Patent ID: 7632042

Claim:
An alignment device for use in maintaining the alignment of longitudinal frame members of a trench-forming assembly during formation of a trench, the longitudinal frame members being positioned in a generally parallel orientation about a form such that the longitudinal frame members are spaced at a distance apart from each other, the alignment device comprising: a cross member having a length greater than the distance between the longitudinal frame members, said cross member having first and second ends; at least one pair of first lateral extensions, a first one of each pair of said first lateral extensions extending from said first end of said cross member in a first direction and a second one of each pair of said first lateral extensions extending from said second end of said cross member in the first direction; at least one interior extension corresponding to at least one of said pair of first lateral extensions, said at least one interior extension extending from said cross member in the first direction and between said corresponding at least one pair of first lateral extensions; and wherein one of said first and second ones of said at least one pair of first lateral extensions and said at least one interior extension defines a slot structured to receive at least a portion of one of the longitudinal frame members when said cross member extends between the longitudinal frame members to thereby maintain the alignment of the longitudinal frame members when forming the trench.