Supports – With means to facilitate installation – repair – or... – For ground insertion
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-04
2003-03-04
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
With means to facilitate installation, repair, or...
For ground insertion
C248S085000, C248S087000, C248S530000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06527246
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for firmly positioning an underground utility pipe in a trench and securing the pipe against movement while fill is added to the trench. The apparatus includes means for marking the utility pipe. More particularly, the present invention relates to an underground positioning and anti-movement apparatus in the form of an underground stake adapted to be driven into base fill in the bottom of a trench, that includes an integral preferably curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member which engages the outer surface of an underground pipe to secure the pipe in position above or against the base fill at the bottom of a trench while additional fill is added to the trench. The present invention also includes at least one integral receptacle located longitudinally on the stake body above the pipe engaging member which receives, supports and secures tracer wire, caution tape, or other marking means used to facilitate identification and location of the secured underground pipe and which allows placement of the marking means at a location above the pipe before the trench is filled so that the trench may be filled without disturbing the position of the marking means in relation to the secured pipe and without having to lay the pipe and marking means at different stages in the fill process. The current invention may also include an integral anti-removal member which extends from the bottom of the stake, compresses when pressed into the underlying supporting base fill, and expands and scoops up base fill to impede movement of the stake when upward force is applied to the stake body.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,455, to R. E. McLaughlin et al., teaches an underground pipe hanger that includes a steel spike that is removably mounted in a bed of particle material and which slidably carries a bracket plate, held in position relative to the stake by means of a setscrew, having a cutout portion capable of accommodating pipes of different diameters and a cable, removably attached to the bracket plate to support the lower circumference of the pipe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,012, to Waller, teaches an underground pipe hanger of a unitary structure that includes a lower stake portion with opposed, rigid upwardly diverging barbs which is driven into the solid, unexcavated ground below the fill dirt at the base of a trench. The upper stake portion carries a pair of laterally extending arms that are integrally formed with the stake to support a pipe of predetermined diameter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,111, to Ismert, teaches a pipe anchor with a spike portion used to secure a pipe to the ground prior to pouring concrete and a body portion with a bottom edge consisting of a plurality of relatively straight edge segments which provide a concave recess for fitting over and retaining pipes of different diameters.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,768, to Waller, teaches a pipe anchoring structure that includes a stake portion with fixed laterally extending wing members on the anchor portion of the stake that is driven into undisturbed earth and which carries up to two adjustable clamping members capable of securing in position pipes of different diameters, which are attached to the stake portion by a securing means after the clamping members have been attached to the positioned pipe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stake for positioning and securing against movement an underground pipe and means for marking that pipe's location in a trench while fill dirt is added to the trench. Maintaining the pipe and its markers in desired positions in a trench while fill is added around and above the pipe and its markers has been problematic. This invention provides a convenient, fast and simple apparatus for securing the pipe in position in the trench. The use of a plurality of stakes of the invention in series solves the problem of positioning and maintaining the pipe and its spaced markers at the desired depth, level and position before and during backfilling of the trench.
When a pipe is buried in a trench it is useful to mark the location of the pipe within the trench in order to locate and avoid damaging the pipe during excavation. It is usual to mark the pipe location with one or more means, such as a tracer wire or a caution tape. A tracer wire may be buried in proximity to a pipe in order to aid in location of the pipe when excavation is required. The tracer wire is a metallic wire whose position can be located by a metal detector, which will aid an excavator in finding the approximate location of the pipe, lying below and parallel to the tracer wire. Marking tapes, such as caution tapes, can also be buried parallel to and above the pipe to aid in visual identification and location of the pipe for service and maintenance. The presence of the marking tape functions to visually warn excavators of the location of the underground pipe, which is lying below and parallel to the marking tape. Such tapes are colored and printed with identifying or warning information. A limitation of the prior art is that the underground pipe must be positioned and fill dirt added and leveled in the trench before the marking means can be positioned on top of the fill in the partially filled trench. The present invention allows placement of a one or more marking means at a location above and parallel to the pipe before the trench is filled so that the pipe and marking means may be placed in position at the same stage in the installation process. The trench is then filled with loose fill dirt without disturbing the position of the pipe and marking means in relation to the secured pipe during the fill process.
The present invention provides distinct advantages over the prior art structures, in that it provides a strong, rigid member and receptacles to securely hold below ground level in a predetermined position relative to the base of a trench, a pipe and one or more marking means for locating or identifying the buried pipe. In addition, the invention may contain an anti-removal member designed for insertion and stability in loose, level, base fill at the bottom of the trench.
Base fill at the bottom of a trench is often not uniformly level along the length of the trench, making level installation of the pipe against the base fill problematic. In the preferred embodiment, the stake includes an integral curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member which receives, engages, and supports the outer surface of an underground pipe to secure the pipe in position. One or more stakes are placed in position in the trench in an upright manner, and then the pipe is positioned and confined by and within each of the stake's pipe engaging members, at a level above the base fill. Two integral receptacles are located longitudinally on the stake body, the first being about six inches above the pipe engaging member and the second about six inches above the first. The first receptacle has a closed wall opening which receives and positions a tracer wire at a distance above the pipe engaging member. The tracer wire is threaded through the closed wall opening of the first receptacle of each stake. Alternatively, a slot can be employed so that the wire does not require threading. The second receptacle, which is “C” shaped with a slot for inserting caution tape, supports and secures the caution tape at a distance spaced above the first receptacle. The caution tape is inserted through the slot in the second receptacle of each stake, wherein the tape is secured and supported by the C shaped receptacle. An integral anti-removal member, consisting of a multiplicity of hinged three-sided plane members, extends from the bottom of the stake. The anti-removal member's planes fold on hinges, thereby compressing when inserted into the underlying supporting base fill at the trench base and expanding to scoop up base fill and thereby minimize movement of the stake if an upward force is applied to the stake body during completion of the fill proces
Eaves, Jr. James C.
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC
Lynd Karen L.
Ramirez Ramon O.
Sy Holly N.
LandOfFree
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