Conduit retainer apparatus

Abstract

Conduit retainer apparatus includes a central bridge element and a pair of end plates secured to the central bridge element. The conduit retainer apparatus is disposed in a trench on top of conduits. The end plates dig into the sides of the trench to prevent the conduits from rising or floating as the conduit is being encased in concrete. The end plates include barb elements to help lock the conduit apparatus to the sides of the trench. Different configurations of barb elements are illustrated.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . Retainer apparatus for holding conduits in a trench having a bottom and a pair of sides comprising in combination: 
 a center bridge portion to be disposed against the conduits in the trench, and a pair of end plates secured to the center bridge portion and disposed against the sides of the trench.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the end plates include means for securing the end plates to the sides of the trench.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the means for securing the end plates to the sides of the trench include barbs extending outwardly and upwardly from the end plates.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  in which the barbs are in the configuration of louvers.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the barbs are disposed generally parallel to each other.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  in which the barbs are generally conically configured.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the end plates are generally of a rectangular configuration.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the end plates include apertures.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 9  which includes spikes extending through the apertures for anchoring the end plates in non-cohesive soil.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the center bridge portion comprises a single member.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  in which the center bridge portion has a generally circular cross section.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the center bridge portion includes telescoping members.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the end plates include locking elements, and the center bridge portion includes recesses for receiving the locking element for securing the center bridge portion to the end plates.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the end plates include sockets, and the center bridge portion includes ends extending into the sockets for securing the center bridge portion to the end plates.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further includes means for securing the conduits to the center bridge portion.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  in which the means for securing the conduits to the center bridge portion includes tie elements.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  in which the means for securing the conduits to the center bridge portion includes a conduit form means, and the conduits are disposed on the conduit form means.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  which further includes another retainer apparatus having a pair of end plates and a center bridge portion extending between the pair of end plates, and the conduit form means is disposed on the center portion of the other retainer apparatus.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  in which the conduit form means includes 
 a pair of sides, and  
 a top secured to the pair of sides and disposed on the center bridge portion.  
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  in which the conduit form means further includes scallops on the top for receiving the conduits.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  in which the conduit form means further includes vee grooves on the top for receiving the conduits.  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus for retaining conduits in a trench having a bottom and a pair of sides comprising in combination: 
 a first bridge assembly including 
 a first pair of end plates disposed against the sides of the trench,  
 first means for securing the pair of end plates to the sides of the trench, and  
 first center bridge means secured to the first pair of end plates and the conduits are disposed against the first center bridge means.  
   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  in which the means for securing the first pair of end plates to the sides of the trench include barb tabs on the end plates.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  in which the means for securing the first pair of end plates to the sides of the trench includes spikes extending through the end plates and into the sides of the trench.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  in which the first center bridge means includes telescoping elements.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22  in which the first center bridge means includes a first center bridge and straps for securing the conduits to the first center bridge.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22  in which the first center bridge means further includes a first center bridge and a conduit form means disposed on the first center bridge, and the conduits are disposed on the conduit form means.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  in which the conduit form means includes a pair of sides and a top secured to the pair of sides.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  in which the conduit form means further includes scallops on the top, and the conduits are disposed in the scallops.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  in which the conduit form means further includes vee grooves on the top, and the conduits are disposed in the scallops.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 27  which further includes a second bridge assembly, including 
 a second pair of end plates disposed against the sides of the trench,  
 second means for securing the end plates to the sides of the trench, and  
 second bridge means secured to the second pair of end plates and disposed on the conduits.