Hanging cable shortener apparatus

Abstract

A cable shortener apparatus for permitting the length adjustment of a cable having a certain diameter. The cable is arranged for supporting a sign carrier from an overhead support. The apparatus comprises an annular hub having a first end and a second end, and a rigid, radially outwardly extending flange arranged on each end of the hub. Each of the flanges having a peripheral outer lip. Each peripheral outer lip on each of the flanges are spaced apart from one another a distance less than twice the certain diameter of the cable to prevent inadvertent unwrapping of a cable past itself through the spaced apart distance between the outer lips of the flanges.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A cable shortener apparatus for permitting the length adjustment of a cable, said cable having a certain diameter, said cable being arranged for supporting a sign carrier from an overhead support, said cable shortener apparatus comprising: 
 an annular hub having a first end and a second end;    a rigid, radially outwardly extending flange arranged on each said end of said hub, each of said flanges having a peripheral outer lip, each of said peripheral outer lips on each of said flanges being spaced apart from one another a distance less than twice said certain diameter of said cable to prevent inadvertent unwrapping of a cable past itself through said spaced apart distance between said outer lips of said flanges when said cable is wrapped about said hub.    
     
     
         2 . The cable shortener apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said radially extending flanges and said annular hub defines an arrangement of radially inner and side margins of a torroidal volume cable wrap area.  
     
     
         3 . The cable shortener apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said cable has a diameter of more than half of said distance of said spaced apart outer lips of said flanges.  
     
     
         4 . The cable shortener apparatus as recited in  claim 2  wherein said inner hub and said each annular flange are individual components mated together to define said torroidal volume for receipt of said cable.  
     
     
         5 . A sign adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of a sign supported by at least one cable from an overhead support, said cable having a certain diameter, said mechanism comprising: 
 a pair of rigid, annular, rings each arranged in a spaced apart a first distance from one another on an end of an inner hub disposed between said rings, each of said rings having an outer peripheral lip spaced apart a second distance from one another, said first distance being larger than said second distance, to permit a cable to be wrapped about said hub between said rings to thus shorten said cable.    
     
     
         6 . The sign adjustment mechanism as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said second distance is less than twice said certain diameter of said cable.  
     
     
         7 . A method of adjusting the height of a sign from an overhead support by at least one cable or line, said cable or line having a certain diameter, said method comprising: 
 wrapping said cable around a torroidally shaped volume comprised of a hub and a pair of flanges arranged on each end of said hub, said flanges each having an outer peripheral lip, each of said peripheral lips of said flanges being spaced apart from one another a distance less than twice said certain diameter of said cable or line.    
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , including: 
 unwrapping said cable or line from about said hub, and between said spaced-apart peripheral lips to lengthen said cable or line.