초록 ▼

A wiring tool and method are provided for protecting a length of wiring being pulled along a wiring path through a connection box, through use of an attachment plate arrangement of the wiring tool having first and second plate elements cooperatively configured for movement from first to second relat

A wiring tool and method are provided for protecting a length of wiring being pulled along a wiring path through a connection box, through use of an attachment plate arrangement of the wiring tool having first and second plate elements cooperatively configured for movement from first to second relationships with respect to one another such that the wiring tool can be removed from or placed about the length of wiring without having to feed the entire length of wiring through a closed periphery of an aperture in the attachment plate. One or more rollers mounted to the attachment plate along the aperture preclude the wiring from contacting edges of the aperture while being pulled through the wiring tool.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wiring tool, for protecting a length of wiring being pulled along a wiring path through a connection box having a face thereof through which the wiring path extends while the wire is being pulled and adapted for attachment thereto of a connection box faceplate by one or more screws, the wiring

1. A wiring tool, for protecting a length of wiring being pulled along a wiring path through a connection box having a face thereof through which the wiring path extends while the wire is being pulled and adapted for attachment thereto of a connection box faceplate by one or more screws, the wiring tool comprising; an attachment plate arrangement adapted for attachment by the screws to the face of the connection box in place of the connection box faceplate, and formed from at least two plate elements cooperatively configured to define an aperture therethrough for passage of the wiring when the attachment plate arrangement is attached to the face of the connection box, with the aperture having a closed periphery thereof and at least one straight edge thereof when the plate elements are arranged in a first relationship to one another and the aperture having an open periphery thereof when the plate elements are arranged in a second relationship to one another; a roller operatively attached to the attachment plate arrangement adjacent the straight edge and configured to preclude the length of wiring from contacting the straight edge of the aperture as the wiring is pulled through the aperture; the first and second plate elements in the second relationship to one another being configured such that the wiring tool can be removed from or placed about the length of wiring without having to feed the entire length of wiring through the closes periphery of the aperture; wherein, the at least two plate elements are operatively attached to one another by a hinge arrangement maintaining a hinged connection between the plate elements in both the first and second relationships, to one another: wherein the tool is an electrician's tool for wiring a building using common routing components; the attachment plate arrangement is structured for attachment to routing components: the tool further comprises two or more elongated rollers rotatably mounted to the attachment plate arrangement and to extend at least partially into the aperture along the inner edge for precluding contact of a wire passing through the aperture with any portion of the inner edge of the aperture wherein the at least one roller has a diameter greater than a thickness of the attachment plate arrangement wherein, the attachment plate arrangement is generally square and includes mounting holes to correspond to standard mounting holes in routing components; and wherein, the mounting holes include slots positioned adjacent each corner of the plate. 2. The wiring tool of claim, further comprising, a locking arrangement for selectively connecting the at least two plate elements together with the plate elements positioned in the first relationship to one another, whereby the plate elements define the closed periphery of the aperture. 3. The wiring tool of claim 1, wherein: the attachment plate arrangement comprises first and second substantially L-shaped plate elements each having a first and a second leg thereof; one leg of each plate element being connected substantially at a distal end thereof in a hinged relationship such that in the first relationship the L-shaped plate elements form a substantially rectangular shaped aperture of closed periphery having two substantially perpendicularly oriented straight edges formed by each respective L-shaped plate element, and in the second relationship the L-shaped plate elements are rotatable about the hinged relationship to open the periphery of the aperture; and four rollers operatively attached to the attachment plate arrangement, with one roller attached adjacent each of the four straight edges and configured to preclude the length of wiring from contacting the straight edge of the aperture adjacent that respective roller as the wiring is pulled through the aperture. 4. The wiring tool of claim 3, further comprising, a locking arrangement for selectively connecting the at least two plate elements together with the plate elements positioned in the first relationship to one another, whereby the plate elements define the closed periphery of the aperture. 5. The wiring tool of claim 1, wherein, the aperture is rectangular shaped defined by the inner edge having four sides, and wherein at least four rollers are rotatably positioned adjacent the inner edge, with at least one roller for each side of the inner edge, for precluding contact of the wire with any of the four sides of the inner edge of the aperture. 6. The wiring tool of claim 5, wherein, the rollers include ends, the ends of the rollers being positioned proximate each other to form a substantially continuous surface for safely sliding wire across the rollers and through the aperture. 7. The wiring tool of claim 1, wherein, each roller is positioned to extend both above and below a plane defined by the attachment plate arrangement, such that wire may be passed through the aperture from either direction. 8. The wiring tool of claim 1, wherein, at least two of the two or more rollers are oriented substantially perpendicular to one another. 9. The wiring tool of claim 1, wherein, the aperture defines orthogonally intersecting longitudinal and lateral axes thereof, and the rollers are positioned to simultaneously preclude contact between any portion of the inner edge and one or more wires passing through the aperture in either direction along either of the longitudinal and lateral axes. 10. The wiring tool of claim 9, wherein, the rollers are rotatable about roller axes, at least one of which is oriented parallel to either the longitudinal or the lateral axis of the aperture. 11. The wiring tool of claim 9, wherein, the roller axis of each of the rollers is oriented parallel to either the longitudinal or the lateral axis of the aperture. 12. The wiring tool of claim 1, wherein, the aperture is rectangular. 13. The wiring tool of claim 1, wherein, at least one of the slots is angled relative to an outer edge of the attachment plate arrangement. 14. A wiring tool, for protecting a length of wiring being pulled along a wiring path through a connection box having a face thereof through which the wiring path extends while the wire is being pulled and adapted for attachment thereto of a connection box faceplate by one or more screws, the wiring tool comprising: an attachment plate arrangement adapted for attachment by the screws to the face of the connection box in place of the connection box faceplate, and formed from at least two plate elements cooperatively configured to define an aperture therethrough for a passage of the wiring when the attachment plate arrangement is attached to the face of the connection box, with the aperture having a closed periphery thereof and at least one straight edge thereof when the plate elements are arranged in a first relationship to one another and the aperture having an open periphery thereof when the plate elements are arranged in a second relationship to one another; a roller operatively attached to the attachment plate arrangement adjacent the straight edge and configured to preclude the length of wiring from contacting the straight edge of the aperture as the wiring is pulled through the aperture; the first and second plate elements in the second relationship to one another being configured such that the wiring tool can be removed from or placed about the length of wiring without having to feed the entire length of wiring through the closes periphery of the aperture; wherein, the at least two plate elements are operatively attached to one another by a hinge arrangement maintaining a hinged connection between the plate elements in both the first and second relationships to one another, wherein the attachment plate arrangement comprises first and second substantially L-shaped plate elements each having a first and a second leg thereof; one leg of each plate element being connected substantially at a distal end thereof in a hinged relationship such that in the first relationship the L-shaped plate elements form a substantially rectangular shaped aperture of closed periphery having two substantially perpendicularly oriented straight edges formed by each respective L-shaped plate element, and in the second relationship the L-shaped plate elements are rotatable about the hinged relationship to open the periphery of the aperture; four rollers are operatively attached to the attachment plate arrangement, with one roller attached adjacent each of the four straight edges and configured to preclude the length of wiring from contacting the straight edge of the aperture adjacent that respective roller as the wiring is pulled through the aperture; further comprising, a locking arrangement for selectively connecting the at least two plate elements together with the plate elements positioned in the first relationship to one another, whereby the plate elements define the closed periphery of the aperture; and wherein, the locking arrangement includes a threaded connection at the ends of the L-shaped plate members opposite the hinged connection.