Abstract:
An electrical wire fishing system provides assistance in the pulling of cable through drop ceiling cavities. The system comprises a first component which is used at the entrance to the drop ceiling cavity and comprises a tube held in place by clamps. The first component utilizes a pair of spring-loaded cams which allow the cable to only travel in a single direction. Should the cable attempt to fall down, the cams will lock in place preventing such an action. A second component is used at the exit of the ceiling cavity and utilizes a pair of guideposts. These guideposts guide the cable out of the ceiling cavity and prevent it from becoming caught up on ceiling grid. With the system properly in place, cable can be pulled through a ceiling cavity by a single person.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/658,097, filed Jun. 11, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to electrical wiring and, more particularly, to a system for providing assistance in the pulling of cables. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A task common to the electrical field is pulling metal clad cables into drop ceiling cavities. During a typical installation, the wire spool containing the cable is located upon a floor while the end of the cable is connected to a fish tape which has been routed through the ceiling. 
     Should someone not be present at the opposite end of the fish tape, the weight of the cable will pull the fish tape through the ceiling cavity forcing the process to start all over again. Additionally, the corrugated nature of the cable is prone to becoming caught on the drop ceiling components as it enters and exits the ceiling cavity. 
     Having recognized the abovementioned problems, the inventor observed that there remains a need for an electrical cable fishing system for drop ceilings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a means to enable the fishing of cable through a drop ceiling in a single direction, and arresting motioning of said cable in a reverse direction. 
     In order to accomplish the aforementioned operation, a first component is installed adjacent an entrance to a drop ceiling and a second component is installed adjacent an exit of the drop ceiling. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment, each of the components comprise a generally cylindrical tubular body. 
     Both the first and second components are removably attached to structures in the drop ceiling by a pair of clamping features. In at least one (1) embodiment, each of the clamping features include a clamp shaft passing perpendicularly through the body adjacent to either end and having a clamp handle at one (1) distal end and a clamp plate with a clamp spring at an opposing distal end. 
     The first component comprises a pair of gate structures configured to enable the cable to pass through forwardly, and clamp on the cable when motioned rearwardly. In at least one (1) embodiment, the pair of gate structures comprises opposing mirror-image spring-loaded cam devices affixed to an upper surface of the body of the first component via a pivot bolt. A torsion spring encompasses an outer surface of the pivot bolt. Each torsion spring biases said first gate portion against said second gate portion. Further, the arcuate member has an outwardly facing textured surface configured to provide a frictional contact with the cable. 
     The second component has a pair of guidepost portions integral to and upwardly extending from the body thereof. In at least one (1) embodiment, the pair of guidepost portions are parallel cylindrical appendages intermediately positioned upon the body and spaced apart sufficiently so as to slidingly contain at least one (1) cable therebetween. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an electrical fishing system for a drop ceiling  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first component  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second component  30 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a sectional view of a first component portion  20  of the electrical fishing system for a drop ceiling  10  depicting a clamped state, taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 2 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4   b  is another sectional view of the first component portion  20  depicting a released state, also taken along section line A-A, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  electrical fishing system for a drop ceiling 
               11  drop ceiling 
               12  cable 
               20  first component 
               22  first component tube 
               24   a  first gate assembly 
               24   b  second gate assembly 
               25   a  pivot bolt 
               25   b  pivot spring 
               26  textured surface 
               28  first component clamp 
               29   a  clamp plate 
               29   b  clamp shaft 
               29   c  clamp handle 
               29   d  clamp spring 
               29   e  clamp handle pivot pin 
               30  second component 
               32  second component tube 
               34  guidepost 
               36  second component clamp 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4   b . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an electrical fishing system for a drop ceiling (herein described as the “system”)  10 , which provides a means for easily pulling, or “fishing”, cable  12 , such as metal clad (MC) cable, into drop ceiling  11  cavities. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the system  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The system  10  comprises a first component  20  and a second component  30  to guide at least one (1) cable  12  above a drop-type ceiling  11 . The components  20 ,  30  are utilized together to route and directionally secure the cable  12  from a starting side edge portion of the drop ceiling  11  to an opposing side edge portion of said drop ceiling  11 . Said first  20  and second components  30  are clamped onto structural features such as “T”-rail portions or the like along opposing side edges using respective first component clamp  28  and second component clamp  36  portions (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the first component  20 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The first component  20  is adapted to be utilized at the entrance to the drop ceiling  11  to clamp the cable  12  in a single-directional manner (see  FIG. 1 ), and is comprised of a first component tube  22 . The first component tube  22  is preferably fabricated from a durable cylindrical material such as plastic or PVC tubing and retains a first gate portion  24   a  and a second gate portion  24   b  along an upper surface. The first component tube  22  further comprises a pair of first component clamps  28  located at opposing ends along a lower surface portion. The gate portions  24   a ,  24   b  comprise opposing mirror-image spring-loaded cam devices which enable the cable  12  to move forwardly between the gates  24   a ,  24   b , but not rearwardly, thereby eliminating said cable  12  from descending from the ceiling  11  unexpectedly (see  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the second component  30 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The second component  30  is adapted to be utilized a location where the cable  12  exits the drop ceiling  11  (see  FIG. 1 ), and is comprised of a second component tube  32  having features which guide the cable  12  to another side of the drop ceiling  11  opposite the first component  20 . The second component tube  32  comprises similar shape and materials as the first component  20  and retains a pair of integral upwardly extending guidepost portions  34  and a pair of second component clamps  36  along a bottom surface. 
     The guideposts  34  comprise parallel cylindrical appendages intermediately positioned upon the second component tube  32  being spaced apart sufficiently so as to slidingly contain at least one (1) cable  12  therebetween, guiding said routed cable  12  above the drop ceiling  11 . The guideposts  34  are integral to and extend upwardly from the second component tube  32 . The second component tube  32  also comprises a pair of integral second component clamps  36 , similar to the first component clamps  28 , also located on opposing end portions. In like manner, the second component clamps  36  are utilized to attach the second component  30  to structural elements along an edge of the drop ceiling  11 . An embodiment of the second component clamps  36  are illustrated here comprising spring-loaded clamp plates  29   a ; however, other equivalent clamping devices may be utilized in both the first  28  and second  36  component clamps with equal benefit without limiting the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , sectional views of the first component portion  20  of the system  10  depicting clamped and released states, taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 2 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. Each gate portion  24   a ,  24   b  comprises an arcuate member being affixed to a forward upper surface of the first component tube  22  via a respective pivot bolt  25   a  and further comprising a torsion-type pivot spring  25   b  therearound which acts to bias the first  24   a  and second  24   b  gate assemblies against each other in a spring-loaded manner. Each gate assembly  24   a ,  24   b  further comprises an outwardly facing textured surface  26  providing high-friction contact with the cable  12  contained between. The textured surfaces  26  are envisioned to comprise knurled or grooved machined patterns or may comprise an adhesively bonded plastic or rubber sheet material covering parallel adjacent surfaces. Said gate portions  24   a ,  24   b  comprise mirror-image forms providing vertically parallel and horizontally divergent curved surfaces which press upon the cable  12  so as to allow said cable  12  to move freely in a forward direction by opening the gates  24   a ,  24   b , and conversely, causing the gates  24   a ,  24   b  to close upon the cable  12  when motioned rearwardly (also see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The first component tube  22  also comprises a pair of first component clamps  28  having respective spring-loaded clamp plates  29   a  which provide a means to clamp the first component  20  onto structural element portions such as “T”-rail portions of the drop ceiling  11 . Each first component clamp  28  is affixed to an opposing end portion of said first component tube  22  via respective clamp shaft portions  29   b  which slidingly pass perpendicularly through a center line of said first component tube  22 . A clamp plate  29   a  is permanently affixed to one (1) end portion of the clamp shaft  29   b  in a perpendicular and downwardly extending direction to enable hooking upon a structural feature of the drop ceiling  11 . A compression-type clamp spring  29   d  slidingly encompasses a portion of the clamp shaft  29   b , being entrapped between the clamp plate  29   a  and the first component tube  22 , thereby biasing said clamp plate  29   a  away from the first component tube  22 . A clamp handle  29   c  is affixed to an opposing end portion of said clamp shaft  29   b  via a clamp handle pivot pin  29   e . The clamp handle  29   c  comprises an arcuate appendage which may be rotated about the clamp handle pivot pin  29   e  to a position against the first component tube  22  to retract the clamp plate  29   a  and clamp the first component  20  to the drop ceiling  11 . Alternately, the clamp handle  29   c  may be rotated outwardly from the first component tube  22  to extend the clamp plate  29   a  and release a grip of the first component  20  upon the drop ceiling  11  as seen in  FIG. 4   b.    
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of utilizing the system  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the system  10 ; attaching the first component  20  to the drop ceiling  11  by rotating the clamp handles  29   c  outwardly to open the clamp plate portions  29   a  of the first component clamps  28 ; hooking the clamp plates  29   a  onto an edge portion of a “T”-rail portion or other feature of the drop ceiling  11 ; rotating the clamp handles  29   c  inwardly to clamp the clamp plates  29   a  against the drop ceiling  11 ; attaching the second component  30  at an opposing edge portion of the drop ceiling  11  in like manner via the second component clamps  36 ; routing the cable  12  between the gate portions  24   a ,  24   b  upon the first component tube  22  and through the guidepost portions  34  of the second component  30 ; repeating the above steps as needed to route and install cables  12 ; and, utilizing the system  10  as desired to install cables  12  in a drop ceiling. 
     Following installation of one (1) or more cables  12 , the first  20  and second  30  component portions of the system  10  may be removed from the drop ceiling  11  by lifting said cables  12  from between the gate assemblies  24   a ,  24   b  and guidepost portions  34 ; rotating the clamp handles  29   c  outwardly to open the clamp plate portions  29   a ; and, lifting and removing the first  20  and second  30  components from the drop ceiling  11 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.