referring to fig1 and 2a - 2c , a side insertion trap 100 is generally u - shaped and includes a pair of resilient arms 105 extending from a rear portion 110 . the arms define a passage 115 into which a cable may be laterally inserted . to ease cable insertion , cutouts 120 on interior surfaces of the and provide the passage with a flared opening . the arms 105 also include narrow regions 122 at their intersections with the rear portion 110 . these narrow regions ease compression of the arms during insertion of the trap into a cutout . as best shown in fig2 b , three angled teeth 125 defined on each arm serve to retain the cable in the electrical box . the angled teeth 125 are positioned within the height of the arms 105 and rear portion 110 , and do not extend further into the electrical box . this reduces the height of the side trap , reduces the amount of material used to make the side trap , and maximizes the amount of space available inside the electrical box for electrical connections . the angled teeth 125 allow an electrical cable to be pushed down through the trap , but inhibit the cable from being pulled up . a groove 130 is formed along the sides and on the back of the side insertion trap 100 to secure the side insertion trap within the cutout of the electrical box . resiliency of the arms holds the trap in place with the wall of the electrical box positioned in the groove . detents 135 laterally retain an electrical cable in the trap . the cable may be inserted laterally into the side insertion trap 100 in the direction 140 indicated in fig1 . the detents 135 squeeze the cable as it passes between them . once the cable moves past the detents 135 , the cable returns substantially to its original shape . thereafter , detents 135 retain the cable in the trap and inhibit the cable from moving laterally out of the trap . referring to fig3 a and 3b , side insertion traps 100 are positioned in an opening 300 cut in an electrical box 305 . the electrical box 305 is comparable to a traditional electrical box , with the exception that it includes the openings 300 along its sides . a cable 310 may be inserted laterally into a side insertion trap 100 . because the cable does not need to be inserted into an enclosed opening , the cable sheath 315 and the insulators 320 of the individual wires 325 in the cable 310 can be removed before the cable is inserted laterally into the side insertion trap 100 . indeed , electrical connections may even be made prior to inserting the cable into the side insertion trap 100 as shown in fig3 b . this promises to substantially reduce the time associated with installing cables and electrical boxes since electricians will no longer be forced to strip wires and make connections within the confines or the immediate area of the electrical box . once the electrical connections are made , and the electrical wires are properly inserted into the side insertion traps 100 , the electrical box &# 39 ; s cover 400 is placed on the electrical box as shown in fig4 . as shown in fig5 the side insertion trap 100 also may be used in conjunction with traditional traps . referring to fig6 and 7a - 7c , another side insertion trap 600 includes angled teeth 605 that extend beneath the trap . this increases the overall height of the trap and places the angled teeth 605 inside the electrical box 300 . in this configuration , there are no angled teeth within the portion of the trap which passes through the side wall of the electrical box 300 . instead , the angled teeth are on the inner surface of the portion 610 of the trap which extends into the interior of the electrical box 300 . the trap 600 also includes a rear portion 615 , a pair of resilient arms 620 , a passageway 625 , cutouts 630 , a groove 635 , and detents 640 . these elements function as discussed above with respect to trap 100 . referring to fig8 a - 8e , another side insertion trap 800 includes box - like teeth 805 , which may extend beneath the trap 800 . this slightly increases the overall height of the trap . in this configuration , the majority of the box - like teeth are within the portion of the trap which passes through the side wall of the electrical box 300 . the trap 800 includes a rear portion 805 , a pair of resilient arms 810 , a passageway 815 , cutouts 820 , and a groove 825 . the cutout in the wall of the electrical box includes tabs which mate with indentations 830 in the groove 825 . this mating between the indentations 830 and the tabs in the cutout in the wall of the electrical box 300 helps retain the side insertion trap 800 in place . referring to fig9 a - 9e , another side insertion trap 900 includes angled teeth 905 that are within the portion of the trap which passes through the side wall of the electrical box 300 . the trap 900 includes a rear portion 905 , a pair of resilient arms 910 , a passageway 915 , cutouts 920 , and a groove 925 . the cutout in the wall of the electrical box includes tabs which mate with indentations 930 in the groove 925 . this mating between the indentations 930 and the tabs helps retain the side insertion trap 900 in place . referring to fig1 and 11a - 11b , cutouts in the side wall of an electrical box 300 also may serve as a trap 1000 . the trap 1000 includes angled portions 1005 that prevent an electrical cable from being pulled out of the electrical box . the trap 1000 also includes a rear portion 1010 and a passageway 1015 . a cable inserted laterally into the passageway 1015 is held in place longitudinally by the angled portions 1005 . referring to fig1 , a cover 1200 for an electric box includes breakaway tabs 1205 . a tab 1205 corresponding to a side insertion trap being used may be removed to allow room for the cable inserted in the side insertion trap . fig1 shows an electrical cable 1300 retained by a prior art metal trap 1305 inserted through a pre - punched knockout 1310 in an electrical box 1315 . fig1 shows an electrical cable 1400 retained by a prior art plastic trap 1405 inserted through a pre - punched knockout 1410 in an electrical box 1415 .