HEIGHT CABLER

DISPOSITIF DE CABLAGE EN HAUTEUR

English Abstract

In a tool for installing cables, a handle is secured to a main body
perpendicular to the handle. The main
body houses a shaft that allows a chain to be fastened to the end of the shaft
at the opening, which is in turn
securely connected to cables. The handle can then be extended via an extension
pole to the desired height in
order to place the metal chain over beams in industrial buildings. Once the
desired position of the cable is
achieved the operator can then pull the release rope, which in turn pulls the
shaft back and opens the chain notch
and drops the chain. The chain will then drop to the floor enabling the
operator to pull the cables up and over the
beams, via twine that is attached to the chain, which in turn is attached to
the cables.

French Abstract

Sur un outil d'installation de câbles, poignée qui est fixée à un corps principal en perpendiculaire par rapport à la poignée. Le corps principal abrite un arbre que permet la fixation d'une chaîne au bout de l'arbre au niveau de l'ouverture, qui est elle-même raccordée solidement à des câbles. La poignée peut alors être allongée à la hauteur désirée par le biais d'une perche télescopique, afin de placer la chaîne métallique sur des poutres dans des immeubles industriels. Lorsque le câble a été placé à la position désirée, l'opérateur peut alors tirer sur la corde de relâchement, qui à son tour fait reculer la chaîne par traction et ouvre le cran de la chaîne et fait tomber cette dernière sur le plancher, ce qui permet à l'opérateur de tirer les câbles vers le haut et au-dessus des poutres au moyen d'une ficelle qui est attachée à la chaîne, laquelle est attachée aux câbles.

Claims

I claim:
1. A tool for drawing a cable over an object from a location remote from said
object, said
tool including: an elongated handle; a main body associated with said handle
and having a distal
portion; a catch at said distal portion and being movable from a closed to an
open position, said
catch when in said closed position adapted to engage a weight; and when in
said open position
adapted to disengage said weight; a spring for biasing said catch into said
closed position; and a
release for applying a force opposed to the bias of said spring for causing
said catch to open with
resulting unfastening of said weight from said catch, said release being
operable at said remote
location.
2. A tool for drawing a cable over a structural component of a building from a
location
remote from and beneath said structural component, said tool including: an
elongated handle;
a main body associated with said handle and having a distal portion; a catch
at said distal portion
and being movable from a closed to an open position, said catch when in said
closed position
adapted to engage a weight; and when in said open position adapted to
disengage said weight; a
spring for biasing said catch into said closed position; and a release for
applying a force opposed
to the bias of said spring for causing said catch to open with resulting
unfastening of said weight
from said catch, said release being operable at said remote location.
3. The tool of claims 1 or 2 wherein said main body is an elongated cylinder
having an
opening in said distal portion, said tool further including a shaft which is
received in said cylinder

and which slides forward and backward therein, said shaft having a forward
portion which acts
alternatively to open and close said opening as said forward portion slides
forward and backward,
respectively, in said cylinder, said forward portion and said opening
cooperating to define said
catch.
4. The tool of claims 1, 2 or 3 further including a release rope accessible to
an operator who
holds said handle, said release rope when pulled, applying said force for
causing said catch to open
and when released, allowing said catch to close.
5. The tool of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said spring applies said force to
said shaft for
activating said catch.
6. The tool of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said handle is telescopic.
7. The tool of claims 1, 2 3, 4 or 5 wherein said main body is telescopic.
8. A method of drawing a cable over an object from a location remote from said
object, said
method including the steps of, providing a tool having an elongated handle, a
main body attached
to said handle and a catch at a distal portion of said main body and being
moveable from a closed
position, in which said catch is adapted to engage a weigh to an open position
in which said catch
releases a weight; providing a spring for biasing said catch into said closed
position; causing a
weight to be engaged by said catch; connect-ing a cable to said weight;
manipulating said handle
at said remote location until said main body lies over said structural
component such that said
handle is on one side of said structural component and said weight is on the
opposite side thereof;
6

applying a force opposed to the bias of said spring for causing said catch to
open to allow said
weight to fall downward from said main body with resulting drawing of said
cable over said
structural component.
9. A method of drawing a cable over a structural component of a building from
a location
remote from and beneath said structural component, said method including the
steps of providing
a tool having an elongated handle, a main body attached to said handle and a
catch at a distal
portion of said main body and being movable from a closed position in which
said catch is adapted
to engage a weigh to an open position in which said catch releases a weight;
providing a spring for
biasing said catch into said closed position; causing a weight to be engaged
by said catch; connect-
ing a cable to said weight; manipulating said handle at said remote location
until said main body
lies over said structural component such that said handle is on one side of
said structural
component and said weight is on the opposite side thereof; applying a force
opposed to the bias of
said spring for causing said catch to open to allow said weight to fall
downward from said main
body with resulting drawing of said viable over said structural component.
The method of claim 8 or 9 further including connecting mid cable to said
weight by
means of a twine or string.
7

Description

CA 02582652 2010-09-22
Description:
This invention relates to a manually operable tool for installing cahips
through the opening of
rafters, joists, beams or pipes in ceilings of industrial buildings,
Various kinds of methods have been used for installing cables in industrial
buildings. One
common method for installing cables In industrial buildings is to use ladders,
skyjacks or turklifts connected
to metal cages in order to reach and maneuver cables through the opening of
rafters, joists, beams and
pipes. The ladder, skyjack or forklift are placpel under a rafter, joist, beam
or pipe and the individual raises
himself or herself 20 feet or higher into the air where they are eye-level to
the rafter, joist, beam or pipe.
The individual then manually places the cable through the openiny of rafter,
joist, beam or pipe and pulls
the cable from the other side only to repeat the process at the next joist,
beam or pipe.
Although the method is highly successful, certain limitations do exist in this
known method
described. In particular, there exists a certain danger in climbing 20 feet or
higher in the air since the
necessary areas are often congested with debris, boxes, and machinery. Pulling
cables from this height
creates a destabih7inO effect, which may lead to injury. The use of skyjacks
or fortclifts are also
inconvenient and require the unnecessary cost of renting equipment that allows
a person to reach areas
where cabips need to be placed, These methods are also inerticient because
they often require the
energy of two or more individuals positioned 20-30 feet from each other; one
to feed the wires from the
cnhle box on the ground, one to operate the equipment and one to place the
cables through the rafters,
joists, beams or pipes which often result In communication break down.
It is the object of the present Invention to provide an improved method for
cabling or wiring in high
ceiling.
Another object of the invention is to provide a wire cabler, wherein high cost
and dangerous work
environments and situations are minimized.
The above objects are met with the present invention, which provides a device
that allows the
operator to place the cable(s) through the opening of ratters, over beams and
pipes while standing on the
ground. Such an apparatus permits one individual to do the job of 2 or 3,
secures a greater effect with less
energy and reiJu..es the cost of renting heavy equipment. The operator
manually positions the device 20
feet or higher into the rafter, joist, beams and pipes carefully making sure
the drop chain can freely
des xiid to the ground. Once the desired position of the drop chain is
achieved the individual pulls a
release rope thereby compressing the tension spring and allowing the shaft to
be compressed against the
tension spring creating an opening in the chain notch and allowing the drop
chain to go free and descend
to the floor. The drop chain which is connected the twine or string, which is
in turn connected to the cables
can be pulled guiding the wires through the joist, rafters, beams and pipes
all while safely standing on the
ground.
1

CA 02582652 2010-09-22
Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art from the
following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing
In a drawing which illustrates embodiments of the Invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the height cabler showing the internal
components of the device
constructed in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of this device without showing the internal components
of the device;
Figure 3 is a side view of the device with the drop chain, twine and cables
attached;
Figure 4 is a side view of the shaft which is an Internal component of the
device shown in Figure
Figure 5 shows the device being operated in its Intended work environment;
Figure 6 is a zoomed view of the end of the apparatus of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a zoomed view of the front of the apparatus of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a zoomed view of the end of the apparatus of Figure 5;
Figure a is a zoomed end view of the device showing a the internal components
of the apparatus
depicted in Figure 1; and
Figure 10 is a zoomed view of the cables box, wire and twine depicted in
Figure 5.
Very generally, the height cabler or tool of the invention comprises of a
handle 14, which is
perpendicular to the main body 1. 'T he main body 1 acts as the frame (or
housing tube) of the invention
and houses all moving and stationary parts including a shaft 10, a tension
spring 4, tension spring
chamber 3, a tension spring blocker23, two bridges 22 (if designed so), a
chain notch 7 and a pulley and
axe[ 8, which allow the invention to function. Attached to the front of the
main unit Is the drop chain 8 and
attached to the end of the shaft is a release rope 16.
Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the embodiment of the invention
illustrated therein
shows the side view of the device. Specifically a handle 14 is secured to the
main body 1 perpendicular to
the handle 14. The handle 14 and the main body I maybe formed from metal, as
shown or may If
designed, be made from aluminum tubes or with plastic. The handle comprises an
elongated gripping
surface, a pole-receiving socket extending along the length of the gripping
surface, and a recess extending
2

CA 02582652 2010-09-22
from en end of the main body, Upon the handle are two screws 15 which are
tightened by wing nuts to
secure the extension handle 17 to the device. The handle 14 Is then secured to
the device by an
adjustable nut 13 (or it can be done with a bracket if designed so), which is
fastened to the end of main
body I of the device. Extending at a perpendicular angle to the handle 14 is
the main body 1 of the
device. The main body 1 of the device has the ability fn fold by loosening the
adjustable nut 13, Tho
main body 1 of the device extends 35" (this size can vary depending on the
design)from front to end and
is welded or fastpnnrf with a bracket flush to the handle at a perpendicular
angle, the main body 1 is
extendable (telescopic). The main body 1 is elongated cylinder 9 that Is
hollow and ovoid. The main body
I may be formed from metal 2, ac shown or may, if designed, be rniade from
aluminum or hard plastics.
At the front or distal portion of the main body 1 is a chain notch or opening
7, which is 3/4 inches in length
and half on inch in depth, At the end or ttie main body is a hollow cylinder
called the spring chamber 3 the
spring chamber 3 may be positioned in the front of the main body, spring
chamber is containing a tension
spring 4. The tensiun spring 4 Is removed by unscrewing a neck nut (bolt)12
with a hole in the center,
The tension spring chamber 3 also has holes on either end, which allows a
shaft 10 to move freely through
the tension spring chamber 3. one end of the spring chamber 3 is spring
blocker 23 towards the tip of the
main body 1, and the other end Is the necked nut (bolt) 12, Within the main
body I is a shaft 10 as shown
it may be designed to be made from metal (as shown) or aluminum or hard
plastics.
Referring more particularly to Figure 4, the shaft 10 is housed inside the
main body 1 and Is 33
inches in length or it can be made shorter if the spring chamber 3 is located
towards the front of the main
bodyl. I he shaft 10 has a forward portion which is pointed at the front tip
of it and at the end of it has a
hole 5 like a needle eye. The shaft 10 has a metal ring (lip) called the
tension spring holder 11 located at a
specific distance from the tip of the shaft (the location of tension spring
holder can vary depending on the
location of tension spring chamber 3 in side the main bodyl). The tension
spring holder is welded (or
fastened) to the shaft this will stop'the shaft at the tension spring blocker
23, so it can not go in any further
within the main body 1 shown in Figure 9. Referring back to Figure 1 and 2,
the shaft at its resting point is
one inch out from the front of the main body I and from the tip Is exposed by
the opening of the chain
notch 7. The shaft 10 moves laterally within the main body 1 and passes
through the tension spring
chamber 3 and tension spring 4. The shaft 10 can be removed for maintenance by
unscrewing the necked
nut (bolt) 12 attached to the tension spring chamber 3 and sliding the shaft
10 it of the! main body 1. with
tension spring4, When the shaft 10 is reinstalled it is placed inside the main
body I from the end of the
main body 1 and passes through the ocntar of the tencinn spring chamber S. The
shaft 10, when the
tension spring holder 11 hits the spring blocker 23 at the end of the tension
spring chamber 3. the shaft 10
can not go in more, The tension spring 4 is then inserted over the shaft 10,
within the tension spring
chamber 3. The tension spring chamber 3 Is then closed by fastening the necked
nut (bolt) 12 to the
tension spring chamber 3 this compresses the tension spring against the
toncion spring holder fixod to tho
shaft and holds the shaft 10 pushed at all the time until the shaft is pulled
backward within the main body
1, with the release rope 16 is pulled this allows the shaft 10 to move
backward and open the chain notch 7
at the tip of the main body 1.
3

CA 02582652 2010-09-22
In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 14 is secured to the end of the main
body1, two bridge
pieces 22 by welded or fasten to the main body 1, the bridge 22 may be removed
if the spring chamber 3
is relocated to the front of the main body, the two bridge pieces 22 are
joined in the middle by a pulley and
axes 6. When the release rope 16 is pulled, the shaft 10 is also pulled
compressing the tension spring
towards the necked nut 12 and opening the chain notch 7 at the front tip of
the main body 1. The notch or
opening and the shaft form a catch which allows the chain 8 to be released
from the tip of the shaft 10 and
drop from the device. The drop chain 8 will then fall to the floor and bring
down the twine 18 that is
connected to the drop chain 8 which is in turn connected to the cables 18,
enabling the operator to pull the
cables 20 up and over the beams. The cables are fed from a cable box 21 shown
in figures 1, 3, 5, and
10.
Referring now to Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, a further illustration of the
invention is shown. In this
illustration, the Invention is shown in its working-environment. The
individual stands on the ground whilc
holding the extension handle 17, which is connected to the main body 1. The
Individual then positions the
main body 1 of the unit in to the opening of a beam nr jcilst carefully making
sure the drop chain 8 can
freely descend to the ground. Once the desired position of the drop chain 8 is
achieved the individual pulls
the release rope 16 thereby comprescinrd the tension spring 4 and allowing the
shaft 10 to be pullwU
backward inside the main body there by the tip of the shaft moves away from
the chain notch and the
chain notch 7 opens and allowing the drop chain 8 to dosecnd to the floor and
brings the twine connected
to the drop chain down, then the operator pulls the twine which in turn tied
to the cable or cables and
hringgs the cable down from over the beams or rafters.
It may be seen, therefore, that the invention provides an inipioved process
for cabling or wiring.
The invention improves efficiency and decreases cost all while creating a
safer work environment.
Various modification of this invention in addition to those shown and
described herein will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and
accompany drawiiiys. Such
modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.
including making the over all
sizo to be longer or smeller, to make the body expandable (telescopic) or
fixed, moving the tension spring
to the front or making it from various material like metal, aluminum or
plastic.
4

Representative Drawing