Releasable holder for cables and conduit

Abstract

A cable support for securing wires and cables to an underlying structure without the use of tools and allows the cable support to be opened or closed to add or remove cables and wires. The cable support may further include padding material or impediments for protecting and securing the wires and cables in place.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A releasable cable holder, comprising:
 a planar base plate, formed with generally parallel sidewalls extending upward from the base plate;   a living hinge formed along one of the sidewalls, movably connecting a top cover to the one of the sidewalls;   a latching lip formed on the top cover, distal from the living hinge;   a corresponding lip formed on another of the sidewalls, distal from the living hinge;   a release tab extending out from the top cover adjacent the latching lip; and   a sidewall abutment formed on the another of the sidewalls; and   a corresponding abutment formed on the top cover adjacent the latching lip, wherein:   a cable may be placed on the base plate between the sidewalls;   the top cover may be moved about the living hinge so that the latching lip clasps the corresponding lip to latch the top cover closed relative to the base plate;   the sidewall abutment aligns with and is immediately adjacent the corresponding abutment when the latching lip latches onto the corresponding lip, to limit any sliding of the top cover relative to the base plate; and   the release tab may be used to pull the latching lip away from the corresponding lip to unlatch the top cover to open the top cover to allow removal of the cable or placement of an additional cable.   
     
     
         2 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive face attached to the base plate, opposite from the top cover; wherein the adhesive face may be used to attach the base plate to an underlying structure. 
     
     
         3 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 2 , further comprising a set of nubbins defining an outer perimeter extending around the top cover, distal from the base plate, wherein the outer perimeter is sized to be larger than the adhesive face. 
     
     
         4 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 3 , further comprising a set of nubbins defining an outer perimeter extending around the base plate, distal from the top cover, wherein the outer perimeter is sized to be larger than the adhesive face. 
     
     
         5 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 2 , further comprising a set of nubbins defining an outer perimeter extending around the base plate, distal from the top cover, wherein the outer perimeter is sized to be larger than the adhesive face. 
     
     
         6 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 2 , further comprising a hole formed in the base, wherein the hole may receive a fastener to additionally connect the base to the underlying structure. 
     
     
         7 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base set of impediments jutting out from the base plate and generally facing the top cover;   a top set of impediments jutting out from the top cover and generally facing the base plate;   wherein a cable placed on the base plate between the sidewalls is gripped by at least some of the impediments when the top cover is closed relative to the base plate.   
     
     
         8 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 7 , wherein at least some of the impediments are frustoconical in shape. 
     
     
         9 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base ridge jutting out from the base plate and generally facing the top cover;   a top set of impediments jutting out from the top cover and generally facing the base plate;   wherein a cable placed on the base plate between the sidewalls is gripped between the base ridge and at least one of the impediments when the top cover is closed relative to the base plate.   
     
     
         10 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 9 , wherein the base ridge includes a central impediment jutting out from the base ridge and away from the base plate. 
     
     
         11 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 9 , wherein the top set of impediments include a long impediment and a short impediment, so that a distal end of the long impediment is closer to the base ridge, relative to a distal end of the short impediment, when the top cover is closed relative to the base plate. 
     
     
         12 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising an intruding wall extending inward from the top cover, toward the base plate, wherein the intruding wall limits movement of the another of the sidewalls when the top cover is closed relative to the base plate, thereby limiting any unintended unlatch of the latching lip from the corresponding lip. 
     
     
         13 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising opposing visual indicators defining an approximate centerline of the cable holder, extending generally parallel to the sidewalls. 
     
     
         14 . A releasable cable holder, comprising:
 a planar base plate, formed with generally parallel sidewalls;   a living hinge formed along one of the sidewalls, movably connecting a top cover to the one of the sidewalls;   a latching lip formed on the top cover, distal from the living hinge;   a corresponding lip formed on another of the sidewalls, distal from the living hinge;   a release tab extending out from the top cover adjacent the latching lip; and   a top set of impediments jutting out from the top cover and generally facing the base plate;   wherein:   a cable may be placed on the base plate between the sidewalls;   the top cover may be moved about the living hinge so that the latching lip clasps the corresponding lip to latch the top cover closed relative to the base plate, and so that the cable is gripped by at least some of the impediments when the top cover is closed relative to the base plate;   the release tab may be used to pull the latching lip away from the corresponding lip to unlatch the top cover to open the top cover to allow removal of the cable or placement of an additional cable.   
     
     
         15 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 14 , further comprising a sidewall abutment formed on the another of the sidewalls, and a corresponding abutment formed on the top cover, wherein the sidewall abutment aligns with the corresponding abutment when the latching lip latches onto the corresponding lip, to limit any sliding of the top cover relative to the base plate. 
     
     
         16 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 14 , further comprising an adhesive face attached to the base plate, opposite from the top cover, wherein the adhesive face may be used to attach the base plate to an underlying structure. 
     
     
         17 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 14 , further comprising opposing indicators formed at opposite ends of an approximate centerline of the planar base plate. 
     
     
         18 . A releasable cable holder, comprising:
 a planar base plate;   sidewalls extending upward from the base plate, formed to extend generally parallel to each other;   a living hinge formed along one of the sidewalls, movably connecting a top cover to the one of the sidewalls;   a latching lip formed on the top cover, distal from the living hinge;   a corresponding lip formed on another of the sidewalls, distal from the living hinge;   a release tab extending out from the top cover adjacent the latching lip; and   an adhesive face attached to the base plate, opposite from the top cover; and   a set of nubbins defining an outer perimeter extending around the top cover, distal from the base plate;   wherein the outer perimeter is sized to be larger than the adhesive face; and   wherein the adhesive face may be used to attach the base plate to an underlying structure or to a second releasable cable holder.   
     
     
         19 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 18 , further comprising a sidewall abutment formed on the another of the sidewalls, and a corresponding abutment formed on the top cover, wherein the sidewall abutment aligns with the corresponding abutment when the latching lip latches onto the corresponding lip, to limit any sliding of the top cover relative to the base plate. 
     
     
         20 . The releasable cable holder according to  claim 18 , further comprising a top set of impediments jutting out from the top cover and generally facing the base plate.