Cable restraint

Claim 1

A cable restraint comprising: a housing having a passageway therein for receiving a cable therethrough, first and second end closures for said housing, means attached internally within said housing for permitting said cable to be substantially freely movable relative to said housing in a first direction in response to a force exerted thereon and serving to restrain said cable from relative movement in an opposite direction to said first direction until a predetermined force is exerted on said cable in said opposite direction and thereafter permitting cable movement relative to said housing in said opposite direction, said means attached internally within said housing including, a. a resisting anvil having a smooth surface extending the width of said housing and permitting said cable to freely slide thereon, b. a friction cam for engaging and compressing said cable against said resisting anvil, c. adjustment structure including an adjusting screw and lock washer extending through one of said end closures to adjust the friction exerted on said cable by said friction cam and said anvil, d. said friction cam being pivotally connected to a cam holder and said cam hoLder being pivotally connected to a bracket integrally connected to the other of said end closures, e. spring means normally biasing said cam holder toward a perpendicular relationship with said passageway in said housing, and, f. stop means connected to said housing serving to engage said cam holder and limit movement thereof in one direction, said cam holder being substantially freely pivotally movable in an opposite direction when forces are exerted thereon by said cable in said opposite direction.