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US 5,617,679 AGranted
Stackable riser for on-site waste and drainage systems
AssigneeTuf-Tite, Inc.
InventorTheodore W. Meyers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plastic stackable riser for providing a grade level access for underground components such as septic tanks, distribution boxes, and drop boxes, is disclosed. The stackable riser includes a continuous peripheral side wall having a top free edge and a bottom edge. The top free edge defines a first end opening and the second bottom edge is connected to a generally inverted U-shaped connecting member which defines a channel shaped to receive the first free edge portion of an adjacent stackable riser. In use, a plurality of stackable risers are interlocked together so that the side walls all extend along common vertical axes to the underground component.
Claims31
A stackable riser comprising:
- a continuous peripheral side wall having outer and inner surfaces and having a first free edge portion which defines a first end opening and having a second edge portion, said side wall extending in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to a horizontal plane;
- a general inverted U-shaped connecting member extending from said second edge portion of said side wall and defining an oppositely-facing second end opening, said U-shaped connecting member including a transverse intermediate portion and first and second generally perpendicular dependent legs which define a channel between said dependent legs which is shaped to receive a first free edge portion of another riser;
- and
- a plurality of vertically-extending inner ribs positioned on said inner surface of said side wall, said inner ribs positioned on said inner surface of said side wall, said inner ribs including terminal edges which form shoulders positioned a predetermined distance away from a tip of said first free edge portion of said side wall.
1 more element
A stackable riser comprising:
- a continuous peripheral side wall having outer and inner surfaces, said peripheral side wall including four sidewall sections and having a first free edge portion which defines a first end opening and having a second edge portion, said side wall extending in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to a horizontal plane, and said inner surface of said side wall including four corners, each of said corners being provided with a vertically-extending attachment member which includes a terminal edge which forms a shoulder positioned a predetermined distance away from a tip of said first free edge portion of said side wall, each of said terminal edges of said attachment members being provided with an aperture shaped to receive a fastener;
- and
- a U-shaped connecting member extending from said second edge portion of said side wall and defining an oppositely-facing second end opening, said U-shaped connecting member including a transverse intermediate portion and first and second generally perpendicular dependent legs which define a channel between said dependent legs which is shaped to receive a first free edge portion of another riser.
A stackable riser combination comprising:
- a plurality of stackable risers which are interlocked together to form a vertical passageway, each of said risers comprising:
- a continuous peripheral side wall having outer and inner surfaces and having first and second edge portions, said inner surface of said side wall defining a passageway extending between said first and second edge portions;
- and
- a U-shaped connecting member extending from said second edge portion of said side wall and including a transverse intermediate portion and first and second generally perpendicular dependent legs which define a channel between said dependent legs which is shaped to receive a first edge portion of another riser;
- said plurality of stackable risers including at least first and second risers in which said first edge portion of said first riser is inserted into said U-shaped connecting member of said second riser, said risers further including a plurality of vertically-extending inner ribs positioned on said inner surface of said side wall, said inner ribs including terminal edges which form shoulders positioned a predetermined distance away from a tip of said first edge portion, said first dependent leg of said U-shaped connecting member of said second riser being positioned on said shoulders of said inner ribs of said first riser.
2 more elements
A stackable riser and underground component combination comprising:
- an underground component positioned below grade level and including access means for allowing access to an interior of said underground component;
- at least one stackable riser including an uppermost riser and a continuous peripheral side wall having inner and outer surfaces and having a top edge portion and a bottom edge portion, said inner surface of said peripheral wall defining a vertical passageway extending between said top and bottom edge portions;
- said at least one stackable riser further including a U-shaped connecting member extending from said bottom edge portion of said side wall which includes a transverse intermediate portion and first and second generally perpendicular dependent legs, said U-shaped connecting member defining a channel between said dependent legs which is shaped to receive a top edge portion of another riser;
- said at least one stackable riser including a first riser which has its U-shaped connecting member positioned on said underground component so that said passageway is positioned above said access means;
- cover means for attaching to said uppermost riser and for covering said vertical passageway, said cover means comprising an imperforate cover including a generally U-shaped peripheral attachment portion which includes a transverse intermediate portion and first and second depending legs, said U-shaped attachment portion defining a channel between said first and second depending legs which is shaped to receive said top edge portion of said uppermost riser;
- and
- a plurality of vertically-extending inner ribs positioned on said inner surface of said side wall of said at least one stackable riser, said inner ribs including terminal edges which form shoulders positioned a predetermined distance away from a tip of said top edge portion of said side wall.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.