Pipe holder apparatus

Details Pipe holder apparatus Pipe holder apparatus

1999-03-24

2001-06-26

Bagnell, David (Department: 3673)

Hydraulic and earth engineering

Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying, retrieving,...

C248S049000, C248S087000, C138S106000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06250847

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for supporting pipe, and more particularly to an apparatus for temporarily supporting pipe laid in a trench and during subsequent backfilling of the trench.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Laying drainage pipes in sewer systems is a labor intensive and time consuming process. First, a trench must be excavated for accommodating the sewer pipes to be laid in segments along the length of the trench. The elevation of the ground surface of the trench must be meticulously measured periodically along its length to ensure that pipe segments are positioned at the desired elevation. Next, at least two laborers are required to fill-in the trench. One laborer must maintain the pipes in position while the second laborer covers the pipes with backfill material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,247 issued to Murphy provides an apparatus for simplifying the laying of pipes. The apparatus includes a shaft insertable in a trench and multiple parts including an inner sleeve adjustably coupled to the shaft having a bottom pipe support projecting therefrom, and an outer sleeve adjustably fitted over the inner shaft and including a grasping member for securing an upper end of the pipe. A handle is also provided for raising and lowering the grasping member away from and toward the pipe. Once the grasping member is lifted away from the pipe after the pipe has been set in the trench, an additional handle on the top of the shaft must be employed to twist the shaft in order to move the bottom support away from the bottom of the pipe so that the apparatus can then be lifted out of the ground without disturbing the pipe.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,455 issued to McClaughlin et al. shows a method of laying pipe which includes an adjustable sleeve receivable by a stake inserted into the ground. The sleeve carries an overhanging bracket shaped to conform around an upper portion of a pipe. A cable underslings the pipe for supporting the pipe in an elevated position. A drawback with this method is that the cable must be released before the pipe is covered with backfill, thus risking movement of the pipe.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe holder apparatus of simple construction which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a pipe support apparatus includes engagement means positionable along a length of a stake to be inserted into a ground surface of a trench. A projection extends outwardly from an outer surface of the engagement means. A support means is to extend partially about and cradle a pipe. The support means has an upper end and a lower end, and is pivotally coupled to the projection at its upper end for movement generally along a vertical plane between a lowered or engaged position to a raised or disengaged position. A handle is coupled to the support means and operatively extends generally upwardly therefrom for grasping and moving the support means between its engaged and disengaged positions.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the pipe support apparatus includes a sleeve for being positioned along a length of a stake to be inserted into a ground surface of a trench. A sleeve projection extends outwardly from an outer surface of the sleeve. A hook is to extend partially about and cradle a pipe. The hook operatively has an upper end and a lower end, and is pivotally coupled to the projection at its upper end for movement generally along a vertical plane between a lowered or engaged position to a raised or disengaged position. A handle is coupled to the hook and operatively extends generally upwardly therefrom for grasping and moving the hook between its engaged and disengaged positions.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a pipe support apparatus includes a stake to be inserted into a ground surface of a trench. A sleeve is positioned along a length of the stake. Means are provided for releasably securing the sleeve to a predetermined position along the length of the stake. A sleeve projection extends outwardly from an outer surface of the sleeve. A hook is to extend partially about and cradle a pipe. The hook operatively has an upper end and a lower end, and is pivotally coupled to the sleeve projection at its upper end for movement generally along a vertical plane between a lowered or engaged position to a raised or disengaged position. A handle is coupled to the hook and operatively extends generally upwardly therefrom for grasping and moving the hook between its engaged and disengaged positions.


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