Patent Publication Number: US-2023144566-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for installing wire behind existing walls

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to copending U.S. application Ser. No. 17/306,017, filed on May 3, 2021, entitled Apparatus and Method for Installing Wire Behind Existing Walls, which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/020,385, filed on May 5, 2020, entitled Installers Wire, String, Raceway and Tubing Puller With Hammering Weight, which are both hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Installers often must pull wires, string, raceways and tubing into walls with minimal deconstruction of the wall to add that wire, string, raceway or tubing. Customers and installers alike prefer that this be accomplished by creating the smallest hole possible in the wall. Sometimes walls are fire rated and putting too large a hole in the wall to allow for wire, string, raceway and tubing installation would compromise the fire rating. Sometimes walls are soundproof rated and putting too large a hole in the wall to allow for wire, string, raceway and tubing installation would compromise its sound rating. It is typically less expensive to repair a small hole than to repair a large one. Common types of wire, string, raceway and tubing pullers include “fishing” rods or magnetic devices that are inserted through a hole. The invention of this disclosure is dissimilar to both these commonly used tools. 
     Known methods for installing wires, strings, raceways and/or tubing with opening walls to do so are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing “fishing” poles that are inserted into a hole in a wall close to the ceiling or floor are not effective because the fishing poles are too long to be able to be inserted in a hole adjacent or in close proximity to the ceiling above the wall being worked on. In addition, conventional fishing poles are usually too long to carry in tool kits or belts, being up to over a yard long, as well as the inability for the rods to move through the wall in a predictable linear manner. Also unsatisfactory are the magnetic devices which can scratch walls or not work at all due to double thick dry wall preventing the magnet from working properly, and the inability for the magnets to maneuver around some obstructions within the wall. 
     Accordingly, in the arts of puller systems, there is a need in the arts for improved methods, apparatus, and systems for wire, string, raceway and tubing pullers that improve upon and advance the design of known devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of a puller system provide a system and method for pulling a string or wire behind a wall. One embodiment comprises a cylindrical weight defined by an outside diameter and a first length, and a tubular body with a hollow cavity defined by an inside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the cylindrical weight and a second length that is greater than the first length. A distal end of the tubular body includes a tip configured to penetrate a material that is behind the wall, wherein when oriented in a vertical position behind the wall, and wherein in response to drawing the cylindrical weight upward through the tubular body and then releasing the cylindrical weight, the cylindrical weight travels downward towards the distal end of the tubular body and impacts the tip such that momentum of the downward travelling cylindrical weight is transferred to the tip, thereby driving the tubular body downward through the material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded perspective view of a first example embodiment of a puller system. 
         FIG.  2    is a cross section of a wall having batt insulation inside of the wall with a puller system moving downward between the inside of the wall and the batt insulation. 
         FIG.  3    is a cross section of a wall having blown in insulation with a puller system moving downward through the blown insulation. 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded side view of an example embodiment of a puller system with an aperture disposed in the proximal end of the cylindrical weight. 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded side view of an example embodiment of a puller system with a slot and pin disposed in the proximal end of the cylindrical weight. 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of an alternative example embodiment of a puller system provisioned with an electric motor and cam system. 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded cross sectional side view of an example embodiment of a puller system provisioned with a solenoid system. 
         FIG.  8    is a side view of a first type of readily available legacy solenoid that may be used with embodiments of the puller system. 
         FIG.  9    is a side view of a second type of readily available legacy solenoid that may be used with embodiments of the puller system. 
         FIG.  10    is an exploded cross sectional side view of an example embodiment of a puller system provisioned with a vibration system. 
         FIG.  11    is a side view of a readily available legacy vibrator motor and vibrator weight that may be used with embodiments of the puller system. 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of an alternative example embodiment of a body of the puller system with lights. 
         FIG.  13    is an exploded perspective view of an alternative example embodiment of a weight used by the puller system. 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of an alternative example embodiment of a puller system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    is an exploded perspective view of an example first embodiment of a puller system  100 . Embodiments of the puller system  100  is used to pull a string or wire behind a wall, and is configured to penetrate an insulative material that is behind the wall. The insulative material may be a for thermal insulation, sound insulation, and/or fire insulation. 
     Embodiments of the puller system  100  includes a body  102  and a weight  104  that slidably moves up and down within the hollow interior or cavity of the body  102  to impart kinetic energy to a tip  108  of the body, thereby driving the puller system  100  in a downward direction. 
     The puller system  100  is preferably made of a dense material, such as iron, steel, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, steel brass, alloys thereof, or the like. In some embodiments, one or more components or selected portions may be made of an alternative material, such as wood, plastic, or the like, to reduce material costs of a finished product. 
     A smooth exterior of the body  102 , accomplished through polishing or a coating, minimizes friction from the contents of the wall. The exterior surface of the body  102  may be coated in fluorescent, glow in the dark colors. In some embodiments, the exterior of the body  102  has grooves running lengthwise to aid in tracking a straight line down the interior of the wall and also minimize surface area that is in contact with the interior of the wall, mainly any insulation. A hole in the top of the weight  104  enables the user to attach a string or wire to the puller system  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the weight  104  may be configured for use without the body  102 , Here, a smooth exterior of the weight  104 , accomplished through polishing or a coating, minimizes friction from the insulation of the wall. The exterior surface of the weight  104  may optionally be coated in fluorescent, glow in the dark colors. In some embodiments, the exterior of the weight  104  has grooves running lengthwise to aid in tracking a straight line down the interior of the wall and also minimize surface area that is in contact with the insulation of the wall or the inside surface of the body  102  to minimize friction resistance. The tip of the weight  104  may include a light. 
     The disclosed systems and methods for a puller system  100  will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations, however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description. 
     Throughout the following detailed description, a variety of examples for systems and methods for a puller system  100  are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example. 
     The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated. 
     “Substantially” means to be more-or-less conforming to the particular dimension, range, shape, concept, or other aspect modified by the term, such that a feature or component need not conform exactly. For example, a “substantially cylindrical” object means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. 
     “Comprising,” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) are used interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to, and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional, elements or method steps not expressly recited. 
     Terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used to distinguish or identify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intended to denote a serial, chronological, or numerical limitation. 
     “Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components. “Secured to” means directly connected without intervening components. 
     “Communicatively coupled” means that an electronic device exchanges information with another electronic device, either wirelessly or with a wire based connector, whether directly or indirectly through a communication network  108 . “Controllably coupled” means that an electronic device controls operation of another electronic device. 
     Returning to  FIG.  1   , the example embodiment of the puller system  100  is a manually operated system. The manually operated puller system  100  comprises a body  102 , a weight  104 , a cap  106 , at least one tip  108 , and an optional weight extension member  112 . 
     In the various embodiments, the body  102  defines a hollow tubular shape with openings at its two ends. The body  102  is defined by an inside diameter and a length (L 1 ). The distal impact end secures the tip  108  and a proximal end secures the cap  106 . In an example embodiment, the cap  106  and/or the tip  108  are releasably secured to the ends of the body  102  using threads or a magnet. Alternatively, the cap  106  and/or the tip  108  may be secured to the body  102  using a frictional fit. Other securing means may be used. In some embodiments, the body  102  and the cap  106  and/or the tip  108  may be permanently secured to the end of the body using a suitable adhesive, wielding, screws, or the like. In some embodiments, the body  102  and the cap  106  and/or the tip  108  may be made during fabrication into a unibody member. 
     The cylindrical weight  104  is defined by an outside diameter and a length (L 2 ). The weight  104  slidably moves up and down within the hollow interior cavity of the body  102 . Accordingly, the outside diameter of the cylindrical weight  104  is less than the inside diameter of the body  102 . 
     A distal end of the weight extension member  112  is secured to a proximal end of the weight  104 . In some embodiments, the weight  104  and the weight extension member  112  are separate members releasably secured to each other using threads. Alternatively, the weight  104  and the weight extension member  112  may be secured together using a frictional fit or a cam like fitting. Other securing means may be used. In some embodiments, the weight  104  and the weight extension member  112  may be permanently secured to each other using a suitable adhesive, wielding, screws, or the like. In some embodiments, the weight  104  and the weight extension member  112  may be made during fabrication into a unibody member. 
     The weight  104  itself has a distal impact end. The weight  104  is cylindrical and is relatively heavy. In the various embodiments, the weight  104  is made from a dense material such as tungsten, cobalt, molybdenum, brass, aluminum, steel, iron or even lead, and is configured to slidably move within the hollow of the body  102  from one end of the body  102  to the other of the body  102  along a travel distance [defined by the difference between the length (L 1 ) of the body  102  and the length (L 2 ) of the cylindrical weight  104 ]. 
     A string or wire  110  is attached to the proximal attachment end of the weight extension member  112 . Accordingly, to accommodate the string or wire  110 , the proximal end of the weight extension member  112  is defined by an attachment means  114 , such as a hole, that is at least sized to permit the string or wire  110  to be threaded therethrough. The cap  106  is defined by an opening through which the string or wire  110  attached to the weight extension member  112 . In a preferred embodiment, the hole in the cap  106  has an inside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the narrow portion of the weight extension member  112 , but less than the outside diameter of the cylindrical weight  104 . The string or wire  110  may be pulled to draw the weight  104  and the weight extension member  112  upward, but the cap  106  opening&#39;s size prevents the weight  104  from being pulled out of the body  102 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the weight extension member  112  is omitted. Here, the string or wire  110  is secured to the distal end of the cylindrical weight  104 . However, an unexpected advantage provided by the weight extension member  112  is to eliminate frictional wear on the string or wire  110  that might otherwise result in failure of the string or wire  110 . That is, if the string or wire  110  breaks during use, the user may have to cut into the wall to retrieve the puller system  100 . 
     In practice, a hole is cut into the wall. The wall hole is preferably just large enough to receive the puller system  100 . A user inserts the puller system  100  through the upper wall hole and orients the puller system  100  in a downward directed vertical, or substantially vertical, orientation such that its length (L 1 ) is substantially perpendicular to the ground, and such that the tip  108  is directed towards the ground. 
     Once the puller system  100  in position behind the wall, with the example manual embodiment, the user pulls the proximal end of the string or wire  110  to draw the cylindrical weight  104  upward through the body  102 . The travel distance of the cylindrical weight  104  is equal to the difference between the length (L 1 ) of the body  102  and the length (L 2 ) of the cylindrical weight  104 . The word “string” is used herein generically to mean string, cable, rope or wire, as needs dictate. 
     When the weight  104  has been drawn upward to or near its furthest extent within the body  102  by the user, the user releases the string or wire  110 . Gravity accelerates and pulls the cylindrical weight  104  downward toward the impact end of the body  102  and the tip  108 . As the cylindrical weight  104  travels downward towards the distal end of the tubular body  102 , the cylindrical weight  104  gains momentum. The distal end of the released downward travelling cylindrical weight  104  impacts the tip  108  at the distal end of the tubular body  102  such that momentum of the downward travelling cylindrical weight  104  is transferred to the tip  108  as a downward directed force. The downward directed hammering force causes the surrounding insulation material to give way and allow the puller system  100  to hammer its way through or around that insulation material, or to hammer its way between the insulation material and the wall. 
     When the user repeatedly pulls and releases the string or wire  110 , the attached cylindrical weight  104  is repeatedly pulled upward and then dropped to the bottom of the body  102 . The cylindrical weight  104  repeatedly hammers into the tip  108 . Accordingly, the puller system  100  hammers its way in a linear path downward through the insulation, or between the wall and the insulation, towards the ground. When the puller system  100  has travelled downward through the insulation or behind the insulation to a desired distance, the user will have access to the tip  108  through a second lower wall hole that has been cut into the wall. At the end of the installation process, the relatively small lower wall hole is substantially easier to patch or repair than a wall hole required of legacy pullers. 
     Various types of tips  108  may be used by the various embodiments depending upon the nature of the particular task at hand. Preferably, the tip  108  is typically made from a hard material such as tungsten, cobalt, molybdenum, brass, iron or even lead so that it is sufficiently strong to resist being deformed by the repeated impact of the cylindrical weight  104 , or repeated external impacts. However, these materials are not the only types of material from which the tip  108  may be constructed. Any suitable material having a hardness that is greater than a hardness and/or resistance of the insulation material may be used. 
     A penetration tip  108   a  may be used to penetrate the insulation material. The penetration tip  108   a  has a conical distal end that terminates at its distal end in a sharp point to facilitate penetration of the puller system  100  through the insulation material. 
     An insulation displacement tip  108   b  may have a rounded distal end that is configured to displace the insulation material as the puller system  100  moves in the downward direction. Displacing the insulation material by pushing the material out of the way of the puller system  100  may cause relatively less damage to the insulation material, such as when the puller system  100  travels between the inside of the wall and the outside of the insulation material. 
     The tip  108  includes an attachment means  116  that is configured to receive a string or pull wire (not shown). The user, having access to the tip  108  through the lower wall hole, secures the string or pull wire to the tip  108 . In one example, an aperture (hole)  116   a  is disposed in the tip  108 . In another embodiment, a slot and pin  116   b  may be disposed in the distal end of the tip  108 , wherein a clip, hook or the like secured to the end of the string or pull wire may be attached to the pin  116   b.    
     A threaded receiver tip  108   c  may be used to prove a threaded-based attachment means that is configured to receive a threaded pin  118  that is screwed into the threaded hole  116   c  of the threaded receiver tip  108   c . The non-limiting example threaded pin is secured to a wire puller  120  which may be used to retrieve the puller system  100 . In this example embodiment, the wire puller  120  is made of a mesh of flexible strong wire that can be secured to the threaded receiver tip  108   c  once the puller system  100  has reached the lower wall hole. The flexibility of the wire puller  120  enables the user to orient the threaded pin  118  when threading it to the threaded hole  116   c . In some embodiments, a barrel swivel or the like may be used to facilitate rotation of the threaded pin  118  when being screwed into the threaded hole  116   c.    
     When the user pulls on the string or wire  110  to retrieve the puller system  100  upwards and back to the upper wall hole, the string or pull wire secured to the tip  108  is drawn upward along with the puller system  100  (wherein a proximal portion of the string or pull wire always remains outside of the lower wall hole). When the user retrieves the puller system  100  from the wall, the user may then detach the string or pull wire from the tip  108 . The string or pull wire can then be used to pull a wire, rope, raceway, tube or the like downward (or upward) through the upper and lower wall holes. 
     In the various embodiments, the body  102 , tip  108 , and/or the string or wire  110  may be painted or colored with a highly visible color, including bright colors that contrast the with the wall and the insulation material, such as, but not limited to, bright orange and/or bright green. In some embodiments, the distal end of the body  102  and/or the tip  108  may be illuminated. The visible color and/or illumination will assist the user in discerning the location of the tip  108  of the puller system  100  through the lower hole. 
     One or more optional anti-friction spacers  122  may be used to prevent or reduce friction resistance between the body  102  and the cylindrical weight  104 . Further, the anti-friction spacers  122  keep the cylindrical weight  104  centered within the cavity of the body  102 . 
     The anti-friction spacers  122  may be cylindrical and fit around the outside of the cylindrical weight  104 . In such embodiments, a difference between the outside diameter of the cylindrical weight  104  and the inside diameter of the body  102  is equal to, or slightly large than, twice the thickness of the anti-friction spacers  122 . The anti-friction spacers  122  may also help guide the cylindrical weight  104  as it moves up and down within the body  102 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the anti-friction spacers  122  are secured to the interior surface of the body  102 . In other embodiments, strips of anti-friction spacers  122  may be secured along the length of the body  102  and/or the cylindrical weight  104 . 
     In some embodiments, the anti-friction spacers  122  are frictionally retained in their position. Alternatively, or additionally, an adhesive may be used to retain the anti-friction spacers  122  in their position. Alternatively, or additionally, a fastener such as a bolt, clip, screw, or the like may be used to retain the anti-friction spacers  122 . 
       FIG.  2    is a cross section of a wall having batt insulation  202  inside of the wall  204  with a puller system  100  moving downward between the inside of the wall  204  and the batt insulation  202 . In this example use, the puller system  100  is displacing the batt insulation  202  so as to travel downward between the wall  204  and the batt insulation  202 . In this example use, the insulation displacement tip  108   b  with a rounded distal end that is configured to displace the insulation material might be used. 
     The puller system  100  is inserted between the inside surface of the wall  204  and the batt insulation  202  via the upper wall hole  206 . When tip  108  of the puller system  100  travels downward to at least the lower hole  208 , the user can then access the puller system  100  via the lower hole  208 . 
       FIG.  3    is a cross section of a wall having blown-in insulation  302  with a puller system  100  moving downward through the blown-in insulation  302 . Here, the puller system  100  is penetrating the blown-in insulation  302  so as to travel downward through the blown-in insulation  302 . In this example use, the penetration tip  108   a  with a sharp distal end that is configured to penetrate the insulation material might be used 
     In this non-limiting illustrative example, the puller system  100  is conceptually illustrated as being inserted through a hole disposed in, or gap  304  between, the wall joists, top plate, upper wall plate, or the like, and then down into the batt insulation  202 . When tip  108  of the puller system  100  travels downward to at least the lower hole  208 , the user can then access the puller system  100  via the lower hole  208 . 
       FIG.  4    is an exploded side view of an example embodiment of a puller system with an aperture  402  disposed in the proximal end of the cylindrical weight  104 . The aperture  402  permits the user to secure the distal end of the string or wire  110  to the proximal end of the weight extension member  112 . 
       FIG.  5    is an exploded side view of an alternative example embodiment of a puller system with a slot  502  disposed in the proximal end of the cylindrical weight  104 . A pin  504  is inserted through holes  506  disposed in the slot member portion of the cylindrical weight  104  (or a weight extension member  112  if present) having the slot  504 . The user inserts a loop at the distal end of the string or wire  110  into the slot  502 . The user then inserts the pin  504  through the holes  506  disposed in the slot member portion and the loop of the string or wire  110 , thereby securing the distal end of the string or wire  110  to the proximal end of the weight extension member  112 . 
     Also illustrated in  FIGS.  4  and  5    is an aperture (hole) disposed in the lower portion of the distal end of the body  102 . As the cylindrical weight  104  travels downward, air pressure would otherwise build up in the lower end of the body  102  and slow the downward motion of the weight extension member  112 . The aperture  404  permits the release of the air in the lower portion of the body  102 , thereby releasing any built up air pressure. When the user pulls the string or wire  110  to move the cylindrical weight  104  upward within the body  102 , air is allowed to enter through the hole  404  so that a suction force (negative air pressure) does not impede the drawing of the cylindrical weight  104  in an upward direction. A similar aperture may be disposed in the upper portion of the body  102  to allow air to freely escape and/or enter into the upper cavity of the body  102  as the cylindrical weight  104  is drawn upward and/or moves downward. Alternatively, or additionally, channels, slots or the like may be disposed in the outer surface of the weight  104  and/or in the inner surface of the body  102  to permit the flow of air ( FIG.  4   ). 
       FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of an alternative example embodiment of a puller system  100  provisioned with an electric motor  602  and cam system  604 . The cam system  604  comprises a first cam member  606  and a second cam member  608 . 
     For convenience, the first cam member  606  is illustrated as having its distal end secured to the proximal end of the tip  116   b . The first cam member  606  may be secured to the tip  116   b  using any suitable means, such as an adhesive, threads, screws, clips or the like. Alternatively, the tip  116   b  and the first cam member  606  may be fabricated as a unibody member during fabrication. In other embodiments, the distal end of the first cam member  606  may rest on top of the tip  116   b.    
     Alternatively, the outside surface of the second cam member  608  may be secured to the inside surface of the body  102  proximate to the distal end of the body  102 . The first cam member  606  may be secured to the body  102  using any suitable means, such as an adhesive, threads, screws, clips or the like. Alternatively, the first cam member  606  and the body  102  may be fabricated as a unibody member during fabrication. Alternatively, an optional stop ring  610  may be secured to the inside of the body  102  proximate to the distal end of the body  102 , wherein the distal end of the first cam member  606  rests upon and/or is secured to the proximal end of the optional stop ring  610 . 
     The electric motor  602  is controllably coupled to a controller  612  via a power cord or control cord  614 . Preferably, the cord  614  has sufficient tensile strength to allow retrieval of the puller system  100 . Alternatively, a string or wire  110  may be secured to the proximal end of the puller system  100  to facilitate retrieval of the puller system  100 . 
     In an example embodiment, the controller  612  includes a power plug adaptor  616  that is configured to couple to a legacy power cord (not shown) and/or to a wall power outlet. Power to drive the electric motor  602  (using power received at the power plug adaptor  616 ) is provided via the cord  614 . Alternatively, or additionally, the controller  612  may include an internal power source, such as a battery or the like (not shown) that provides power to the electric motor  602 . 
     A plurality of actuators  618  are disposed on the surface of the controller  612 . The actuators allow the user to power on/turn off the electric motor  602 . Additionally, the controllers  618  may be used to control the speed of rotation of the shaft  602   a  of the electric motor  602 . 
     A shaft  602   a  of the electric motor  602  is secured to the proximal end of the second cam member  608 . The shaft  602   a  may be secured to the second cam member  608  using any suitable means, such as an adhesive, threads, screws, clips or the like. Alternatively, the shaft  602   a  and the second cam member  608  may be fabricated as a unibody member during fabrication. 
     In the illustrated example embodiment of  FIG.  6   , the distal end of the cylindrical weight  104  rests upon or is secured to the proximal end of the electric motor  602 . The cylindrical weight  104  may be secured to the electric motor  602  using any suitable means, such as an adhesive, threads, screws, clips or the like. Alternatively, the cylindrical weight  104  and the electric motor  602  may be fabricated as a unibody member during fabrication 
     The first cam member  606  is defined at its distal end by a first cam surface  606   a . The second cam member  608  is defined at is proximal end by a second cam surface  608   a . As the shaft  602   a  of the electric motor  602  is rotated, the first cam surface  606   a  and the second cam surface  608   a  slidably engage each other to raise the cylindrical weight  104 . As the shaft  602   a  of the electric motor  602  completes a revolution, the first cam surface  606   a  and the second cam surface  608   a  disengage to release the cylindrical weight  104 , which then falls downward to impact the tip  116   b  (or an intervening structure which transfers the force to the tip  116   b ). 
     Repeated revolutions of the shaft  602   a  of the electric motor  602  create a repeated downward impact force on the tip  108 . Accordingly, the puller system  100  travels in a downward direction. The speed of rotation of the shaft  602   a  of the electric motor  602  may be predefined, or may be adjustable by the user by actuation one or the actuators  618  on the controller  612 . 
     The illustrated arrangement of the components illustrated in  FIG.  6    is exemplary only and is not intended to be limiting. The illustrated component may be arranged in a different order in an example embodiment. For example, the electric motor  602  may be located above the cylindrical weight  104 , wherein the shaft  602   a  of the electric motor  602  extends through an aperture (hone) extending through the cylindrical weight  104 . In an alternative embodiment, the cylindrical weight  104  may itself be fabricated as an electric motor. Any such variations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure and to be protected by the following claims. 
       FIG.  7    is an exploded cross sectional side view of an example embodiment of a puller system  100  provisioned with a solenoid system  702 . The solenoid system  702  comprises a solenoid housing  704  and a push rod  706  (illustrated in a retracted position). 
     The distal end of the example push rod  706  is coupled to the tip  116   b  using a coupling fork as is known in the arts. The proximal end of the solenoid housing  704  is in contact with, or is secured to, the distal end of the cylindrical weight  104 . The cord  614  extends through an aperture in the cylindrical weight  104  to provide power to actuate the solenoid system  702 . As is known in the art, an electric motor/machine (not shown) resides in the interior of the solenoid housing  704  that is operable to push the push rod  706  outward to an extended position and to pull the push rod  706  inward to a retracted position in an alternating manner. 
     In the non-limiting example embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  7   , when the solenoid system  702  is actuated by the controller  612 , the push rod  706  is pushed outward to its extended position, thereby raising the cylindrical weight  104 . When the solenoid system  702  is next actuated, the solenoid system  702  rapidly retracts the push rod  706 , thereby moving the cylindrical weight  104  in a downward direction. The momentum of the downward moving cylindrical weight  104  is transferred as a force to the tip  116   b  when the push rod  706  becomes fully retracted. 
     Repeated actuations of the solenoid system  702  create a repeated downward impact force on the tip  108 . Accordingly, the puller system  100  travels in a downward direction. 
     The solenoid system  702  is powered and/or is controlled by the controller  612  via the cord  614 , and is not described herein for brevity. In some embodiments, the controller  612  may be controlled by the user to control the rate of extension/retraction of the push rod  706 . Additionally, or alternatively, the travel distance of the push rod  706  may be controlled by the controller  612 . 
     The illustrated arrangement of the components illustrated in  FIG.  7    is exemplary only and is not intended to be limiting. The illustrated component may be arranged in a different order in an example embodiment. For example, the solenoid system  702  may be located above the cylindrical weight  104 , wherein the push rod  706  is secured to the proximal end of the cylindrical weight  104 . Here, the solenoid housing  704  would be secured to the inside surface of the body  102  and/or to the cap  106 . In an alternative embodiment, the cylindrical weight  104  may itself be fabricated as a component of the solenoid system  702 . Any such variations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure and to be protected by the following claims. 
       FIG.  8    is a side view of a first type of readily available legacy solenoid  702  that may be used with embodiments of the puller system  100 .  FIG.  9    is a side view of a second type of readily available legacy solenoid  702  that may be used with embodiments of the puller system  100 . 
       FIG.  10    is an exploded cross sectional side view of an example embodiment of a puller system  100  provisioned with a vibration system  1002 . The vibration system  1002  comprises an electric vibrator motor  1004  and a vibrator weight  1006  secured to the shaft  1008  of the vibrator motor  1004 .  FIG.  11    is a side view of a readily available legacy vibrator motor  1004  and vibrator weight  1006  that may be used with embodiments of the puller system  100 . 
     The vibrator weight  1006  is configured to have a center of gravity that is off center from the shaft  1008  of the vibrator motor  1004 . As the vibrator motor  1004  rotates the shaft  1008 , the vibrator weight  1006  is rotated in a manner wherein the off center point of gravity of the vibrator weight  1006  induces a wobbling motion to the shaft and vibrator motor  1004 . When the vibrator motor  1004  is secured to the body  102 , a vibration movement is imparted to the tip  116   b . This vibration movement facilitates the downward movement of the puller system  100 . 
     The vibrator motor  1004  may be secured to the body  102  using any suitable means, such as an adhesive, threads, screws, clips or the like. Alternatively, the vibrator motor  1004  and the body  102  may be fabricated as a unibody member during fabrication. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the vibrator motor  1004  may be secured to the cylindrical weight  104 . However, this embodiment is not as effective of inducing the vibration movement into the tip  116   b . In another alternative embodiment, the vibrator motor  1004  is secured to the proximal end of the tip  116   b  (wherein the orientation of the vibration system  1002  is reversed respective to  FIG.  10   ). 
     In some embodiments, the vibration system  1002  may be provisioned in a manual embodiment of the puller system  100  (as illustrated in  FIG.  1   ). Here, the manual raising and dropping of the cylindrical weight  104 , in conjunction with the vibration movement imparted to the tip  108  by the vibration system  1002 , cooperatively urge the puller system  100  in the downward direction. 
     In some embodiments, the vibration system  1002  may be provisioned in an embodiment of the puller system  100  that employs the solenoid system  702  (as illustrated in  FIG.  7   ). Here, the automatic raising and dropping of the cylindrical weight  104  by the solenoid system  702 , in conjunction with the vibration movement imparted to the tip  108  by the vibration system  1002 , cooperatively urge the puller system  100  in the downward direction. 
     In the various embodiments, the body  102  and the cylindrical weight  104  were described as being cylindrical. In alternative embodiments, the hollow cavity of the interior of the body  102  and the cylindrical weight  104  may have other cross sectional shapes, such as, but not limited to, squares, rectangles, ovals, or the like. Here, the cross sectional shape of the weight  104  and the corresponding cross sectional shape of the interior of the body  102  are the same. A distance associated with the weight  104  (such as a circumference, a length, and/or a width) is less that the corresponding distance of the hollow cavity in the interior of the body  102 . 
     Further, in some embodiments, the cross sectional shape of the interior of the body  102  may be different than a cross sectional shape of the exterior of the body  102 . For example, but not limited to, the interior of the cavity of the body  102  and the weight  104  may be square, and the exterior cross section of the body may be circular. 
     In some manual embodiments, the user may pull on the proximal end of the string or wire  110  that is attached to the proximal attachment end of the weight extension member  112  using a brake-like system similar to brakes used on a bicycle. The user squeezes on the lever, which then retracts the string or wire  110  to draw the weight extension member  112  (or the cylindrical weight  104 ) upward. 
       FIG.  12    is a perspective view of an alternative example embodiment of a body  102  of the puller system with a tip  1202   a  with a plurality of lights  1204 . The user may turn on the light so that they can see the tip  1202   a  as it is approaching the lower wall hole that has been cut into the wall. For illustrative purposes, the plurality of lights  1204  are conceptually illustrated as aligned in a ring about the base of the tip  1202   a . Any suitable number of lights  1204 , including a single light  1204 , may be used in the various embodiments. The lights  1204  may be placed in any suitable location proximate to the tip  202 . 
     The example tip  1202   b  includes one or more lights  1204  within the interior of a housing  1206  of the tip  1202   b . A clear protective lens  1208  is disposed on the end of the tip  1202   b  to allow generated light to shine downward out from the tip  1202   a  as the puller system  100  is being used inside a wall. 
     Preferably, the tips  1202   a ,  1202   b  are optionally detachable from the body  102  (similar to the tips  108  described herein). The tips  1202   a ,  1202   b  may be releasably secured to the ends of the body  102  using threads, a magnet, or a frictional fit. However, the lighted tip  1202  and the body  102  may be fabricated as a single unibody piece. 
     Any suitable light emitting device may be used in the various embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the lights  1204  are small light emitting diode (LED) type illumination devices. The emitted light may be any desired color, such as a white light. Some lights  1204  may have an adjustable brightness (illumination intensity) and/or color. 
     In a preferred embodiment, an optionally removeable power source  1210  is disposed within the interior of the tips  1202   a ,  1202   b . An example power source is a small battery  1210 , such as a coin type battery. Some embodiments may employ a rechargeable battery. Any suitable power source may be used in the various embodiments. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a twistable portion of the tips  1202   a ,  1202   b  is rotated to activate the light (turn on) or to deactivate (turn off) the light  1204 . In other embodiments, the lights  1204  may be remotely controlled using suitable electronics to turn on or turn off the lights  1204 . In other embodiments, a switch or other light actuator electronics may be disposed on the surface of the tip  1204 . 
       FIG.  13    is an exploded perspective view of an alternative example embodiment of a weight  104  used by the puller system  100 . The weight  104  slidably moves up and down within the hollow interior or cavity of the body  102 . A plurality of grooves  1302  are disposed on the outside surface of the weight  104  extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the weight  104 . In alternative embodiments, the groves  1302  may extend only partway along the length of the weight  104 . 
     When the weight  104  is drawn upward or is released to fall downward through the body  102 , the grooves  1302  reduce friction resistance between the weight  104  and the body  102 . The anti-friction spacers  122  ( FIG.  1   ) may be optionally omitted in such embodiments. Alternatively, the anti-friction spacers  122  may be used in cooperation with the grooves  1302 . In some embodiments, the anti-friction spacers  122  may be slidably removeable from the weight  104  so that the anti-friction spacers  122  may be used in conjunction with the grooves  1302  depending upon the preference of the user. 
     In some embodiments, the weight  104  with the grooves  1302  may be configured to have, or be releasably secured to, a tip  1304 . The tip  1304  may be releasably secured to the ends of the body  102  using threads, a magnet, or a frictional fit. Other securing means may be used. In some embodiments, the body  102  and the cap  106  and/or the tip  108  may be permanently secured to the end of the body using a suitable adhesive, wielding, screws, or the like. In some embodiments, the body  102  and the cap  106  and/or the tip  108  may be made during fabrication into a unibody member. 
     In some embodiments, a penetration tip  1304   a  (similar to penetration tip  108   a ), an insulation displacement tip  1404   b  (similar to insulation displacement tip  108   b ), a threaded receiver tip  1304   c  (similar to threaded receiver tip  108   c ), a lighted tip  1304   d  (similar to lighted tip  1202   a ), or a lighted tip  1304   e  (similar to lighted tip  1202   b ) may be secured to, may be part of, or may be releasably secured to the weight  104  with the optional grooves  1302 . 
     An unexpected advantage of a penetration tip  1304   a  is that the weight  104  may be used as a plumb bob. A plumb bob is a weight suspended by a wire or string that is used to establish a vertical reference line. Accordingly, a user may omit a legacy plumb bob from their kit or belt to reduce a total weight of the kit or belt. 
     The various tips  1304 , any of which may also have grooves  1302 , allow the weight  104  with the grooves  1302  to be used without the body  102 . The grooves may optionally extend onto the surfaces of the tip  1304  (so as to be aligned with the grooves  1302  on the exterior surface of the weight  104 ). In some applications, the user may simply use the weight  104  with the grooves  1302  to move through surrounding insulation material between the insulation material and the wall, or travel through a wall with no insulation. If the weight  104  with the grooves  1302  is moving through insulation, the grooves  1302  may facilitate the direction of travel through the insulation (operating as guide grooves). 
     In some embodiments, a through hole may be disposed through the weight  104  near the distal end of the weight  104 . This embodiment may be desirable if one or more of the tips  1304  do not include an attachment means that can be used to secure the wire puller  120  ( FIG.  1   ). 
       FIG.  14    is a perspective view of an alternative example embodiment of a puller system  100 . Here, both ends  116 ,  106  of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  1    are generally conical in shape (though any shape may be used in alternative embodiments), giving the puller system  100  an overall appearance of a torpedo-like structure. The pointed conical shaped ends facilitate travel of the puller system  100  through the material in a wall in both the downward and the upward directions. Similarly, the ends  1304 ,  112  of the puller system  100  illustrated in  FIG.  13    may be generally conical in shape. 
     One skilled in the art appreciates that in embodiments where the weight  104  is torpedo shaped, the end of the pointed conical tip has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the hole in the cap  106  ( FIG.  1   ). A lower portion of the torpedo shaped tip end has a diameter that is greater than the hole in the cap  106 . Accordingly, the tip of a torpedo shaped weight  104  corresponds to the above-described weight extension member  112 . Such embodiments of the weight  104  may be used independently of the body  102  for wire pulling. 
     The ends may include a through hole to facilitate securing a string or wire for pulling the puller system  100  through the wall. In some embodiments, the one or both of the ends  116 ,  106 , or the ends  1304 ,  112 , may be removably secured to the body of the puller system  100  using any securing means described herein. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the puller system  100  are merely possible examples of implementations of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims. 
     Furthermore, the disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. 
     Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.