Tile laying and covering apparatus

• US 8,596,914 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Jeffrey Baber
• Original Assignee: Thomas Jeffrey Baber
• Inventors: Baber, Thomas Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): FIORELLO, BENJAMIN F
• Application Number:
  US12/909,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20120099929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 405/174, 405/179, 405/180, 405/183, 405/184
• US Class Current: 405/179
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/962 Mounting of implements directly on tools already attached to the machine E02F3/404 and E02F3/8152 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/10 with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables laying pipes per se F16L1/00, making pipes in situ F16L1/038; laying electric cables per se H02G1/06; drainage device- laying apparatus E02B11/02
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/12 with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/032 the pipes being continuous F16L1/038 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for forming a substantially uniform path within a trench, laying tile thereon, and covering the tile with dirt from the trench. One apparatus includes a housing, a hook, a pipe insertion frame extending upwardly from the housing, a sloping support wall inside the housing for directing tile from a top side of the housing to an exit at a rear side of the housing, a blade adjacent the housing rear side above the exit, a grip extending above the housing and the pipe insertion frame, and a rigid curved portion extending beneath the housing for forming a substantially uniform path in the trench as the housing is moved along the trench. The blade extends beyond at least one of the housing sidewalls to obtain dirt from the trench. The hook and the grip are configured to engage a machine bucket.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming a substantially uniform path within a trench, laying tile thereon, and covering the tile with dirt from the trench, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having opposed sidewalls, a front wall, a bottom wall having a straight portion and an angularly offset portion, a rear side, and a top side;

the straight portion of the bottom wall extending past the front wall;

the rear side having an exit;

a cavity being between the sidewalls, the front wall, the bottom wall, the rear side, and the top side;

a hook secured to the bottom wall straight portion, the hook configured for engagement with a bucket of a machine;

a pipe insertion frame extending upwardly from the housing top side, terminating in a rounded upper perimeter, and defining a pipe insertion cavity;

a lower sloping support wall inside the housing cavity for directing tile laying thereon from the housing top side to the rear side exit, an upper end of the lower sloping support wall being in line with the pipe insertion cavity, a lower end of the lower sloping support wall being in line with the rear side exit and terminating at a first end of the bottom wall angularly offset portion, the lower sloping support wall being arcuate between the lower sloping support wall upper and lower ends;

an upper sloping support wall inside the housing cavity for directing tile from the housing top side to the rear side exit, a lower end of the upper sloping support wall being adjacent the rear side exit and terminating at a second end of the bottom wall angularly offset portion;

a blade adjacent the housing rear side above the rear side exit, the blade extending beyond at least one of the housing sidewalls to obtain dirt from at least one side of the trench;

a grip extending above the housing top side and the pipe insertion frame, the grip configured for engagement with the machine bucket; and

a rigid curved portion extending beneath the housing bottom wall for forming a substantially uniform path in the trench as the housing is moved along the trench.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing bottom wall straight portion is generally perpendicular to the housing front wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the grip is located between the pipe insertion frame and the housing rear side.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a blade attachment member extending from the housing rear side, the blade being adjustably coupled to the blade attachment member whereby the blade is positionable at a plurality of heights above the housing bottom wall.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the blade extends beyond both housing sidewalls to obtain dirt from two sides of the trench.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rounded upper perimeter of the pipe insertion frame is separated from the lower sloping support wall upper end to direct tile passing through the pipe insertion cavity to contact the lower sloping support wall substantially continuously from the lower sloping support wall upper end to the lower sloping support wall lower end.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the blade is a plurality of blades.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a laser receiver secured to the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the laser receiver is adjacent the housing rear side and the housing top side.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rounded upper perimeter of the pipe insertion frame is separated from the lower sloping support wall upper end to direct tile passing through the pipe insertion cavity to contact the lower sloping support wall substantially continuously from the lower sloping support wall upper end to the lower sloping support wall lower end.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rounded upper perimeter of the pipe insertion frame is separated from the lower sloping support wall upper end to direct tile passing through the pipe insertion cavity to contact the lower sloping support wall substantially continuously from the lower sloping support wall upper end to the lower sloping support wall lower end.

12. A method for forming a substantially uniform path within a trench, laying tile therein, and covering the laid tile with dirt from the trench, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus having;

(a) a housing having opposed sidewalls, a front wall, a bottom wall having a straight portion and an angularly offset portion, a rear side, and a top side;

the straight portion of the bottom wall extending past the front wall;

the rear side having an exit;

a cavity being between the sidewalls, the front wall, the bottom wall, the rear side, and the top side;

(b) a hook secured to the bottom wall straight portion, the hook configured for engagement with a bucket of a machine;

(c) a pipe insertion frame extending upwardly from the housing top side, terminating in a rounded upper perimeter, and defining a pipe insertion cavity;

(d) a sloping support wall inside the housing cavity for directing tile from the housing top side to the rear side exit, an upper end of the sloping support wall being in line with the pipe insertion cavity, a lower end of the sloping support wall being in line with the rear side exit and terminating at an end of the bottom wall angularly offset portion, the sloping support wall being arcuate between the sloping support wall upper and lower ends;

(e) a blade adjacent the housing rear side above the rear side exit, the blade extending beyond at least one of the housing sidewalls to obtain dirt from at least one side of the trench;

(f) a grip extending above the housing top side and the pipe insertion frame, the grip configured for engagement with the machine bucket; and

(g) a rigid curved portion extending beneath the housing bottom wall for forming a substantially uniform path in the trench as the housing is moved along the trench;

forming a trench;

placing tile adjacent an upper edge of the trench;

using the machine bucket to lift the apparatus by the grip and place the apparatus in the trench;

placing an end of the tile through the pipe insertion cavity and the housing cavity and out the rear side exit;

restraining the tile end; and

using the machine bucket to move the apparatus along the trench by pulling the hook;

wherein movement of the apparatus along the trench;

(a) causes the rigid curved portion to form a substantially uniform path within the trench;

(b) draws more of the tile through the pipe insertion cavity and the housing cavity and out the rear side exit to atop the substantially uniform path, the tile being supported by the sloping support wall while inside the housing cavity; and

(c) causes the blade to move dirt from at least one side of the trench to atop the tile located atop the substantially uniform path.

13. An apparatus for forming a substantially uniform path within a trench, laying tile thereon, and covering the tile with dirt from the trench, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having opposed sidewalls, a front wall, a bottom wall having a straight portion and an angularly offset portion, a rear side, and a top side;

the rear side having an exit;

a cavity being between the sidewalk, the front wall, the bottom wall, the rear side, and the top side;

a hook operatively coupled to the housing, the hook configured for engagement with a bucket of a machine;

a pipe insertion frame extending upwardly from the housing top side, terminating in a rounded upper perimeter, and defining a pipe insertion cavity;

a sloping support wall having an upper end and a lower end, the sloping support wall being inside the housing cavity for directing tile from the housing top side to the rear side exit, the sloping support wall being arcuate between the sloping support wall upper and lower ends, the lower end of the sloping support wall terminating at an end of the bottom wall angularly offset portion;

a blade adjacent the housing rear side above the rear side exit, the blade extending beyond at least one of the housing sidewalls to obtain dirt from at least one side of the trench;

a grip extending above the housing top side and the pipe insertion frame, the grip configured for engagement with the machine bucket; and

a rigid curved portion extending beneath the housing bottom wall for forming a substantially uniform path in the trench as the housing is moved along the trench.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the grip is located between the pipe insertion frame and the housing rear side.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rounded upper perimeter of the pipe insertion frame is separated from the sloping support wall upper end to direct tile passing through the pipe insertion cavity to contact the sloping support wall substantially continuously from the sloping support wall upper end to the sloping support wall lower end.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rounded upper perimeter of the pipe insertion frame is separated from the sloping support wall upper end to direct tile passing through the pipe insertion cavity to contact the sloping support wall substantially continuously from the sloping support wall upper end to the sloping support wall lower end.

17. An apparatus for forming a substantially uniform path within a trench, laying tile thereon, and covering the tile with dirt from the trench, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having opposed sidewalls, a front wall, a bottom wall, a rear side, and a top side;

a portion of the bottom wall extending past the front wall;

the rear side having an exit;

a cavity being between the sidewalls, the front wall, the bottom wall, the rear side, and the top side;

a hook secured to the bottom wall portion extending past the front wall, the hook configured for engagement with a bucket of a machine;

a pipe insertion frame extending upwardly from the housing top side, terminating in a rounded upper perimeter, and defining a pipe insertion cavity;

a sloping support wall inside the housing cavity for directing tile from the housing top side to the rear side exit, an upper end of the sloping support wall being in line with the pipe insertion cavity, a lower end of the sloping support wall being in line with the rear side exit, the sloping support wall being arcuate between the sloping support wall upper and lower ends;

a blade adjacent the housing rear side above the rear side exit, the blade extending beyond at least one of the housing sidewalls to obtain dirt from at least one side of the trench;

a grip extending above the housing top side and the pipe insertion frame, the grip configured for engagement with the machine bucket;

a rigid curved portion extending beneath the housing bottom wall for forming a substantially uniform path in the trench as the housing is moved along the trench; and

a blade attachment member extending from the housing rear side, the blade being adjustably coupled to the blade attachment member whereby the blade is positionable at a plurality of heights above the housing bottom wall;

wherein the housing bottom wall includes a straight portion generally perpendicular to the housing front wall;

wherein the grip is located between the pipe insertion frame and the housing rear side.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the blade extends beyond both housing sidewalk to obtain dirt from two sides of the trench.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the rounded upper perimeter of the pipe insertion frame is separated from the sloping support wall upper end to direct tile passing through the pipe insertion cavity to contact the sloping support wall substantially continuously from the sloping support wall upper end to the sloping support wall lower end.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a laser receiver secured to the housing adjacent the housing rear side and the housing top side;

and wherein the blade is a plurality of blades.