Abstract:
A wire guide which is removably mounted to the top end of an electric box having a plurality of rollers to assist in the guiding of a single wire or a bundle of wires while at the same time protecting the wire from damage caused by contact with the electric box.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   An apparatus for use in guiding wire through an electric box which can be easily attached to the electric box without damaging the electric box. The wire is guided through the electric box with a plurality of rollers so as to avoid damage to the wire. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Electricians or technicians often are required to install a run of wire (e.g., electrical or communication wire) through an electric box and into lengths of conduit. When the wire enters the electric box at an angle, the edge of the electric box may scrape the wire causing damage. 
   One way in which electricians may run wire to prevent this damage is to prop up the wire such that there is virtually no angle in which the wire enters and/or exits the electric box or conduit. This is an attempt to prevent the wire from contacting the edge of the electric box or conduit entrance. However, these methods of running a wire are often not available to the electrician or technician as they often require multiple individuals on a single job and/or require the use of other objects (e.g., boxes, etc.) in which the wire must be propped upon to attain the desired entrance height. Further, the electrician or technician also must be able to pull the wire into the electric box or conduit without pulling at an angle. As a good portion of electric boxes or conduit lengths are installed in walls and ceilings, which are difficult to access in a linear fashion, these methods of pulling wires to prevent engagement with the edges of the electric box or conduit are difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish. 
   Many devices have been proposed in the prior art for guiding wire into an electric box. However, very few devices have been proposed which can be quickly and easily attached to a variety of electric box shapes and sizes. Furthermore, very few prior art devices are capable of guiding a single wire or a large bundle of wires into an electric box. 
   Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a durable, inexpensive and multi-use wire guide for quickly and easily guiding a single wire or bundled wires into and through an electric box without causing any damage to the wire(s). 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A wire guide apparatus according to the present invention includes a roller frame having a first roller frame side and a second roller frame side and a plurality of rollers mounted between the roller frame sides. The roller frame sides are similar in construction with each frame side being flared at the ends so as to create a wider opening for the entering wire. A plurality of prongs extend above and parallel to a portion of the roller frames sides which prongs establish a sliding fit with the top side of an electric box. 
   Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a wire guide apparatus which can be quickly and easily attached to an electric box. 
   A further objective of this invention is to provide a wire guide apparatus which can be attached to a variety of electric box sizes. 
   It is the further object of the present invention to provide a wire guide apparatus which is made of durable materials. 
   It is the further object of the present invention to provide a wire guide apparatus which can assist in the guiding of a single wire or a bundle of wires. 
   These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. Such modifications can, among others, include means for widening and/or narrowing the space between the roller frame sides so as to enable the apparatus to fit within a multitude of electrical boxes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wire guide in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wire guide illustrating the placement of the pins, rollers and side plates. 
       FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the wire guide in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the wire guide in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the wire guide in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the wire guide removably attached to a rounded rectangular shaped electric box. 
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the wire guide removably attached to a rounded rectangular shaped electric box. 
       FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the wire guide removably attached to a square electric box. 
       FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the wire guide removably attached to a square electric box. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in the following description. The present invention is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
     FIGS. 1 through 9  show the wire guide  12  of the present invention which can be used for guiding a single wire or a bundle of wires into conduit attached to an electric box  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the device consists of a roller frame  16  having a first side plate  18  and a second side plate  20 . The side plates  18 ,  20  are similar in construction and generally rectangular in shape with a portion of the rectangle removed causing the side plates  18 ,  20  to have a projection  22  extending upwardly resulting in the side plates  18 ,  20  being semi “L” shaped as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The side plates  18 ,  20  consist of an outside face  24 , an inside face  26 , a first plate end  28 , a second plate end  30 , an upward projection front end  32 , a first top side  34 , a second top side  36 , and a bottom side  38 . 
   The first plate ends  28  of the side plates  18 ,  20  are at an acute angle  40  which commences at a point proximate to the roller assembly  62  which is below the second top side  36  of the side plates  18 ,  20 . The acute angle  40  allows wire to be inserted through the wire guide  12  at a position other than directly in front of the wire guide  12 . The acute angle  40  of the first plate ends  28  of the side plates  18 ,  20  can vary depending upon the size and usage of the wire guide  12 . 
   Fixedly attached to the inside face  26  of the side plates  18 ,  20  adjacent to the projection front ends  32  is a rectangular plate  42 . The rectangular plate  42  consists of a front side  44 , a back side  46 , a top end  48 , a bottom end  50 , a first side  52 , and a second side  54 . The first and second sides  52 ,  54  of the rectangular plate  42  are fixedly attached to the inside face  26  of the side plates  18 ,  20  adjacent to the projection front ends  32 . Fixedly attached to the front side  44  of the rectangular plate  42  are a pair of top horizontally extending cylindrical rods  56  and a pair of bottom horizontally extending cylindrical rods  58 . 
   Located below the first top side  34  and second top side  36  of the side plates  18 ,  20  are circular openings  60 . Fixedly attached to the circular openings  60  are roller assemblies  62 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the roller assemblies  62  consist of a cylindrical roller pin  64  and a roller  66 . The cylindrical roller pin  64  has a first end and a second end. The roller  66  is tubular having a first open end and a second open end. The cylindrical roller pin  64  is inserted into an open end of the roller  66 . The first and second ends of the cylindrical roller pin  64  extend beyond the open ends of the roller  66 . The first and second ends of the cylindrical roller pin  64  are fixedly attached within the circular openings  60  of the side plates  18 ,  20  resulting in the roller assemblies  62  being rotatably mounted between the side plates  18 ,  20 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9 , to utilize the wire guide  12 , the user need simply slide the top or bottom cylindrical rods  56 ,  58  onto the top edge of an electric box  14 . Whether the top or bottom cylindrical rods  56 ,  58  are used depends upon the shape of the electric box  14 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , once the wire guide  12  has been removably attached to the top edge of the electric box  14 , the second plate ends  30  of the side plates  18 ,  20  are located adjacent to the wire box opening  68  of the electric box  14  into which the wire passes. Thereafter, the user can begin guiding wire into or pulling wire from an electric box  14  with the assistance of the rollers  66  which rollers  66  are aligned with the wire box opening  68 . 
   Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. 
   The individual components mentioned herein need not be fabricated from the disclosed materials, but could be fabricated from virtually any suitable and strong materials. 
   Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any suitable configuration. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Index of Elements for Wire Guide Assembly 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               12 
               Wire Guide 
             
             
               14 
               Electric Box 
             
             
               16 
               Roller Frame 
             
             
               18 
               First Side Plate 
             
             
               20 
               Second Side Plate 
             
             
               22 
               Projection 
             
             
               24 
               Outside Face 
             
             
               26 
               Inside Face 
             
             
               28 
               First Plate End 
             
             
               30 
               Second Plate End 
             
             
               32 
               Projection Front End 
             
             
               34 
               First Top Side 
             
             
               36 
               Second Top Side 
             
             
               38 
               Bottom Side 
             
             
               40 
               Acute Angle of First End 
             
             
               42 
               Rectangular Plate 
             
             
               44 
               Front Side 
             
             
               46 
               Back Side 
             
             
               48 
               Top End 
             
             
               50 
               Bottom End 
             
             
               52 
               First Side 
             
             
               54 
               Second Side 
             
             
               56 
               Top Cylindrical Rods 
             
             
               58 
               Bottom Cylindrical Rods 
             
             
               60 
               Circular Openings 
             
             
               62 
               Roller Assemblies 
             
             
               64 
               Roller Pin 
             
             
               66 
               Roller 
             
             
               68 
               Wire Box Opening 
             
             
               70 
             
             
               72 
             
             
               74 
             
             
               76 
             
             
               78