Cable Tensioning System

Abstract

A cable rail barrier is provided which includes one or more cables that extend between the two or more posts and a cable tensioning system. The cable tensioning system secures and tensions the at least one cable of the one or more cables to the first post. The cable tensioning system includes a tensioner housing. The tensioner housing is linearly movable in a first direction and a second direction. The tensioner housing includes a tapered housing component. The tensioner housing includes a threaded housing component. A clamp jaw fits into the passageway of the tapered housing component. A spring exerts a bias force on the clamp jaw to bias the clamp jaw in the first direction within the tapered housing component. The spring exerts the bias force on the clamp jaw to provide a grip on the end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables. Movement of the tensioner housing in the second direction when the at least one cable of the one or more cables is held by the clamp jaw pulls the at least one cable of the one or more cables taut and tensions the at least one cable of the one or more cables. Movement of the tensioner housing in the first direction causes the tensioner housing to move against the bias force of the spring to allow the at least one cable of the one or more cables to be released from the clamp jaw.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A cable rail barrier comprising:
 a top rail that extends between two or more posts;   one or more cables that extend between the two or more posts;   wherein at least one cable of the one or more cables is configured to couple to at least a first post of the two or more posts;   wherein the at least one cable of the one or more cables is configured to be tensioned to provide a desired amount of rigidity;   a cable tensioning system that secures and tensions the at least one cable of the one or more cables to the first post, the cable tensioning system includes:
 a cartridge that includes at least one tensioner housing receptacle; 
 a tensioner housing; 
 wherein the cartridge fits into an interior of the first post; 
 wherein the at least one tensioner housing receptacle includes a first channel and a second channel which are open to each other; 
 wherein between the first channel and the second channel is a first rail component and a second rail component; 
 wherein the first rail component and the second rail component provide a linear path of travel for the tensioner housing which is movable in a first direction and a second direction; 
 wherein the tensioner housing includes a tapered housing component with a conical tapered edge; 
 wherein the tensioner housing includes a threaded housing component with a threaded inner periphery; 
 wherein the tapered housing component of the tensioner housing fits into the first channel of the at least one tensioner housing receptacle and the threaded housing component of the tensioner housing fits into the second channel of the at least one tensioner housing receptacle; 
 wherein a bearing portion is located between the tapered housing component and the threaded housing component of the tensioner housing to allow linear movement of the tensioner housing in either the first direction or the second direction within the at least one tensioner housing receptacle; 
 wherein a passageway is disposed through the tapered housing component of the tensioner housing; 
 a conical clamp jaw fits into the passageway of the tapered housing component; 
 wherein the conical clamp jaw includes a plurality of opposing jaw parts that form a conically shaped body; 
 a spring that exerts a bias force on the conical clamp jaw to bias the conical clamp jaw in the first direction towards the conical tapered edge within the tapered housing component; 
 wherein an end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables is extendable through the first post, into the tapered housing component, and fits between the plurality of opposing jaw parts; 
 wherein the spring exerts the bias force on the conical clamp jaw towards the conical tapered edge to provide a grip on the end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables; 
 a screw fits into and moves on the threaded inner periphery of the threaded housing component; and 
 a tensioner bolt extends through the first post and secures to the screw; 
 wherein rotation of tensioner bolt rotates the screw, which causes the tensioner housing to move in either the first direction or the second direction; 
 wherein movement of the tensioner housing in the second direction when the at least one cable of the one or more cables is held by the conical clamp jaw pulls the at least one cable of the one or more cables taut and tensions the at least one cable of the one or more cables; and 
 wherein the movement of the tensioner housing in the first direction causes the tensioner housing to move towards an interior wall of the first post to push the conical clamp jaw against the bias force of the spring to allow the at least one cable of the one or more cables to be released from the conical clamp jaw. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the tensioner housing in the first direction causes the conical clamp jaw to engage the interior wall of the first post, which moves the conical clamp jaw with respect to the conical tapered edge to relieve the grip on the at least one cable of the one or more cables. 
     
     
         3 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the tensioner housing in the second direction causes the conical clamp jaw to engage the conical tapered edge to apply a force against the at least one cable of the one or more cables to further the grip on the at least one cable of the one or more cables. 
     
     
         4 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tensioner housing receptacle has an inner periphery that substantially conforms to a shape of an outer periphery of the tensioner housing. 
     
     
         5 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the screw does not move linearly in either the first direction or the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the cable tensioning system further comprises a backing pin attached to the tapered housing component and engages the spring opposite the conical clamp jaw to direct the bias force on the conical clamp jaw towards the conical tapered edge. 
     
     
         7 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing portion is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and stainless steel. 
     
     
         8 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioner housing is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and stainless steel. 
     
     
         9 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes one or more positioning tabs located about a periphery of the cartridge to position the cartridge at a predetermined position within the first post. 
     
     
         10 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein a second cartridge is located within the first post. 
     
     
         11 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 1 , wherein a second tensioner housing receptacle of the at least one tensioner housing receptacle is provided on the cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . A cable rail barrier comprising:
 one or more cables that extend between two or more posts;   wherein at least one cable of the one or more cables is configured to couple to at least a first post of the two or more posts;   wherein the at least one cable of the one or more cables is configured to be tensioned to provide a desired amount of rigidity;   a cable tensioning system that secures and tensions the at least one cable of the one or more cables to the first post, the cable tensioning system includes:
 a cartridge that includes at least one tensioner housing receptacle; 
 a tensioner housing; 
 wherein the cartridge fits into an interior of the first post; 
 wherein the tensioner housing is linearly movable in a first direction and a second direction; 
 wherein the tensioner housing includes a tapered housing component; 
 wherein the tensioner housing includes a threaded housing component; 
 wherein the tapered housing component and the threaded housing component of the tensioner housing fits into the at least one tensioner housing receptacle; 
 wherein a passageway is disposed through the tapered housing component of the tensioner housing; 
 a clamp jaw fits into the passageway of the tapered housing component; 
 a spring that exerts a bias force on the clamp jaw to bias the clamp jaw in the first direction within the tapered housing component; 
 wherein an end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables is extendable through the first post, into the tapered housing component; 
 wherein the spring exerts the bias force on the clamp jaw to provide a grip on the end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables; 
 a screw that fits into and rotates within the threaded housing component, which causes the tensioner housing to move in either the first direction or the second direction; 
 wherein movement of the tensioner housing in the second direction when the at least one cable of the one or more cables is held by the clamp jaw pulls the at least one cable of the one or more cables taut and tensions the at least one cable of the one or more cables; and 
 wherein the movement of the tensioner housing in the first direction causes the tensioner housing to move against the bias force of the spring to allow the at least one cable of the one or more cables to be released from the clamp jaw. 
   
     
     
         13 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 12 , wherein the movement of the tensioner housing in the first direction causes the tensioner housing to move towards an interior wall of the first post to push the clamp jaw against the bias force of the spring to allow the at least one cable of the one or more cables to be released from the clamp jaw. 
     
     
         14 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 12 , wherein the cable tensioning system further comprises a tensioner bolt that extends through the first post and secures to the screw, wherein rotation of tensioner bolt rotates the screw, which causes the tensioner housing to move in either the first direction or the second direction. 
     
     
         15 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 12 , wherein the screw fits into and rotates within a threaded inner periphery of the threaded housing component. 
     
     
         16 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 12 , wherein the tapered housing component includes a tapered edge, wherein the spring exerts the bias force on the clamp jaw towards the tapered edge to provide the grip on the end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables. 
     
     
         17 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 12 , wherein the clamp jaw is a conical clamp jaw that includes a plurality of opposing jaw parts that form a conically shaped body, and wherein the end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables is extendable through the first post, into the tapered housing component, and fits between the plurality of opposing jaw parts. 
     
     
         18 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one tensioner housing receptacle includes a first channel and a second channel which are open to each other, wherein between the first channel and the second channel is a first rail component and a second rail component, and wherein the first rail component and the second rail component provide a linear path of travel for the tensioner housing in the first direction and the second direction. 
     
     
         19 . The cable rail barrier of  claim 18 , wherein the tapered housing component of the tensioner housing fits into the first channel of the at least one tensioner housing receptacle and the threaded housing component of the tensioner housing fits into the second channel of the at least one tensioner housing receptacle, and wherein a bearing portion is located between the tapered housing component and the threaded housing component of the tensioner housing to allow linear movement of the tensioner housing in either the first direction or the second direction within the at least one tensioner housing receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . A cable rail barrier comprising:
 one or more cables that extend between two or more posts;   wherein at least one cable of the one or more cables is configured to couple to at least a first post of the two or more posts;   wherein the at least one cable of the one or more cables is configured to be tensioned to provide a desired amount of rigidity;   a cable tensioning system that secures and tensions the at least one cable of the one or more cables to the first post, the cable tensioning system includes:
 a tensioner housing; 
 wherein the tensioner housing is linearly movable in a first direction and a second direction; 
 wherein the tensioner housing includes a tapered housing component; 
 wherein the tensioner housing includes a threaded housing component; 
 wherein a passageway is disposed through the tapered housing component of the tensioner housing; 
 a clamp jaw fits into the passageway of the tapered housing component; 
 a spring that exerts a bias force on the clamp jaw to bias the clamp jaw in the first direction within the tapered housing component; 
 wherein an end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables is extendable into the tapered housing component; 
 wherein the spring exerts the bias force on the clamp jaw to provide a grip on the end portion of the at least one cable of the one or more cables; 
 a screw that fits into and rotates within the threaded housing component, which causes the tensioner housing to move in either the first direction or the second direction; 
 wherein movement of the tensioner housing in the second direction when the at least one cable of the one or more cables is held by the clamp jaw pulls the at least one cable of the one or more cables taut and tensions the at least one cable of the one or more cables; and 
 wherein the movement of the tensioner housing in the first direction causes the tensioner housing to move against the bias force of the spring to allow the at least one cable of the one or more cables to be released from the clamp jaw.