Patent ID: 6494232
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A modular protective sleeve for underground utilities, comprising:a first bottom half-shell having a first length, first and second ends, and upper edges, said first bottom half-shell having a semi-cylindrical configuration with walls terminating at said upper edges along the length of said first bottom half-shell; and first and second top half-shells each having a length of one-half the length of said first bottom half-shell, first and second ends, and lower edges, each of said first and second top half-shells having a semi-cylindrical configuration with walls terminating at said lower edges along the length of each of said first and second top half-shells; wherein the upper edges of said first bottom half-shell each have a stepped configuration, and the lower edges of each of said first and second top half-shells each have a stepped configuration in the opposite sense of the stepping of said first bottom half-shell, so that when said first and second top half-shells are placed over said first bottom half-shell, the respective stepped configuration of said upper and lower edges nest into one another so as to form a sleeve having a cylindrical configuration; wherein said second end of said first top half-shell has a hook-like configuration so as to have a vertically directed hook and adjacent recess formed therein in a first vertical direction, and said first end of said second top half-shell has a hook-like configuration so as to have a vertically directed hook and adjacent recess formed therein in a second vertical direction opposite to said first vertical direction; so that when said second end of said first top half-shell and said first end of said second top half-shell are placed together, they nest into one another in such a manner that a tensile relationship between them may be established; wherein attachment means for a lanyard are provided at each of said first end of said first top half-shell and said second end of said first bottom half-shell; and wherein stop means are provided at said second end of said second top half-shell in a manner so as to interfere with the end of one of the steps on each of said upper edges of said first bottom half-shell so as to preclude sliding motion of said second top half-shell over said first bottom half-shell beyond a position where the second end of said second top half-shell overlies said second end of said first bottom half-shell.