Abstract:
Inserts to be placed within walling materials and methods of using the inserts are described. The inserts have protrusions and grips that secure the inserts to the walling materials. Moreover, the inserts have central cavities that allow for cables and like materials to pass through the inserts while the inserts are secured to the walling materials.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This application relates to construction materials, and more particularly to structural inserts. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various inserts are implemented into structures, such as walls, to increase the strength in which items may be mounted to the walls. Other inserts are implemented through and within walls to form stable passageways for materials, such as cables, to be passed through the walls. However, these inserts often require meticulous and slow installation in order to prevent damage to the insert, the wall, and/or the materials passed through the wall. 
         [0003]    SUMMARY 
         [0004]    This disclosure provides an insert implementable within a wall to allow for passage of materials through the wall, and a method of using the insert. An aspect of this disclosure relates to an insert with an elongated body. The insert has a protrusion that outwardly extends from an axis of the elongated body near a first end of the elongated body. The insert also has grips that outwardly extend from the axis near a second end of the elongated body. The protrusion may have a circular cross-section. Moreover, the protrusion may radially extend from the axis, which extends through a central cavity of the elongated body from the first end to the second end thereof. Each of the grips may be coextensive with the other grips and each of the grips may radially extend from the axis of the elongated body. Furthermore, each of the grips may have a surface parallel to the protrusion and another surface angularly extending inward toward the second end of the elongated body. 
         [0005]    Another aspect of this disclosure relates to an insert with a tubular body. The tubular body has a protrusion radially extending therefrom near a first end thereof. Moreover, two or more grips radially extend from the tubular body near or at a second end of the tubular body. The tubular body may be elongate from the first end to the second end and, further, may have an axis that extends between the first and second ends. One of the grips of the two or more grips may abut the second end of the tubular body. Additionally, each of the two or more grips may have a surface that radially extends from the tubular body parallel to the protrusion, and the surface of each of the grips may have a circumferential edge, which are edges of the grips farthest away from the tubular body. 
         [0006]    A further aspect of this disclosure relates to a method of using an insert. The method includes drilling a hole through walling material and placing an insert through the walling material until a protrusion of the insert abuts the walling material and grips of the insert secure the insert to the walling material. The method may further include placing cable or some like material through the insert, maneuvering the walling material to a desired location, and/or securing the walling material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Specific embodiments of this disclosure will become apparent and its construction and operation better understood, from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an insert according to this disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the insert according to this disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1C  illustrates another example of the insert according this disclosure; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating a method of using an insert according to this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Detailed aspects of this disclosure relating to devices and methods are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely illustrative of the devices and methods, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for enabling one skilled in the art to employ this disclosure. 
         [0013]    This disclosure provides an insert implementable within a wall to allow for passage of materials through the wall. In an implementation, the insert allows passage of cables through drywall. The insert as described herein may be implemented within the wall prior to, during, or after construction of the wall. This is beneficial because it allows cables and like materials to be passed through walls at various times while maintaining a stable passageway that protects the cables and like materials from being damaged during construction of the wall. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an insert  100  according to this disclosure. The insert  100  has a tubular or elongate body  102  having an axis (illustrated as dashed line A-B) that runs through the body  102  of the insert  100 . The axis is centrally located along a cross-section of the body  102 . As illustrated, the body  102  has a circular cross-section. However, the body  102  can have other cross-sections without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, a non-limiting list of potential cross-sections includes triangular, ovular, and rectangular. The insert may be constructed from typical construction materials, e.g., steel or plastic. 
         [0015]    A protrusion  104  is located on and extends from the body  102 . The protrusion  104  may abut a wall when the insert  100  is implemented within the wall, thereby preventing over insertion of the insert  100  within the wall. As illustrated, the protrusion  104  has a circular cross-section and radially extends from the body  102 . However, the protrusion  104  can have other cross-sections. Furthermore, the protrusion  104  may have a cross-section identical to, similar to, or different from that of the body  102  without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. The protrusion  104  may be implemented at any location along the body  102  that allows the insert  100  to be secured against a wall. For example, the protrusion  104  may be centrally located on the body  102  or the protrusion  104  may be off-centrally located on the body  102 , i.e., toward an end of the body  102 . 
         [0016]    Grips  106  are also located on and extend from the body  102 . The grips  106  prevent the insert  100  from being easily removed from a wall after the insert  100  is implemented within the wall. As illustrated, the grips  106  have circular cross-sections and radially extend from the body  102 . However, one skilled in the art should appreciate the grips  106  having other cross-sections. Furthermore, the grips  106  may have cross-sections identical to, similar to, or different from that of the body  102  and/or the protrusion  104  without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. The grips  106  may be implemented at any location along the body  102  that allows the grips  106  to prevent the insert  100  from being easily removed from a wall. For example, the grips  106  may be centrally located on the body  102  or the grips  106  may be off-centrally located on the body  102 , i.e., toward an end of the body  102 . Moreover, none of the grips  106 , some of the grips  106 , or all of the grips  106  may have equal cross-sections. 
         [0017]    In an implementation, when the insert  100  is implemented within a wall, a surface of the protrusion  104  closest to the grips  106  and a surface of the grips  106  closest to the protrusion  104  each touch respective surfaces of the wall. However, one skilled in the art should appreciate the protrusion  104  and grips  106  to be configured along the body  102  in a way that results in either the surface of the protrusion  104  closest to the grips  106 , a surface of the grips  106  closest to the protrusion  104 , or neither the surface of the protrusion  104  closest to the grips  106  or a surface of the grips  106  closest to the protrusion  104  touching respective surfaces of the wall. Furthermore, according to various implementations, neither the protrusion  104  nor the grips  106  are located at ends of the body  102 , either the protrusion  104  or the grips  106  are located at an end of the body  102 , or both the protrusion  104  and the grips  106  are located at respective ends of the body  102 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 1C  illustrates another exemplary insert  101  according to this disclosure. The insert  101  has a tubular or elongate body  103 . The body  103  can have a circular cross-section. A protrusion  105  is located on and extends from the body  103 . The distance from the protrusion  105  to the end  109  should be about the depth of typical drywall or walling material (e.g., about ¼ inch, ⅜ inch, ½ inch, ¾ inch, or the like). For example, when implemented a surface of the pultrusion  105  may abut a studding material and another surface of the pultrusion  105  may abut drywall material. The protrusion  105  may abut a wall when the insert  101  is implemented within the wall, thereby preventing over insertion of the insert  101  within the wall. The protrusion  105  may be implemented at any location along the body  103  that allows the insert  101  to be secured against a wall. Grips  107  are also located on and extend from the body  103 . The grips  107  prevent the insert  101  from being easily removed from a wall after the insert  101  is implemented within the wall. The grips  107  can have shapes typically associated with anchoring construction tools, which includes sharper and duller projections. In certain examples, the length of the insert  101  may be varied from greater than a ½ inch to greater than 3 inches. In other examples, the length of the insert  101  may be greater than ¾ inch to 2 inches or even an inch. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a method  200  of using the inserts  100 ,  101  described herein. At block  202  a hole is drilled into walling material, such as drywall for example. At block  204  the insert is placed through the hole to a position where the insert is secured, i.e., the insert is not easily removed. For example, this may involve inserting one or more grips of the insert through the hole. At block  206  cable or like material desired to be placed through the walling material is inserted through the insert. Alternatively, at blocks  208  and  210  the cable or like material may be inserted through the hole and an insert, surrounding the cable or like material, is then placed within the hole. At block  212  the walling material is maneuvered to a desired location, e.g., drywall is hung. While an implementation describes the walling material being constructed after installation of the insert and cable or like material, one skilled in the art should appreciate the walling material may be constructed into a wall prior to insertion of the insert and cable or like material without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0020]    Although the devices and methods have been described and illustrated in connection with certain implementations, many variations and modifications should be evident to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This discourse is thus not to be limited to the precise details of methodology or construction set forth above as such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.