US20070251094A1

US20070251094A1 - Deep reach romax wire inciser

Info

Publication number: US20070251094A1
Application number: US10/973,596
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-27
Filing date: 2004-10-27
Publication date: 2007-11-01

Abstract

The outer insulation of an Electrical wire cable is easily and ergonomically incised to allow ease of removal from deep within the electrical outlet box without damage. The fixed angulated guide of the tool, precisely aligns a knife through the romax as the user pulls outward from within the electrical box exposing the inner wires without damaging the electrical box, internal wires or area surrounding the box. The external circumference of the romax wire is split to such a length within the box as to facilitate ease of removal and increase the speed by which an electrician can complete the wiring of such an electrical outlet. Another function of the deep slit allows the wiring inside the romax to be exposed at the greatest allowable length inside the electrical box to facilitate ease of bending and final use of the internal wires found within the outer casing of the romax style wire by the Electrician or end user.

Description

BACK GROUND OF INVENTION

This devise is intended to be used in the hardware, hand tools marketplace. This include emphasis on the electrical wiring industry to quickly and effectively incise romax style, oval shaped wire at the maximum allowable length provided by the building codes. This greatly improves the bend ability of the wiring remaining inside an electrical box and enhance the technician's rate of completion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new technique to removing the outer insulation from an electrical cable of the kind in which the outer insulation is similar to that of romax, oval shaped-wire
As a Technician completes electrical or cable connections, they remove the outer insulation layer of the romax style, oval shaped wire or cable wire to expose the interior wires. They then strip the insulation from the interior wires to allow the completion of the connections deep within the electrical box. The external insulation found on romax, oval shaped non-symmetrical wiring is normally removed by a one of several methods. These include using custom made pliers which cuts all around the external insulation or by the use of a knife. Either technique forces the technician to pull the outer insulation from the attached wire. This does not function well as prior designs require a perpendicular cut and pull of the outer cover while removing or slitting the outer cover. Typically binding takes place or the inner wires are damaged when the instruments are not held perfectly perpendicular in two planes relative to the position of the oval shaped, romax style wire being cut or slit. The internal make up of romax and other such insulated wires, makes them difficult to slit or remove the external insulation casing without a guide mechanism. This is especially true for those wires found inside an electrical box. Currently the available tools do not allow the technician to reach inside the box to either slit or remove the outer insulating case of the romax, oval shaped wire. Existing tools are bulky compared to the electrical box size used and do not allow the devices to enter into the box. The existing designs are used in a perpendicular position forcing the electrician to slit or remove the romax style, oval shaped wiring outside the electrical box as they work to complete the wiring. The romax style, oval shaped wire, is very stiff prior to stripping. The existing stripping and slitting designs do not allow the technician to reach inside the box to trim or slit the outer casing to the maximum length allowable by wiring codes. The additional length of none slit or stripped romax style, oval shaped wire left inside the electrical box, causes additional stiffness and non-flexibility while the technician completes the wiring of such an electrical box. The additional non-stripped or slit length increase the amount of time it takes a technician to complete the wiring of such an electrical box. Wiring standards require a minimum lengths of the wire used when a technicians complete the wiring inside the electrical boxes. Longer lengths are typically left prior to completion to facilitate fast and efficient connections by an electrician. Normally stripping the outer coating from a single wire is accomplished by a standard wire stripping cutter device having blades positioned in an opposite position spaced appropriate to wire gage size, an oval shaped multiple wire such as a romax style, offer an electrician additional challenges because of it's shape.
The damage and difficulty of removing the outer insulation from oval shaped, multiple strand wires can be eliminated by using a tool specially designed for such use. The primary object of the present invention is to enable this operation to be accomplished by a hand tool comprised in a way to allow the operator to reach into the electrical box and prepare the romax for final stripping with one simple clamp and pull motion Another key feature of the present invention is the operator can complete the task of slitting the romax style, oval shaped wire with one hand. Another object of the invention is to devise such a device in which the romax style, oval shaped wire may be confined or trapped between a pair of recessed minimum length guides, positioned ergonomically as they relate to the linear handle positions. The insulating jacket is incised as an incident to closing the two linear handles, around a distal or proximal pivot position. After the incision has taken place, the handle is held closed and pulled to the end of the romax style, oval shaped wire, completing the slit along the length of the outer insulation coating, without damaging any of the inner cased electrical wires and with only the use of one hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a Cut Out view of the Devise Reaching Deep within an Electrical Outlet type of Box;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the Devise;
FIG. 3 is an open side view of the Devise;
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an assembled devise;
FIG. 5 is a view of the devise in the closed position;
FIG. 6 is a top view of only the lower linear beam at the distal end of the devise

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The incising devise of the present invention is identified by reference 30 in FIG. 4 and is comprised, in the figure shown with an Upper Linear handle Member 41 and a lower linear handle member 42. The handle Members are attached at position 50, at defined as the proximal end of the devise, to allow a pivot position. The linear Handle members 42 and 41 are provided with a spring hole 51 and assembled with at least one spring separating mechanism typical of using 2 alignment holes similar to 51, which open devise when lateral clamping pressure subsides. The opening stop surface 52 functions to limit the opening distance of the distal end 53 of the devise when the devise is not compressed closed. Surface 54 on linear handle member 42 in conjunction with the opposing surface of linear handle member 41 functions as a stop to assure the proper closing function of the devise. Recessed area 55 within linear handle member 42 in conjunction with the opposing surface in linear handle member 41 function to guide the wire into and through incising knife 56, in FIG. 5, when the devise is closed.
Identified in FIG. 4, is the sliding area surface 55 in linear member 42 and the apposing similar shaped opening in linear beam 41, together they form the slide area for the romax style, oval shaped wire to slide through during operation by merely closing linear beams 41 and 42 towards each other around pivot position 50. The surface area width of linear beam 41 and 42 found on either side of the blade 56 is a minimum of 2 times the thickness of the romax style, oval shaped wire, to preclude friction and greatly improve the speed by which the devise can be used without binding or damage to the inner components of the romax style, oval shaped wire. When the devise is released by the user, similar to FIG. 3, the opening at the distal end is limited by the interaction of surface 52 on linear member 42, as the spacing and angle relationship relative to the pivot position 50, limits the distance the devise opens as a result of the interference between surfaces.
Identified in FIG. 5 is the closed position when linear beam 41 and 42 come into contact with each other, stopped by surface 54 of FIG. 4, the blade is configured to function in either direction 72 of FIG. 2, including a double beveled edge blade 81, in FIG. 3. The double beveled edge blade 81, is either fixed or removal.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the lower linear beam member 42 illustrating the guide area 55 for the romax style, oval shaped wire. The guide area 55 is angled relative to the linear beam member 42 to greatly reduce the distance between the knife edge 56, identified in FIG. 1 and surface 70, identified in FIG. 6, to greatly improve the reach of the devise 30, identified in FIG. 1, into the electrical box and electrical box corners 23. The distance 21, identified in FIG. 1 is greatly reduced, improving the functional flexibility of the romax style, oval shaped wire 22, as it is presented to the technician after incising.
The blade 56, identified in FIG. 4, is aligned in a parallel relationship to guide area 55 to precisely align the romax style, oval shaped wire 22, identified in FIG. 1 without causing damage to the inner wires, when incising. The angular relationship between the blade 56 and the linear beams 41 and 42, identified in FIG. 4, allow the user to reach to a maximum allowable depth into electrical box 20, identified in FIG. 1, without causing damage to any of the components of the electrical box 20, identified in FIG. 1, to the romax style, oval shaped wire 22 or to the operator themselves.
Linear Beams 42 and 41, identified in FIG. 4, is comprised of a rigid non-electrical conducting material, similar to plastic. The opening adjacent to the blade 56, is created to allow ease of assembly of the blade 56, in non-fixed blade units to upper linear beam member 41. Another benefit of the opening is the ability for an operator to view the position of the romax style, oval shaped wire 22, identified in FIG. 1, during use to insure the related position to opening 55, identified in FIG. 4 and the opposing opening in linear beam 41, properly aligned as the devise is closed.
Lead in feature 71, identified in FIG. 6, provides a transitional area for romax style, oval shape wire to reduced friction as it is pulled through the device 30, greatly improving the speed at which the devise can be operated without damage to the romax style, oval shaped wire 22, identified in FIG. 1. The lead in is found on either side of the width relationship at the end of surface area 55, shown as feature 71, to allow the devise to reach laterally into any of the inner corners found within an electrical box 20, identified in FIG. 1. Another benefit of the surface area 55, is to allow either a left handed or right handed user to effectively function the devise
While the invention is previously explained and illustrated in conjunction with the aforementioned embodiments, changes altering the obvious may be completed to change the intent of the design without departing from the scope of the invention. These are to be limited by the attached claims here within as described.

Claims

1. A device with a pivot point at proximal end of the devise which is comprised of a linear set of beams which serve as a handle and a guide by which the romax, oval shaped multiple strand wire, is precisely guided.

2. A Devise with a blade mounted in the distal end allowing a maximum reach into an electrical box without interference, to greatly improve the amount of exterior insulation that can be made ready for finish by a technician.

3. A device with a minimum of one removable or fixed blade with a knife edge shape angled from a central position as it relates to the linear handle portion of the holder, to allow slitting to take place in either direction by either a left hand or right hand person.

4. A Devise with a blade that punctures the outer insulation covering of a wire by general closing without tilting or twisting the devise.

5. A device with an angled fixed or removable guide area, as it relates to the handle beam area of the devise, to allow ergonomic handling of romax, oval shaped multiple strand wire and other types of insulated wires and cables by either a left hand or right hand person.

6. A device with a multiple piece handle with build in stops at proximal end, to regulate the opening width of the device, relative to the pivot point when not in use.

7. A device with a specific guide which positions the blade members in a recessed area upon closing relative to the romax style, oval shaped wire or cable located by such guides in either of the handle members or both of the handle members.

8. A device with a specific shaped guide area length of more then 2 times the thickness of the romax style, oval shaped wire or wire cable, on both sides of a stationary blade, to significantly improve the functional use of such device without binding.

9. A device with a substantial reach capability to allow the user to reach deep inside an electrical box, without pinching or injuring themselves, to access the insulated wire or cable without damaging the internal components found in these wires or cables when using such an instrument or tool.

10. A device with a non-blunt lead-in at the ends of the guide area, along the linear handle, holding beam, to allow the wire or cable to glide through the instrument easily without binding.

11. A device with smooth outer surfaces tapered in a way to allow it to slide easily into and out of a tool belt holder or other related pocket type holder, easily accessed by the user of such a devise for quick and easy access without causing injury to the user when accessing the devise from their tool belt or supporting holder.

12. A device with a spring which opens the guide area of such a devise when pressure is released from the two external handle beam members when not in use by the operator.

13. A device with an undercut blade hold area greatly improving the cost associated with Manufacturing the devise and allowing the operator to easily align the wire.

14. A devise with the linear handle beam and functional tooling area on the same side of a pivoting axis point.