Device for early detection of underground utilities during excavation and method of using the same

• US 6,371,692 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francis Robert Fatigati
• Original Assignee: Francis Robert Fatigati
• Inventors: Fatigati, Francis Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYO-PINNOCK, TARA LEIGH
• Application Number:
  US09/310,082
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 405/157, 405/176, 405/184, 256/1, 256/26, 116/209
• US Class Current: 405/157
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/11 for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground

Abstract

A device for ground burial with an underground utility line or element and useful for early detection of the underground utility line or element during the excavation. The device has at least one sheet of non-conductive material, indicia on the sheet forming a cautionary message indicating the presence of an underground utility line or element, and at least one support element for vertically positioning the device in the ground. Further, a method for early detection of a underground utility line or element during excavation. The method includes burying at least one of the above-described devices in the ground along a side of an underground utility line or element so that the device is positioned vertically in the ground and extends up toward the surface of the ground from the underground level of the underground utility line or element.

Claims

1. A device for ground burial in a trench containing an underground utility line or elements, the device being useful for defining an outer boundary of the trench when the device is uncovered during the excavation, thereby warning of the presence of the underground utility line or element, the device comprising:

at least one sheet of non-conductive material;

indicia on the at least one sheet forming a cautionary message for indicating the presence of an underground utility line or element; and

at least one support element coupled to the at least one sheet for vertically positioning the device against a sidewall of a trench containing the underground utility line or element to be detected by the device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sheet comprises a plurality of substantially rigid sheets of non-conductive material arranged in an inline manner and hinged to each other by hinge elements.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sheets and the hinge elements form a single unitarily formed unit.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the hinge elements permit the sheets to be folded together.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cautionary message formed by the indicia is repeated along the length of the device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support element comprises a support foot disposed at a bottom edge of the at least one sheet.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support element comprises at least one peg which can be fixedly inserted through the at least one sheet.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material comprises plastic.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sheet is flexible.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the flexibility of the at least one sheet permits the sheet to be rolled.

11. A method for detecting an underground utility line or element during excavation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a device comprising at least one sheet of non-conductive material including indicia thereon in the form of a cautionary message, the message indicating the presence of an underground utility line or element; and

burying the device in the ground along side of an underground utility line or element so that the device is positioned vertically in the ground and extends up toward the surface of the ground from the underground level of the underground utility line or element.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second one of the devices; and

burying the second device in the ground along a second side of the underground utility line or element so that the second device is positioned vertically in the ground and extends up toward the surface of the ground from the underground level of the underground utility line or element.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the devices extend along the entire length of the underground utility line or element.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the underground utility line or element is selected from the group of consisting of gas, electric, telephone, sewer, and water lines or elements.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the burying step includes the steps of:

vertically positioning the devices against opposing side walls of a trench that contains the underground utility line or element; and

filling the trench with a backfill material.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one sheet comprises a plurality of substantially rigid sheets of non-conductive material arranged in an inline manner and hinged to each other by hinge elements.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the sheets and the hinge elements form a single unitarily formed unit.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the hinge elements permit the sheets to be folded together.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cautionary message formed by the indicia is repeated along the length of the device.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the device includes a support foot disposed at a bottom edge of the at least one sheet.

21. The method according to claim 11, wherein the device includes at least one peg extending through the at least one sheet.

22. The method according to claim 11, wherein the non-conductive material comprises plastic.

23. The method according to claim 11, wherein the device extends along the entire length of the underground utility line or element.

24. The method according to claim 11, wherein the burying step includes the steps of:

vertically positioning the device against a side wall of a trench that contains the underground utility line or element; and

filling the trench with a backfill material.

25. The method according to claim 11, wherein the underground utility line or element is selected from the group of consisting of gas, electric, telephone, sewer, and water lines or elements which contain outer jackets, pipes or cables.

26. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at lease one sheet is flexible.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the flexibility of the at least one sheet permits the sheet to be rolled.

28. A method for detecting a underground utility line or element during excavation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a device comprising at lease one sheet of non-conductive material including indicia thereon in the form of a cautionary message, the message indicating the presence of an underground utility line or element; and

burying the device in a trench containing an underground utility line or element so that the device is positioned vertically in the trench along side of the utility line or element and extends up toward the surface of the ground thereby defining an outer boundary of the trench when the device is uncovered during the excavation and in so doing, warning of the presence of the underground utility line or element.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second one of the devices; and

burying the second device in the trench along a second side of the underground utility line or element so that the second device is positioned vertically in the trench and extends up toward the surface of the ground thereby defining a second outer boundary of the trench when the device is uncovered during the excavation and in so doing, warning of the presence of the underground utility line or element.