BACKGROUND

In many applications it may be useful to fixedly support raceways, including conduit, such as electric metallic tube (EMT) conduit, or cable, such as metal clad (MC) cable, relative to an electrical box into which those raceways enter. In some contexts, support of the raceways within a specified distance of the electrical box is required by code, and may require bending the raceway to an adjacent framing member and securing the conduit to the framing member.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the invention provide a support device for electrical cable or conduit that can have one or more bendable support features arranged along one or more support paths for electrical cable or conduit. A gate can be provided configured to bend between an open configuration and a closed configuration, with the gate in the open configuration being clear of the one or more support paths, and the gate in the closed configuration being aligned to secure the electrical cable or conduit within the one or more support paths. A locking tab can be provided configured to be selectively engaged with the gate to secure the gate in the closed configuration.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a support assembly for electrical cable or conduit that can have a support device configured to be removably engaged with a support structure. The support device can include an integrally formed body with a support portion configured to be removably engaged with the support structure, a gate configured to bend between an open configuration and a closed configuration, at least one gate bendable support feature that extends from the gate and is configured to engage a first side of the electrical cable or conduit, and at least one support-portion bendable support feature that extends from the support portion and is configured to a second side of the electrical cable or conduit. The gate can be configured to hingedly move between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The gate in the open configuration can be disposed to admit the electrical cable or conduit into engagement with the at least one support-portion bendable support feature. The gate in the closed configuration can be aligned to dispose the at least one gate bendable support feature in engagement with the electrical cable or conduit opposite the at least one support-portion bendable support feature.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of supporting electrical cable or conduit relative to a support structure, using a support device with first and second bendable support features, a gate, and a locking tab. The method can comprise attaching the electrical cable or conduit to the support structure, attaching the support device to the support structure to a first side of the electrical cable or conduit, with the gate in an open configuration, to engage the first bendable support feature with the first side of the electrical cable or conduit. The method can further include hinging the gate to a closed configuration, to engage the second bendable support feature with a second side of the electrical cable or conduit that is opposite the first side and securing the gate in the closed configuration with the locking tab.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a support device for electrical cable or conduit, for use with a support structure. An integrally formed support body can include: a front portion that is configured to support the support body relative to the support structure and a support portion that extends at an angle from the front portion. The support portion can include: an opening to receive electrical cable or conduit, the opening extending laterally along the support portion; a hinge axis disposed at the back of and a first lateral end of the opening; and a gate that defines, when in a closed configuration, a back wall of the opening. The gate can be configured to rotate about the hinge axis between the closed configuration and an open configuration in which the gate is angled away from the support portion to allow electrical cable or conduit to be received within the opening.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a support device for electrical cable or conduit, for use with a support structure. A support body can be configured to be engaged with the support structure and can include an opening that is elongate in a first direction and extends along a first plane. A gate can be connected to the support body to define, in a closed configuration, a side of the opening that extends along the first direction. The gate can be configured to rotate away from the first plane, from the closed configuration to an open configuration, to open the side of the opening to receive electrical cable or conduit into the opening.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of securing electrical cable or conduit relative to a support structure. Electrical cable or conduit can be installed on an electrical box and the electrical box can be installed on the support structure. A support device can be provided that includes a support body with a gate and an opening that extends along a first plane, the gate defining, in a closed configuration, a first side of the opening. The gate can be rotated away from the first plane to move the gate from the closed configuration to the open configuration and thereby open the first side of the opening. After installing the electrical cable or conduit on the electrical box and installing the electrical box on the support structure, and with the gate of the support structure in the open configuration, the support device can be moved towards the support structure in a first direction, at least a component of which extends in parallel with the first plane, to attach the support device to the support structure and receive the electrical cable or conduit in the opening via the first side of the opening. The gate can be rotated to the closed configuration to secure the electrical cable or conduit within the opening.

