# US 5,700,385 A · Apparatus for supporting and locating buried cable and similar devices

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- Number: US 5,700,385 A
- Document ID: US5700385A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/582,927
- Filed: 1996-01-04
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1996-01-04
- Inventors: Thaddeus M. Jones
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700385A

## CPC

- E04C 5/01: Reinforcing elements of metal, e.g. with non-structural coatings {(E04C5/08 takes precedence)}
- E01C 11/265: {Embedded electrical heating elements (in floors F24D13/00); Mounting thereof}
- E04C 5/18: {Spacers} of metal or substantially of metal {(E04C5/168 takes precedence)}
- E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S)
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)

## Abstract

An apparatus or clip is disclosed, which can be used both to securely hold and support a heating cable or mat at a desired depth within a slab form, and to easily locate the cable or mats once embedded using a simple magnetic field. The clips of this invention are constructed from a material that has a suitable magnetic susceptibility for permitting detection by a weak magnetic field. Consequently, the clip can be located using a simple bar magnet or a common stud finder. The high magnetic permeability of the clip compared to the surrounding earth, asphalt or concrete allows the clip to be readily located by a stud finder. As a stud finder is passed over the clip, the magnetic needle is attracted to the clip apparatus by the emitted magnetic flux. The configuration of the clip includes two upright legs and two horizontal feet. The legs are bent to support and space the mat or cable above the feet. The length of the legs is sufficient to position the apex of the apparatus adjacent the upper surface of the ground, concrete or asphalt. The legs are bent into a configuration for supporting the mat or cable at a height above the horizontal feet, which ensures positioning of the mat or cable at a uniform depth.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clip apparatus for use in supporting and affixing a buried cable at a desired depth while being buried or embedded within earth, asphalt or concrete, the improvement comprising said clip apparatus having magnetic properties for allowing said clip apparatus once buried with said buried cable to be located by a magnetic field, said clip apparatus includes an elongated upright neck part, two upright leg segments diverging from the lower end of said neck part, a horizontal foot segment integrally extending from the lower end of each said leg segment, and means for supporting said buried cable between said leg segments at a height above said horizontal foot segments wherein each said leg segment has a curved segment adjacent said neck part defining an opening for restrictively receiving said buried cable therein.