Device for retaining the loose end of a wire in a desired position during construction

• US 9,328,852 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Bryan Satterwhite
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Bryan Satterwhite
• Inventors: Satterwhite, Jeffrey Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/794,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20160047495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 522/201, 522/208, 248/218.4, 248/219.1, 248/65, 248/74.1, 248/315, 248/205.1, 174/480, 174/503, 439/538, 220/3.3, 220/3.9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/56 Load-bearing walls of framework or pillarwork; Walls incorporating load-bearing elongated members E04B2/74, E04B2/88 take precedence; pillars E04C3/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1218 the pipe being only supported and not fixed
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1222 the member having the form of a closed ring, e.g. used for the function of two adjacent pipe sections
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/00 Devices for use where pipes, cables or protective tubing pass through walls or partitions passing insulated pipes through walls F16L59/121; arrangements for leading electric cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings H02G3/22
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/126 with supporting means for mounting on a single wall stud
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/30 Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings

Abstract

A device retains dangling electrical wire at a desired location during the construction process so subsequently hung drywall doesn'"'"'t conceal the wire end that is intended to be exposed. The device includes a primary face and flange which are approximately perpendicular, and a channel protruding from the primary face. The primary face and flange hug the corner of a wall stud, and a loose end of electrical wire is threaded through the channel. When drywall is hung, a pre-measured and pre-cut drywall hole is positioned to surround the hole and wire segment so the wire end is available for use in wiring light fixtures and the like.

Claims

1. A wire retaining device including:

a. A substantially planar and rectangular primary face having opposing surfaces, a first proximal edge and an opposing first distal edge and including a plurality of securing apertures;

b. A substantially planar flange having opposing surfaces, a second proximal edge and an opposing second distal edge and including a plurality of securing apertures, said flange oriented approximately perpendicular to said primary face with said flange and said primary face joined along said first proximal edge and said second proximal edge;

c. A channel extending from said primary face, the longitudinal axis of said channel approximately parallel to said primary face; and

d. A wall stud having at least a first substantially planar side and an adjoining second substantially planar side, one of said primary face surfaces vertically mounted in direct contact with said first planar side, and one of said flange surfaces mounted in direct contact with said second planar side.

2. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein said channel includes a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end adjacent said primary face.

3. The retaining device of claim 2 wherein said distal end extends beyond said flange.

4. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the area of said primary face is greater than the area of said flange.

5. The retaining device of claim 1 further comprising a segment of conduit, said conduit releasably engaged with said channel.

6. The retaining device of claim 1 further comprising a centering mark on said primary face.

7. A system for retaining a wire during construction including:

a. A wall stud including four substantially planar sides and four substantially perpendicular edges;

b. A wire retaining device including a rectangular primary face having opposing surfaces, a first proximal edge and an opposing first distal edge, and a flange having opposing surfaces, a second proximal edge and an opposing second distal edge, said flange oriented approximately perpendicular to said primary face with said flange and said primary face joined along said first proximal edge and said second proximal edge, and a channel extending from said primary face, said wire retaining device vertically mounted on one of said perpendicular edges wherein one of said primary face surfaces is in direct contact with one of said wall stud planar sides, and one of said flange surfaces is in direct contact with another of said wall stud planar sides; and

c. A planar wall material defining a hole, said planar wall material adjacent one side of said wall stud, wherein said channel is aligned with said hole.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said channel includes a longitudinal axis approximately parallel to said primary face.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein a single wire retaining device is attached to exactly two planar sides and exactly one perpendicular edge.

10. The system of claim 7 said wall material is selected from drywall, paneling, tile, plaster, masonry and combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said hole accommodates said channel with approximately 1 cm or less of space between said planar wall material and said channel.

12. A method of retaining a wire in a desired position including the acts of:

a. Attaching a wire retaining device vertically to a wall stud including a first substantially planar side and an adjoining second substantially planar side, said wire retaining device including a rectangular primary face having opposing surfaces, a first proximal edge and an opposing first distal edge;

a flange having opposing surfaces, a second proximal edge and an opposing second distal edge, said flange oriented approximately perpendicular to said primary face with said flange and said primary face joined along said first proximal edge and said second proximal edge, wherein one of said primary face surfaces is in direct contact with one of said first planar side, and one of said flange surfaces is in direct contact with said second planar side; and

a channel extending from said primary face, wherein said channel includes a longitudinal axis approximately parallel to said primary face;

b. Threading the end of a first wire through said channel;

c. Creating a hole in a planar wall material, said hole positioned to correspond with said channel upon mounting said planar wall material;

d. Mounting said planar wall material such that said channel mates with said hole, and said first wire extends from backside to frontside of installed planar wall material with said end of first wire on frontside of installed planar wall material.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said act of attaching said wire retaining device to a wall stud includes the act of positioning said wire retaining device along one edge of said wall stud.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the act of attaching said wire retaining device to a wall stud includes the act of attaching said flange to a front-facing surface of said wall stud.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the act of attaching said wire retaining device to a wall stud includes the act of attaching by a method selected from the group consisting of stapling, nailing, screwing, adhering and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the act of threading the end of a second wire through said channel.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said act of creating a hole into said planar wall material includes the act of creating a hole sized and shaped to fit said channel with 1 cm or less space between edge of planar wall and channel.