Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for firmly positioning in a trench and securing against movement, while fill is added to the trench, an underground utility pipe and means for marking the utility pipe. An underground positioning and anti-movement apparatus in the form of an underground stake adapted to be driven into a base fill, that includes an integral preferably curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member which engages the outer surface of an underground pipe to secure the pipe in position above the base fill at the bottom of the trench while additional fill is added to the trench. Also, at least one integral receptacle is located longitudinally on the stake body above the pipe engaging member which receives, supports and secures tracer wire, caution tape, or other marking means used to facilitate identification and location of the secured underground pipe and which allows placement of the marking means at a location above the pipe before the trench is filled so that the trench may be filled without disturbing the position of the marking means in relation to the secured pipe and without having to lay the pipe and marking means at different stages in the fill process. The current invention may also include an integral anti-removal member which extends from the bottom of the stake, compresses when pressed into the underlying supporting base fill, and expands and scoops up base fill to impede movement of the stake when an upward force is applied to the stake body.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for firmly positioning an underground utility pipe in a trench and securing the pipe against movement while fill is added to the trench. The apparatus includes means for marking the utility pipe. More particularly, the present invention relates to an underground positioning and anti-movement apparatus in the form of an underground stake adapted to be driven into base fill in the bottom of a trench, that includes an integral preferably curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member which engages the outer surface of an underground pipe to secure the pipe in position above or against the base fill at the bottom of a trench while additional fill is added to the trench. The present invention also includes at least one integral receptacle located longitudinally on the stake body above the pipe engaging member which receives, supports and secures tracer wire, caution tape, or other marking means used to facilitate identification and location of the secured underground pipe and which allows placement of the marking means at a location above the pipe before the trench is filled so that the trench may be filled without disturbing the position of the marking means in relation to the secured pipe and without having to lay the pipe and marking means at different stages in the fill process. The current invention may also include an integral anti-removal member which extends from the bottom of the stake, compresses when pressed into the underlying supporting base fill, and expands and scoops up base fill to impede movement of the stake when upward force is applied to the stake body. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,455, to R. E. McLaughlin et al., teaches an underground pipe hanger that includes a steel spike that is removably mounted in a bed of particle material and which slidably carries a bracket plate, held in position relative to the stake by means of a setscrew, having a cutout portion capable of accommodating pipes of different diameters and a cable, removably attached to the bracket plate to support the lower circumference of the pipe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,012, to Waller, teaches an underground pipe hanger of a unitary structure that includes a lower stake portion with opposed, rigid upwardly diverging barbs which is driven into the solid, unexcavated ground below the fill dirt at the base of a trench. The upper stake portion carries a pair of laterally extending arms that are integrally formed with the stake to support a pipe of predetermined diameter. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,111, to Ismert, teaches a pipe anchor with a spike portion used to secure a pipe to the ground prior to pouring concrete and a body portion with a bottom edge consisting of a plurality of relatively straight edge segments which provide a concave recess for fitting over and retaining pipes of different diameters. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,768, to Waller, teaches a pipe anchoring structure that includes a stake portion with fixed laterally extending wing members on the anchor portion of the stake that is driven into undisturbed earth and which carries up to two adjustable clamping members capable of securing in position pipes of different diameters, which are attached to the stake portion by a securing means after the clamping members have been attached to the positioned pipe. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a stake for positioning and securing against movement an underground pipe and means for marking that pipe&#39;s location in a trench while fill dirt is added to the trench. Maintaining the pipe and its markers in desired positions in a trench while fill is added around and above the pipe and its markers has been problematic. This invention provides a convenient, fast and simple apparatus for securing the pipe in position in the trench. The use of a plurality of stakes of the invention in series solves the problem of positioning and maintaining the pipe and its spaced markers at the desired depth, level and position before and during backfilling of the trench. 
     When a pipe is buried in a trench it is useful to mark the location of the pipe within the trench in order to locate and avoid damaging the pipe during excavation. It is usual to mark the pipe location with one or more means, such as a tracer wire or a caution tape. A tracer wire may be buried in proximity to a pipe in order to aid in location of the pipe when excavation is required. The tracer wire is a metallic wire whose position can be located by a metal detector, which will aid an excavator in finding the approximate location of the pipe, lying below and parallel to the tracer wire. Marking tapes, such as caution tapes, can also be buried parallel to and above the pipe to aid in visual identification and location of the pipe for service and maintenance. The presence of the marking tape functions to visually warn excavators of the location of the underground pipe, which is lying below and parallel to the marking tape. Such tapes are colored and printed with identifying or warning information. A limitation of the prior art is that the underground pipe must be positioned and fill dirt added and leveled in the trench before the marking means can be positioned on top of the fill in the partially filled trench. The present invention allows placement of a one or more marking means at a location above and parallel to the pipe before the trench is filled so that the pipe and marking means may be placed in position at the same stage in the installation process. The trench is then filled with loose fill dirt without disturbing the position of the pipe and marking means in relation to the secured pipe during the fill process. 
     The present invention provides distinct advantages over the prior art structures, in that it provides a strong, rigid member and receptacles to securely hold below ground level in a predetermined position relative to the base of a trench, a pipe and one or more marking means for locating or identifying the buried pipe. In addition, the invention may contain an anti-removal member designed for insertion and stability in loose, level, base fill at the bottom of the trench. 
     Base fill at the bottom of a trench is often not uniformly level along the length of the trench, making level installation of the pipe against the base fill problematic. In the preferred embodiment, the stake includes an integral curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member which receives, engages, and supports the outer surface of an underground pipe to secure the pipe in position. One or more stakes are placed in position in the trench in an upright manner, and then the pipe is positioned and confined by and within each of the stake&#39;s pipe engaging members, at a level above the base fill. Two integral receptacles are located longitudinally on the stake body, the first being about six inches above the pipe engaging member and the second about six inches above the first. The first receptacle has a closed wall opening which receives and positions a tracer wire at a distance above the pipe engaging member. The tracer wire is threaded through the closed wall opening of the first receptacle of each stake. Alternatively, a slot can be employed so that the wire does not require threading. The second receptacle, which is “C” shaped with a slot for inserting caution tape, supports and secures the caution tape at a distance spaced above the first receptacle. The caution tape is inserted through the slot in the second receptacle of each stake, wherein the tape is secured and supported by the C shaped receptacle. An integral anti-removal member, consisting of a multiplicity of hinged three-sided plane members, extends from the bottom of the stake. The anti-removal member&#39;s planes fold on hinges, thereby compressing when inserted into the underlying supporting base fill at the trench base and expanding to scoop up base fill and thereby minimize movement of the stake if an upward force is applied to the stake body during completion of the fill process. Lips extend at an upward angle from the top of each hinged plane of the anti-removal member to aid in filling the member with dirt as the member expands. The shapes of the planes and the orientation on the shaft of the anti-removal member can be varied to provide adequate clearance for the underground pipes during installation. An integral flange extends laterally from the bottom end of the stake body above the anti-removal member. The flange can be grasped for leverage while positioning the stake in the base fill. The flange can also be stepped down upon to seat the pipe engaging member firmly around the pipe and to push the compressed anti-removal member firmly into the loose fill. 
     Where the base fill in the bottom of the trench is level, the stake may be used to restrict the movement of the pipe, rather than to support the pipe. An alternate embodiment of the stake has a pipe-engaging member which is installed over the pipe and confines it against the base fill. An additional embodiment of the stake is constructed to be installed into the side of a trench at a level above the trench bottom, which allows the pipe to be positioned and supported in the trench without the use of base fill and in conjunction with other utilities. 
     The present invention comprises a stake, comprising a longitudinal shaft having a top end and a bottom end; a pipe engaging member extending laterally from said shaft at a location toward said bottom end; and at least one receptacle extending from said shaft at a location toward said top end and spaced from said pipe engaging member. 
     Even more particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a longitudinal shaft having a top end and a bottom end; a curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member extending laterally from the shaft at a location toward the bottom end, with a first end having an arched shape, a second end having an inwardly arched shape, and a diameter which generally corresponds to a tube diameter of a tube shaped object restrained by said pipe engaging member; a first receptacle extending from the shaft at a location toward the top end and spaced from the pipe engaging member, where the first receptacle is a receiving member with a closed wall opening which extends from the shaft at a location between the pipe engaging member and a second receptacle; a second receptacle extending from the shaft, where the second receptacle is a roughly C shaped member with a slotted opening which extends from the shaft at a location above the pipe engaging member and the first receptacle; an anti-removal member extending at a location from the bottom end of the shaft, where the anti-removal member contains a multiplicity of hinged, three-sided, planes which have a bottom portion, a top side, a left side, and a right side, the bottom portion of the planes extending from the shaft, and the left side of each plane being hinged to the right side of another plane allowing the member to expand and contract in size upon movement of the hinged planes; an outwardly extending lip projecting from the top side of each plane of the anti-removal member at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees; and a flange extending laterally from the shaft at a location toward the bottom end. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a trench dug in hard ground containing a level sand fill base with a pipe laying on the surface of the sand fill base, the pipe being held in position by spaced stakes constructed in accordance with the present invention and installed in accordance with the present invention, and a tracer wire and a marking tape being supported and secured in position by said spaced stakes. 
     FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of the stake disclosed in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the stake of the present invention, where an anti-removal member extends from the shaft of the stake. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional top view of the stake taken along the line of  4 — 4  of FIG. 3, where the anti-removal is in a closed position. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional top view of the stake taken along the line of  4 — 4  of FIG. 3, where the anti-remover is in an open position. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of the stake and a modified form of the anti-removal member taken along the line of  4 — 4  of FIG. 3, where the anti-removal member is in a closed position as FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the modified form of the anti-removal member taken along the line  7 — 7  of FIG. 6, where the anti-removal member is in a closed position. 
     FIG. 8 a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the stake of the present invention where the pipe engaging member has a modified form designed to support and secure the pipe at a distance above the base fill. 
     FIG. 9 is a preferred embodiment and is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the stake disclosed in FIG. 8, where an anti-removal member extends from the shaft of the stake. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of another modified form of the stake where the shaft of the stake supports and secures the pipe at a distance above the base of the trench. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows a trench  2  dug in hard ground  7  containing a level sand fill base  6  with a pipe  4  laying on the surface of the sand fill base  6 , the pipe  4 , for example, a flexible polyethylene gas line, being held in position by pipe engaging members  40  which extend laterally from the shafts  20  of two spaced stakes  10 . A tracer wire  8  is supported and secured in position by first receptacles  50 , and a marking or “caution” tape  9  is supported and secured in position by second receptacles  60 , which extend laterally from the shafts  20  of the spaced stakes  10 . 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the stake  10  has a longitudinal shaft  20  which has a top end  22 , a bottom end  24 , and a tapered point  26  extending from the bottom end  24 . The tapered point  26  of the shaft  20  is designed to facilitate insertion of the bottom end  24  of the shaft  20  into the sand base fill  6  at the bottom of the trench  2 . A pipe engaging member  40  extends laterally from the shaft  20  towards the bottom end  24  of the shaft  20  forming a pipe hold down hook. The pipe engaging member  40  has a preferred diameter “d” of approximately six inches or less to accommodate pipes with a similar or smaller diameter. An integral flange  30  extends laterally from the shaft  20  near the bottom end  24 . The flange  30  can be grasped for leverage while positioning the stake  10  in the sand base fill  6 . The flange  30  can also be pushed, stepped down upon, or driven to aid in seating the pipe engaging member  40  firmly around the pipe  4 . A first receptacle  50  extends laterally from the shaft  20  near the top end  22  between the pipe engaging member  40  and a second receptacle  60  at a distance of approximately six inches from the pipe engaging member  40 . The first receptacle  50 , has a receiving member  52  with a closed wall opening  54 . The first receptacle  50  is designed to receive a tracer wire  8  through and within the closed wall opening  54  contained in the receiving member  52 . The tracer wire  8  aids in locating, before excavation, the pipe  4  lying below and parallel to the tracer wire  8 . The second receptacle  60  extends from the shaft  20  above both the pipe engaging member  40  and the first receptacle  50 , approximately six inches above the first receptacle  50 . The second receptacle  60  is a roughly C shaped member with a bottom  62 , a back  64 , a top  66 , a slotted opening  68 , a first arm  70 , and second arm  72 . The second receptacle  60  can receive a caution tape  9  through the slotted opening  68 . The bottom  62 , back  64 , top  66 , first arm  70 , and second arm  72  of the second receptacle  60  then support and secure the caution tape  9  at a distance spaced above the first receptacle  50 . The presence of the caution tape  9  serves as a visual warning to excavators that the pipe  4  is lying below and parallel to the tape  9 . 
     FIG. 3 demonstrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The stake  110  has a longitudinal shaft  120  which has a top end  22  and a bottom end  124 . A pipe engaging member  40  extends laterally from the shaft  120  towards the bottom end  124  of the shaft  120 . The pipe engaging member  40  has a diameter of approximately six inches or less to accommodate pipes  4  with a similar or smaller diameter. An integral flange  30  extends laterally from the shaft  120  near the bottom end  124 . A first receptacle  150  extends laterally from the shaft  120  near the top end  22  at a distance of approximately six inches from the pipe engaging member  40 . The first receptacle  150  has a receiving member  152  with an open wall opening  154 , which extends laterally from said shaft  120  between the pipe engaging member  40  and a second receptacle  60 . The first receptacle  150  is designed to receive a tracer wire  8  through and within the open wall opening  154  through slot  156  contained in the receiving member  152 . The second receptacle  60  extends laterally from the shaft  120  above the pipe engaging member  40  and the first receptacle  150 . The second receptacle  60  is a roughly C shaped member with a bottom  62 , a back  64 , a top  66 , a slotted opening  68 , a first arm  70 , and a second arm  72 . The second receptacle  60  can receive a caution tape  9  through the slotted opening  68 . The bottom  62 , back  64 , top  66 , first arm  70 , and second arm  72  of the second receptacle  60  then support and secure the caution tape  9  at a distance spaced above the first receptacle  50 . An integral anti-removal member  80 , as shown in FIGS. 3-5, extends from the bottom end  124  of the shaft  120 . The anti-removal member  80  contains a multiplicity of hinged, three-sided planes  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 , which each have a bottom portion  90 , a top side  89 , a left side  87 , and a right side  85 . The bottom portion  90  extends from the shaft  120 , and the left side  87  of each plane  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  is hinged to the right side  85  of another plane  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 . This design allows the anti-removal member  80  to expand and contract in size upon movement of the hinged planes  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 . The shapes of the planes  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  and the orientation of the anti-removal member  80  on the bottom end  124  of the shaft  120  can be varied to provide adequate clearance for the underground pipes  4  during installation. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional top view of the anti-removal member  80  with the planes  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  folded together in a closed position on their hinges. 
     FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional top view of anti-removal member  80  with the planes  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  in an open position on their hinges. 
     FIGS. 6-7 show another embodiment of the anti-removal member  80 . An outwardly extending lip  100  projects from the top side  89  of each said plane  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees. The lip  100  facilitates the scooping of dirt into the anti-removal member  80 , thereby expanding the member  80  into the open position shown in FIG. 5 when the shaft  124  is moved in an upward direction. 
     FIG. 8 demonstrates another embodiment of the present invention. The stake  210  has a longitudinal shaft  20  which has a top end  22 , a bottom end  24 , and a tapered point  26  extending from the bottom end  24 . A curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member  140  extends laterally from the shaft  20  towards the bottom end  24  of the shaft  20  forming a pipe support hook. The curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member  140  has a first end  142  having an arched shape, a second end  144  having an inwardly arched shape, and a preferred diameter “d” of approximately six inches or less to accommodate pipes  4  with a similar diameter. This embodiment can be manufactured with varying diameters to accommodate pipes of different sizes. A pipe  4  is inserted into and received by the pipe engaging member  140  between the second end  144  of the pipe engaging member  140  and the bottom end  24  of the shaft  20 . The arched shape of the first end  142  of the pipe engaging member  140  embraces the pipe  4  and prevents upward and sideways movement of the pipe  4 . The inwardly arched shape of the second end  144  supports the pipe  4  and holds the pipe  4  suspended about the base fill  6 , whose surface may not be level at the time of installation of the pipe  4  in the stake  210 . An integral flange  30  extends laterally from the shaft  20  near the bottom end  24 . A first receptacle  50  extends laterally from the shaft  20  near the top end  22  between the pipe engaging member  140  and a second receptacle  60  at a distance of approximately six inches from the pipe engaging member  140 . The first receptacle  50 , has a receiving member  52  with a closed wall opening  54 . The first receptacle  50  is designed to receive a tracer wire  8  through and within the closed wall opening  54  contained in the receiving member  52 . The second receptacle  60  extends from the shaft  20  above both the pipe engaging member  140  and the first receptacle  50 , approximately six inches above the first receptacle  50 . The second receptacle  60  is a roughly C shaped member with a bottom  62 , a back  64 , a top  66 , a slotted opening  68 , a first arm  70 , and second arm  72 . The second receptacle  60  can receive a caution tape  9  through the slotted opening  68 . The bottom  62 , back  64 , top  66 , first arm  70 , and second arm  72  of the second receptacle  60  then support and secure the caution tape  9  at a distance spaced above the first receptacle  50 . 
     FIG. 9 demonstrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Base fill  6  at the bottom of a trench  2  is often not uniformly level along the length of the trench  2 , making installation of the pipe  4  difficult. The inventor prefers this embodiment because the pipe engaging member  140  is designed to receive, confine and support a pipe  4  above the base fill  6 , thereby eliminating the problems presented by uneven base fill  6 . Additional fill  6  can then be added below, around, and above the pipe  4  after the pipe  4  has been positioned and secured by the stake  310 . The stake  310  has a longitudinal shaft  120  which has a top end  22 , and a bottom end  124 . A curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member  140  extends laterally from the shaft  120  towards the bottom end  124  of the shaft  120  forming a pipe support hook. The curvilinear-shaped pipe engaging member  140  has a first end  142  having an arched shape, a second end  144  having an inwardly arched shape, and a preferred diameter “d” of approximately six inches or less to accommodate pipes  4  with a similar diameter. This embodiment can be manufactured with varying diameters to accommodate pipes of different sizes. The arched shape of the first end  142  of the pipe engaging member  140  embraces the pipe  4  and prevents upward and sideways movement of the pipe  4 . The inwardly arched shape of the second end  144  supports the pipe  4  and holds the pipe  4  suspended about the base fill  6 . An integral flange  30  extends laterally from the shaft  120  near the bottom end  124 . A first receptacle  150  extends laterally from the shaft  120  near the top end  22  at a distance of approximately six inches from the pipe engaging member  140 . The first receptacle  150  has a receiving member  152  with an open wall opening  154 , which extends laterally from said shaft  120  between the pipe engaging member  140  and a second receptacle  60 . The first receptacle  150  is designed to receive a tracer wire  8  through and within the open wall opening  154  through slot  156  contained in the receiving member  152 . The second receptacle  60  extends laterally from the shaft  120  above the pipe engaging member  140  and the first receptacle  150 . The second receptacle  60  is a roughly C shaped member with a bottom  62 , a back  64 , a top  66 , a slotted opening  68 , a first arm  70 , and second arm  72 . The second receptacle  60  can receive a caution tape  9  through the slotted opening  68 . The bottom  62 , back  64 , top  66 , first arm  70 , and second arm  72  of the second receptacle  60  then support and secure the caution tape  9  at a distance spaced above the first receptacle  50 . An integral anti-removal member  80 , as also shown in FIGS. 3-5, extends from the bottom end  124  of the shaft  120 . The anti-removal member  80  contains a multiplicity of hinged, three-sided planes  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 , which have a bottom portion  90 , a top side  89 , a left side  87 , and a right side  85 . The bottom portion  90  extends from the shaft  120 , and the left side  87  of each plane  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  is hinged to the right side  85  of another plane  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 . This design allows the anti-removal member  80  to expand and contract in size upon movement of the hinged planes  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 . The shapes of the planes  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  and the orientation of the anti-removal member  80  on the bottom end  124  of the shaft  120  can be varied to provide adequate clearance for the underground pipes  4  during installation. 
     FIG. 10 demonstrates an additional embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment allows the stake  410  to be installed into the side of a trench  2  at a level above the bottom of the trench  2 . Installation of the stake  410  in the side of the trench  2  allows the pipe  4  to be positioned in the trench  2  without the need for base fill  6  to be placed in the trench  2 . Often, pipes or cables for other utilities, such as water or electric, may also be installed in the trench concurrently with the gas pipe  4 . Installation of the stake  410  in the side of the trench  2  allows the gas pipe  4 , tracer wire  8 , caution tape  9 , and additional utilities to all be placed in position before the trench  2  is filled. The stake  410  has a shaft  220  having a vertical leg  23  and a horizontal leg  25 . The vertical leg  23  has a top end  22  and a bottom end  27 , and the horizontal leg  25  has a first end  224 , a second end  28 , and a tapered point  26  extending from the first end  224 . The second end  28  of the horizontal leg  25  and the bottom end  27  of the vertical leg  23  are joined at an angle approximating ninety degrees. The tapered point  26  of the horizontal leg  25  is designed to facilitate insertion of the first end  224  of the horizontal leg  25  into the hard ground  7  in the side of the trench  2 . Pressure can be asserted at the bottom end  27  of the vertical leg  23  and along the vertical leg  23  to insert the first end  224  of the horizontal leg  25  into side of the trench  2 . A pipe engaging member  240  extends laterally from the shaft  220  towards the bottom end  27  of the vertical leg  23 . The pipe  4  is positioned above the second end  28  of the horizontal leg  25 , next to the bottom end  27  of the vertical leg  23 , and below the pipe engaging member  240 , which is only of a sufficient length and shape to restrict movement of the pipe  4  in an upward direction. A first receptacle  50  extends laterally from the shaft  220  near the top end  22  of the vertical leg  23  between the pipe engaging member  240  and a second receptacle  60  at a distance of approximately six inches from the pipe engaging member  240 . The first receptacle  50  has a receiving member  52  with a closed wall opening  54 . The first receptacle  50  is designed to receive a tracer wire  8  through and within the closed wall opening  54  contained in the receiving member  52 . The second receptacle  60  extends from the shaft  220  above both the pipe engaging member  240  and the first receptacle  50 , approximately six inches above the first receptacle  50 . The second receptacle  60  is a roughly C shaped member with a bottom  62 , a back  64 , a top  66 , a slotted opening  68 , a first arm  70 , and second arm  72 . The second receptacle  60  can receive a caution tape  9  through the slotted opening  68 . The bottom  62 , back  64 , top  66 , first arm  70 , and second arm  72  of the second receptacle  60  then support and secure the caution tape  9  at a distance spaced above the first receptacle  50 . 
     Ideally, the stakes  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 , should be made of a nonmetallic polymer such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride for convenience, low cost, lightweight and nonreactivity. It is preferable that the stakes  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410  be composed of the same material as the pipe  4  to ensure nonreactivity between the stakes  10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410  and the pipe  4 . 
     The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5