Abstract:
A visual navigation device includes a reel mounted within a reel housing; a flexible tape wound on the reel and adapted to be payed out of the housing and into an area to be navigated, a distal end of the flexible tape incorporating a video camera; and a video monitor, operatively connected to the video camera, supported in the reel housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a portable tool for use primarily in the field of building (homes, offices and the like) repair, remodeling and construction. Specifically, the invention relates to a tool commonly referred to as a fish tape used to add electrical circuits or other wiring to inaccessible areas within, for example, an interior or exterior wall of the building structure. Optional gripper jaws permit the tool to be used for retrieval of relatively small items from other inaccessible areas as well. 
   A preferred method for adding electrical circuits or other wiring is to run a flexible steel wire (also known as a fish tape) behind walls and through conduits until the tape stretches from the introduction point to the destination point for the new wiring. The wiring to be added is subsequently attached to the end of the fish tape and the fish tape is withdrawn back through the space to thereby pull the new wiring into position. This can be a difficult and time-consuming job due to the inability of the worker to see into the walls or closed spaces through which the tape must pass, and the fact that the path may include several turns to navigate or to otherwise bypass obstructions. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this invention, a micro-video camera is integrated into the end of a fish tape, and a micro monitor is integrated into the reel housing in which the fish tape is wound. The video camera in an exemplary embodiment is accompanied preferably by one or more integrated infrared light-emitting diodes that provide illumination for the camera in the otherwise dark internal wall spaces. The entire unit is self-contained and runs on battery power, for example, a single 9-volt battery or plural AA batteries. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, a retrieval claw is provided at the distal end of the fish tape for use by homeowners, contractors, etc. for retrieving lost items from small enclosed areas such as drains, grates, downspouts, etc. In this embodiment, the claw may be activated by a pushbutton or a plunger integrated into the reel housing, enabling the user to move the claw quickly and easily between open and closed positions. 
   Thus, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a visual navigation device comprising a reel mounted within a reel housing; a flexible tape wound on the reel and adapted to be payed out of the housing and into an area to be navigated, a distal end of the flexible tape incorporating a video camera; and a video monitor, operatively connected to the video camera, supported in the reel housing. 
   In another aspect, the present invention relates to a fish tape tool for facilitating threading of a wire through an enclosed space comprising a reel mounted within a reel housing; a flexible tape wound on the reel and adapted to be payed out of the housing and into the enclosed space, a distal end of the flexible tape incorporating a wire hook and a video camera for assisting in navigating the flexible tape through the enclosed space; and a video monitor, operatively connected to the video camera, supported in the reel housing. 
   In another aspect, the present invention relates to a retrieval tool for retrieving items from a confined space comprising a reel mounted within a reel housing; a flexible tape wound on the reel and adapted to be payed out of the housing and into the confined space; a video camera and a retrieval claw located at a distal end of the flexible tape; and a video monitor, operatively connected to the video camera, supported in the reel housing. 
   In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of fishing a flexible tape through an enclosed space comprising advancing the flexible tape into the enclosed space; utilizing an infrared light source on the flexible tape to illuminate the enclosed space; and providing a continuous video image of the enclosed space to facilitate navigation of the flexible tape through the enclosed space. 
   In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of retrieving an item from a confined space comprising advance a flexible tape into the confined space, the flexible tape provided with a retrieval claw; illuminating the enclosed space by an infrared light source secured to a distal end of the tape; providing a continuous video image of the confined space to facilitate location and removal of the item; and after locating the item, utilizing the retrieval claw to pick up the item and retrieve it from the confined space. 
   The invention will now be described in detail in connection with the drawings identified below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a fish tape tool in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention with the fish tape partially extended; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of one half of the reel housing utilized in the tool shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation of the housing component in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the other half of the reel housing utilized in the tool shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevation of the housing component in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic side elevation of the back side of the fish tape tool shown in  FIG. 1 , with a housing cover removed; 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevation of the fish tape tool shown in  FIG. 1  but omitting the distal end of the tape; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation of a fish tape reel housing in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, adapted for use with a retrieval claw; 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevation of the fish tape reel housing shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic side elevation of a retrieval claw at the distal end of a fish tape used with the reel housing shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , with the claw shown in a closed position; and 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic side elevation of the retrieval claw shown in  FIG. 10  but in an open position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , a fish tape tool  10  in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention includes generally a reel housing  12  provided with an internal reel or hub  16  on which a flexible steel tape  14  is wound. The reel housing  12  may be of conventional construction and, as shown in  FIGS. 2–5 , may include a pair of housing components  18 ,  20  assembled in concentric and telescoping relationship. Reel housing component  18  includes a first round, flat side plate  22 , a first peripheral, axially extending wall  24  and a first inner, axially extending wall  26  concentric with the first peripheral wall  24 . Note that the first inner wall  26  extends axially beyond the first peripheral wall  24 . 
   The other reel housing component  20  includes a second round, flat plate  28  and a second peripheral, axially extending wall  30 . 
   When the housing components are assembled in telescoping relationship, an interior donut-shaped chamber  32  is established radially between the walls  24 ,  26  as indicated in  FIG. 2 . Inner wall  26  thus serves as the reel or hub  16  ( FIG. 1 ) on which the fish tape  14  is wound, within the chamber  32 . Note that the walls  24 ,  26  and  30  are sized so that, when the housing portions are assembled, a peripheral slot  34  (see  FIG. 7 ) remains for allowing the fish tape to be wound and unwound from the housing. 
   A handle  36  is secured on the periphery of the reel housing  12  by any suitable means, for example, by an inverted T-shaped bracket, with the stem of the bracket extending through the slot  34  and the cross-piece of the bracket extending perpendicularly, across the slot  34 , within the chamber  32 , engaged with interior surfaces of walls  24 ,  30 . A conventional spring-loaded trigger  38  permits the user to lock or unlock the handle relative to the reel housing. Thus, when the trigger  38  is pulled to release the handle, the housing  12  and reel or hub  16  may be rotated relative to the handle  36  to pay out the flexible steel tape  14  through an aperture  40  in the handle. Release of the trigger  38  locks the handle  36  relative to the reel housing  12  in whatever position it is in when the trigger is released, also in an otherwise conventional manner. 
   A micro-video camera  42  is secured proximate the distal end  44  of the flexible tape  14  and a wire  46  extends from the video camera  42  along the tape  14  and into the reel housing  16  where it is operatively connected to a video monitor  48  (see  FIG. 6 ) supported within a space  50  inside the reel or hub  16  (the first inner reel housing wall  26 ), with a monitor screen  52  (see  FIGS. 1 and 7 ) supported on the outside of the side plate  22  so as to be externally visible. An on/off switch  54  turns the camera and monitor on or off depending on the direction of movement of the switch. The wire  46  extending between the video camera  42  and the reel housing  16  may be enclosed within a flexible sleeve  56  formed by a wrapping of tape or by a discrete sleeve. The sleeve  56  may encompass the tape  14  or may simply extend along the tape, secured by the tape, adhesive or other suitable means. Note that wire  46  enters the space  50  by means of an aperture  58  in the wall  26 . 
   The distal end  44  of the flexible tape  14  is bent to form a loop  62  that is employed to permit fastening of an electrical wire that is drawn back through the enclosed space in a typical electrical wire fishing operation. 
   As an alternative to extending wire  46  between the video camera  42  and video monitor  48 , a miniature transmitter and power source may be integrated with the video camera  42  and a miniature receiver employed within the reel housing  16 , with the receiver operatively connected to the video monitor  48  in wireless fashion. 
   With reference now to  FIG. 6 , a cover  64  on the back of plate  20  of the reel housing  12  is removable to access the internal electronic components of the fish tape reel housing. These components include the video monitor  48 , switch  54  and a power supply  66 , as well as the power and video signal wire connections that run through the hole or aperture  58  in the interior wall  26  of the reel into the center cavity  50 . Power supply  66  may be, for example, a single 9-volt battery or a pair or more of AA batteries. 
   The video camera  42  is preferably an integrated micro-video unit with both height and width dimensions less than one inch to allow the unit to be inserted through small openings. One or more high-intensity infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs)  68  ( FIG. 1 ) or other suitable light source may be supported adjacent the lens of the camera to provide the necessary illumination in the dark spaces through which the tape will travel. 
   In another embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8–11 , the tool  72  includes a spring-loaded claw  74  at the distal end of the fish tape  76  with a pushbutton or plunger  78  in a side wall that activates (opens and closes) the claw  74  by extension or retraction of the tape relative to a sleeve  80  enclosing the length of the fish tape  76  between the plunger  78  and the claw  74 . Claw  74  is spring-biased toward an open position by any suitable spring arrangement. This additional feature facilitates not only the retrieval of objects from inaccessible locations around the home, but could also be used to remove clogs from drains, remove obstructions from downspouts, etc. It will be understood that a micro-video camera (not shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) similar to that shown in  FIG. 1  would also be employed so that manipulation of the claw  74  would be continuously visible on the screen  82  as described above. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.