Drop cable clamp with controlled cable cutting feature

A cable clamp comprising:

• a shell having a shell base and first and second sidewalls connected to said shell base, said shell base, first sidewall and second sidewall forming a cable channel therebetween extending in a first direction to receive a length of cable therein;
• a wedge residing between said first and second sidewalls with a wedge base facing to said shell base, wherein movement of said shell relative to said wedge causes the cable to engage more tightly between said wedge base and said shell base;
• a blade element residing between said wedge base and said shell base, wherein said blade element includes a blade base and a cutting portion with a cutting edge, and wherein said cutting edge faces toward the cable;
• and
• a shim, residing between said wedge base and said shell base, wherein the cable fits between said shim and said shell base, wherein said blade element is attached to said shim and said wedge includes a cutout portion, said cutting edge being located within said cutout portion of said wedge and biased to move outside of said cutout portion toward said shell base if excessive force is applied to move said shell relative to said wedge, wherein said blade element includes a guide surface and wherein said guide surface can slide within said cutout portion of said wedge base as said shell moves relative to said wedge, wherein movement of said shell relative to said wedge can cause said guide surface to abut a first end edge of said cutout portion and the abutment causes said blade element to extend out of said cutout portion toward said shell base.

A cable clamp comprising:

• a shell having a shell base and first and second sidewalls connected to said shell base, said shell base, first sidewall and second sidewall forming a cable channel therebetween extending in a first direction to receive a length of cable therein;
• a wedge residing between said first and second sidewalls with a wedge base facing to said shell base;
• a shim residing between said wedge base and said shell base, wherein a cable can fit between said shim and said shell base, and wherein movement of said shell relative to said wedge causes an inserted cable to engage more tightly between said shim and said shell base;
• a blade element attached to said shim, wherein said blade element includes a cutting portion with a cutting edge, and wherein said cutting edge faces toward said shell base, wherein said wedge includes first and second wedge sidewalls and said wedge base positioned between said first and second wedge sidewalls, wherein said wedge base and said first and second wedge sidewalls make an approximately U-shaped configuration;
• and
• a cutout portion formed within said wedge base and opening to an area between said first and second wedge sidewalls, said cutout portion being defined by first and second side edges extending proximate said first and second wedge sidewalls, respectively, and first and second end edges formed by said wedge base and extend between said first and second side edges, wherein said blade element underlies said cutout portion of said wedge base and protrudes into said cutout portion to reside within said area between said first and second wedge sidewalls, wherein said blade element includes a guide surface and wherein said guide surface can slide within said cutout portion of said wedge base as said shell moves relative to said wedge, and wherein movement of said shell relative to said wedge can cause said guide surface to abut said first end edge of said cutout portion and the abutment causes said blade element to extend out of said cutout portion toward said shell base.