Connecting device for the cables around a log

A reusable connector assembly adapted for connecting and disconnecting first and second cable portions, said connector assembly comprising:

• a) a unitary body with a longitudinal axis and having;
• i) a first inner surface portion defining a first chamber having a first working end and a first dog end, a stationary first cable contact surface and a stationary first wedge contact surface which slant toward one another in a direction from the first dog end to the first working end, and
• ii) a second inner surface portion defining a second chamber having a second working end and a second dog end, the second inner surface further defining a second stationary cable contact surface and a second stationary wedge contact surface which slant toward one another in a direction from the said second dog end to the second working end;
• b) a first wedge having;
• a first forward end and a first base end, said first wedge having a first cable engaging surface and a first body engaging surface which converge toward one another in a direction from the first base end toward the first forward end, said first wedge to be positioned in the first chamber with the first forward end being closer to the working end of the first chamber than the first base end, said first wedge being arranged to be movable between a rear release position and a forward retaining position;
• c) a second wedge having;
• a second forward end and a second base end, said second wedge having a second cable engaging surface and a second body engaging surface which converge toward one another in a direction from the second base end toward the second forward end, said second wedge to be positioned in the second chamber with the second forward end being closer to the working end of the second chamber than the second dog end, said second wedge being arranged to be movable between a rear release position and a forward retaining position;
• d) the first chamber being arranged to receive the first cable portion that can be inserted through the first chamber between the first cable contact surface of the body and the first cable engaging surface of the first wedge and the first cable portion secured therein by moving the first wedge from the release position to the retaining position with said first body engaging surface of the first wedge sliding over said first wedge contact surface of the body, and the first cable engaging surface of the first wedge moving relative to the stationary first cable engaging surface of the body to press the first cable portion into direct contact with the first cable contact surface of the body;
• e) the said second chamber being arranged to receive the second cable portion that can be inserted through the second chamber between the second cable contact surface of the body and the second cable engaging surface of the second wedge and the second cable portion secured therein by moving the second wedge from the release position to the retaining position with said second body engaging surface sliding over said second wedge contact surface, and the second cable engaging surface moving relative to the stationary second cable engaging surface of the body to press the second cable portion into direct contact with the second cable contact surface of the body, whereby each of the first and second wedges is able to retain its first and second cable portions, respectively, independently of the other wedge so that one cable portion can be first secured in the connector assembly, and at a later time the other cable portion can be secured to the connector assembly.

A method of securing a cable having first and second end portions around a group of objects, such as logs, to make a bundle of said objects, said method comprising:

• a) providing a connector assembly adapted for connecting first and second end cable portions by;
• i) providing a unitary body with a longitudinal axis and having a first inner surface portion defining a first chamber having a first working end and a first dog end, a stationary first cable contact surface and a stationary first wedge contact surface which slant toward one another in a direction from the first dog end to the first working end, and a second inner surface defining a second chamber having a second working end and a second dog end, the second inner surface further defining a stationary second cable contact surface and a stationary second wedge contact surface which slant toward one another in a direction from the said second dog end to the second working end,
• ii) providing a first wedge having a first forward end and a first base end, said first wedge having a first cable engaging surface and a first body engaging surface which converge toward one another in a direction from the first base end toward the first forward end, and positioning said first wedge in said first chamber with the first forward end of the first wedge being positioned closer to the first working end of the first chamber than the first base end of the first wedge;
• iii) providing a second wedge having a second forward end and a second base end, said second wedge having a second cable engaging surface and a second body engaging surface which converge toward one another in a direction from the second base end toward the second forward end, and positioning said second wedge in said second chamber with the second forward end being positioned closer to the second working end of the second chamber than the second base end;
• b) inserting the first end portion of the cable through the first working end of the first chamber between the first cable contact surface of the body and the first cable engaging surface of the first wedge;
• c) moving the first wedge with the first front end moving towards the first working end so that said first body engaging surface of the first wedge slides over said first wedge contact surface of the body, and the cable engaging surface of the first wedge presses against the first end portion of the cable into direct contact with the cable contact surface of the first chamber to secure the first portion of the cable in the connector assembly;
• d) moving at least one end portion of the cable around the group of objects so that the cable surrounds the group of objects;
• e) inserting the second end portion of the cable through the second working end of the second chamber between the second cable contact surface of the body and the second cable engaging surface of the second wedge;
• f) moving the second wedge with the front end moving towards the said second working end so that said second body engaging surface of the second wedge slides over said second wedge contact surface of the body, and the cable engaging surface of the second wedge presses against the second end portion of the cable to secure the second end portion of the cable in the connector assembly whereby the cable is secured in its position surrounding the group of objects.

A connector assembly adapted for connecting first and second cable portions, said connector assembly comprising:

• a) a unitary body with a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, and having;
• i) a first inner surface portion defining a first chamber having a first working end and a first dog end, a first cable contact surface and a first wedge contact surface which are vertically spaced from one another relative to said vertical axis and which slant toward one another in a direction from the first dog end to the first working end, said body having at least a first wall portion having a first wall lateral surface portion comprising at least a part of said first inner surface portion and located between said first cable contact surface and said first wedge contact surface;
• and
• ii) a second inner surface portion defining a second chamber having a second working end and a second dog end, the second inner surface further defining a second cable contact surface and a second wedge contact surface which are vertically spaced from one another relative to said vertical axis and, which slant toward one another in a direction from the said second dog end to the second working end, said body having at least a second wall portion having a second wall lateral surface portion comprising at least a part of said second inner surface portion, and located between said second cable contact surface and said second wedge contact surface;
• b) a first wedge having;
• a first forward end and a first base end, said first wedge having a first cable engaging surface and a first body engaging surface which converge toward one another in a direction from the first base end toward the first forward end, said first wedge being positioned in the first chamber with the first forward end being closer to the working end of the first chamber than the first base end, said first wedge having a first lateral wedge surface portion which is located between said first cable engaging surface and said first body engaging surface of the first wedge, and which is facing toward and adjacent to said first wall surface portion of the first inner wall surface portion, said first wedge being arranged to be moveable between a rear release position and a forward retaining position;
• c) a second wedge having;
• a second forward end and a second base end, said second wedge having a second cable engaging surface and a second body engaging surface which converge toward one another in a direction from the second base end toward the second forward end, said second wedge being adapted to be positioned in the second chamber with the second forward end being closer to the working end of the second chamber than the second dog end, said second wedge having a second lateral wedge surface portion which is located between said second cable engaging surface and said second body engaging surface of the second wedge, and which is facing toward and adjacent to said second wall surface portion of the second inner wall surface portion, said second wedge being arranged to be moveable between a rear release position and a forward retaining position;
• d) the first chamber being arranged to receive the first cable portion that can be inserted through the first chamber between the first cable contact surface of the body and the first cable engaging surface of the first wedge and the first cable portion secured therein by moving the first wedge from the release position to the retaining position with said first body engaging surface of the first wedge sliding over said first wedge contact surface of the body, and the first cable engaging surface of the first wedge moving relative to the stationary first cable engaging surface of the body to press against the first cable portion into direct contact with the first cable contact surface of the body;
• e) said second chamber being arranged to receive the second cable portion that can be inserted through the second chamber between the second cable contact surface of the body and the second cable engaging surface of the second wedge and the second cable portion secured therein by moving the second wedge from the release position to the retaining position with said second body engaging surface sliding over said second wedge contact surface, and the second cable engaging surface moving relative to the stationary second cable engaging surface of the body to press the second cable portion into direct contact with the second cable contact surface of the body;
• f) whereby each of the first and second wedges are able to retain its first and second cable portions, respectively, independently of the other wedge so that one cable portion can be first secured in the connector assembly, and at a later time the other cable portion can be secured to the connector assembly;
• g) said first chamber and said first wedge having a first slot/protrusion movement limiting arrangement, with a substantially longitudinally aligned or nearly longitudinally aligned slot being formed at one of said first wall lateral surface portion and said first lateral wedge surface portion, and a first protrusion positioned in said first slot for limited forward and rear movement between release and retaining positions and being formed at the other of said first wall lateral surface portion and said first lateral wedge surface portion;
• h) said second chamber and said second wedge having a second slot/protrusion movement limiting arrangement with a substantially longitudinally aligned or nearly substantially aligned slot being formed at one of said second wall lateral surface portions and said second lateral wedge surface portion, and a second protrusion positioned in said second slot for limited forward and rear movement between release and retaining positions and being formed at the other of said second wall lateral surface portion and said second lateral wedge surface portion;
• i) each of said first and second chambers being arranged relative to the first and second wedges so that lateral movement having a component of travel in a direction of transverse axis is limited to maintain each of said first and second wedges positioned to maintain the first and second protrusions in their respective slots regardless of the location of the other wedge, so that each of the wedges is always at least partly retained by said body.

A connector assembly adapted for connecting first and second cable portions, said connector assembly comprising:

• a) a unitary body with a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, and having;
• i) a first inner surface portion defining a first chamber having a first working end and a first dog end, a first cable contact surface and a first wedge contact surface which are vertically spaced from one another relative to said vertical axis and which slant toward one another in a direction from the first dog end to the first working end;
• and
• ii) a second inner surface portion defining a second chamber having a second working end and a second dog end, the second inner surface further defining a second cable contact surface and a second wedge contact surface which are vertically spaced from one another relative to said vertical axis and, which slant toward one another in a direction from the said second dog end to the second working end;
• b) a first wedge having;
• a first forward end and a first base end, said first wedge having a first cable engaging surface and a first body engaging surface which converge toward one another in a direction from the first base end toward the first forward end, said first wedge being positioned in the first chamber with the first forward end being closer to the working end of the first chamber than the first base end, said first wedge being arranged to be moveable between a rear release position and a forward retaining position with the first wedge contact surface being in sliding engagement with the first body engaging surface;
• c) a second wedge having;
• a second forward end and a second base end, said second wedge having a second cable engaging surface and a second body engaging surface which converge toward one another in a direction from the second base end toward the second forward end, said second wedge being adapted to be positioned in the second chamber with the second forward end being closer to the working end of the second chamber than the second dog end, said second wedge being arranged to be moveable between a rear release position and a forward retaining position, with the second wedge contact surface being in sliding engagement with the second body engaging surface;
• d) the first chamber being arranged to receive the first cable portion that can be inserted through the first chamber between the first cable contact surface of the body and the first cable engaging surface of the first wedge and the first cable portion secured therein by moving the first wedge from the release position to the retaining position with said first body engaging surface of the first wedge sliding over said first wedge contact surface of the body, and the first cable engaging surface of the first wedge moving relative to the stationary first cable engaging surface of the body to press against the first cable portion into direct contact with the first cable contact surface of the body;
• e) said second chamber being arranged to receive the second cable portion that can be inserted through the second chamber between the second cable contact surface of the body and the second cable engaging surface of the second wedge and the second cable portion secured therein by moving the second wedge from the release position to the retaining position with said second body engaging surface sliding over said second wedge contact surface, and the second cable engaging surface moving relative to the stationary second cable engaging surface of the body to press the second cable portion into direct contact with the second cable contact surface of the body;
• f) said first wedge having first and second generally vertically aligned wedge side surface portions that are adjacent to first and second generally vertically aligned chamber side surface portions of the first chamber, in a manner to retain the first wedge positioned in vertical and longitudinal alignment with the first chamber and limit transverse movement of the first wedge between the release and retaining positions;
• g) said second wedge having first and second generally vertically aligned wedge side surface portions that are adjacent to first and second generally vertically aligned chamber side surface portions of the second chamber, in a manner to retain the second wedge positioned in vertical and longitudinal alignment with the second chamber and limit transverse movement of the second wedge between the release and retaining positions;
• whereby each of the first and second wedges are able to retain its first and second cable portions, respectively, independently of the other wedge so that one cable portion can be first secured in the connector assembly, and at a later time the other cable portion can be secured to the connector assembly;
• h) said first chamber and said first wedge having a first slot/protrusion locking arrangement, with a first slot being formed at one of said wedge side surface portions and an adjacent one of said chamber side surface portions of the first chamber, and a first protrusion positioned in said first slot for limited forward and rear movement between release and retaining positions and being formed at the other of said chamber side surface portion and said first wedge side surface portions, said first slot being parallel to the first wedge contact surface and the first body engaging surface:
• i) said second chamber and said second wedge having a first slot/protrusion locking arrangement, with a first slot being formed at one of wedge side surface portions and an adjacent one of said chamber side surface portions of the second chamber, and a second protrusion positioned in said second slot for limited forward and rear movement between release and retaining positions and being formed at the other of said chamber side surface portion and said second wedge side surface portions, said second slot being parallel to the second wedge contact surface and the second body engaging surface;
• j) said assembly being arranged so that movement of the first and second wedges is limited so that each of the wedges is always at least partly retained by said body.