Apparatus For Forming Holes In And Installing Lines In Structural Members

Abstract

Holes for electrical conductor lines and the like are formed through oftentimes inaccessible wooden obstructions, such as structural frame members of a hollow wall, by utilizing a novel drill having an elongate spring-like shaft with a drill bit on its leading end, and wherein the shaft may be bowed to insert the same into the wall to direct the drill bit in the desired direction. The method further comprises connecting a pliable line (a pull line or conductor line) to one end of the drill after it has passed through the wall, and then removing the drill while pulling the line therewith to position a length of the pliable line extending through the wall.

Parent Case Text

This application is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 838,270 filed July 1, 1969 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,549, entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING HOLES IN AND INSTALLING LINES IN STRUCTURAL MEMBERS.

Description

In the erection of many buildings the exterior walls and floors thereof includes a framework of wooden structural members; e.g., studs, sills, shoes, plates, cross braces, bridging members, floor joists, etc., and even in many buildings whose exterior walls and floors may be of masonry construction, most inside walls or partitions include a framework of wooden structural members. It is usual practice to install electrical conduits, electrical conductors, piping for plumbing, vacuum conduits for built-in vacuum cleaning systems, and the like, in walls, floors, ceilings, and other structures before they are closed. However, it is frequently difficult for a workman to drill holes through structural members of such structures, even before the structures are closed, because the usual standard distance between adjacent studs is about 14 3/8 inches so that they are generally positioned so close to each other that a conventional drill bit and its motor, brace or other driving device are necessarily too long to be positioned between adjacent structural members at right angles thereto. Thus, it has been necessary heretofore to, at times, drill such holes at an undesirable angle when using conventional, readily available drilling equipment. In some instances, a hole could be drilled at the desired right angle through a structural member by utilizing a ratchet drill assembly or a relatively small hand-operated brace and drill bit. However, in instances in which a common cable or conduit was to be positioned extending through a series of such structural members, the latter procedure would have to be followed in drilling a hole through each of the structural members in the series, thus being a time consuming and costly procedure.

Additionally, it frequently happens that pipes, conduits and/or electrical conductors must be installed in oftentimes inaccessible areas, such as hollow wall, floor and ceiling structures, after they have been closed, especially in old building constructions. For example, in order to install a pliable conductor line in a closed hollow wall heretofore, the electrician would drill a hole into the upper and/or lower end of the wall, and communicating with the space between adjacent studs, by drilling from an accessible area in the attic or basement of a building. A "snake" pull line then would be inserted through the drilled hole and moved about by the electrician until it registered with a previously formed access opening in one face of the wall, to be grasped and pulled therethrough by the electrician's assistant. Thereafter, a conductor line was connected to the pull line and pulled through the drilled hole, the wall and the access opening by pulling the pull line outwardly through the access opening. It can be appreciated that such a procedure is expensive and time consuming.

The problem becomes even more critical in those instances in which there are one or more bridging members or other obstructions within the hollow wall between adjacent studs, or in instances in which the upper and lower ends of the wall are inaccessible from above or beneath the same. In many instances it has been necessary to remove or break away substantial portions of the face of a wall in order to gain such access to the interior of the wall as is required to install an electrical conduit line therein.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus which greatly simplifies the drilling of holes in oftentimes inaccessible assembled structural members and reduces the above-mentioned and other problems encountered heretofore.

It is another object to provide an improved method and apparatus for drilling holes in and installing pliable lines; e.g., pull lines and/or conductor lines, in structural members of hollow wall, floor and ceiling structures.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an improved drill for facilitating drilling of holes in structural members oftentimes located in inaccessible areas, comprising a relatively short drill bit, and a spring-like, readily flexible shaft of much greater length than, and of smaller cross-section than, the drill bit and having one end secured to the drill bit, and wherein the shaft is made from a material, such as spring steel, characterized by having such flexural rigidity as to spring back to its original condition upon being flexed or bowed therefrom.

Still another object is to provide a method of installing a pliable line, such as a pliable pull line or a pliable conductor line, from an area outside of a hollow wall in and through the wall and at least one wooden structural obstruction therein, such as a stud, a bridging member, a shoe, a plate, a floor joist or the like; which method comprises moving a drill having a spring-like shaft with a drill bit secured to the leading end thereof through an access opening in one face of the wall while bowing the shaft to direct the drill bit along a path corresponding to the desired run of the pliable line, rotating the drill while applying a longitudinal force thereto to cause the drill bit to drill a hole through the structural obstruction in its path, ceasing rotation of the drill after the drill bit has reached an accessible area, connecting a pliable line to one end of the drill, and passing the drill through the drilled hole in a direction away from the pliable line to an area outside of the confines of the hollow wall to remove the drill from the wall while pulling the pliable line therewith to position a length of the pliable line extending through the hollow wall.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which

FIGS. 1-5 are fragmentary vertical sectional views through the hollow wall of a building, illustrating successive stages, utilizing the improved drill, in practice of the method of this invention;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGS. 1-5 illustrating a variation of those successive stages of the method illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the use of a special flexing tool to aid in bowing and guiding the spring-like shaft of the drill within the hollow wall;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the special flexing tool shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 guidingly engaging a portion of the drill shaft;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail of one form of the drill and associated coupling means for detachably connecting a pliable line thereto, with parts broken away;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the leading end portion of the drill bit of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the drill bit taken substantially along line 14--14 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary detail, partially in section, illustrating swivel connecting means between an attaching member connected to the leading end portion of the drill bit and a braided tubular gripper member shown in the lower portion of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is an elevation of a modified form of drill bit secured to the spring-like shaft for drilling relatively large holes through wooden structural members;

FIG. 17 is an end view of the drill bit shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a building particularly illustrating another variation in the method of the present invention utilizing a drill whose spring-like shaft is of such length as to permit drilling from one story to another story of a building;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the area identified by the numeral 19 in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to the lower portion of FIG. 2 particularly showing how the drill bit may be used for cutting through nails or other metallic objects embedded in a corresponding wooden structural member being drilled thereby;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the use of the novel drill for drilling holes diagonally through a plurality of spaced apart structural frame members; and

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the use of the novel drill for drilling holes through a series of floor joists even though the operator may be hindered by adjacent walls or other obstructions of the building.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the essential apparatus for carrying out the method of this invention resides in a novel drill shown in the practice of variations of the method of the invention in FIGS. 1-7, 9-11 and 18-22. Details of one form of the drill appear in FIGS. 12-15, and details of a modified form of the drill are shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. In order that the various stages or steps of the method may be clearly understood, the detailed description will first be directed to the drill per se.

The first form of the drill of this invention is broadly designated at 25 and comprises a relatively short, rigid, hardened steel drill bit 26 of helical form, generally known as a "twist drill. " One end of a spring-like, readily flexible, shaft 27 of much greater length than, and of smaller cross-section or diameter than, drill bit 26 is fixedly secured to the trailing end of drill bit 26; i.e., the end of drill bit 26 remote from its pointed or cutting end.

An essential characteristic of drill shaft 27 is that it must have such flexural rigidity as to spring back to its original condition upon being bowed or flexed therefrom. Therefore, it is preferred that drill shaft 27 is made from spring steel of substantially uniform cross-section or diameter throughout at least a major portion of its length. It is also preferred that drill shaft 27 is normally straight and of circular cross-section throughout substantially its entire length, with the exception of a relatively short portion 27a of the end thereof remote from drill bit 26. The latter short portion 27a is preferably of rectangular or other polygonal cross-section, as shown in FIG. 12, to ensure that drill shaft 27 may be firmly gripped in the jaws 31 of the chuck 32 of a suitable manually manipulated drill rotating or driving device 33 (FIGS. 1 and 2). It is preferred that drill driving device 33 is in the form of a reversible electric motor, especially for carrying out the steps of the method illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 to be later described, and that the housing of the electric motor preferably includes a pistol grip portion 34 to be gripped by an operator for manipulating and applying longitudinal force to drill 25, and for otherwise controlling operation of drill 25.

Any suitable means may be provided for fixedly securing shaft 27 to drill bit 26. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 12, the trailing end portion of drill bit 26 is provided with an axially positioned, longitudinally extending bore or cavity 26d therein for tightly matingly receiving the corresponding end of drill shaft 27 therein. In practice, the wall of bore 26d, and/or the corresponding end portion of drill shaft 27 was coated with silver solder before inserting the end of drill shaft 27 in bore 26d so as to form a rigid connection between drill bit 26 and drill shaft 27.

Drill bit 26 is preferably of the double helically fluted type whose helical ridges or lands 26a define helical grooves 26b therebetween. It will be observed in the upper portion of FIG. 12 that drill bit 26 is self-cleaning, in that it is formed with a tapered or frusto-conical portion which merges with the corresponding end of drill shaft 27. The grooves 26b of drill bit 26 extend sufficiently into the plane of tapered portion 26c so that the trailing ends of the helical grooves 26b are open to facilitate the discharge of wooden particles; i.e., chips, sawdust and other debris, out of the trailing ends of helical grooves 26b during the drilling of holes in wooden structure members.

In order that drill bit 26 may be readily withdrawn through a hole previously drilled thereby in a structural member, as is the case with respect to the first embodiment of the method of this invention to be later described, it is preferred that both edges of the lands 26a of drill bit 26 are sharp so that the drill bit will not only cut the member being drilled during forward rotation thereof in the initial drilling of a hole therethrough, but will also cut the member during reverse rotation thereof when drill bit 26 is being withdrawn through a previously drilled hole.

The leading end of drill bit 26 (FIG. 13) has a tapered tip 26e thereon terminating in a small chisel-edged point 26f, with the tapered tip 26e being recessed or relieved, as at 26g, to elongate the point 26f. The elongate point 26f aids in starting the drill bit 26 into a wooden structural member during forward rotation of the drill bit without the necessity of an operator firmly holding the drill 25 at a point closely adjacent the drill bit 26 in order to steady the same and apply the required forward thrust thereto. Also, the recessed portions 26g of the tapered tip 26e define cutting edges which aid in the drilling operation, especially in instances in which nails or other metallic objects may be encountered as shown in FIG. 20.

The characteristics of the leading end of drill bit 26, as described, are desirable in drill bits of relatively small diameter, say, in the range of about three-eights to 1 inch diameter. In such range of drill bit diameters, the length of drill bit 26, from the trailing end of its frusto-conical portion 26c, to the chisel-edged point 26f thereof, should be in the range of about 1 1/2 to 4 inches and is preferably about 2 1/2 inches. This relatively short length of drill bit 26 has been found to permit the angle of the drill bit 26, relative to the wooden member being drilled, to be varied somewhat after the drill bit has initially entered the wooden member, as is sometimes desired. It has been found desirable that the diameter or equivalent cross-sectional area of at least the major portion of drill shaft 27 should be about three-sixteenths inch for use with drill bits whose diameters are within the range of about three-eights to one-half inch diameter, and should be about one-fourth inch for use with drill bits in the range of about nine-sixteenths to 1 inch diameter or larger.

To facilitate detachably connecting a pliable line L, such as an electrical conductor line, or a pull line, to either end of drill 25, the distal end portions of drill 25 have respective relatively small apertures 26h, 27b therethrough which may serve, themselves, as coupling means in the event of a pliable line being looped therethrough and having its free end tied or otherwise secured to the body of the pliable line. However, the apertures 26h, 27b are necessarily quite small relative to drill bit 26 and shaft 27, respectively, so that they will not weaken the drill bit and the shaft. As is the case with respect to shaft 27, the cross-sectional area of shaft 27 is necessarily quite small and dictates that aperture 27b therethrough must also be quite small. Therefore, a separate detachable coupling means 36 is provided and is so constructed as to detachably connect relatively large diameter pliable lines L, such as the doubled end portion of an electrical conductor (FIG. 12), to either end of drill 25. Coupling means 36 also is constructed to permit rotary movement of drill 25 without twisting pliable line L connected thereto, as is desirable in performing the steps of the method illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Coupling means 36 may comprise a strand-like attaching member or wire hook 36a, an expansible and collapsible braided tubular member or gripper 36b, and an interconnecting swivel joint 36c therebetween. One end of gripper 36b is open for grippingly receiving therein one end portion of pliable line L. The other end of gripper 36b is suitably secured to a fitting 36d having a wire connector 36e attached thereto whose headed or beaded end is positioned within the shell-like housing of swivel joint 36c, as shown in FIG. 15. The other end of the housing of swivel joint 36c has the headed or beaded end of another wire connector 36f positioned therein. The wire connector 36f is suitably attached to the hook 36a. Hook 36a may be detachably connected to either end of drill 25 by insertion thereof through the respective apertures 26h or 27b. As shown in FIG. 12, hook 36a is positioned in aperture 26h of drill bit 26.

It is apparent that pliable line L may be detachably connected to tubular gripper 36b by inserting the line within the free end of tubular gripper 36b and then attenuating or stretching the tubular gripper to collapse and cause the same to tightly engage pliable line L. It is also apparent that the operator may cause drill 25 to rotate in either direction, when pliable line L is connected thereto by means of coupling means 36, without twisting or rotating pliable line L, since the swivel joint 36c permits the drill and hook 36a to rotate without rotating the wire connector 36e, the fitting 36d and the braided gripper 36b. When pliable line L is to be disconnected from coupling means 36, it is apparent that the operator merely condenses braided gripper 36d in a longitudinal direction to increase the diameter thereof and release the pliable line L therefrom.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, there is shown therein a second form of drill 25' which may be employed for carrying out the method of the instant invention in cases in which relatively large holes are to be formed in the structural members of the building. It is contemplated that the form of drill bit shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 would be desirable in instances in which the diameter of the holes to be drilled therewith are in the range of about 1 1/8 inches to 3 inches, for example. Such relatively large holes may be required to accommodate water pipes, electrical conductor line conduits, vacuum system conduits, or the like. Since the drill 25' shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is quite similar to that shown in FIGS. 12-15, with the exception of the form of leading or cutting end thereof, those elements of drill 25' in FIGS. 16 and 17 similar to those shown in FIGS. 12-15 will bear the same reference characters, with the prime notation added, to avoid repetitive description.

Drill 25' differs from drill 25 primarily in that the lands 26a' at the leading end of drill bit 26' terminate at a pair of radially extending, diametrically opposed, end-cutting edges 40 which extend at substantially right angles to the axis of drill bit 26', as opposed to being tapered in the manner of the point of drill bit 26. Also, the outer end portion of at least one of the cutting edges 40 is provided with a forwardly projecting fly-cutter blade 41 thereon. At the juncture of cutting edges 40, bit 26' is provided with a relatively small, tapered and pointed pilot screw 42 backed up by a scroll cutter 43 of somewhat larger diameter than pilot screw 42 but of substantially lesser diameter than the diameter of the body of drill bit 26'. Pilot screw 42 projects forwardly from cutting edges 40 a greater distance than fly-cutter blade 41 and cooperates with scroll cutter 43 to engage and aid in pulling drill bit 26' into the wooden structural member being drilled as the operator applies a longitudinal forward force to drill 25' during rotation thereof.

In all steps and variations of the method of the instant invention, the description will be directed to the use of the first form of drill 25, although where relatively large holes of about 1 1/8 to 3 inches diameter are to be drilled, the second form of drill 25' may be used in place of drill 25. Also, the exemplary building construction will bear the same reference characters throughout the disclosure, where applicable, although several variations of the method will be described in association therewith.

As shown in FIGS. 1-10 and 18-21, the building construction comprises a substantially vertical disposed hollow wall W, which may be of conventional construction and includes a framework of wooden structural members or internal obstructions such as laterally spaced substantially upright studs 46, an upper horizontal frame member or plate 47, and a lower horizontal frame member or shoe member 48, to which opposing inner and outer or first and second facings 49, 50 are suitably secured. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 only, additional cross braces or bridging members 52 are provided between adjacent studs 46.

Hollow wall W is supported upon a sub-floor 55 carried by basement floor joists 56 mounted on a sill 57, as is usual. A finished floor 60 is secured upon sub-floor 55, and a base-board 61 is secured to inner wall facing 49 at its juncture with finished floor 60. A ceiling panel 62 is secured to the lower surfaces of ceiling joists 63 supported upon and suitably secured to plate 47 of hollow wall W. Ceiling joists 63 serve as upper story floor joists in FIGS. 18 and 19. Inner wall facing 49 has a suitable access opening 64 therethrough spaced a substantial distance above finished floor 60 and shoe member 48. Access opening 64 may be provided for reception of an electrical outlet box or the like, not shown.

According to the successive steps or stages illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, either before or after the trailing end of spring-like shaft 27 of drill 25 is secured in chuck 32 of drill driving device 33, drill 25 is inserted; drill 26 first, from an area outside of the confines of hollow wall W through access opening 64. The spring-like shaft 27 is manually flexed or bowed outwardly away from facing 47 above access opening 64 as the operator also bows shaft 27 within wall W to direct the same along a path corresponding to the desired run of a pliable line L; in this instance, a pliable electrical conductor line (FIG. 4), until the leading end of drill bit 26 strikes an obstruction such as shoe member 48.

It should be noted, as observed in FIG. 1, that the operator bows the portion of spring-like shaft 27 within wall W and adjacent opening 64 in such a manner that the lower portion of shaft 27 and drill bit 26 extend generally parallel to wall facing 49, with drill bit 26 positioned closely adjacent and inwardly of wall facing 49. Since, in the particular building construction shown, shoe member 48 is spaced above sill 57, it is advantageous to form a drilled hole or passage through shoe member 48 at somewhat of an angle so that the drill 25 subsequently will be readily accessible to an operator in the area of floor joists 56. Accordingly, after drill bit 26 has been positioned in the manner described with respect to FIG. 1, the operator releases the medial portion of spring-like shaft 27, permitting the same to bow outwardly away from wall facing 49 and against the inner surface of the opposite wall facing 50. In so doing, this causes drill bit 26 to occupy the angular attitude shown in FIG. 2.

The operator then starts drill driving device 33 to rotate shaft 27 and drill bit 26 while manually applying a longitudinal force thereto, which force is transmitted to some extent through the bowed portion by the inner surface of the outer facing 50 engaging the apex of the inner bowed portion of shaft 27, to cause drill bit 26 to drill a hole 65 (FIG. 3) at an acute angle relative to facing 49 through the corresponding structural wall obstruction embodied in shoe member 48. Since the first form of drill bit 26 is similar to conventional forms of drills used for drilling metal, in the event that there are any nails or other metallic obstructions, such as the nail 66 of FIG. 20, in the path of drill bit 26 in its course through shoe member 48, drill bit 26 will readily cut away the nail or other metallic obstruction; i.e., such metallic obstruction will not interfere materially with the drilling operation.

Since shaft 27 is of substantially smaller diameter than the effective diameter of drill bit 26, it is apparent that the operator will feel the drill 25 yield upon passage of drill bit 26 through wooden shoe member 48 and then may stop drill driving device 33 to cease rotation of drill 25 (FIG. 3). Thereupon, the operator, or his assistant, connects pliable electrical conductor line L to the leading end portion of drill bit 26 by means of the coupling means 36 as described heretofore with respect to FIG. 12 (See FIG. 4).

Drill 25 then is removed from wall W by retracting or passing the same through drilled hole 65 in a direction away from conductor line L to an area outside the confines of hollow wall W while pulling the pliable conductor line therewith to position a length thereof extending through hollow wall W. As shown in FIG. 5, drill bit 26, which formerly occupied a position beneath wooden shoe member 48 in FIG. 4, has now been withdrawn through hole 65 and through hollow wall W and thence through access opening 64. It can be appreciated that, when coupling means 36 is fully withdrawn out of access opening 64, line L may be disconnected from drill bit 26, and a length of conductor line L then occupies a position within the wall with opposed end portions of line L extending outwardly from access opening 64 on the one hand, and from the drilled hole 65 on the other hand, so as to be readily accessible to the electrician at both ends thereof.

Since the operator may be required to manipulate the drill 25 from a point a considerable distance away from shoe member 48 and floor 55, it is advantageous to reverse drill driving device 33 to drive drill 25 in the opposite direction from that in which it was rotated during drilling of the hole 65, at least during retraction of drill bit 26 through the previous drilled hole, to facilitate removing the drill from the wall during the pulling of the pliable conductor line L therewith. During such reverse rotation of drill 25, it is to be noted that, since swivel joint 36c is interposed in the connection between pliable conductor line L and drill bit 26, drill 25 may be rotated without twisting the pliable conductor line during the removal of the drill from the wall and the pulling of the pliable line therewith. As heretofore stated, it is preferred that both edges of the lands 26a of drill bit 26 (FIGS. 12 and 13) are sharp so that the drill bit may cut additional material away from shoe member 48 during retraction of the drill 25, in the event of the drill becoming canted or biased relative to the previously drilled hole 65 during its passage therethrough.

The tapered portion 26c of drill bit 26 will also cam drill bit 26 into the previously drilled hole 65 as retraction of drill bit 26 through hole 65 is initiated. Cessation of rotation of drill 25 may be effected by the operator at any time following retraction of the entire drill bit 26 through shoe member 48.

It is apparent that, drill 25 may be directed upwardly through access opening 64 and hollow wall W if a hole is to be drilled through upper horizontal frame member or plate 47.

In instances in which the pliable line is to be in the form of a pull line positioned in hollow wall W, as will be more fully described hereinafter, since some forms of pull lines may be rotated without twisting the same, or the twisting of the same may not be objectionable, the separate connecting means 36 could then be omitted and the pliable line could be inserted through aperture 26h (FIGS. 12 and 13) to interconnect drill bit 26 and pliable line L, if desired.

FIGS. 6-8 are alternative to those of FIGS. 3-5 in that, instead of drill 25 being withdrawn from wall through the same access opening 64 through which drill 25 was originally inserted and, instead of connecting the pliable line L to drill bit 26, shaft 27 is disconnected from driving device 33 and coupling means 36 is connected to the end portion of shaft 27 remote from drill bit 26 (FIG. 6). In this instance, coupling means 36 is connected to spring-like shaft 27 by inserting the hook 36a of coupling means 36 through aperture 27b (FIG. 12) and by connecting a pliable line L to coupling means 36 in the manner as described with respect to the lower portion of FIG. 12. Here again, coupling means 36 may be omitted and pliable line L may be connected directly to shaft 27 by inserting the same through aperture 27b, if desired.

Referring to FIG. 7, it will be observed that drill 25 and pliable line L have been pulled through access opening 24, through hollow wall W and through drilled hole 65 in succession, so that end portions of pliable line L are both positioned in respective accessible areas, thus avoiding the need for passing drill bit 26 back through the previously drilled hole 65. The lower portion of pliable line L of FIG. 7 then is released from coupling means 36 to leave to a substantial portion of line L projecting outwardly through access opening 64 and drilled hole 65. Pliable line L may be in the form of either a conductor line or a pull line in the steps illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.

Assuming, for the moment, that pliable line L is a pull line, it is apparent by referring to FIG. 8 that the line can be positioned in hollow wall W some considerable time, if desired, prior to an electrician inserting electrical conductors in the hollow wall, since the representative pull line L of FIG. 8 may simply have one end of a conductor line connected to either end thereof, whereupon the conductor line may be readily pulled through the wall W by the electrician grasping the then free end of the pull line remote from the electrical conductor line connected thereto and pulling the same through the hollow wall W and the opening 64 and drilled hole 65 previously formed therein.

Referring to FIGS. 9--11, it will be observed that the lower cross brace or bridging member 52 is spaced a substantial distance below access opening 64 and a substantial distance above shoe member 48. In this instance, it is apparent that it would be desirable that drilled holes be formed through both the lower bridging member 52 and the shoe member 48 with the holes thereof in substantially vertical alignment with each other. Accordingly, in the practice of the method steps shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the portion of spring-like drill shaft 27 and drill bit 26 within hollow wall W are held in a substantially vertical position substantially parallel with the inner surface of wall facing 49 throughout the drilling operation, thus requiring substantial flexing or bowing of the medial portion of shaft 27 during rotation thereof. Thus, it may be desirable to use a special flexing or bowing tool, broadly designated at 70, to aid the operator in bowing drill shaft 27. Essentially, flexing tool 70 guidingly engages drill shaft 27 along its length at spaced points within wall W to ultimately impart a greater bow to the overall shaft while effecting a straightening of substantially the entire length of that portion of shaft 27 within the wall, and while positioning the same to extend substantially parallel with the wall faces.

Flexing tool 70 is of generally L-shaped configuration including a handle 71 and a body 72 in substantially right angular relation to each other. The lower or free end of body 72 has a substantially U-shaped foot guide member 73 integral therewith. Handle 71 may be formed by doubling the metallic material upon itself and bending the same into a substantially U-shaped form to form a substantially U-shaped head guide member 74 thereon spaced a substantial distance from guide member 73. The arcuate or concave surfaces of guide members 73, 74 face in substantially opposite directions so that, by positioning the same against respective opposite sides of shaft 27, with body 72 of flexing tool 70 positioned within wall W as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the operator may readily flex and bow shaft 27 to maintain the portion thereof within the building wall W in the desired position to drill a hole 52a through bridging member 52 and thereafter to drill the hole 65 through shoe member 48 with both of the holes substantially in axial alignment with each other. After drilling holes 52a, 65 through the wooden structural members 52, 48 as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 10, subsequent steps involved in the insertion of a pliable line in hollow wall W may be effected in the manner described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5 or in the manner described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate how the drill of the present invention may be employed for drilling holes in successive widely spaced wooden structural members such as may be associated with more than one floor of a building. The joists 63 in FIG. 18 serve as upper story floor joists supporting a floor 80 thereupon. The upper story also has a hollow wall W' thereon which may be constructed generally in the manner of hollow wall W and therefore will not be described in detail. The remaining portions of the building construction below the floor 80 bear the same reference characters as appear in FIGS. 1--10. The drill 25 as described with respect to FIGS. 1--10 may be of a medium length of about four to five feet, since electrical outlets such as might be positioned in access opening 64 are usually positioned in the range of about 36 inches to 48 inches above the finished floor 60. There are instances in which the length of spring-like shaft 27 need not be more than about 24 inches, such as when the drill is being used for drilling holes in wooden structural members positioned quite close to a wall opening. In FIG. 18, however, spring-like shaft 27 is of considerable length; e.g., about 10 feet to 12 feet long, in order that the operator may drill holes through internal wall obstructions or any frame members in its path all the way from above the upper floor 80 through the shoe member 48 adjacent floor 60 of the first story of the building. In this instance, it will be observed in FIG. 18 that the operator stands a substantial distance away from the inner facing of the hollow wall W during the drilling of holes in those structural members closely adjacent the access opening 64' through the inner facing 49' of the upper story hollow wall W'. To aid the operator in bowing shaft 27 in FIGS. 18 and 19 so that the portion thereof within hollow wall W' may extend substantially parallel with and adjacent wall facing 49', a tool 70' similar to flexing tool 70 of FIG. 11 may be employed.

The flexing tool 70' of FIGS. 18 and 19 includes a handle 71' and a body 72', both of which are constructed in a manner quite similar to handle 71 and body 72 of tool 70 in FIG. 11. However, the handle 71' of tool 70' (FIG. 19) is provided with a rigid depending arm 82 threadedly penetrated by a clamping screw 83 whose clamping end has a flange 84 thereon for clampingly securing flexing tool 70' to wall facing 49' with handle 71' extending through access opening 64'. The body 72' of flexing tool 70' in FIG. 19 may be provided with a pair of spacer projections 85 thereon for engaging the inner surface of wall facing 49' so that spring-like shaft 27 extending through the two U-shaped guide members of flexing tool 70' will be maintained a predetermined distance from the inner wall facing 49' during the drilling operation.

It is apparent that the various structural members shown adjacent second-floor joists or ceiling joists 63 in FIGS. 18 and 19 will be drilled successively by drill bit 26 as the operator applies a forward force to the drill through its bowed portion outside the wall W'. Thereafter, the operator may slowly walk toward the upper story wall W' while drill bit 26 passes through the lower story wall W in FIG. 18 to ultimately drill holes through any other wooden structural members in its path, such as shoe member 48 shown in the lower left-hand portion of FIG. 18. Following the drilling of holes through the wooden structural members adjacent the upper floor joists 63 and the lower floor joists 56, the remaining steps of the method may be carried out as described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5 or 6, 7 and 8. Flexing tool 70' may be removed from wall W' following the drilling operation whenever convenient to the operator.

FIG. 21 is provided to illustrate the utility of the improved drill 25 of the instant invention for drilling successive holes through a series of spaced-apart wooden structural members in a common plane, either before or after the facings 49, 50 are installed, and wherein the successive holes are substantially aligned with each other and may collectively extend along a line generally diagonally of the corresponding hollow wall W. It will be noted that wall facing 49 in FIG. 21 has the access opening 64 thereof located a substantial distance above finished floor 60. Additionally, wall facing 49 has another access opening 87 therethrough closely adjacent the floor 60 or baseboard 61 and spaced laterally from access opening 64 a substantial distance. Heretofore, the usual manner of forming a row of holes through the various studs 46 interposed between the two access openings 64, 87, would be to drill the holes substantially horizontally through the various studs 46 and to drill a hole or holes vertically through cross braces or bridging members 52 before installing at least one of the facings 49, 50, and so that, ultimately, an electrical conductor inserted through such holes would have portions thereof in right angular relationship to each other. By drilling the holes according to the instant method, however, they may readily extend at an angle to, in effect collectively define the hypotenuse of a triangle, thus materially reducing the length of line required to extend between the two access openings 64, 87.

As shown in FIG. 21, as the operator initially inserts drill bit 26 through access opening 64 and bows the leading end of shaft 27 into the common plane of the series of spaced apart wooden structural members or studs 46, the operator positions the other end of shaft 27, to which drill driving device 33 may be connected, outside of the common plane of the series of structural members. The operator then starts drill driving device and directs drill bit 26 through all of the structural members in the particular series. In other words, drill bit 26 first penetrates the second stud 46 from the doorway of FIG. 21 and then drills through the substantially horizontal brace 52 shown positioned between the second and third studs in FIG. 21. Drill bit 26 then drills through the succeeding three studs at different levels until it approaches the other access opening 87. Thereafter, the remaining steps of the method may be carried out in the manner heretofore described with respect to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 or in the manner heretofore described with respect to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. It should be noted that, since shaft 27 is made from a relatively rigid but spring-like material, even though it is suspended in a somewhat cantilivered manner in its course between succeeding wooden structural members, the usual distance between such members is relatively short and the flexural rigidity of shaft 27 is such that all the holes will be very nearly axially aligned with each other through all the structural frame members.

FIG. 22 shows a series of substantially parallel floor joists 56 of a building with vertical walls or other obstructions 91, 92 adjacent opposite sides thereof. More particularly, FIG. 22 is another illustration showing how the improved drill may be employed for drilling substantially aligned holes through a plurality of relatively closely spaced wooden structural members embodied in the floor joists 56. It is to be noted that the operator may hold drill driving device 33 in a substantially vertical position and possibly with the aid of the flexing tool 70 or 70' , the operator may bow spring-like shaft 27 of drill 25 where it initially extends through a pair of adjacent floor joists and may drill the holes through the successive floor joists in substantial alignment with each other, even though the axis of the drill as it leaves driving device 33 may extend substantially at a right angle to the substantially aligned axis of the holes 94 to be formed in the floor joists 56 of FIG. 22.

In the event that a vacuum cleaner conduit, a water pipe or a conduit for an electrical cable is to be positioned in the hollow wall W, it is apparent that there would be no need for connecting a pliable line to drill 25 following the drilling operation and before removing drill 25 from the wall. Also, if a rigid pipe or conduit is to be positioned in the series of structural members particularly shown in FIG. 21 or 22, it is likely that such rigid pipe or conduit would be installed before applying facings to both sides of wall W in FIG. 21 or against both the upper and lower surfaces of joists 56 in FIG. 22, although the holes may be drilled through the series of structural members according to the method steps particularly described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22. Also if the rigid pipe or conduit to be installed is of relatively large diameter, the drill 25' of FIGS. 16 and 17 may be used, instead of drill 25, for drilling holes through the corresponding structural members.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for facilitating drilling of holes in wooden structural members oftentimes located in inaccessible areas and for installing electrical conductor lines in such members; said apparatus comprising a drill including a relatively short helical drill bit having a tapered portion on its trailing end, and a spring steel readily flexible straight shaft of much greater length than and of smaller cross-section than said drill bit and having one end fixedly secured to the tapered end of said drill bit, and coupling means detachably connected to one end of said drill and adapted for connecting an electrical conductor line thereto to be pulled through the drilled holes upon passing the drill through the holes in a direction away from said coupling means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drill bit is provided with a transverse aperture therethrough adjacent its leading end, said coupling means comprising an attaching member extending through said aperture for attachment to said drill bit, a braided tubular member adapted for releasably and grippingly receiving an end portion of the electrical conductor line within one end thereof, and a swivel means interconnecting proximal ends of said members whereby said drill may be rotated relative to said braided tubular member without twisting an electrical conductor line grippingly received in the braided tubular member during rotation of the drill.