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US3633533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Location of underground utility lines
Assignee: Griffolyn Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-09
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1989-01-09
Abstract
Abstract Location of underground utility lines, such as telephone cables, gas mains, sewerlines, water mains and electric service lines buried beneath the surface of the earth, by disposing above said lines and below the surface of the earth a colored, flexible, thin metal foil, particularly in the form of a tape and protected against corrosion, the presence and general location of said metal foil being detectable from above the surface of the earth by electronic or like detecting devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon H Allen
- 👤 Robert C Hosack
- 👤 Werner P Schoening
- 👤 Luther L Yaeger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:04
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G9/00; H02G9/02; H02G9/025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S116/00; Y10S116/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
In a method of facilitating the determination of the presence and the location of an element of construction disposed beneath the surface of the earth which includes the steps of digging a trench in the earth, providing an element of construction therein, placing a frangible colored body in said trench and overlying said element of construction and in which said frangible body has a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said frangible colored body comprises a flexible sheet or tape in the form of a thin base member carrying a thin film of a metal on its opposite surfaces, and a thin film protective coating over said metal which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a method of facilitating the determination of the presence and the location of an element of construction disposed beneath the surface of the earth which includes the steps of digging a trench in the earth, providing an element of construction therein, placing a frangible colored body in said trench and overlying said element of construction and in which said frangible body has a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said frangible colored body comprises a flexible sheet or tape in the form of a thin base member carrying a thin film of a metal on its opposite surfaces, and a thin film protective coating over said metal which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein he base member is a synthetic plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the base member is an adhesive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a method of facilitating the determination of the presence and the location of an element of construction disposed beneath the surface of the earth which includes the steps of digging a trench in the earth, providing an element of construction therein, placing a frangible colored body in said trench and overlying said element of construction and in which said frangible body has a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said frangible colored body comprises a flexible sheet or tape in the form of a thin base member of a synthetic plastic material which is moisture- and soil-resistant, said base member carrying a metal on its surface, said metal being covered with a thin film protective coating which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a method of facilitating the determination of the presence and the location of an element of construction disposed beneath the surface of the earth which includes the steps of digging a trench in the earth, providing an element of construction therein, placing a frangible colored body in said trench and overlying said element of construction and in which said frangible body has a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said frangible colored body comprises a flexible sheet or tape in the form of a thin base member of a synthetic plastic material which is moisture- and soil-resistant, said base member carrying a metal on its surface, said metal being covered with a thin film protective coating which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
In am method for the installation of a line beneath the surface of the earth in which the line is placed within an excavation and subsequently backfilled and wherein there is included in the backfill at a generally predetermined level adjacent the line an indicating means comprising a tearable or rupturable flexible sheet or tape bearing a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said sheet or tape is in the form Of a thin base member carrying a thin film of a metal on its opposite surfaces, and a thin film protective coating over said metal which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
In am method for the installation of a line beneath the surface of the earth in which the line is placed within an excavation and subsequently backfilled and wherein there is included in the backfill at a generally predetermined level adjacent the line an indicating means comprising a tearable or rupturable flexible sheet or tape bearing a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said sheet or tape is in the form Of a thin base member carrying a thin film of a metal on its opposite surfaces, and a thin film protective coating over said metal which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a method for the installation of a line beneath the surface of the earth in which the line is placed within an excavation and subsequently backfilled and wherein there is included in the backfill at a generally predetermined level adjacent the line an indicating means comprising a tearable or rupturable flexible sheet or tape bearing a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said sheet or tape is in the form of a thin base member of a synthetic plastic material which is moisture-and soil-resistant, said base member carrying a metal on its surface, said metal being covered with a thin film protective coating which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a method for the installation of a line beneath the surface of the earth in which the line is placed within an excavation and subsequently backfilled and wherein there is included in the backfill at a generally predetermined level adjacent the line an indicating means comprising a tearable or rupturable flexible sheet or tape bearing a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said sheet or tape is in the form of a thin base member of a synthetic plastic material which is moisture-and soil-resistant, said base member carrying a metal on its surface, said metal being covered with a thin film protective coating which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein an elongated trench is first excavated, the line is placed longitudinally along and within said trench, the trench is partially backfilled, the tearable or rupturable sheet or tape is placed in said trench and overlying said line, and then completing the backfilling operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the thin film protective coating is polyethylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 8, in which said polyethylene is colored.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the thin film protective coating is a polyvinylidene chloride.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an area of earth soil which carries beneath the surface thereof at least one element of construction and a frangible colored body beneath said surface and located above and overlying said element of construction, said frangible body having a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said frangible colored body comprises a flexible sheet or tape in the form of a thin base member carrying a thin film of a metal on its opposite surfaces, and a thin film protective coating over said metal which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
In an area of earth soil which carries beneath the surface thereof at least one element of construction and a frangible colored body beneath said surface and located above and overlying said element of construction, said frangible body having a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which said frangible colored body comprises a flexible sheet or tape in the form of a thin base member carrying a thin film of a metal on its opposite surfaces, and a thin film protective coating over said metal which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An earth soil area according to claim 11, wherein the base member is a synthetic plastic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An earth soil area according to claim 11, wherein the base member is an adhesive.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a backfilled trench in the earth having an elongated line adjacent the bottom thereof and, positioned intermediate said line and the surface of the earth, and generally overlying said line, a flexible tearable or rupturable indicating sheet or tape bearing a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which the said sheet or tape is in the form of a thin base member of a synthetic plastic material which is moisture- and soil-resistant, said base member carrying a metal on its surface, said metal being covered with a thin film protective coating which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a backfilled trench in the earth having an elongated line adjacent the bottom thereof and, positioned intermediate said line and the surface of the earth, and generally overlying said line, a flexible tearable or rupturable indicating sheet or tape bearing a coloring thereon which contrasts with the color of the surrounding earth soil, the improvement in which the said sheet or tape is in the form of a thin base member of a synthetic plastic material which is moisture- and soil-resistant, said base member carrying a metal on its surface, said metal being covered with a thin film protective coating which is moisture- and soil-resistant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A backfilled trench according to claim 14, in which the synthetic plastic material is polyethylene.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A backfilled trench according to claim 14, in which the synthetic plastic material is a colored polyvinylidene chloride.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |