Abstract:
A protective cable chute for routing low voltage cables through walls. The protective cable chute includes a protective cable shield and a standard decora cover plate. The protective cable shield includes two ears with apertures therein for mounting directly to a convention single gang electrical box or conventional low voltage frame. Threaded bores are provided in the ears of the protective cable shield for receipt of fasteners for mounting a standard decora plate thereto. An opening and passageway in the protective cable shield are capable of receiving low voltage cables for the purpose of routing them through the wall and into an adjacent room. An alternative embodiment of the protective cable chute is provided for use with a two-gang electrical box or conventional two-gang low voltage frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to the installation of low voltage wiring in buildings and specifically to a protective cable chute for routing low voltage electrical or communications cables through interior walls. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A wide variety of low voltage components such as telephone cables, coax cables for television and internet service, wiring for home entertainment systems and surround sound, and cables for connecting computers to peripherals such as printers and facsimile machines, are prevalent in today&#39;s homes and offices. Frequently it is necessary to route these low voltage wires and cables through interior walls in order to connect low voltage components in separate rooms. 
   In some cases, holes are simply made in the baseboard or walls and low voltage cables are simply routed through the holes. However, this is an unsightly solution and detracts from the overall appearance of the building. One prior art device for routing low voltage components is that of U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,747 to Helmsdorfer, et al., issued on Aug. 25, 1987, which includes a wall aperture molding with a removable plate cover. The plate cover clips to the molding plate with the plate cover extending downwardly and outwardly from the molding plate to define a cable passage between the lower edge of the plate cover and the molding plate. The molding plate may be further provided with a gate slot to provide installation over pre-existing cables. 
   However, one disadvantage with prior art wall aperture moldings such as that described above is that they are not complementary with wall openings prepared for conventional electrical devices. Therefore, in order to install the prior art molding plate, a hole must be made specifically sized for the molding plate. A further disadvantage with the aperture molding described above is that it is limited to one orientation with respect to the molding plate. 
   What is needed therefore is a device that is complementary to conventional electrical boxes and conventional low voltage frames and that can be attached thereto for the purposes of routing low voltage cables through walls. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is a protective cable chute for routing low voltage cables through walls. The protective cable chute includes a protective cable shield and a standard decora cover plate. The protective cable shield includes two ears with apertures therein for mounting directly to a convention single gang electrical box or conventional low voltage frame. Threaded bores are provided in the ears of the protective cable shield for receipt of fasteners for mounting a standard decora plate thereto. An opening and passageway in the protective cable shield are capable of receiving low voltage cables for the purpose of routing them through the wall and into an adjacent room. An alternative embodiment of the protective cable chute is provided for use with a two-gang electrical box or two-gang low voltage frame. 
   OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
   Several advantages are achieved with the protective cable chute of the present invention, including:
         (1) The protective cable chute provides a device for routing low voltage wires and cables through walls.   (2) The protective cable chute can be used with a conventional single or conventional double gang electrical box or low voltage frame for providing cable passageways through walls.   (3) The protective cable chute for single gang boxes accommodates standard decora cover plates.   (4) As a result of being compatible with conventional electrical boxes or low voltage frames and conventional decora cover plates, the protective cable chute for a single gang electrical box does not require the manufacture of a specially designed cover plate.   (5) Several configurations are available to the installer to provide several options for an attractive installation. The protective cable chute can be mounted with the cable shield extending outward or inward and with the nose portion opening oriented upward or downward, thereby allowing selection of one of four possible mounting installations for added flexibility in routing cables through walls.   (6) By using the protective cable chute of the present invention, the installer may be able to utilize existing installed electrical boxes and low voltage frames for routing low voltage cables and thereby avoid creating additional holes in the walls.       

   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following description along with reference to the drawings. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an especially preferred embodiment of a protective cable chute according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of a protective cable shield that forms a portion of the protective cable chute of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the protective cable shield of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the protective cable shield taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the protective cable shield of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the protective cable chute of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the protective cable chute of  FIG. 6  after being installed on a wall. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the protective cable chute in a second orientation. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the protective cable chute of  FIG. 8  after being installed on a wall. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the protective cable chute of the present invention secured to a wall in a first orientation with the cable chute oriented outward and down. 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the protective cable chute of the present invention secured to a wall in a second orientation with the cable chute oriented outward and up. 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the protective cable chute of the present invention secured to a wall in a first orientation with the cable chute oriented inward and up. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the protective cable chute of the present invention secured to a wall in a first orientation with the cable chute oriented inward and down. 
       FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the protective cable chute of the present invention secured to a wall with the cable chute oriented outward and down and depicting a low voltage cable routed through the cable chute. 
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view of the protective cable chute of the present invention secured to a wall with the cable chute oriented inward and up and depicting a low voltage cable routed through the cable chute. 
       FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the protective cable chute for use with a two-gang electrical box. 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the protective cable chute installed on a wall in a first configuration, with the cable shield oriented outward and the cable shield opening down. 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the protective cable chute installed on a wall in a second configuration, with the cable shield oriented inward and the cable shield opening up. 
   

   INDEX TO REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               20 
               protective cable chute 
             
             
               22 
               cable shield 
             
             
               24 
               decora plate 
             
             
               26 
               base portion of cable shield 
             
             
               28 
               ends of base portion 
             
             
               30 
               ear 
             
             
               32 
               threaded bore in ear 
             
             
               34 
               aperture in ear 
             
             
               36 
               nose portion 
             
             
               38 
               sidewall 
             
             
               40 
               top wall 
             
             
               42 
               outer wall 
             
             
               44 
               lower edge of outer wall 
             
             
               46 
               lower edge of sidewall 
             
             
               48 
               nose portion opening in cable shield 
             
             
               50 
               inner cavity or cable passageway 
             
             
               51 
               planar base of cover plate 
             
             
               52 
               second opening 
             
             
               53 
               cover opening 
             
             
               54 
               apertures in cover plate 
             
             
               55 
               electrical box 
             
             
               56 
               fastener 
             
             
               58 
               threaded bore in electrical box 
             
             
               60 
               fastener 
             
             
               62 
               wall of building 
             
             
               64 
               outer wall surface 
             
             
               66 
               inner wall surface 
             
             
               68 
               low voltage cable 
             
             
               70 
               protective cable chute, second embodiment 
             
             
               72 
               two-gang electrical box 
             
             
               74 
               two-gang cable shield 
             
             
               75 
               nose portion 
             
             
               76 
               cover plate 
             
             
               78 
               opening in cover plate 
             
             
               80 
               fastener 
             
             
               82 
               aperture in two-gang cable shield 
             
             
               84 
               threaded bore in electrical box 
             
             
               86 
               fastener 
             
             
               87 
               aperture in cover 
             
             
               88 
               threaded bore in two-gang cable shield 
             
             
               90 
               ear 
             
             
               92 
               opening in cover plate 
             
             
               94 
               first side of cable shield 
             
             
               96 
               second side of cable shield 
             
             
               98 
               first end of cable shield 
             
             
               100 
               second end of cable shield 
             
             
               102 
               perimeter wall 
             
             
               108 
               threaded bore in two-gang cable shield 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a protective cable chute  20 . The protective cable chute  20  includes a protective cable shield  22  and a standard decora plate  24 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the protective cable shield  22  includes a base portion  26  having ends  28  thereon, two ears  30  extending from the ends  28  of the base portion  26 . Threaded bores  32  and apertures  34  are provided in the ears  30 . The cable shield  22  further includes a nose portion  36  including sidewalls  38 , a top wall  40 , and an outer wall  42 . A lower edge  44  is provided on the outer wall  42  and a lower edge  46  is provided at the lower end of the sidewalls  38 . A substantially rectangular-shaped nose portion opening  48  is formed by the lower edges  44  and  46  of the outer wall  42  and sidewalls  38  respectively. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the sidewalls  38 , top wall  40 , and outer wall  42  form an inner cavity or cable passageway  50  therein extending from the nose portion opening  48  to a substantially rectangular-shaped second opening  52 . The protective cable shield  22  is preferably molded in one piece of plastic but could also be formed of metal. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6  there is shown the protective cable chute  20  of the present invention with the various portions in alignment to be joined together including a standard decora cover plate  24  in alignment with the protective cable shield  22 . The decora cover plate  24  includes a substantially planar base  51 , a cover opening  53 , and apertures  54  therein. The protective cable shield  22  is shown in alignment with a conventional electrical box  55  to which it will be secured by fasteners  56  through apertures  34  into threaded bores  58  in the electrical box  55 . Although the protective cable chute  20  of the present invention is shown in alignment to be connected to an electrical box  55  it should understood that the protective cable chute  20  can also be secured to a low voltage frame (not shown) in the same manner as described herein for an electrical box  55 . After the cable shield  22  is secured to the electrical box  55 , the decora cover plate  24  is secured to the cable shield  22  by fasteners  60  threaded into the threaded bores  32  in the ears  30  of the cable shield  22 . The completed installation of the protective cable chute  20  on a building wall  62  is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   The protective cable chute  20  of the present invention may be installed with the nose portion  36  extending outward, as shown in  FIG. 6 , or inward as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Multiple orientations or configurations of the cable shield  22  with respect to the decora cover plate  24  are possible. These various configurations offer the installer several options in creating a passageway for low voltage cables through walls. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 10-13  there are shown four separate configurations that are available to the installer depending on his desires or the specific requirements at the job site. The building wall  62  is depicted with an outer wall surface  64  and an inner wall surface  66 .  FIG. 10  depicts the protective cable chute  20  in a first configuration with the nose portion  36  extending outward of the outer wall surface  64  and with the nose portion opening  48  of the cable shield  22  down.  FIG. 11  depicts the protective cable chute  20  in a second configuration with the nose portion  36  extending outward and the nose portion opening  48  up. The protective cable chute  20  in  FIG. 12  is depicted in a third configuration with the nose portion  36  extending inward of the wall  62  and the nose portion opening  48  facing upward.  FIG. 13  depicts a fourth configuration of the protective cable chute  20  with the nose portion  36  extending inward of the wall  62  and the nose portion opening  48  oriented downward. Any of the four configurations is selectable by the installer at the job site. 
   With reference to  FIG. 14  there is shown a protective cable chute  20  according to the present invention installed in a configuration with the nose portion  36  extending outward of the wall  62  and the nose portion opening  48  oriented downward. A low voltage cable  68  is shown extending into nose portion opening  48 , through the inner cavity or passageway  50 , and out the second opening  52 . In the configuration depicted in  FIG. 14 , nose portion opening  48  becomes the outer opening that oriented toward the room and opening  52  becomes the inner opening that is located behind the cable shield  22  or toward the wall  62 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 15  there is shown a protective cable chute  20  according to the present invention installed in a configuration with the nose portion  36  extending inward of the wall  62  and the nose portion opening  48  oriented upward. A low voltage cable  68  is shown extending into second opening  52 , through the inner cavity or passageway  50 , and out nose portion opening  48 . In the configuration depicted in  FIG. 15 , second opening  52  becomes the outer opening that oriented toward the room and nose portion opening  48  becomes the inner opening that is located behind the cable shield  22  or behind the wall  62 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 16  there is depicted a second embodiment of the protective cable chute  70  according to the present invention. Protective cable chute  70  is for use with a conventional two-gang electrical box  72  or two-gang low voltage box or bracket (not shown). In alignment with the two-gang electrical box  72  to be secured thereto in a first configuration is a two-gang cable shield  74  with an extending nose portion  75  and a cover plate  76  according to the present invention. The cover plate  76  includes an opening  78  therein to accommodate the two-gang cable shield  74 . The protective two-gang cable shield  74  is shown in alignment with the conventional two-gang electrical box  72  to which it will be secured by fasteners  80  through apertures  82  in cable shield  74  into threaded bores  84  in the electrical box  72 . After the two-gang cable shield  74  is secured to the two-gang electrical box  72 , the cover plate  76  is secured to the cable shield  74  by fasteners  86  threaded through apertures  87  in cover plate  76  into the threaded bores  88  in the ears  90  of the two-gang cable shield  74 . The two-gang cable shield  74  is depicted in  FIG. 16  in a first configuration, with the nose portion  75  of the cable shield  74  oriented outward of the cover plate  76  and the opening (not shown) of the cable shield  74  oriented downward. In a manner analogous to the first embodiment described above, the two-gang cable shield  74  can be installed in any of four configurations, with the possible configurations including the nose portion  75  of the two-gang cable shield out and the opening down, as in  FIG. 16 , with the nose portion out and the opening up, with the nose portion of the two-gang cable shield in and the opening down, or with the nose portion in and the opening up. 
   The completed installation of the second embodiment of the second embodiment of the protective cable chute  70  for a two-gang electrical box or two-gang low voltage box on a building wall  62  is shown in  FIG. 17 . The installed two-gang cable shield  74  is the completed installation of the configuration depicted in  FIG. 16 . A second potential configuration of the two-gang protective cable chute  70  is depicted in  FIG. 18 , wherein the configuration includes the two-gang cable shield  74  extending from the back side of the cover plate  76  and the opening  92  oriented upward. In this configuration, the two-gang cable shield  74  is mounted behind the wall  62 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base portion  26  of the cable shield  22  further includes a first side  94  and a second side  96  with the nose portion  36  extending from the first side  94 . The nose portion  36  also includes a first end  98  and a second end  100 . Thus, the protective cable chute of the present invention may be secured to the electrical box in any of several configurations (as shown in  FIGS. 10-13 ) including the nose portion  36  oriented toward (see  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) or away from (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) the electrical box and the nose portion opening  48  oriented up (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ) or down (see  FIGS. 10 and 13 ) with respect to the wall. The cable shield  22  further includes a perimeter wall  102  extending from the second side  96  of the base portion  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the nose portion  36  of the cable shield  22  is oriented away from the cover plate  24  or toward the wall  62 , the perimeter wall  102  nests within the cover opening  53  when it is fitted thereto. 
   Although the description above contains many specific descriptions, materials, and dimensions, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.