Mechanical guns and projectors – Fluid pressure – Provided by surge of pressure into evacuated projector barrel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-06-12
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Mechanical guns and projectors
Fluid pressure
Provided by surge of pressure into evacuated projector barrel
C124S074000, C124S027000, C089S001340, C102S504000, C441S005000, C043S006000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244261
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to devices for directing a pilot or guide line across a span, particularly one of limited or partially obstructed access, in the anticipation of drawing or fishing a conductor or cable of desired type across the span using the guide line. The invention more particularly is directed to a line shooting tool that accomplishes the placement of such a line using an accurate lightweight projectile firing device provided with aiming and line dispensing systems that cooperate to accurately propel a harmless missile with releasably attached guide line to span a limited access region such as a space above a suspended ceiling which may require aiming to avoid obstructing devices.
II. Related Art
The stringing of wires, cables and the like across spans of limited or partially obstructed accesses such as areas of above suspended ceiling systems has long been a time-consuming and tedious task. This is particularly true in commercial settings where a maze of conductors is required to service integrated computer and telephone networks in addition to the provision of electrical wiring and other conduits in a typical office setup. A great deal of time and effort is dedicated to stringing several types of conductors across expanses of ceiling space which typically is accomplished by a worker removing suspended ceiling panels while standing on a ladder and advancing the lines a few panels at a time, moving the ladder and repeating the process.
Historically, instruments have been devised to propel missiles carrying trailing lines for a variety of diverse primary purposes under different circumstances. The patent art is replete with examples of this. Flores, Sr. et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,034 disclose a line installing apparatus for firing a line through existing conduits using a rubberized line carrying plug and a light line connected to a supply spool integral with the device. The system is attached to a source of high pressure compressed gas which is used to pressurize the conduit behind the line carrier; so that device is limited to threading a line, through an existing conduit or tube. Cassidy et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,901) involves a device for the installation of fiber optic transmission lines, but is also limited to existing fixed tubular paths. U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,413 to Garcia discloses a cartridge firing apparatus for launching a fishing line sinker which, in turn, drags the fishing line to distances that exceed those reachable by normal hand casting. Kornblith in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,587 discloses a gas propelled line deployment system that includes a cartridge launched from a marine flare pistol of a conventional design as by using a blank cartridge. Another blank round missile-firing, line-launching device is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,906 to Perkins, Jr.
Thus, while devices exist characterized by the ability to propel a lead line for stringing a conductor or even propelling a fishing line to distances greater than those normally accessible by hand exist, there clearly remains a need for an accurately aimable system to facilitate the stringing of lines and cables, or the like, in cluttered yet undefined spaces such as those above suspended ceiling panels. Accordingly, a relatively lightweight, hand-held delivery system for placing a lead or pilot line across a ceiling, or the like, capable of being precisely aimed in order to avoid a variety of intermediate obstacles would be widely sought.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hand-operated line placing apparatus capable of projecting a lead or pilot line through a confined, cluttered, possibly partially obstructed space, for attachment of lines or cables to be installed across the space.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-operated, line-shooting apparatus capable of being precisely aimed to a target sited across a space to be spanned.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-operated, line-shooting apparatus utilizing a laser sighting device.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-operated line-launching apparatus in which the line is releasably attached to a harmless, tube-launched missile.
A further object of the invention is to provide a hand-operated line launching device that projects a lead or pilot line across a space, the line being releasably attached by a hook and loop system to a missile attached to a low-friction line payout system.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a hand-operated line launching or shooting device that uses a relatively harmless propellant system.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon familiarization with the specification, drawings and claims contained herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By means of the present invention, much of the tedium of moving ladders and ceiling panels to thread conductors, cables, flexible conduit, or the like, across expanses of dropped ceiling spaces or other gaps is alleviated. The invention provides an accurate pilot or lead line dispensing device or tool capable of spanning as much as several hundred feet of space utilizing a harmless gas-propelled, tube-launched missile carrying a releasably attached filament line dispensed or payed out from a source integral with the launching tool.
The device of the detailed embodiment is gas fired and includes a hand-held launch tube or elongated gun barrel with attached source of pressurized propellant gas and a sighting device which projects a visible image on a target area. This is preferably an aiming system employing a laser such as an axially oriented, battery-operated, laser sight. The pilot or lead line is placed using a reusable missile or dart adapted to be muzzle loaded into the gun or launch tube and having the line attached thereto. The line is preferrably a strong, lightweight filament guide or pilot line fed continuously from a payout source such as an enclosed, low friction spool for low drag line dispensing. The launch tube or gun may be of the conventional gas fired type used to propel harmless projectiles using compressed CO
2
or the like. Spring operated systems or ones using blank cartridges, however, are also well known and could also be employed to provide the launching energy. The tool is preferably activated using a conventional finger-operated guarded trigger assembly. The laser sighting device may also be of conventional design of a class which can be obtained commercially and attached in a known manner.
The sighting device and the spool assembly may be attached to the launch tube or gun barrel using a two-piece bracket which captures the barrel and mounts these devices in a “over and under” configuration. Multiple spools with darts and attached light filament line sources may be mounted to the tube in other contemplated embodiments.
The missile or projectile is preferably of a soft, rubbery nosed dart-like design with conventional guidance fins and a blunt aft section. The lead line or pilot line is preferably attached to the aft area of the missile and may be captured using a hook and loop or VELCRO™ type fastening system for easy removal and attachment of the conductor, etc., to be installed. The line itself may be any lightweight mono- or multi-filament line, possibly nylon, polyester or other relatively strong material.
In operation, the device is typically deployed from a step ladder which elevates the operator to a position where the device may be aimed, for example, above an installed dropped ceiling through a removed suspended ceiling panel or the like. The operator selects a remote target in the vicinity of the source of the conductor, etc., to be installed or fished through (as a spot on a far wall or other selected remote target) and fires a projectile to that end. The fired projectile is then retrieved through a second removed panel, the lead line detached from the projectile and the cable or other
Bergin James S.
Nikolai, Mesereau & Dietz, P.A.
Poon Peter M.
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