Devices and systems for preventing the propagation of fire along cables and methods of preventing same

Abstract

Several embodiments of a firewall sleeve system for preventing the propagation of fire along a cable, wire, line, pipe, conduit, and the like are disclosed. The firewall sleeve systems comprise a front/male housing with a first flange area and a rear/female housing with a rear/female flange area. Preferably, the rear/female housing and front/male housing are structured and arranged so that their flange areas do not have to be anchored into or cantilevered from a structural element. Moreover, the rear/female housing is frictionally and securely attached to the front/male housing so that the flange areas of each housing are on opposite sides of the structural element and, furthermore, are flush or substantially flush with their corresponding sides of the structural element. Also disclosed are methods of preventing the propagation of fire along cables, wires, lines, pipes, conduits and the like.

1 . A firewall sleeve system for preventing propagation of fire through a structure along a medium that is disposed in or through a structural element of the structure, the system comprising: 
 an insertable front/male housing having a first flange area at a proximal end thereof, a top section with an open portion at a distal end thereof, a bottom portion, and a pair of sidewalls each having a plurality of protruding dimples on an outer surface thereof; and    a locking rear/female housing having a rear/female flange area at a proximal end thereof, a substantially open, top section at a distal end thereof, and a pair of sidewalls having a plurality of locking slots thereon,    wherein the first flange area and the rear/female flange area are disposed on opposite sides of a structural element and the plurality of locking slots is in registration with and frictionally engages the plurality of protruding dimples to securely and releasably attach said rear/female housing to said front/male housing.    
   
   
       2 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a top cover member having one or more locking slots on at least two sides thereof, wherein the top cover member is securely and releasably attachable to the locking rear/female housing at its open, top section.  
   
   
       3 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of bumps on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the plurality of bumps compresses one or more fire retarding materials.  
   
   
       4 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein each of the pair of sidewalls of the front/male housing includes one or more dimples that are structured and arranged to be in registration with and to frictionally engage the one or more locking slots to securely and removably attach the top cover member to the front/male housing.  
   
   
       5 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protruding dimples and the plurality of locking slots are structured and arranged for so that a gap between either of the flange areas and the structural element after installation is less than about ¼ inch.  
   
   
       6 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of protruding dimples and the plurality of locking slots are structured and arranged for so that a gap between either of the flange areas and the structural element after installation is less than about 1/16 inch.  
   
   
       7 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the system is structured and arranged so that the system can be securely and removably attached to a structural element without using an external retaining system that cantilevers the firewall sleeve system from an outer surface of the structural element.  
   
   
       8 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises at least one of one or more cables, wires, conduits, lines, and pipes.  
   
   
       9 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the system is self-aligning and self-adjusting.  
   
   
       10 . A method of preventing propagation of fire through a structure along a medium that is disposed in or through a structural element of the structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a firewall sleeve system comprising a front/male housing and a locking rear/female housing;    providing an opening or aperture in a structural element of the structure;    inserting the front/male housing of the firewall sleeve system into the opening or aperture from a near side of the structural element so that a first flange area of the front/male housing is flush or substantially flush with the near side of said structural element; and    inserting a rear/female housing of the firewall sleeve system onto or about the front/male housing of the firewall sleeve system from a far side of the structural element so that a second flange area of the rear/female housing is flush or substantially flush with the far side of said structural element,    wherein each of the flange areas is on opposing sides of the structural element.    
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises the step of installing one or more cables, wires, conduits, lines, pipes, and the like in a pass-through opening in the firewall sleeve system.  
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises the step of installing a plurality of fire-retarding material in a pass-through opening in the firewall sleeve system.  
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises the step of securing a top cover member having one or more bumps on a bottom surface thereof to the rear/female housing, wherein the one or more bumps provides additional compression to the plurality of fire-retarding material.  
   
   
       14 . A firewall sleeve system for preventing propagation of fire through a structure along a medium that is disposed in or through a structural element of the structure, the system comprising: 
 an insertable front/male housing having a first flange area at a proximal end thereof, a top section with an open portion at a distal end thereof, a bottom portion, and a pair of sidewalls each having a plurality of protruding dimples on an outer surface thereof; and    a locking rear/female housing having a rear/female flange area at a proximal end thereof, a substantially open, top section at a distal end thereof, and a pair of sidewalls having a plurality of locking slots thereon,    wherein the system is structured and arranged so that the system can be securely and removably attached to a structural element without using an external retaining system that cantilevers the firewall sleeve system from an outer surface of the structural element.    
   
   
       15 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the system further comprises a top cover member having a locking means on at least two sides thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the top cover member includes a plurality of bumps on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the plurality of bumps compresses one or more fire retarding materials.  
   
   
       17 . The firewall sleeve as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the first flange area and the rear/female flange area are disposed on opposite sides of a structural element and the plurality of locking slots is in registration with and frictionally engages the plurality of protruding dimples to securely and releasably attach said rear/female housing to said front/male housing.  
   
   
       18 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of dimples and the plurality of locking slots are structured and arranged so that a gap between either of the flange areas and the structural element is less than about ¼ inch.  
   
   
       19 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of dimples and the plurality of locking slots are structured and arranged so that a gap between either of the flange areas and the structural element is less than about 1/16 inch.  
   
   
       20 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the system is self-aligning and self-adjusting.  
   
   
       21 . A method of preventing propagation of fire through a structure along a medium that is disposed in or through a structural element of the structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a firewall sleeve system comprising a front/male housing and a locking rear/female housing;    providing an opening in a structural element of the structure;    inserting the front/male housing of the firewall sleeve system into the opening from a near side of the structural element so that a flange area of the front/male housing is flush or substantially flush with the near side of said structural element; and    inserting a rear/female housing of the firewall sleeve system onto the front/male housing of the firewall sleeve system from a far side of the structural element so that a flange area of the rear/female housing is flush or substantially flush with the far side of said structural element,    wherein the steps of inserting the front/male and rear/female housings include structuring and arranging the firewall sleeve system so that it can be securely and removably attached to said structural element without using an external retaining system that cantilevers the firewall sleeve system from an outer surface of the structural element.    
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the steps of inserting the front/male and rear/female housings includes the step of inserting said rear/female housing onto said front/male housing so that each of the flange areas of said rear/female housing and said front/male housing are on opposing sides of the structural element and a gap between said structural element and said flange areas after installation is less than about ¼ of an inch from said structural element.  
   
   
       23 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the steps of inserting the front/male and rear/female housings includes the step of inserting said rear/female housing onto said front/male housing so that each of the flange areas of said front/male housing and said rear/female housing are on opposing sides of the structural element and a gap between said structural element and said flange areas after installation is less than about 1/16 th  of an inch from said structural element.  
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises the step of installing one or more medium in a pass-through opening in the firewall sleeve system.  
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises the step of installing a plurality of fire-retarding material in a pass-through in the firewall sleeve system.  
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the method further comprises the step of inserting a top cover member having one or more dimples on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the one or more dimples provides additional compression to the plurality of fire-retarding material.  
   
   
       27 . A method of preventing propagation of fire through a structure along a medium that is disposed in an opening or aperture in a structural element of the structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a firewall sleeve system comprising a front/male housing and a locking rear/female housing;    inserting the medium in a pass-through portion of a front/male housing of the firewall sleeve;    installing a sliding top cover onto the front/male housing to encompass the medium in the pass-through portion of the front/male housing;    installing the front/male housing into the opening or aperture from a near side of the structural element so that a flange area of the front/male housing is flush or substantially flush with the near side of said structural element; and    inserting a rear/female housing of the firewall sleeve system onto the front/male housing of the firewall sleeve system from a far side of the structural element so that a flange area of the rear/female housing is flush or substantially flush with the far side of said structural element,    wherein each of the flange areas is on opposing sides of the structural element.    
   
   
       28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the method further comprises the step of installing a plurality of fire-retarding material in the pass-through opening in of the firewall sleeve system.  
   
   
       29 . A method of preventing propagation of fire through a structure along a medium that is disposed in an opening or aperture of a structural element of the structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a firewall sleeve system comprising a front/male housing and a locking rear/female housing;    inserting the medium in a pass-through opening portion of the front/male housing of the firewall sleeve;    installing a sliding top cover onto the front/male housing to encompass the medium in the pass-through opening portion of the front/male housing;    installing the front/male housing into the opening or aperture from a near side of the structural element so that a flange area of the front/male housing is flush or substantially flush with the near side of said structural element; and    inserting the rear/female housing onto the front/male housing of the firewall sleeve system from a far side of the structural element so that a flange area of the rear/female housing is flush or substantially flush with the far side of said structural element,    wherein the steps of inserting the front/male and rear/female housings include structuring and arranging the firewall sleeve system so that it can be securely and removably attached to said structural element without using an external retaining system that cantilevers the firewall sleeve system from an outer surface of the structural element.    
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the method further comprises the step of installing a plurality of fire-retarding material in the pass-through opening of the firewall sleeve system.  
   
   
       31 . A firewall sleeve system for preventing propagation of fire through a structure along a medium that is disposed in an opening or aperture through a structural element of the structure, the system comprising: 
 an insertable front/male housing having a first flange area at a proximal end thereof, an open, top portion, a bottom portion, and a pair of sidewalls each having a plurality of protruding dimples on an outer surface thereof; and    a locking rear/female housing having a rear/female flange area at a proximal end thereof, an open, top portion, and a pair of sidewalls having a plurality of locking slots thereon,    wherein the first flange area and the rear/female flange area are disposed on opposite sides of a structural element and the plurality of locking slots is in registration with and frictionally engages the plurality of protruding dimples to securely and releasably attach said rear/female housing to said front/male housing.    
   
   
       32 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the system further comprises a top cover member having one or more locking slots on at least two sides thereof, wherein the top cover member is securely and removably attached to the locking rear/female housing at its open, top section.  
   
   
       33 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the top cover member includes a plurality of bumps on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the plurality of bumps compresses one or more fire retarding materials.  
   
   
       34 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein each of the pair of sidewalls of the front/male housing includes one or more dimples that are structured and arranged to be in registration with and frictionally engage the one or more locking slots of the rear/female housing to securely and releasably attach the locking rear/female housing to the front/male housing.  
   
   
       35 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of protruding dimples and the plurality of locking slots are structured and arranged so that after installation a gap between either of the flange areas and the structural element is less than about ¼ inch.  
   
   
       36 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of protruding dimples and the plurality of locking slots are structured and arranged so that after installation a gap between either of the flange areas and the structural element is less than about 1/16 inch.  
   
   
       37 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the system is structured and arranged so that the system can be securely and removably attached to a structural element without using an external retaining system that cantilevers the firewall sleeve system from an outer surface of the structural element.  
   
   
       38 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the medium comprises at least one of one or more cables, wires, conduits, lines, and pipes.  
   
   
       39 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the system is self-aligning and self-adjusting.  
   
   
       40 . The firewall sleeve system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the system further comprises a sliding top cover member having a plurality of dimples that are structured and arranged on at least two sides of the top cover member, wherein the plurality of dimples is structured and arranged to be in registration with a pair of locking systems disposed the open, top section of the front/male housing so that the sliding top cover member can be frictionally and releasably attached to the front/male housing.