Patent ID: 8757930

Claim:
A method of providing access to an interior bore of a lateral sewer pipe buried beneath a surface of the ground that provides for minimal excavation and disruption of soil, the lateral pipe having an outer surface and a substantially circular cross section, the method comprising: vacuum excavating the ground to expose a portion of the lateral pipe at a lower end of an excavated hole; wherein the excavating occurs without a person entering the excavated hole; taking an assembly comprising a curved plate adapted to engage a portion of the outer surface of the lateral pipe constituting less than or equal to 50% of the outer surface of the lateral pipe, and an extension pipe extending generally upward from the curved plate; wherein the curved plate and the extension pipe having apertures substantially aligned with one another; applying a fluid resistant seal to the concave surface of the curved plate; attaching the assembly to the lateral pipe about the portion of the outer surface of the pipe; taking a cutting device; inserting the cutting device through the extension pipe to the lateral pipe; and making an access hole in the lateral pipe with the cutting device, the access hole being substantially aligned with the apertures of the curved plate and the extension pipe; wherein the extension pipe provides access to the lateral pipe and extends to near the surface of the ground.