Abstract:
A fish tape reel assembly includes a housing having a peripheral wall defining an outer wall of a cavity having a center. A housing handle is attached to the peripheral wall, and a fish tape cassette is rotatably mounted in the cavity. The cassette rotates in the cavity to wind and unwind fish tape thereon to retract or extend the tape to and from the housing in a feed direction which is perpendicular to the housing handle. A handle on the cassette pivots to lock the cassette into a locked position which prevents the cassette from rotating. A fish tape end piece is wedge shaped to create a path between surfaces requiring separation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to fish tapes of the type used by electricians to pull wire through conduit or other spaces, and more particularly to the fish tape reel assembly and end assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A fish tape is an elongated wire or nonconductive flexible rod or flat tape typically used to install wire in conduit, through existing walls, or between surfaces. Because typical electrical wire is very flexible, pushing it through long lengths of conduit is virtually impossible. Pulling wire along the desired path is much more effective. 
     In order to pull the wire, a fish tape, being more rigid than electrical wire, is pushed along the desired path. Once an end of the fish tape reaches the end of the desired path, the electrical wire is attached to an end assembly mounted to the fish tape end, and the fish tape is retrieved pulling the wire with it. 
     The fish tape is typically stored in a reel assembly, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,780 which stores the fish tape in a coil. The reel assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,780 includes a generally annular tape receiving chamber peripherally bound by a pair of axially opposed lips. The lips separate to permit winding and unwinding of the fish tape in the chamber. A handle having a tape passage is mounted between the lips which provides passage of the tape out of and in to the receiving chamber. 
     Another reel assembly known in the art includes a generally annular tape receiving chamber with inner and outer periphery walls. A tape passage formed on the inner periphery walls provides passage of the tape out of and in to the receiving chamber. 
     When loading tape into the above reel assemblies, the receiving chamber is disassembled in order to anchor one end of the tape to a chamber wall. The tape is then coiled in the chamber prior to reassembly, or the tape is wound into the chamber after assembly through the tape passage. In any event, this is a time consuming process. 
     In operation, when retrieving the fish tape with wires attached, the end assembly can become snagged. The user must grasp the fish tape to pull the tape with sufficient force to dislodge the tape. A significant force may be needed, exacerbated by the fact that the tape is typically stiff and of small cross-section, making it difficult to grasp. 
     Finally, the fish tape ends typically have a cylindrical end piece or are formed into a coil to which wire can be attached. These shapes are acceptable when the fish tape is fed through an unobstructed path, such as a conduit. However, when the path is between surfaces which may require separation, such as between a carpet and floor, the fish tape often encounters insurmountable obstacles. Thus multiple attempts to traverse the desired area are required prior to finding a path with sufficiently separated surfaces that will allow passage of the tape. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a fish tape reel assembly which includes a housing having a peripheral wall defining an outer wall of a cavity having a center. A handle is attached to the peripheral wall, and a fish tape cassette is rotatably mounted in the cavity. The cassette rotates in the cavity to wind and unwind fish tape thereon. 
     A general objective of the present invention is to provide a fish tape reel assembly which is easily loadable with fish tape. This objective is accomplished by providing a fish tape reel assembly that is loaded with fish tape by inserting a cassette containing fish tape into the housing. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a fish tape reel assembly that aids in pulling a deployed fish tape. This objective is accomplished by providing a housing handle substantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the fish tape, and a locking mechanism for locking the fish tape from movement out of the housing. Pulling on the housing handle, when the fish tape reel assembly is in a locked position exerts a tensile force in the proper direction to pull the fish tape with a user&#39;s hand and wrist aligned and generally parallel to the feed direction of the tape. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a fish tape end piece which will easily pass between two surfaces requiring separation. This objective is accomplished by providing a wedge shaped end piece having a leading edge thinner than a trailing edge. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof when taken with the accompanying drawings of which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a fish tape reel assembly in a locked position that employs the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the fish tape reel assembly housing of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the fish tape reel assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the fish tape reel assembly cassette of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the fish tape reel assembly cassette of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 6 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the fish tape reel assembly of FIG. 1 in an unlocked position; 
     FIG. 10 is a top rear perspective view of the fish tape end piece of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the fish tape end piece of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A fish tape reel assembly  10  has a housing  14  with a cavity  22  formed therein, and an integral carrying handle  24 . A fish tape cassette  12  is rotatably mounted in the cavity  22 , and contains fish tape  16 . The cassette  12  has a cassette handle  76  which pivots between a locked position (shown in FIG. 1) and an unlocked position (shown in FIG.  9 ). In the unlocked position, a user rotates the cassette  12  to deploy or retrieve the tape  16 . In the locked position, the user can pull on the carrying handle  24  to exert a significant pulling force on deployed tape  16 . Preferably, the housing  14  and cassette  12  are formed from molded plastic, such as polypropylene and the like, using methods known in the art, such as injection molding and the like. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing  14  receives the cassette  12  in the annular cavity  22  formed therein, and has a carrying handle  24  for carrying the assembly  10 . The cavity  22  is defined in the housing  14  by a substantially circular back wall  26  with a centrally disposed hub  28  for rotatably mounting the fish tape cassette  12 , and a periphery Wall  30  extending substantially perpendicular to the back wall  26 . 
     The carrying handle  24  has a grip  32  for grasping by the user, and is attached to the housing periphery wall  30  by arms  34  extending from opposing ends  36  of the grip  32 . The grip  32  is substantially perpendicular to a radial line  38  extending from the circular back wall center  40  to the center of the handle  24 . Preferably, the grip  32  and arms are formed as a single piece, and as an integral part of the housing periphery wall  30 . Ribs  37  formed in the handle reduce the material required to form the handle without significantly reducing the handle structural integrity. 
     A fish tape guide  18  is formed as part of the housing periphery wall  30 , and directs the fish tape  16  unwound from the cassette  12  away from the carrying handle  24 , and substantially parallel to the radial line  38  extending from the circular back wall center  40 . The guide  42  is formed as an integral part of the housing periphery wall  30 , and has a slot  44  extending through the periphery wall  30  substantially parallel to the radial line  38 . 
     The fish tape  16  is slipped into the slot  44  when the cassette  12  is mounted in the cavity  22 , and it exits the housing cavity  22  through the slot  44  when the fish tape  16  is unwound from the cassette  12 . By guiding the fish tape  16  away from the handle  24  which is substantially perpendicular to the extended tape  16 , when the cassette  12  is in a locked position, a significant pulling force can be exerted on the tape  16  by pulling on the carrying handle  24 , with the user&#39;s hand and wrist aligned, and the user&#39;s arm generally parallel to the radial line  38 . 
     Looking particularly at FIG. 5, the cassette  12  is rotatably mounted in the housing cavity  22 , and has the fish tape  16  wound thereon. The cassette includes a disc shaped base  46  having an inner and outer surface  48 ,  50 . The base  46  has a wall  42  extending substantially perpendicular from the base inner surface  48  which is joined to an inner radius  49  of an annular disc  52  to form a groove  54  in the cassette periphery  56  for receiving the fish tape  16 . Only two coils of the tape  16  are illustrated, it being understood that any number of coils may be provided. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the fish tape  16  has one end  58  anchored to the cassette to prevent it from completely slipping out of the fish tape reel assembly  10 . The fish tape anchor end  58  is inserted through an opening  60  in the cassette wall  42 , and looped around a tab  64  extending from the base inner surface  48 . A U-shaped extension  66  spaced from the tab  64  wraps around the tab  64  to prevent the fish tape  16  from slipping off of the tab  64 . 
     Looking at FIGS. 6-9, a hub  68  centrally disposed on the base inner surface  48  mates with the housing hub  28  to rotatably mount the cassette  12  to the housing  14 . A bolt  70  threadably engaging the cassette base hub  68 , and extending through the housing hub  28  concentric with the cassette center  62  retains the cassette  12  in the housing cavity  22 . Low friction washers  72 , such as formed from brass, separate the hubs  28 ,  68 , and the bolt  70  to reduce friction when rotating the cassette  12  in the housing cavity  22 . 
     The base outer surface  50  has a pair of substantially parallel ribs  74  extending substantially perpendicular to the cassette base outer surface  50 . The ribs  74  are centrally disposed on the base outer surface  50 , and bracket the cassette center  62  to provide mounting surfaces for a cassette handle  76 . 
     The cassette handle  76  is interposed between the ribs  74 , and has one end  78  pivotally mounted thereto to rotate the cassette  12  when in the unlocked position (shown in FIG.  9 ). The other end  80  of the cassette handle  76  has a knob  82  for grasping by the user when rotating the cassette  12 . In the locked position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the knob  82  engages the housing carrying handle  24  to prevent rotation of the cassette  12 , thus locking the cassette from unwinding any additional fish tape  16 . The locked position is particularly advantageous when pulling on the carrying handle  24  to dislodge the tape  16  from a snag. 
     Referring back to FIGS.  1  and  6 - 9 , a depression  84  (shown in FIG. 8) formed in the base outer surface  50  between the ribs  74 , and beneath the cassette handle pivotally connected end  78  provides clearance for the cassette handle  76  when pivoting. The clearance allows the cassette handle  76  to pivot 180° between the locked position to the unlocked position. Of course, any method known in the art to provide clearance for the cassette handle  76 , such as shortening the handle end  78 , may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     A leaf spring  85  disposed in the depression biases the handle  76  in the locked or unlocked position. Biasing the handle  76  prevents it from inadvertently moving from the locked position to the unlocked position, and thus unintentionally dispensing tape  16 . 
     The fish tape  16  is preferably an elongated flat metal or fiberglass tape wrapped around the cassette  12  in the groove  54 . Although a flat tape is preferred, any shaped tape, such as a round tape, may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. The tape anchor end  58  is anchored to the tab  64  extending from the cassette base inner surface  48 . A tape free end  86  extends through the fish tape guide  52 , and has an end piece  88  affixed thereto. 
     Looking particularly at FIGS. 10 and 11, the end piece  88  is wedge shaped having a thin rounded leading edge  90 , and a thick rounded trailing edge  92  connected by angled top and bottom walls  94 ,  96 . The wedge shape separates surfaces, such as between a carpet and floor, when the tape is pushed along a desired path. Opposing sidewalls  98 ,  100  connecting the top and bottom walls  94 ,  96  are stepped to provide a wider leading edge  90  than the trailing edge  92 . 
     Ridges  102  formed on the top and bottom walls  94 ,  96  proximal the leading edge  90  reduce friction when the end piece  88  is forced between the surfaces, and also make it easier to grip the end  88  when pulling the fish tape  16  out of the assembly  10 . An aperture  104  formed through the end piece  88  from the top wall  94  to the bottom wall  96  provides an attachment point for wires or string. 
     The stepped sidewalls  98 ,  100  form shoulders  99  which secure wire inserted through the aperture and wrapped around the end piece walls  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100 . The shoulders  99  prevent the wire from slipping off of the end piece  88  when the tape  16  is retracted back toward the assembly  10 . 
     A slot  106  formed in the end piece trailing edge  92  receives the fish tape end  86 . In the embodiment illustrated, the end piece  88  is insert injection molded on the end of the fish tape  16 . The end piece  88  could, however, be separately molded, and subsequently attached to the fish tape end  86  with an adhesive or other means. If insert molded, the tape end  86  has a hole in it through which plastic of the end piece  88  flows to create opening  104 , and a mechanically interlocking connection of end piece  88  with the metal end of the tape  16 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-11, in use, the fish tape  16  is dispensed from the reel assembly  10  by pivoting the cassette handle  76  to the unlocked position, and then rotating the cassette  12  with the knob  82  to unwind the tape  16 . Alternatively, the tape  16  can be pulled from the cassette  12 , which freely rotates in the unlocked position. 
     The free end of the tape  16  having the end piece  88 , is guided along the desired path by the user. When the path includes traversing between surfaces, the end piece  88  creates a path by separating the surfaces with the wedge shape. 
     In the unlocked position, the tape  16  is wound back onto the cassette  12  by grasping the cassette handle knob  82 , and moving it in a circular path in a direction opposite to that used to unwind the tape  16 . If the tape  16  is snagged, the cassette handle  76  is pivoted to the locked position, and the user grasps the housing handle  24  to pull the tape  16  loose. Once the tape  16  is loose, the user pivots the cassette handle  76  back to the unlocked position to continue reeling in the tape  16 . 
     While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.