Ratcheting cable clamp

A method of clamping an elongated element, comprising steps of:

• engaging a clamp around the elongated element, the clamp including a bottom body portion including a first rounded inner surface, a top body portion hinged to the bottom body portion the top body portion including a second rounded inner surface, a top surface, and a rounded end surface extending between the top surface and a distal end of the second rounded inner surface, wherein the rounded end surface is configured to nest within the first rounded inner surface, wherein a distance between the top surface and the second rounded inner surface is largest at the distal end of the second rounded inner surface, the clamp further including a protrusion extending from the top bottom portion where the top surface meets the rounded end surface, a ratchet extending from the protrusion adjacent to the rounded end surface and beyond the distal end of the second rounded inner surface, an opening in the bottom body portion for removably receiving the ratchet, and a retaining assembly;
• at least partially closing the top body portion of the clamp toward the elongated element;
• and
• inserting the ratchet into the opening until the rounded inner surfaces of the top body portion and the bottom body portion are secured against the elongated element, wherein the ratchet has a plurality of teeth, and the retaining assembly engages a portion of the plurality of teeth in the opening, the ratchet being releasable from the retaining assembly without tools,
• wherein the retaining assembly includes a first retainer having a pawl configured to removably engage at least one of the plurality teeth on a first edge of the ratchet and a second retainer having a pawl configured to removably engage at least one of the plurality teeth on a second edge of the ratchet opposite the first edge,
• wherein each of the first and second retainers is formed integrally with the bottom body portion,
• wherein each of the first and second retainers includes a button, and a center portion fixed in the bottom body portion and positioned vertically between the pawl and the button, the pawl and the button being rotatable about the center portion, and
• wherein the pawl of a respective first or second retainer being selectively disengaged by pressing the button of the respective first or second retainer inward at least partially into an interior of the bottom body portion causing the pawl to at least partially retract from the interior.