WO2018169410A1 - Clamp and system for securing electrically conducting wires at a horizontal distance from each other - Google Patents

Abstract

It is disclosed a securing clamp (1) for holding at least two electrical wires or electrically conducting rails (4,5) in a system for dismissing pests such as rats, mice, cockroaches, beetles, ants, etc., said wires and/or rails (4,5) running at a horizontal distance from each other, wherein said clamp comprises an elongated body (1) with at least one securing area (2) for securing said clamp to a substrate, and said clamp having a slit (3) for holding one of said electrical wires or rails (4,5), wherein the second wire or rail (4,5) is held at a horizontal distance from said first wire or rail (4,5) between the elongated body (1) of the clamp and the substrate upon which the clamp is secured. Said clamp (1) may be included in a securing system of electrically conducting wires or rails running outside from each other, said securing system additionally including a corner piece (9) that may guide said wires or rails (4,5) past an internal or external corner at a distance from each other optionally by holding said clamp.

Description

CLAMP AND SYSTEM FOR SECURING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING WIRES AT A HORIZONTAL DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER

Ambit of the Invention

The present invention concerns a securing system for electrically conducting wires and/or rails being spaced from each other and outside relative to each other. The securing system is particularly adapted for securing electrically conducting first and second wires and/or rails being insulated or completely or partially uninsulated, comprising an elongated member (1) with at least one securing region (2) and with a slot (3) for holding a first wire/rail, the second wire/rail being clamped at a (horizontal) distance from said first wire/rail between the clamp and a substrate to which said claim is secured, and being located at a distance outside and apart from each other. The securing system according to the invention is suitable for electric and electrically conducting wires being partly insulated, partly uninsulated or insulated, wherein the electrically conducting wires or rails are located at a

(horizontal) distance from each other, wherein said securing system comprises a clamp comprising an elongated member with at least one securing region for the clamp to a substrate, and with a slot for carrying said first wire/rail, said second wire/rail being clamped at a (horizontal) distance from said first wire/rail between said clamp and said substrate to which said clamp is secured . Background for the Invention

Wires and/or rails are particularly used in electrically powered rejecting devices or systems for vermin and pests such as rats, mice, cockroaches, ants, centipedes, and also in rejecting devices or systems in the sea for organisms such as jellyfish, sharks, etc. Rejecting devices and euthanizing devices or systems for pests and vermin, wherein said devices or systems are electrically powered, are known. In such devices or systems said electrically conducting wires or rails lie above or below each other in a vertical direction. This location of the wires/rails is, however, not particularly suited for the animals coming into contact or in the vicinity of the wires/rails to close an electrical circuit, trigger a short-circuit or feel the existence of an electrical field that is to work deterring or scary.

It has been found that placing the electrically conducting wires/rails at a distance from each other and at the outside of each other in a horizontal direction the relevant animals will have a better opportunity to close an electrical circuit either through cross-over or by the animal per se closing the electrical circuit by establishing a short-circuit loop through the animal. However, it does not exist any good and adequate securing system that passes or leads the electrical wires/rails in this manner. For improving the possibility to kill or frighten away pests or vermin from a geographical location, it has according to the present invention been developed a securing system for electrically conducting wires/rails wherein said wires/rails run at a distance and outside of each other.

Since electrically conducting wires/rails normally are secured to vertical surfaces such as posts, walls, fences, etc., the disclosure infra relates to such surfaces. However, relevant surfaces may also run horizontally or at an angle (beneath a table top, beneath piers, etc.) and this should be observed in the disclosure infra relating to vertical surfaces (walls).

General Disclosure of the Invention

By passing wires from each pole of a battery or generator so that the wires do not touch each other, and the wires from each pole lie at an individual distance from each other, there will at least be established an electrical field between the wires that run from opposite poles. Such a field is noticed by animals and will have a scaring effect on the animals when the animals first come into contact with such a field. This is particularly relevant for insects with antennas that are particularly sensitive to such fields but also on other animals such as rats and mice that are sensitive to such fields as well .

If an electrically conducting object is placed between partially insulated or electrically uninsulated wires generating such a field, such an object may cause an electrical transfer between the wires in the form of a spark. Since the transfer capacity is proportional to the square of the distance between the wires, a spark will very easily be formed between such wires that lie at a distance from each other and outside of each other. Since the mounting of wires/rails in such a way is problematic per se because the relevant wires/conductors/rails should not touch each other to avoid a short-circuit of the relevant electrical circuit, there exists a need for a securing system allowing wires/conductors/rails to be mounted outside of each other and at a distance from each other.

When mounting electrically conducting wires and/or rails the mounting surface may represent one of the circuits per se. If the mounting surface is of metal or is earthed and may conduct electrons, it may be sufficient to mount only an anode in the form of a wire or a rail at a distance from such a surface. Since the earthing will supply electrons for closing an electrical circuit if an electrically conducting object shortens the distance between the ea rth and the anode (the positively charged wire/rai l), an animal coming between the surface and the anode circuit will experience that a spark is formed through itself and the animal will receive an electrical jolt. If the amperage is not too large, the animal will not experience a deadly jolt but will only become frightened .

For a living creature to experience that it receives an electrical jolt (frightening or deadly), it must in some way short out or complete an electrical circuit. This may be achieved in mainly three ways. One way is that there is conducted an electrical current in an (uninsulated) wire placed such that it does not touch, or is isolated from, contact with the ground and where the current is passed to ea rth if a contact is created between the wire and the ground . If a n animal is standing too close to this contact point by it being on the ground and when the g round is in such a state that it conducts electrical current, e.g . when it is wet or damp, and simultaneously touches the wire, it will close said electrical circuit by earthing between the wire and the ground via said individual touching said wire and will receive an electrical jolt. The second way that a living creature may experience receiving an electrical jolt is when the creature/individual short-circuits an electrical circuit by touching two electrically conducting and uninsulated wires simultaneously. If this happens, the animal will function as a conductor or "switch" shorting said relevant electrical circuit. The third way an individual may experience an electrical jolt is if it is present in a high-voltage electrical field and wherein said individual shortens the distance between the poles in the electrical field by its mere presence therein. This may be exemplified by what happens in a thunderstorm where lightning normally strikes between electrically charged clouds and/or the highest spot on the ground located directly below the charged cloud (the condenser principle) .

Current passing through an individual is dangerous and is perceived as

uncomfortable for different reasons. Animals and humans with a nerve system, wherein the nerve impulses are passed in the nerve system as electrical impulses, are susceptible to externally supplied current. Externally supplied electrical current may over-stimulate the nerves so that the nerve impulses to the muscles are overcome. This leads to "nerve signals" for contracting the muscles continuously and the muscle enters into a cramp-like condition as long as the external current is supplied. This is lethal to mammals if the nerve signals to the heart are over- stimulated so that the heart enters into such a cramp-like condition and stops pumping blood to the brain and other life-important organs. Even if the current is not passed through the heart, the cramp-like condition of the muscles is perceived as uncomfortable and frightening.

For an animal the size of a human to be killed by electricity, an electrical circuit must be closed through the animal/human wherein the current is passed through the heart and wherein the amperage exceeds about 100 milliamperes (mA). The least lethal amperage for humans normally lies within the interval 100-300 mA. The voltage is in this connection not of any significant importance so that an individual may very well survive an electrical jolt with a voltage of several thousand volts as long as the relevant amperage is not particularly large (below the above- mentioned amperage of 100 mA, e.g. below 10 mA or below 5 mA, such as within the interval 1-10 mA or within 5-10 mA). For humans an amperage level within the interval 1-5 mA will barely be noticed. Still amperage levels within this interval will be prudent to use in devices and systems for rejecting pests and vermin since this is relevant for far smaller animals (rodents, insects, etc.) and organisms with a different surface condition (e.g. snails) being much more sensitive to electrons.

The amperage intervals mentioned supra refer to direct current. Alternating current is perceived much more intensely since the polarization in alternating current is continuously changing. In a commercial current grid using a voltage of 110-220 V, it is normally used an alternating current of about 50-60 Hz, i.e. the polarity of the current changes 50-60 times per second. If such a current is passed through a mammal with a nerve system, the muscle contractions caused by the alternating current will also vary correspondingly, this being perceived as if the nerve impulses are completely out of control (which they actually are). Concerning humans, a current of the alternating type with a voltage of 220 V, an amperage of 60-100 mA and a frequency of 60 Hz will normally be lethal, while direct current under the same conditions would have to have an amperage of 300- 500 mA to be lethal. Another form of damage caused by current passed through the tissue is that there is created something called electroporation of the cell membrane in tissue being subjected to electrical current. Such damage lies at the cellular level and causes damage by the cells in the relevant tissue dying. At such damage there may subsequently arise secondary damage by dead tissue being attacked by bacteria and virus. Damage by electroporation may be particularly relevant for organisms with high water content and with a moist surface such as snails.

Since the current in rejecting systems or devices for vermin or pests does not necessarily have as its objective to kill the animals but rather to deter them from entering into a geographical area, the amperage conducted in the wires to be touched by the animals may in such instances lie within an interval being perceived as uncomfortable, but not lethal intervals.

The sites of the animal touching the electrical wire or rail is also of relevance concerning whether or not the animal is to be killed or frightened. The touching of an electricity-conducting wire and earth or two electricity-conducting wires simultaneously, where the touching points are located at different extremities or ends of the animal (e.g. front leg and hind leg), will normally lead a current through the entire organism of the animal (which may for example lead to the heart of the animal stopping). However, the touching of two electricity-conducting wires with two fingers or toes will not pass electricity through the entire animal systemically, but only between the digits touching the wires. This may be used if the rejection device or system is to deter birds from landing on a particular area, the area then being covered with electricity-conducting wires or netting so that the birds will touch at least two wires simultaneously when they land. This will be experienced by the relevant bird as a jolt to the toes, but will normally not kill the animal since the current does not run through the animal systemically. In such an embodiment the securing system according to the invention may be mounted on horizontal surfaces.

The state of the animals that are to be deterred/killed may also be taken into account. Animals with a dry surface and that are relatively large (e.g. predators such as bears, wolves, hyenas, lions, etc. or reptiles e.g. snakes) may tolerate a greater amperage than smaller animals with a damp surface (e.g. nematodes/ snails) or smaller animals with an electrically conducting exoskeleton (e.g. insects such as ants, termites, grasshoppers, etc.). Consequently it may be appropriate to be able to regulate the amperage and/or the voltage in the electrically conducting wires/rails. This may be achieved by e.g . including a reformer/transformer in the relevant electrical circuit and/or optionally a resistance that may be regulated. Based on the general Ohm's Law (U = R1, wherein U represents the voltage in the circuit in Volts, R represents the electrical resistance in the circuit in Ohms and I represents the amperage in the electrical circuit in Amperes), the voltage in a circuit may be regulated by regulating the electrical resistance provided the amperage of the circuit is constant, or the amperage of the electrical circuit may be varied through the aid of the resistance if the voltage of the circuit is constant.

The reason why damage by electricity is often associated with high voltage is just that at a constant resistance a high voltage will also indicate a high amperage (also based on Ohm's Law). The amperage of a circuit is related to the number of free electrons that may be carried by the circuit, wherein the electrons run from the negative to the positive pole, whereas the current runs in the opposite direction (from the positive to the negative pole). The ability of a material to function as an electrical insulator or an electrical conductor is based on the ability of the material to supply the electrical current with free electrons. Metals with free electrons in a metallic molecular structure and fluids with positively and negatively charged ions (e.g. water or a liquid medium with a dissolved salt) are normally good electrical conductors. Since air is considered to be a good insulating material since the main constituents in air (molecular oxygen and molecular nitrogen) do not or very poorly pass free electrons, there may be present an electrical field between two poles in an air-filled space where there between the poles is not present a material with the ability to pass free electrons. The voltage of such a field may be high but will not be harmful or lethal because it initially does not run any electrons between the poles. The ability to lead electrical current in such a condenser is dependent on the distance between the condenser plates and this ability increases or decreases proportionally with the square of the distance between the condenser plates. If an electrical conductor is placed between the poles in such an electrical field, where the electrical conductor has the ability to supply free electrons, the distance between the condenser plates will be reduced and a current will run through the conductor of an intensity being connected to the ability of the conductor to supply free electrons. If the conductor is e.g. an animal, the animal is not necessa rily killed by being placed in the electrical field of the circuit based on the ability of the animal to conduct free electrons between the electrical poles. This has the effect that in the electrical conductors being mounted in the assembly system according to the invention, an electrical field may be used between the electrical conductors as well as the electrically conducting wires, since an electrical field may work as a deterrent to the same extent if the animal closes the electrical circuit by its mere presence between the electrical poles in the electrical field.

The current that is used in the relevant wires/rails that are mounted in the securing system according to the invention may be direct or alternating current depending on the electrical source. If the current originates from the commercial current grid or a local alternating current generator/emergency aggregate, the current may be of an alternating type, whereas the current will be of a direct current type if it originates from e.g. a battery or a solar cell panel. An alternating current may also be transformed into direct current by the aid of an equalizer. As a source for direct current it may be used batteries being single batteries or being connected to each other in a parallel or serial connection. It may e.g. be used batteries with a voltage of 12 V or of 24 V.

Electrical current that is passed through the electrical circuit(s) that is assembled with the mounting system according to the invention may in one embodiment be constant or may in another embodiment be variable. For the experienced effect of the electrical current to be felt stronger on the individual that touches the relevant wires or is present between wires between which there is present an electrical field (and thus closes said electrical circuit), the current can in one embodiment be passed through the wires in the form of pulses. This means that the amperage is varied between zero and the selected maximal strength in intervals of e.g. 100 pulses per minute. The pulsing of the current in the device/plant may vary from 0 to 10 000 pulses per minute, e.g. from 100 to 5 000 pulses per minute or from 500 to 2 000 pulses per minute or from 700 to 1 000 pulses per minute such as 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1 000, 1 100, 1 200, 1 300, 1 400 or 1 500 pulses per minute. Such a pulsing will be independent from whether or not it is used direct or alternating current in the device or system. For strengthening the deterring effect of an electrical jolt, it is preferred to use pulses in circuits with direct current even if this is not required.

The mounting or assembly system according to the present invention may carry a number of current-conducting wires of a length being adjusted to circumvent an area or an object, said wires being connected to a source for direct or altering current. Since an electrical jolt not will be experienced unless the individual touching the relevant current-conducting wire closes an electrical circuit (rather like a switch) or transfers the electrical current to earth (which also will represent closing the electrical circuit), the current-conducting wires will in one embodiment be isolated from each other internally (by e.g. being equipped with an electrically insulting material there between or being placed at a distance from each other and outside of each other so that the current-conducting parts of the circuit do not touch each other). In one such embodiment the uninsulated parts of the current- conducting wires will be located so close to each other that touching one wire automatically will lead to the simultaneous touching of another wire so that an electrical circuit is formed through the touching. The distance between the uninsulated parts of the current-conducting wires will in such an embodiment lie at a joint distance from each other within the interval 0.5 - 10 cm, where the distance between the wires in this connection represents the length of an imaginary line drawn perpendicularly between two points on each wire located opposite each other. In such an embodiment there will run at least two current-conducting wires in the device or system.

Alternatively, in one possible embodiment there will run only one at least partially uninsulated current-conducting wire over a distance wherein the current-conducting circuit is closed by the touching of the current-conducting wire so that an electrical circuit is established between the current-conducting wire and earth. A possible distance above the ground for such wires is at least 1 cm above the ground or higher. Such a height will in most cases ensure that animals touch at least one of the current-conducting wires so that an electrical circuit is established through the animal between the wire and earth or between the separate wires. To ensure that the animal touches ground below the lowest current-conducting wire, there may be placed a rail of metal below the lowest current-conducting wire that has to be touched at the same time that the current-conducting wire is touched so that there is obtained a short-circuiting of the electrical circuit by the current being passed to earth through the animal. A metallic material may carry sufficiently many free electrons being available therein for the metal per se to take the role as earth so that a connection to the ground will become unnecessary. An example of this is electrical circuits wired in vehicles with metal body wherein the positive pole of the battery is connected directly to the metal body of the vehicle and electrical circuits to the electrically-functioning devices in the vehicle are switched on via switches connected to the negative pole of the battery via e.g. a switch closing the relevant electrical circuit by becoming connected to the body of the vehicle. A

corresponding wiring may be established in boats as well. It may also optionally be relevant to make the ground beneath the current- conducting wires moist or wet to ensure to a larger extent that an electrical contact to earth is established by the touching of at least the lowest current-conducting wire and the ground/earthing rail below.

Alternatively there may in addition, in one further embodiment, run two uninsulated wires parallel and mainly horizontally outside of each other, wherein the distance between the wires and the voltage in the wires are adjusted to each other so that a transfer of current between the wires occurs if a current-conducting body is placed between the electrical wires.

The wires in the device according to the invention may in one embodiment, for animals to be deterred from entering a building, be passed around the base of the building and preferably at a distance of at least 1.0 cm and at most 0.5 m above ground, even if this is not considered to be a limiting height, and higher heights may be possible for e.g. preventing flying swarms of insects to enter into a territory, e.g. for preventing swarms of grasshoppers to enter into a territory with agriculture to prevent swarms of hornets, ants or bees from establishing colonies in selected territories during their swarming season.

It may also be possible to place the current-conducting wires at ground level in the form of rails or netting . The current-conducting parts of such a device will be sufficiently isolated from connection to earth, but a connection to earth will be established when an animal steps on at least one of the current-conducting rails or where the electrical circuit is closed if an animal steps on at least two current- conducting wires simultaneously. In such an embodiment, the device may take the form of a cow-grid wherein the rails of the cow-grid are connected to an electrical source for passing electricity through the rails of the cow-grid.

The electrical conductivity of an organism is to a certain extent dependent on the content of fluids in the organism. Mammals normally have a water-content of between 75-90 % (w/w), normally including a number of salt ions, so that they are suitable for conducting electricity. The conductivity for electricity in an organism is also to a certain extent connected to the surface state of the animal, i.e. whether the animal has a moist surface or not. An example of animals having a good initial electrical conductivity on account of their state is snails. Because snails have a relatively damp surface they will conduct electrical current rather easily and will be particularly vulnerable towards electrical current. Snails are also relatively small animals so it is required rather small amperages to kill these. An example of animals without a damp or moist surface is insects such as ants. These animals do not conduct electrical current to the same extent as snails but they are sensitive to electrical current as well on account of their relatively small size. Another example of an animal without a moist or damp surface, and that consequently can tolerate "more" electrical current than snails or insects, is rodents such as rats or mice. These animals are also relatively much larger than snails and insects so that they for this reason can tolerate "more" electrical current. There may also be present parts or sections of the animal that are more moist or damp than the rest of the surface of the animal . An example of this is the nose of a dog that normally will be more moist than the rest of the dog (in dry weather). The touching of an electrically-conducting wire with such a body part will consequently be experienced more strongly than by the touching with any other and dryer body part.

One possible consideration concerning the establishment of rejection circuits with the assembly system according to the invention is to construct the system so physically robust that it will withstand an attack from an animal without losing its effect. Animals may react differently when they experience an electrical jolt. The normal reaction of animals that are not killed by the current but only experience it as unpleasant is that the animal becomes frightened and runs away. The more frequently the animal experiences receiving a jolt when it approaches or touches an electrically conducting wire, the more it will shy away from this location. However, the animal may also react with aggression and anger towa rds the current- conducting device. If this happens when deterring larger animals such as wolves, bears, coyotes, etc. the animal may react with anger and attack the device. When attacking, the animal will experience another jolt which may intensify its a nger and the animals may in this case tea r down and destroy the device in rage. It may consequently be advantageous in such instances to inspect the relevant electrical circuit regularly (e.g . two to three times per week down to once a month, determined by a person skilled in the art with knowledge of the animals roaming in the relevant area), or there may be included an automatic registration system notifying breaks in the electrical circuit(s) . Based on the considerations supra, the regulation of amperage and/or voltage in the electrical circuits may to a certain extent determine what kind of animals that will be killed and what kind of anima ls that will be rejected (and consequently not killed), and which kinds of animals that will be killed, since the same amperage may kill snails while simultaneously being experienced as unpleasant and deterring for e.g . rodents (mice a nd rats) . Based on their body volume (and not on their surface condition) it may as a guideline be suggested that at a constant voltage of 220 V an amperage of up to 0.01 mA may be used for killing snails and insects, whereas the same amperage will be unsuitable for rodents. At the same voltage of 220 V an amperage of between 0.01 and 0.10 mA may kill small rodents (mice, rats, gophers, squirrels, etc.). A further increase in the amperage at the same voltage within the interval 0.10-15 mA may kill larger mammals such as coyotes, hyenas, badgers, etc. In this connection snails and insects will be considered as "small" animals, rodents will be considered as "medium sized" animals and hyenas, badgers, coyotes, etc. will be considered to be "large" animals (see infra).

To be able to monitor the voltage and/or amperage being passed in the relevant electrical circuits, the circuits may comprise measuring devices such as an ampere meter and/or voltmeter.

In the disclosure supra there have been used relative expressions such as "small", "large", "moist", "dry" etc. These expressions represent such conditions regarded in relation to a human, so that a "small" animal is an animal having a weight being 1% (w/w) or less than the average weight of a human (75 kg), a "medium" large animal is an animal with a weight within the interval 1% - 30% (w/w) of the weight of an average human, whereas a "large" animal is an animal with a weight ranging from 30% (w/w) and above of the average weight of a human being.

A material being "dry" may have a water content within the interval 0.0% - 1.0 % (w/w) of water, or may contain water being bound, e.g. a polysaccharide or a protein or a biological complex being structured so that the water molecules are not able to contribute with free electrons that may enter into an electrical circuit. An example of a "dry" material is a natural or synthetic material such as rock or plastic but may also include wood having a water content within the above-mentioned water content interval for "dry". Likewise, the expression "moist" refers to a material of natural or synthetic origin having a water content of above 15% (w/w). In this connection any natural biological tissue will thus be "moist" (possibly except the skin surface comprising dead skin cells without free water molecules or fur comprising keratin fibers without water in its structure). The supply of water to "dry" structures will of course alter the situation so that "dry" structures may transcend to become "moist" or "wet". As an example, sweat may change the condition of the skin from being considered as "dry" to being considered as "moist" or "wet". The expression "about" is to mean that the relevant item has a value that may vary within ±10% of the indicated value. As an example an amperage being "about" 10.0 ampere may vary within the interval 9.0-11.0 ampere. The measuring accuracy for such measurements will lie within the number of decimal digits existing after the comma, or the number of power of tens in the measuring number existing after the comma. As an example, the measuring accuracy for the number 10.0 ampere will lie within 1/10 of an ampere, whereas the measuring accuracy for the number 10.00 ampere will lie within 1/100 ampere.

Detailed Disclosure of the Invention The securing system according to the invention will be disclosed with reference to the enclosed figures, wherein :

Fig. 1 shows the structure of an embodiment of a clamp according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows the same clamp as in Fig. 1 rotated 90°.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a clamp according to the invention that may pass electrically conducting wire/rails past a corner, be it an internal or an external corner.

Examples

As shown in Figs. 1-3 showing an embodiment of the structure of a clamp according to the invention, current-conducting wires 4,5 are mounted outside of each other and at a distance from each other. In the current example, the preferred material is plastic of a non-conducting type, but if the part of the wires 4,5 being carried by the clamp is insulated, the clamp can be made of any suitable material, including metal. Suitable types of material may consequently be any conducting or nonconducting material for electric current being of a resilient or rigid type ("resilient" in this connection meaning that the material may be moved within an interval of 0.001 - 1 mm perpendicularly to the section in a material section being a piece of material of dimensions 5 cm long, 1 cm wide and 0.1 cm thick and that will exert a counter-force against the perpendicular force as soon as the material is moved from its resting position). A preferred material for such clamp is plastic of a PVC type or PE type. The clamp body 1 has at least one securing area 2 for securing the clamp 1 to a substrate such as a wall, post, etc. It is preferred that the clamp has two securing areas 2, one on each end of the clamp. The clamp is in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-2 secured to a vertical surface with its longitudinal axis mainly in a vertical direction but it may also be placed in any other orientation depending on the mounting conditions. The embodiment of the clamp shown in Figs. 1-2 may in one variant comprise a slot 3' for carrying a current-conducting wire or rail 5, said slot 3' being formed between an external lip 6 and the clamp body 1, wherein said lip 6 may be secured to the elongated body 1 by the aid of a securing device 7 such as a snap lock, a magnet lock, an adhesive, a button securing part, etc. The securing clamp according to the invention may in alternative embodiments have securing sections 2 for the elongated body 1 comprising at least one screw hole 8, an adhesive area, a nail hole or any other securing device.

It is also possible to secure the two relevant wires 4,5 outside of each other and at a distance from each other in different ways with different embodiments of the clamp 1 or with a universal structure of the clamp 1. In one alternative, one of the current-conducting wires 4 may be clamped against the substrate and the backside of the clamp when the clamp is mounted to the substrate by the securing sections 2. To take advantage of the resilience of the material of the clamp body 1, the back of the clamp body 1 may in one embodiment have an area lying flush with or outside of the rear surface of the clamp body 1. The clamp body 1 within (in relation to the clamp body) this securing section for the wire/rail 4 has a slot 3 forming a resilient section between the clamp body 1 and the substrate. In such an embodiment the slot 3 may alternatively carry the second wire/rail 5 so that the horizontal distance between the wires/rails 4,5 is dictated by the thickness of the section between the backside of the clamp body 1 and the slot 3. The slot 3 may be closed but may also in an alternative embodiment be open by the clamp body being equipped with a break line 15 so that the slot 3 is formed by opening up this break line 15. In such an embodiment the two wires will be held outside of each other and at a distance from each other when mounting the clamp body 1 onto a substrate wherein the one wire/rail is held by the slot 3 and the second is held between the clamp body 1 and the substrate, and the tightening of the slot happens by tightening the securing devices for the securing sections 2 against the substrate. The slot 3 is not necessary for the function of the clamp according to the invention, and the second slot carrying a wire/rail 5 may alternatively or additionally be formed in the clamp body 1 as explained infra.

In another embodiment the clamp body 1 may comprise an additional or a second slot 3' lying at the front of the clamp body 1 and being formed between an external lip 6 and the clamp body 1. The lip 6 may be equipped with a securing device 7 against the clamp body 1 such as a snap lock, a button device, a magnet lock, an adhesive lock, etc. A snap lock is preferred.

In a further alternative embodiment the clamp body 1 may comprise electrically- conducting connecting points 16, 17, e.g. of a metal that may be connected to the current-conducting wires/rails 5 when these wires/rails are secured inside their respective slots 3,3' in the clamp between the substrate and in the external slot 3' in the clamp 1. Such an alternative may be used if there e.g. is present a connecting point in the wires 5 in the clamp section. Such a connecting point will ensure that electrical current may be passed between two connected and separate wires via the connecting points 16,17.

The clamp according to the invention may be combined with a corner securing piece 9 for the wires/rails 5 whereof one embodiment is shown in Fig. 3. Fig 3 shows a corner clamp comprising a corner piece 9 with two corner piece sections 10,10' forming an angle a between themselves. The angle a may include any angle but it is preferred that it is 90°. The corner piece 9 may comprise a holding section for the wires/rails 5.

The corner piece 9 may be located at internal as well as external corners, particularly where the angle a is 90°. It is especially with internal corners that the wires/rails 5 need corner pieces for their mounting. For passing the wires/rails 5 onto the substrate in corners, the wires/rails 5 may be placed between the substrate and the corner piece 9 so that the wires/rails 5 pass outside of each other and at a distance to each other, or the corner piece 9 may have a cross section like the one for the clamp 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In one alternative embodiment the corner piece may comprise a securing device in its internal corner. Such a securing device may e.g. be formed by a corresponding lip 6 as shown in Fig. 1, or may be formed by a wire or rail that may be secured over the outermost wire/rail in the internal corner of the corner piece 9. Such a securing rail may e.g. be formed by a snap clamp that may be secured in the internal corner of the corner piece 9. The internal corner of the corner piece 9 may also alternatively be equipped with an adhesive that may secure a wire or rail. To the extent that the corner piece has a rounded internal corner, a snap clamp or corresponding securing device may be located across a line that may be drawn as the crossing line between an imaginary flat plane β running perpendicularly to the internal surface of the rounded corner of the corner piece 9.

The clamp 1 and the corner piece 9 form collectively a securing system for electrically-conducting wires and rails without or partly without insulation, where said wires or rails run mainly parallel to each other and at a distance and outside of each other for rejecting vermin or pests that come into contact with the wires or into contact with the electrical field formed by the electrical current running through the electrically conducting wires/rails.

To place the clamp 1 in a correct position to the corner piece 9, the clamp 1 may in one embodiment include a slot 11 being located preferably centrally in the body of the clamp 1 cooperating with extending wings 12 existing in a corresponding location in the ends of the corner piece 9. In one embodiment it is not required that the corner piece 9 has a securing device for the wire(s)/rail(s) in its internal corner since it is sufficient that the wire(s)/rail(s) is/are passed merely from one clamp to the next and reciprocating clamp across the corner piece 9. Alternatively to using a corner piece 9, two clamps 1 may be mounted on each surface of a corner in close vicinity to each other for passing the wire(s)/rail(s) between said clamps. The use of a corner piece is, however, preferred to ensure that the wire(s)/rail(s) do not come into contact with each other.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. Securing clamp for electrically conducting wires (4,5) and electrically conducting rails being partly insulated, locally insulated or uninsulated, wherein said electrically conducting wires or rails (4,5) run at a (horizontal) distance from each other, wherein said securing clamp comprises an elongated body (1) with at least one securing section (2) for securing said clamp to a substrate, and having a slot (3,3') for holding one first wire/rail (4,5), wherein said at least one second wire/rail may be clamped at a (horizontal) distance from said first wire/rail (4,5) between said elongated body (1) of said clamp and the substrate onto which said clamp is secured.

2. Securing clamp according to claim 1, wherein said elongated body (1) comprises more than one slot (3,3') for holding an electrically-conducting wire or rail (4).

3. Securing clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said slots (3,3') are comprised of a lip (6) located outside said elongated body.

4. Securing clamp according to claim 3, wherein said lip (6) may be secured to the elongated body (1) by the aid of a securing device (7) such as a snap lock, a magnet lock, an adhesive lock, a button lock, etc.

5. Securing clamp according to any of the claims 1 - 4, wherein said securing section (2) for the elongated body (1) is comprised of at least one screw hole (8), an adhesive area, a nail hole or other securing device or system.

6. Securing clamp according to any of the claims 1 - 5, comprising areas or electrically-conducting material (16,17) in said slots (3,3') carrying said wires/rails (5).

7. Securing system including a securing clamp according to any of the claims 1 - 6, wherein said securing system further comprises a bent plane body (9), said bent plane body (9) comprising tracks (10) that may carry said wires/rails.

8. Securing system according to claim 7, wherein said elongated body (1) and said bent body (9) comprise reciprocating securing devices (11,12) that may combine said elongated body (1) with said bent body (9).

9. Securing system according to claim 8, wherein said reciprocating securing devices (11, 12) are formed by elongated members (11) and holes (12).

10. Securing system according to claim 7, wherein said bent body (9) comprises securing devices (13) for fastening said bent body (9) to a substrate.

11. Securing system according to claim 7 - 10, wherein said bent body (9) comprises at least one securing lip (14) for holding said wire/rail to said bent body (9).

12. Securing system according to claim 11, wherein said securing lip (14) comprises a snap system, a magnet system, a button system etc. for fastening said lip (14) to the bent body (9).

13. Securing system according to claim 12, wherein said securing lip (14) is present at least in the internal corner of said bent body (9).

14. Securing system according to any of the claims 7 - 13, wherein said bent body (9) has an angle of 90° .