Splitter for electrical cable

Abstract

A cable splitter is disclosed for splitting the outside sheath of a cable containing one or more inner conductors. The cable splitter comprises an elongated member having a trough disposed along the entire longitudinal length thereof. A handle is connected to the distal end of the elongated member. A cutting element is positioned through a boss connected to the proximal end of the elongated member such that the cutting edge of the cutting element extends into the trough. The amount by which the cutting edge extends into the trough is made adjustable by means of set screws threadably disposed through the boss to engage the cutting element. Preferably the trough comprises a cross-sectional configuration substantially identical to the cross-sectional configuration of the cable to be slit. This enables the cable splitter of this invention to slit the sheath of the cable along the edge thereof, rather than along the flat, mid-portion of the cable. In an alternative embodiment, a first elongated member has a first trough located along the longitudinal length thereof. A second elongated member has a second trough located along the longitudinal length thereof and a beading strip which cooperates with the first trough to lock the first and second elongated members together. A transverse channel extends through the first and second elongated members and the beading strip to guide an adjustably located cutting element such that the cutting edge of the cutting element is disposed within the second trough.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.