Fish wire kit for use in obtaining objects from deep, small, narrow spaces

Abstract

The invention is a fish wire kit having a chain with a hook and weight on one end and riveted or otherwise attached to housing on the other end. A round housing is provided for storing the chain when not in use and to prevent the chain from falling completely inside the wall crevice when in use. A hole is drilled in an upper section of the wall which the chain is fed through and pulled downward via gravitational force. A flexible cable having the wire attached on one end and a magnet on the upper end, is fished through a hole from the bottom of the wall such that it will attach to the chain after the flexible cable and the chain are connected via a magnetic connection. The chain can be pulled back up through the wall, which in turn, pulls the flexible cable and the wire from below and out through the upper hole in the wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention will be particularly helpful in the heating and cooling field, as well as to any profession which must work within the narrow confines of interior wall spaces. Often, it is exceedingly difficult to lower wires, due to their light weight, down the length of a wall. Upon dropping the Fish Wire Kit chain, with the wire to be in the wall attached via a hook, from the top of the wall, whereby it is prevented from falling into the wall because of the circular box. A thin, flexible magnetized rod attaches to the weighted piece and pulls the wire through to the bottom of the wall.

A search of related art includes five related patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,630 issued to James Jun. 4, 1996 teaches a tool for fishing magnetic objects through walls. The device includes a body portion that has a cavity formed therein and an electromagnet secured in the cavity and connected to a variable power source that is adapted to selectively activate the electromagnet.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,561 issued to Hale on Feb. 25, 1986 teaches a tool for magnetically locating and recovering an electrical wire suspended within a hollow wall. The tool includes a buoyant magnet suspended in a clear liquid in a transparent container. The tool magnetically attracts a weight, preferably in the form of an iron ball, which is attached to the end of an electrical wire before being lowered into the hollow wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,543 issued to Shanahan on Jul. 27, 1976 teaches a tool for fishing electrical wires through walls, including a magnetically attractable sensor having a contractor element secured through a connecting sleeve to one end of the chain. The other end of the chain carries a fastener member which can be secured to a line of the wire for suspending the sensor assembly in the wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,078,073 issued to T. J. Zizzo on Feb. 19, 1963 teaches a device for locating an electrical conductor that is inaccessible. The wire finder includes a conductor holder and a sensor made of suitable magnetizable material, such as iron. When electrical installation is to be made, an opening is formed in the wall to accommodate the outlet and the connecting conductors. The conductor for the outlet installation is inserted in an aperture formed in the holder and a retaining screw is rotated so as to hold the conductor in the aperture of the conductor holder. The holder with the conductor is then inserted into the opening of the wall behind the structural unit. The operator, by means of a flexible line, is attached to the sensor, lowers the sensor in the vicinity of the conductor holder. When the sensor contacts the conductor, the operator can establish the electrical connection at the location of the outlet to be installed.

U.S. Pat. No. 579,213 issued to H. R. Young on Mar. 23, 1897 teaches a device to dispense with a hook on a fishing wire for running wires out of site. The device is adapted to be applied to the end of the fishing wire in any suitable manner and is adapted for use in connection with a piece of chain known in electrical wiring as a “jack chain.” The body of the device is made of steel and is magnetized and provided at the end with a plurality of hooks pointing in different directions. When the body of the instrument comes into contact with the chain, it immediately attracts the body and is pulled along. The chain slides down the tapered end and engages one of the hooks. The body of the instrument is made at the same diameter as the hook so that they will not catch on any obstruction which may be in the path of the wire.

The Fish Wire Kit is distinguishable from prior art because none of the prior references disclose the specific configuration and layout of the holder connected to a chain wherein the holder prevents the chain from falling through a hole cut into the wall and a flexible cable with a magnet attached to one end thereof for inserting into a second hole in the wall to magnetically connect with the chain as it drops from the upper hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Fish Wire Kit teaches a device containing a round, circular box with a lid that snaps on, 6″ in diameter, ½″ in height containing 10 feet of ¼″ chain, the chain being connected to a crank with a ½″ axis which acts to retract said chain and is located in the center of the circular box. The end of the chain contains a weighted, metal object, along with a hook to be used for attaching wire or other lightweight flexible materials to the chain so that they maybe dropped down into the wall cavity. Upon dropping the weighted chain down inside a wall, the circular box acts as a barrier from the implement falling into the wall. A flexible rod magnetized on each end is then used to attract the weighted, metal object, and pull the chain and the attached wire into position in the wall.

DRAWINGS

All drawings previously submitted are withdrawn.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a circular box coupled with a crank, wherein the crank is adapted for retracting a length of chain coupled with a weighted hook.

2. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a coupling means adapted for coupling the crank to the chain as a single element.

3. The device as in claim 1, wherein the chain and the weight are formed as a single element.

4. The device as in claim 1, wherein the weight and the hook are formed as a single element.