Cable clamp

Claim 1

A clamp for clamping wire bundles and attaching the same to a mounting surface, comprising: a flexible elongated strap member having a central axis extending lengthwise of the strap member first and second ends, and serrations on a major portion of one side, the central axis defining a plane when the strap is curved to extend around a bundle of wires, the second end including an enlarged head; a substantially rigid strap receiving member having a pair of sidewalls, a bundle receiving surface disposed substantially at right angles to the sidewalls, first and second slot-like openings on either side of the bundle receiving surface, a third slot-like opening spaced from the first opening, a first passageway extending from the first to the third opening for receiving the first end of the strap, a chamber constructed and arranged to accommodate the enlarged head of the strap member, and a second passageway extending from the second opening to the chamber for receiving the second end of the strap when inserted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, the second passageway engaging the enlarged head on the second end of the strap member and preventing the second end of the strap member from passing therethrough in response to a tensile force on the first end of the strap member, one of said sidewalls defining an opening aligned with the second passageway and the chamber to permit the second end of the strap member to be inserted into the second passageway in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the central axis and be held captive therein; and a pawl member having serrations complementary to the serrations on the strap member, means for securing the pawl member to the strap receiving member adjacent the first passageway, the securing means including means to bias the pawl member against the strap member, the serrations on the pawl and strap members being arranged to allow the strap member to move in a direction to shorten the length thereof between the first and second openings and prevent the strap member from moving in the opposite direction when the pawl member is biased against the strap member; and the pawl member including a handle portion extending through the third opening of the strap receiving member to permit the pawl member to be manually forced against the biasing means and away from the strap member and guide means carried by the strap receiving member and positioned between the pawl member and the strap member to prevent the portion of the strap member adjacent the serrations on the pawl member from following the pawl member when the pawl member is urged against the biasing means, thereby permitting the strap member to be moved along the first passageway in a direction to increase the length of the strap member extending between the first and second openings.