Utility enclosure apron

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10547167-B2
Application number	US-201715603247-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2017
Priority date	May 24, 2016
Publication date	Jan 28, 2020
Grant date	Jan 28, 2020

Abstract

Precast utility enclosure aprons for buried utility enclosures that have an angled top surface to direct water, ice and debris away from the center of the apron and to limit damage to the apron and utility enclosure caused by impacts to the apron.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A utility enclosure apron comprising:
a looped member formed of a concrete material, the looped member having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer edge between the top surface and the bottom surface, a center opening and an inner edge between the top surface and the bottom surface around the center opening; and
at least one filler member formed of lightweight foam encased within the looped member such that the at least one filler member is surrounded on all sides by the concrete material.

2. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the inner edge is between about 2 inches and about 8 inches.

3. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the outer edge is between about ½ of an inch and about 7 inches.

4. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the inner edge is greater than a thickness of the outer edge to form a taper.

5. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the top surface further comprises a skid resistant surface.

6. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein at least one lift insert is embedded within the looped member and accessible from the top surface.

7. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of lift inserts are embedded within the looped member and accessible from the top surface.

8. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one filler member is embedded within the looped member adjacent the bottom surface.

9. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein the looped member is formed of concrete.

10. The apron according to claim 1 , wherein the looped member is formed of polymer concrete.

11. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein the looped member is formed of polymer concrete reinforced with fiberglass.

12. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein the looped member is formed as a continuous loop.

13. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 1 , wherein the looped member is formed by securing multiple portions together.

14. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 4 , wherein an angle of the taper is between about 3 degrees and about 15 degrees.

15. A utility enclosure kit comprising:
a utility enclosure configured for underground installation; and
a utility enclosure apron configured to be positioned to surround a top surface of the utility enclosure, the apron including:
a looped member formed of a concrete material, the looped member having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer edge between the top surface and the bottom surface, a center opening and an inner edge between the top surface and the bottom surface around the center opening, wherein the center opening is configured to fit around a top portion of the utility enclosure; and
at least one filler member formed of lightweight foam encased within the looped member so that the at least one filler member is surrounded on all sides by the concrete material.

16. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein the thickness of the inner edge is between about 2 inches and about 8 inches.

17. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein the thickness of the outer edge is between about ½ of an inch and about 7 inches.

18. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the top surface further comprises a skid resistant surface.

19. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein at least one lift insert is embedded within the looped member and accessible from the top surface.

20. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein a plurality of lift inserts are embedded within the looped member and accessible from the top surface.

21. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one filler member is embedded within the looped member adjacent the bottom surface.

22. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein the looped member is formed of concrete.

23. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein the looped member is formed of polymer concrete.

24. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein the looped member is formed of polymer concrete reinforced with fiberglass.

25. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 15 , wherein the looped member is formed as a continuous loop.

26. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 15 , wherein the looped member is formed by securing multiple portions together.

27. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 15 , wherein a thickness of the inner edge is greater than a thickness of the outer edge to form a taper.

28. The utility enclosure kit according to claim 27 , wherein an angle of the taper is between about 3 degrees and about 15 degrees.

29. A utility enclosure apron comprising a looped member formed of polymer concrete reinforced with fiberglass and a lightweight filler material encased within the polymer concrete reinforced with fiberglass so that the lightweight filler material is surrounded on all sides by the polymer concrete reinforced with fiberglass, the looped member having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer edge between the top surface and the bottom surface, a center opening and an inner edge between the top surface and the bottom surface around the center opening.

30. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 29 , wherein a thickness of the inner edge is greater than a thickness of the outer edge to form a taper.

31. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 29 , wherein at least one lift insert is embedded within the looped member and accessible from the top surface.

32. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 29 , wherein a plurality of lift inserts are embedded within the looped member and accessible from the top surface.

33. The utility enclosure apron according to claim 29 , wherein at least a portion of the top surface further comprises a skid resistant surface.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• ISAACSON Gregory Glenn
• Fisher Michael Edward
• HUFFSTETLER Jeffery Scott

Classifications

• B28B23/0056

  Means for inserting the elements into the mould or supporting them in the mould (B28B23/022 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B28B23/02

  wherein the elements are reinforcing members {(B28B23/0006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B28B7/0064

  Moulds characterised by special surfaces for producing a desired surface of a moulded article, e.g. profiled or polished moulding surfaces (B28B7/36 takes precedence; producing decorative effects B44C; designs of stone surfaces B44F) · CPC title

• B28B7/18

  the holes passing completely through the article · CPC title

• H02G9/025 Primary

  Coverings therefor, e.g. tile · CPC title