Reversible protective cable chute for routing low voltage cables through walls
A reversible protective cable chute for attachment to a horizontal electrical box or low voltage frame to enable the routing of low voltage cables there through. A first embodiment of the reversible protective cable chute includes a cable shield that is used in conjunction with a conventional decorative cover plate and a second embodiment includes a cover integral with the cable shield. In the first embodiment, the cable shield includes two ears with apertures therein for mounting directly to a conventional single gang electrical box or conventional low voltage frame. Bores are provided in the ears of the protective cable shield for receipt of fasteners for mounting a standard decorative plate thereto. A second embodiment of the reversible protective cable chute includes a cover integral with the cable shield for direct mounting to an electrical box or low voltage frame.
1. A reversible protective cable chute for use with an electrical box comprising:
a cable shield for direct mounting to said electrical box, said cable shield capable of reversible mounting with respect to said electrical box;
said cable shield including a base portion having an opening therein, two ends, and an ear extending from each of said ends;
said ears of said base portion including an outer bore and an inner bore therein;
a nose portion extending outward from the periphery of said opening of said base portion;
a cover plate including two-way apertures therein for direct mounting to said cable shield;
said inner bores of said base portion adapted for acceptance of fasteners for securing said cable shield directly to said electrical box; and
said outer bores of said base portion adapted for acceptance of fasteners for securing said cover plate directly to said cable shield.
2. The reversible protective cable chute of claim 1 wherein said two-way apertures include countersunk areas on both ends of said apertures.
3. The reversible protective cable chute of claim 1 wherein said nose portion of said cable shield includes a top wall and sidewalls extending from said cable shield and an outer wall extending from said top wall and sidewalls.
4. The reversible protective cable chute of claim 3 wherein said cable shield includes a planar outer edge on said outer wall and a planar side edge at the lower end of said sidewalls.
5. The reversible protective cable chute of claim 1 wherein
said nose portion includes a nose portion opening therein; and
said nose portion opening is rectangular-shaped.
6. The reversible protective cable chute of claim 1 wherein said cable shield includes a peripheral collar extending outward from said base portion in an opposite direction of said nose portion.
7. The reversible protective cable chute of claim 1 wherein
said cable shield may be mounted to said electrical box in a first orientation or a second orientation;
said first orientation includes said nose portion extending away from said electrical box; and
said second orientation includes said nose portion extending into said electrical box.
8. The reversible protective cable chute of claim 1 wherein said cable shield is molded in one piece of plastic.
9. The reversible protective cable chute of claim 8 wherein said plastic is selected from the group including polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene, and polycarbonate.
10. A reversible protective cable chute for use with an electrical box having an open front comprising:
a one-piece cable shield including an integral cover plate, for direct mounting to said open front of said electrical box;
an opening in said cover plate;
a nose portion extending outward from the periphery of said opening in said cover plate;
a raised outer periphery extending around the outer edge of said cover plate, said raised outer periphery defining a front recessed area and a rear recessed area on said cover plate; and
said cover plate including two-way apertures therein for acceptance of fasteners for mounting said cable chute directly to said open front of said electrical box, said two-way apertures including countersunk areas on both sides of said cover plate;
said two-way apertures enabling mounting of said cable chute to said electrical box in a first orientation or a second orientation, said first orientation including said nose portion extending away from said electrical box, and said second orientation including said nose portion extending into said electrical box; and
an open area visible from directly in front of said cable chute and said electrical box, said open area visible in said first orientation and in said second orientation of said cable chute with respect to said electrical box.