Cable and gripper assembly for suspended lighting fixtures
View Patent ↗A combination of a gripper assembly that reduces the risk of electrical short circuits by incorporating non-conductive components, and a specially designed small diameter two, three or four conductor high strength flexible cord, which incorporates high tensile non-metallic strands or cables under a resilient but flexible plastic outer cover.
1. An apparatus for suspending an electric powered device, comprising:
at least one gripper assembly including a grip body defining a chamber, a sleeve inserted through said chamber of said grip body, and a fixation body removeably securable to said grip body, said grip body and said sleeve constraining at least one ball bearing in a bearing race defined by said sleeve internally to said grip body, and a resilient element positioned between said sleeve and said fixation body within said chamber;
cable securing elements; and
a cable wire including two to four multi-stranded conductors enclosed within insulation covers and at least one high strength non-conductive fiber, said conductors and said high strength fiber encased in a thin jacket and a casing, said cable wire having a weight bearing capacity of 60 to 90 pounds.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable securing element is selected from the group consisting of:
a threaded orifice in one of said grip body, sleeve and fixation elements and a set screw,
a hose clamp and an adjusting screw within said fixation body,
a split compression ring and screw inserted into said fixation body,
a set screw body and set screw, and
a looping grommet.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 including at least three ball bearings formed from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, brass and a high strength non-conductive plastic or polymer material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 including at least three ball bearings formed from a ceramic material.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said high strength non-conductive fiber is formed from a para-aramide synthetic fiber.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said jacket enclosing said conductors and said high strength fibers is formed from a modified polyphenylene ether.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fixation body further comprising a side exit chute.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprises at least a pair of gripper assemblies and a pair of cable wires having a combined weight bearing capacity capable of supporting an electric powered device weighing 100 to 180 pounds.
9. The gripper assembly of claim 1 , wherein said fixation body includes a side exit chute and a through hole.
10. A gripper assembly comprising:
a grip body defining a chamber;
a sleeve inserted through said chamber of said grip body;
a fixation body removeably securable to said grip body, said grip body and said sleeve constraining at least one ball bearing in a bearing race defined by said sleeve internally to said grip body and a resilient element positioned between said sleeve and said fixation body within said chamber; and
cable securing elements selected from the group consisting of:
a threaded orifice in one of said grip body, sleeve and fixation elements and a set screw,
a hose clamp and an adjusting screw within said fixation body,
a split compression ring and screw inserted into said fixation body,
a set screw body and set screw, and
a looping grommet.
11. The gripper assembly of claim 10 including at least three ball bearings formed from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, brass and a high strength non-conductive plastic or polymer material.
12. The gripper assembly of claim 10 , wherein said fixation body further comprising a side exit chute.
13. A cable wire comprising: two to four multi-stranded conductors enclosed within insulation covers and at least one high strength non-conductive fiber, said conductors and said high strength fiber encased in a thin jacket and a casing, said cable wire having a weight bearing capacity of 60 to 90 pounds.
14. The cable wire of claim 13 , wherein said high strength non-conductive fiber is formed from a para-aramide synthetic fiber.