8a, a T-shaped element 5e is provided on the surface of said plate 5a, with a head portion having a rounded profile and an elongated portion with an inclined surface which exerts the same function as the wedge-shaped element 5b described above, offering the advantage of further lightening the structure of the collar 1 and allowing a saving of the plastic material used for its production .

It is obviously possible to provide other embodiments of said coupling element 5, for example a coupling element 5 with two wedge-shaped elements arranged on the sides of the respective plate 5a.

Thanks to the present invention, an economical, lightweight cable support collar has been obtained which is easy to produce and solves the problem of passive intermodulation.

Furthermore, thanks to the elasticity of the plastic material used for the production and the presence of the arms 7' of the retaining means which cooperate with flaps 8, a stable support of the cable C is obtained so as to facilitate the positioning of the support collar 1 on the target structure .

The structure of the support collar 1 as described above also offers the productive advantage of being able to produce a part of said collar 1 identical for all the cables C to be retained, regardless of their diameter or the part surrounding the housing area 6: the head portion 2, the side portions 4, the abutment portions 9, the coupling elements 5 and the flaps 8. Advantageously, in fact, the only part that is moulded with different shapes, depending on the diameter of the cable to be retained, are the retaining means 7 or the retaining arms 7 ' , and any abutment elements 11 present on said arms to ensure contact between the arms 7' and flaps 8 even when the arms 7' have reduced dimensions and are positioned in the housing area 6 too far apart from the flaps 8 to prevent their abutment contact even when the cable C is inserted.

The abutment elements 11 therefore enable this disadvantage to be overcome.

This structure of the collar 1 also allows the flaps 8 to be produced with an inclined orientation within the housing area always in the same way, during the moulding step of the collar, without having to change the orientation depending on the diameter of the cable C.

Unlike the support collars 1 described in the known art, and produced starting from a metal sheet, which cannot be used for all cables, in particular for cables having a small diameter, without the use of sleeves or the like having the function of increasing the diameter of the cable itself, or for cables having a considerable diameter, as the retaining arms formed by said sheet are not long enough to envelop the cable itself, the object of the present invention has a high versatility thanks to the presence of the combination of flaps 8 and arms 7' as described and claimed and the possible addition of abutment elements 11 and/or teeth, dowels or retaining blades 10.

The protection scope of the present invention is therefore defined by the attached claims.