IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,547,167
Granted Patent B2
US 10,547,167 · App. 15/603,247 · Granted Jan 28, 2020

Utility enclosure apron

Inventors: Gregory Glenn Isaacson (Fallbrook, CA); Michael Edward Fisher (Knoxville, TN); Jeffery Scott Huffstetler (Friendsville, TN)
Assignee: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
H02G9/025B28B7/0064B28B23/0056B28B23/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,547,167
App. No.
15/603,247
Granted
Jan 28, 2020
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (39)

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.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2019
From: ISAACSON, GREGORY GLENN; FISHER, MICHAEL EDWARD; HUFFSTETLER, JEFFERY SCOTT
To: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 047963/0457 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62340935 · May 24, 2016
Related Publication 20170346269A1 · Nov 30, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 1,121,180 US 1,131,833