AU2003100921A4 - Tool for use in the installation of pits - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2B

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Haydn Clifford VERNON 60 James Street Middle Swan, 6056, Western Australia Australia Haydn Clifford VERNON Griffith Hack, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, 6th Floor, 256 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS The following is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- H:\terryr\keep\speci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc 2 TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Field Of The Invention The present invention relates to a tool for use in the installation of a plastic pit of the type used for providing connection, access or control to underground utilities.

Background Of The Invention A plastic pit typically takes the form of a generally rectangular box having a bottom wall and integral side walls, but with an open upper end. Indeed, a shoulder extends about the upper end defining a rectangular opening into which is seated a steel plate or cover. The cover can be suitably locked to the pit. When installing the pit, a hole is dug in the ground to a depth equal to or greater than a depth of the pit. Two or more holes are formed in the side or bottom wall of the pit to allow entry and exit of various utilities such electric cables or pipes. The pit is positioned so that when a cover is seated in the opening, the cover lies substantially flush with the ground. Prior to fitting the cover, the space between the outside of the pit and the hole is backfilled with sand and compacted. In practise it has been found that during the backfilling and compaction, compressive forces are acting about the opening of the pit which can distort the shape of the opening. If this occurs, the cover can not be fitted to the pit. In such an instance, some of the soil surrounding the pit must be removed and the opening expanded out to its original shape or configuration to enable receipt of a cover.

If the cover is placed on the pit prior to backfilling and compaction, the opening of the pit can still be distorted by the compressive forces in which case the opening grips H:\terryr\keep\speci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc 3 the cover preventing it from being removed when it is desired to access the pit.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Summary Of The Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for use when installing pits to avoid the above noted problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a tool for use in the installation of a plastic pit having an opening at an upper end defined by at least first and second opposing walls, said tool comprising: a sleeve having a first end and an opposite second end and an elongate member having a first end disposed in said sleeve and a second opposite end, said elongate member movable in a direction of its length relative to said sleeve; and, an actuator engaging both said sleeve and said elongate member and maintaining said sleeve first end at one of a plurality of distances from said elongate member second end; whereby, in use, said tool is placed in said pit and manipulated so that said sleeve first end abuts said first wall and said elongate member second end abuts said second H:\terryr\keep\speci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc 4 wall to resist forces acting on an outside of said pit to distort said opening.

Preferably said elongate member is provided with a thread about its outer circumferential surface and said actuator engages said thread whereby turning of said actuator in opposite directions extends said elongate member from, and retracts said elongate member into, said sleeve.

Preferably said actuator comprises a nut threadingy engaging said member and formed with an annular recess for seating on said second end of said sleeve.

Preferably said actuator further comprises a laterally extending first handle.

Preferably said first handle includes first and second diagonally opposed rods.

Preferably said actuator further comprises a second handle attached to said sleeve.

Preferably said tool includes a first plate extending laterally from said first end of said sleeve.

Preferably said tool further comprises a second plate extending laterally from said second end of said elongate member.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method for installing a pit comprising: forming a hole in the ground to receive said pit; supporting said pit in said hole at a position where an opening of said pit is substantially flush with ground level; H:\terryr\keep\specikTOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc placing a tool in accordance with said first aspect of said invention in said opening and manipulating said tool so that said sleeve first end and said elongate member second end abut said first and second holes respectively in the vicinity of said opening; filling a space between an outside of said pit and said hole with earth; and, manipulating said tool to retract said elongate member into said sleeve to an extent where said tool can be removed from said pit and subsequently removing said tool.

Brief Description Of The Drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section view of an embodiment of the tool in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a copy of a photograph illustrating use of the tool with a pit; Figure 3 is a copy of a photograph illustrating the tool being applied to a pit; and, Figure 4 is a copy of a photograph showing the tool installed in a pit.

Detailed Description Of Preferred Embodiment An embodiment of a tool 10 in accordance with the present invention is described in relation to a pit 12. The pit 12 is typically in the form of a substantially rectangular H:\terryr\keep\speci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc 6 box having a bottom wall and four side walls (only three shown), including first and second opposed walls 14 and 16 respectively. An opening 18 is formed about an upper end of the pit 12 allowing access to its interior. An internal shoulder 20 is formed about the opening 18 for seating a lid or cover (not shown) for closing the pit 12.

When the pit 12 is in use, it is buried in a hole to a level where the opening 18 is substantially flush with the ground level. Holes (not shown) are cut in the side or bottom walls of the pit 12 to allow for the passage of utilities such as cables and pipes therethrough.

Typically the pit 12 is placed in a hole of a size greater than the size of the pit so that upon completion of installation, any gap between the outside of the pit 12 and the hole is backfilled with sand and compacted.

The tool 10 for use in the installation of the pit 12 comprises a sleeve 22 having a first end 24 and an opposite second end 26, and an elongate member 28 having a first end 30 disposed in the sleeve 22 and an opposite second end 32. The elongate member 28 is movable in a direction of its length relative to the sleeve 22. An actuator 34 engages both the sleeve 22 and the member 28 and maintains the sleeve first end 24 at one of a plurality of distances from the member second end 32.

Attached to the sleeve first end 24 is a laterally extending plate or strip 36. The plate 36 extends evenly on opposite sides of the sleeve 22. An identical plate or strip 38 is attached to the second end 32 of the member 28.

The member 28 is formed with a screw thread 40 extending about its outer circumferential surface from its first end to its second end 32. The thread 40 engages a complimentary thread formed on the actuator 34. The actuator 34 is in the form of a circular nut having a depending circumferential skirt 42 which defines an H:\terryr\keep\speci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc 7 annular recess for seating on the second end 26 of the sleeve 22. The actuator 34 also comprises a laterally extending handle 44 comprised of a first and second diagonally opposed rods 46 and 48 which were attached, typically by welding to the skirt 42.

A second handle 50 is attached again typically by welding to the sleeve 22 and extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

The use and operation of the tool 10 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 2 4. With the pit installed in a hole, the tool is manipulated, in particular the actuator 34 turned, so that the plates 36 and 38 are spaced by a distance less than the internal distance between the opposed walls 14 and 16. The tool is then placed within the opening 18 typically on or above the shoulder 20 (although as shown in Figures 3 and 4 the tool 10 may be placed below the shoulder 20) and the actuator 34 turned to move the member 28 relative to the sleeve 22 so that the plates 34 and 36 abut inside of walls 12 and 14 respectively. This is achieved by an operator holding the handle 50 with one hand while turning the handle 44 with the other. A single tool 10 can be placed midway along the length of the pit 12 or if desired two or more tools 10 may be installed along the length of the pit 12.

With the tool 10 installed and bearing against opposite walls 14 and 16, the hole in which the pit 12 is located can be now backfilled and compacted. Compressive forces which are applied to the side walls 14 and 16 that would tend to distort the shape of the opening 18 are resisted by the tool 10. Once the hole has been backfilled and compacted, the tool 10 is removed by turning the actuator 34 in a direction which retracts the elongate member 28 into the sleeve 22 thereby reducing the distance between H:\terryr\keep\speci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.dec 8 plates 36 and 38 allowing the tool to be removed from the opening 18. A cover or lid (not shown) is then seated in the opening 18 on the shoulder 20 and locked in place.

Now that an embodiment of the invention has been described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the basic inventive concepts. For example, the tool 10 relies on the mating of a thread on the member 28 and actuator 34 to vary and maintain the space in between the ends 32 and 24. However other known mechanical mechanisms may be used including for example designing a lever operated ratchet mechanism for ratcheting the member 28 out of the sleeve 22 and a corresponding pawl to allow disengagement of the ratchet for retraction of the member 28. Alternately, member 28 may be freely slideable within the sleeve 22 and the actuator 34 can be in the form of a lever-operated cam for locking the member 28 from sliding.

All such modifications and variations together with others that would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined by from the above description and the appended claims.

H:\terryr\keep\peci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc

Claims (3)

1. 2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein said elongate member is provided with a thread about its outer circumferential surface and said actuator engages said thread whereby turning of said actuator in opposite directions extends said elongate member from, and retracts said elongate member into, said sleeve.
2. 3. The tool according to claim 2 wherein said actuator comprises a nut threadingly engaging said member and formed with an annular recess for seating on said second end of said sleeve. H:\terryr\keep\speci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc 10
3. 4. The tool according to any one of claims 1-3 further comprising a first plate extending laterally from said first end of said sleeve and a second plate extending laterally from said second end of said elongate member. A method for installing a pit comprising: forming a hole in the ground to receive said pit; supporting said pit in said hole at a position where an opening of said pit is substantially flush with ground level; placing a tool in accordance with any one of claims 1-4 in said opening and manipulating said tool so that said sleeve first end and said elongate member second end abut said first and second holes respectively in the vicinity of said opening; filling a space between an outside of said pit and said hole with earth; and, manipulating said tool to retract said elongate member into said sleeve to an extent where said tool can be removed from said pit and subsequently removing said tool. Dated this 6th day of November 2003. HAYDN CLIFFORD VERNON By His Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\terryr\Keep\Speci\TOOL FOR USE IN THE INSTALLATION OF PITS Innovative Nov 2003.doc