Abstract:
A cabling and wire guiding structural building device, including a body defined by a substantially flat surface extending about a longitudinal axis, the body connected to at least one second surface with the intersection of the body and the second surface parallel to the longitudinal axis. The substantially flat surface contains one or more apertures. Each of the apertures has oppositely disposed rolled or knurled surfaces that extend toward and typically beyond the substantially flat surface. Each aperture is positioned to coincide with a predetermined cabling location.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This novel technology relates to the field of construction, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for the cabling of structures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Electrical cable and wiring is typically covered in a protective sheath. While the protective sheath protects the cable or wiring, the sheath can prove troublesome when wiring and cabling a structure. Cabling is the threading of a cable or wire though apertures formed through supportive members within a structure. As a cable or wire is advanced through an aperture, the protective sheath can snag or provide significant resistance to being threaded or pulled through the aperture within the supportive member. This is especially true if the cable is pulled back in the reverse direction, since apertures are designed to guide cabling in the forward direction and have sharp edges on the exit side which can catch and strip sheathing and damage the underlying cable when the cable is pulled back through, i.e. in the opposite direction. The added resistance greatly increases the burden upon the workman performing the cabling. Further, as noted above, this resistance may result in the protective sheath being ripped or damaged and/or the cable or wire itself being damaged, especially when the cable is pulled in reverse. Often this damage remains undetected until after the structure is finished, requiring expensive and time consuming repair work. Additionally, after a cable or wire is cabled, it is beneficial to be able to lock the cable or wire in place to prevent further movement and potential damage. Thus, there is a need for a structural building member with preformed apertures providing enhanced cabling attributes and for an improved method of stringing cable. The present invention addresses these needs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1A  is a first partial perspective view of a cabling and wire guiding structural building member having bi-directional cable guide apertures formed therethrough. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1B  is a top plan cutaway view of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0005]      FIG. 2A  is a top plan cutaway view of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 2B  is a partial plan view of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a second partial plan view of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member of  FIG. 1  as attached to another building member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of a novel technology, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates. 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1A-4  illustrate first embodiment of the present novel technology, a cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100 . The cabling and wire guiding structural member  100  is typically made of a structural material, such as sheet metal, steel, composites, wood or the like. The cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  typically has a substantially flat or planar surface  130  extending along a longitudinal axis  110 . The cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  typically has at least one second surface  135  intersecting the substantially flat surface  130 . The intersection  120  of the at least one second surface  135  and the substantially flat surface  130  is typically parallel to the longitudinal axis  110 . In some implementations, the at least one second surface  135  and the substantially flat surface  130  intersect to define a perpendicular angle. In other implementations, either the substantially flat surface  130  and/or the at least one second surface  135  may include attachment points  230  such as nubs, clips, or the like to assist in the attaching of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  to another structural member. 
         [0011]    The member further includes a third surface  137  opposite first surface  130  and connected thereto by aperture  200  extending therethrough. Aperture  200  includes a hollow hyperboloid shape resembling the interior structure of a toroid  201  positioned in and through member  100  and terminating in rolled or rounded terminus portions  205  at either end, with one rolled terminus portion extending through first surface  130  and the other, opposite rolled or rounded terminus portion  205  extending between the second surface  135  and the third surface  137 . The aperture  200  has a mostly circular shape. However, some implementations utilize different shapes for the aperture  200 . Examples of other shapes for the aperture  200  include an octagon, a mostly oval shape, a rounded triangle shape, and the like. 
         [0012]    In some implementations, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  is shaped to facilitate the joining of two building members. For example, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  may be shaped to facilitate the joining of a floor joist to a support wall or a rafter to a support walk or the like. In some implementations, the second surface  135  is formed such that the second surface  135  can mechanically attach to another structural or building member. For example, the second surface  135  may be shaped in a cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  such that the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  clamps tightly to an engineered floor joist, a girder, or the like. 
         [0013]    As noted above, one or more holes or apertures  200  are formed through the substantially flat surface  130 . The apertures  200  are typically formed directly through the structural member  100 , but may likewise be separately inserted into bodies made of the same or a different material as the structural member  100 . The apertures  200  are typically formed such that they define a row of toroidal protuberances parallel to the longitudinal axis  110 . The apertures  200  are also typically located at predetermined longitudinal cabling distances in the substantially flat surface  130 . Longitudinal cabling distances are the locations along the longitudinal axis  110  that are predetermined to be potentially desirable for cabling. Typically, the longitudinal cabling distances are from about 5 inches to about 14 inches, from about 40 inches to about 53 inches, and from about 74 inches to about 86 inches from the end of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100 . However, any convenient predetermined longitudinal cabling distances may likewise be implemented. 
         [0014]    Each aperture  200  has a rolled surface  205  extends in a toroidal protuberance that is perpendicular to the flat surface  130 . In some implementations, the rolled surface  205  ends in a rounded edge terminus  210  to decrease the resistance of cable moving therethrough and to enhance the resilience of the rolled surface  205 . For example, the rounded edge terminus  210  implementation may be used in situations calling for the repeated cabling. Typically, aperture  200  includes a central, generally right circular hyperboloid shaped portion  201 , at least one end of which, and more typically both ends of which, terminate in the rolled surface  205  extending through opposing flat surfaces  130  of structural member  100 . Cable extending therethrough may thus be moved through aperture  200  in either direction with low resistance and with minimal chance of snagging, de-sheathing, and damage. 
         [0015]    In some implementations, the diameter of an aperture  200  can be sized to allow a specific gauge of cable to be threaded through the aperture  200 . For example, the design for a building could call for a maximum cable gage as a means to limit power and/or wattage. In this case, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  is formed such that the aperture  200  permits the threading of cable of a gage no greater than the maximum cable gage. In some implementations the rolled surface  205  is formed such that the rolled surface  205  can be selectively compressed to reduce the diameter of the aperture  200  to a predetermined cable gage. For example, the rolled surface  205  could be compressed such that a small bundle of wires or other cabling fit snugly through the aperture  200 . Alternately, the rotted surface  205  could be expanded to allow larger gauges or a greater number of wires or cabling to be fed through the aperture  200 . Additionally, in some implementations the aperture  200  is partially surrounded by a void  210  in the substantially flat surface  130 , enabling the aperture  200  to be redirected. The partial void enables a portion of substantially flat surface  130  to be bent, redirecting the aperture  200  and the aperture&#39;s rolled surface  205 . For example, an aperture  200  and the aperture&#39;s rolled surface  205  could be redirected to facilitate the threading of a cable or even serve as a cable guide in a direction different from the original orientation of the aperture  200 . 
         [0016]    In some implementations, the substantially flat surface may have perforations  279  partially enclosing an aperture  200 . In such implementations, the perforations  279  enable a portion of the flat planar surface  130  to be detached such that the detached portion of the flat surface  285  can be bent, redirecting the aperture  200 . Redirecting the aperture  200  can allow the aperture  200  to thread cable or wire in directions not enabled by not redirecting the aperture. This allows the aperture  200  to be adapted to the needs of the builder during the construction of the building structure  100 . For example, the aperture  200  can be redirected to permit the threading of cable or wire in directions parallel to the longitudinal direction of the substantially flat planar surface  130 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an illustration facing the concave side of a cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100 . In some implementations, the apertures  200  are not fully formed but rather are defined as sectioned and perforated points  245 . Typically, the sectioned and perforated points  245  are formed such that the underlying material is pre-stressed, such that upon punching, the sections curl into a rolled surface  205 . In some implementations, the underlying material is pre-stressed and indented such that upon punching, the opening can be forcibly adjusted to predetermined sizes. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an implementation of a cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  fixably attached to another building device  310 . In some implementations, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  is shaped to include attachment points  230  such as tabs, nibs, extensions, or the like. In some implementations, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  includes perforated sections that when punched, form the attachment points  230  such as tabs, nibs, extensions, or the like. In some implementations, the attachment points  230  are pre-stressed to enable them to mechanically clasp against the building device  310 . In some implementations, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  is shaped to include many attachment projections that are sharp and extend outward, permitting the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  to be attached to a building device  310  by a hammer. For example, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  can be hammered into attachment with a floor joist. 
         [0019]    In operation, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  is positioned as desired. For example, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  can be placed into the framework of a building. Alternatively, the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  can be secured to another building device  310 . In some implementations, the attachment of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  to another building device  310  is performed through using tabs, nibs, extensions, or the like to mechanically clasp the another building device  310 . Alternatively, the sharpened projections of some implementations enable the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  to be hammered into attachment with a second structural building member or device  310 . 
         [0020]    A cable is then threaded through the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  via an aperture  200 . A portion of the cable, or the entire cable length, may be retracted back through the aperture  200  without undue resistance, as the aperture  200  includes a rolled or rounded surface portion  205  extending from either side of the member  100 . Alternatively, some implementations permit a portion of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  to be extended or redirected. The extension or redirection enables the apertures  200  of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  to be oriented such cabling can occur in directions that may not be oriented in the same direction as the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100 . For example, an aperture  200  can be oriented such that cabling is enabled in a direction parallel to the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100 . 
         [0021]    Some implementations permit the creation of the apertures  200  to be done at the time of cabling. Such apertures  200  are created by punching out perforated sections  245 . The perforated sections  245  are pre-stressed such that a rounded edge  205  automatically results from the punching out of a perforated section  245 . A cable may then be threaded through the resulting aperture  200 . 
         [0022]    Some implementations provide for cabling involving the use of certain size or smaller cables. Such implementations of the cabling and wire guiding structural building member  100  have apertures  200  sized to a specific diameter. The specific diameter of the apertures  200  only allow cables of that diameter or smaller to be threaded through the apertures  200 . Alternatively, the rolled surfaces  205  of apertures  200  of some implementations can be compressed, precluding larger cables from being threaded through the apertures  200 . Note that such rolled edges  205  can also be compressed against threaded cables, effectively locking a threaded cable in the aperture  200  and preventing any further movement of the cable through the aperture  200 . 
         [0023]    While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected.