Adjustable fixtures for buried tubulars, forming tools for defining a hole in the adjustable fixtures, and methods of manufacturing the adjustable fixtures

{
  "publication_number": "US11365537B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Adjustable fixtures for buried tubulars, forming tools for defining a hole in the adjustable fixtures, and methods of manufacturing the adjustable fixtures",
  "abstract": "Adjustable fixtures for buried tubulars, forming tools for defining a hole in the adjustable fixtures, and/or methods of manufacturing the adjustable fixtures. The adjustable fixtures include a fixture body and a plurality of spaced-apart holes extending between an upper surface of the fixture body and a lower surface of the fixture body. The adjustable fixtures also include a plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions that at least partially defines the plurality of spaced-apart holes. The forming tools include a forming tool engagement structure, a threaded tool end region, and a hole-defining body. The methods include positioning a plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions and a plurality of forming tools within a mold, filling a fixture-defining cavity of the mold with a composite material, curing the composite material, disengaging the plurality of forming tools from the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions, and removing the fixture body from the mold.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of manufacturing an adjustable fixture for a buried tubular, the method comprising: positioning, within a mold for the adjustable fixture, a plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions; positioning, within the mold for the adjustable fixture, a plurality of forming tools such that a corresponding forming tool of the plurality of forming tools extends from each jack-screw-accepting threaded region of the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions; filling a fixture-defining cavity of the mold with a composite material, wherein the filling includes partially encapsulating a hole-defining body of each forming tool of the plurality of forming tools with the composite material; curing the composite material to define a fixture body of the adjustable fixture, wherein the fixture body defines an upper surface and a lower surface; disengaging each forming tool of the plurality of forming tools from a corresponding jack-screw-accepting threaded region and removing each forming tool from a corresponding hole defined within the fixture body, wherein, subsequent to the disengaging, the corresponding hole extends completely between the upper surface and the lower surface; and removing the fixture body from the mold.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions is defined by a plurality of threaded inserts, and further wherein the positioning the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions includes positioning the plurality of threaded inserts within the mold.",
    "3. The method of claim 2, wherein the disengaging includes retaining the plurality of threaded inserts within the fixture body.",
    "4. The method of claim 2, wherein the method includes at least substantially simultaneously performing the positioning of a given jack-screw-accepting threaded region of the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions and the positioning the corresponding forming tool.",
    "5. The method of claim 2, wherein the mold for the adjustable fixture includes a plurality of retention threaded regions, and further wherein the method includes threading a threaded tool end region of the corresponding forming tool into a corresponding retention threaded region of the plurality of retention threaded regions, such that a threaded insert extends between a corresponding hole-defining body of the corresponding forming tool and the mold.",
    "6. The method of claim 2, wherein the mold includes a plurality of locator studs, and further wherein the positioning the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions includes positioning the threaded insert of the plurality of threaded inserts on each locator stud of the plurality of locator studs.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions includes at least three jack-screw-accepting threaded regions defined by a frame, and further wherein the positioning the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions includes positioning the frame within the mold.",
    "8. The method of claim 7, wherein the disengaging includes retaining the frame within the fixture body.",
    "9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes threading the corresponding threaded tool end region of the corresponding forming tool into each jack-screw-accepting threaded region.",
    "10. The method of claim 9, wherein the threading the corresponding threaded tool end region into each jack-screw-accepting threaded region is prior to the positioning the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions and prior to the positioning the plurality of forming tools.",
    "11. The method of claim 9, wherein the threading the corresponding threaded tool end region into each jack-screw-accepting threaded region is subsequent to the positioning the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions and at least partially concurrently with the positioning the plurality of forming tools.",
    "12. The method of claim 1, wherein the filling includes flowing the composite material into the fixture-defining cavity.",
    "13. The method of claim 1, wherein the disengaging includes rotating each forming tool of the plurality of forming tools to disengage each forming tool from a corresponding jack-screw-accepting threaded region of the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions.",
    "14. The method of claim 13, wherein the rotating includes rotating both the threaded tool end region and the hole-defining body of each forming tool relative to the fixture body.",
    "15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes separating each forming tool from the fixture body while retaining the corresponding jack-screw-accepting threaded region within the fixture body.",
    "16. The method of claim 15, wherein the separating includes completely removing each forming tool from a corresponding hole that is defined in the fixture body by the hole-defining body during the filling and the curing.",
    "17. The method of claim 1, wherein, subsequent to the disengaging, the method further includes threading a corresponding jack screw into each jack-screw-accepting threaded region such that the corresponding jack screw projects from the lower surface of the fixture body.",
    "18. An adjustable fixture for a buried tubular, the fixture comprising: a fixture body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a central opening that extends between the upper surface and the lower surface and is sized to provide access to a buried tubular conduit defined by the buried tubular; a plurality of spaced-apart holes extending between the upper surface of the fixture body and the lower surface of the fixture body; and a plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions, wherein each hole of the plurality of spaced-apart holes is at least partially defined by a corresponding jack-screw-accepting threaded region of the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions; wherein each hole of the plurality of spaced-apart holes defines a tapered hole region that extends at least partially between the upper surface and the corresponding jack-screw-accepting threaded region of the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions.",
    "19. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the fixture further includes a plurality of jack screws, wherein a corresponding jack screw of the plurality of jack screws is threaded within each jack-screw-accepting threaded region of the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions.",
    "20. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions is defined by a plurality of threaded inserts that extends at least partially within the fixture body.",
    "21. The adjustable fixture of claim 20, wherein the plurality of threaded inserts at least partially defines the lower surface of the fixture body.",
    "22. The fixture of claim 18, wherein the plurality of jack-screw-accepting threaded regions includes at least three jack-screw-accepting threaded regions defined by a frame, wherein the fixture body is molded around at least a portion of the frame.",
    "23. The adjustable fixture of claim 18, wherein each hole of the plurality of spaced-apart holes: extends from the upper surface of the fixture body; and (ii) extends from the lower surface of the fixture body."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to adjustable fixtures for buried tubulars, forming tools for defining a hole in the adjustable fixtures, adjustment tools for adjusting the adjustable fixtures, and/or methods of manufacturing the adjustable fixtures.\n\nBuried tubulars may be utilized to define storm drain systems, sewer systems, utility passageways, and/or other underground infrastructure within a subsurface region. Generally, the buried tubulars are installed via excavation and/or trenching and subsequent backfill. However, in some examples, the buried tubulars may be installed via subsurface drilling and/or boring. A fixture, such as a catch basin frame and/or a manhole cover frame, may be installed at an interface between the buried tubulars and a surface region. Such fixtures may be utilized to limit access to the buried tubulars and/or to permit stormwater to enter the buried tubulars. As an example, a storm grate may be installed within the catch basin frame to permit and/or facilitate the flow of storm water into a stormwater system while, at the same time, restricting the flow of debris and/or entry of unauthorized personnel into the stormwater system. As another example, a manhole cover may be installed within a manhole cover frame to limit access to the buried tubular.\n\nDuring construction of the underground infrastructure, fixtures may be positioned, or set, and connected to the buried tubulars. The ground level then may be brought up to an initial grade, and a portion of the fixtures may extend above the initial grade.",
  "cpc": [
    "E03F 3/06",
    "B29C 39/10",
    "B29C 45/14065",
    "B29L 2001/00",
    "B66F 3/08",
    "E03F 5/04",
    "F16L 1/06"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B29C 45/14",
    "B66F 3/08",
    "E03F 3/06",
    "E03F 5/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Barrco Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Aaron Barr"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-02-19",
  "publication_date": "2022-06-21",
  "grant_date": "2022-06-21",
  "priority_date": "2019-02-28",
  "application_number": "US-202016795292-A",
  "family_id": "72236616",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}