Method for attaching a cabinet to a ground surface

Abstract

A method for attaching a surface mountable unit to a ground surface, said method comprising (i) fixing a foundation frame, an upper portion of which is attachable to said surface mountable unit to the ground surface, and (ii) attaching the surface mountable unit to the upper portion of the foundation frame. Systems comprising combinations of foundation frames and surface mountable units and elements for use therein are also described and claimed.

1 . A method for attaching a surface mountable unit to a ground surface, the surface mountable unit, said method comprising (i) fixing a foundation frame having an integral upper and lower portion, the upper portion of which is attachable to said surface mountable unit to the ground surface, by encasing the lower portion of the foundation frame in a settable fixing material to form a base, leaving the upper portion projecting above the level of the fixing material, and (ii) attaching the surface mountable unit to the upper portion of the foundation frame. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the surface mountable unit is modular and is completely or partially assembled on site prior to attachment in step (ii). 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the surface mountable unit is modular and is attached in sections to the upper portion of the foundation frame, and then the sections are connected together. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising before step (i) forming an aperture in the ground surface, which is of a size and shape sufficient to accommodate the foundation frame, and placing the foundation frame in said aperture. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein in step (i) the foundation frame is fixed to the ground surface by pouring a settable fixing material into said aperture so as to encase the lower portion of the foundation frame and leave said upper portion projecting above the level of the fixing material. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the fixing material is allowed to set between steps (i) and (ii). 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the aperture is of a sufficient size to accommodate a shuttering means, arranged to define the boundaries of a support plinth for said surface mountable unit, and where said shuttering means are applied around the foundation frame after the foundation frame has been placed in the aperture. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the shuttering means are removed after the fixing material is set. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein any residual gaps between the ground and a support plinth formed by the set fixing material are filled in. 
   
   
       10 . A ground surface mounting system comprising (a) a foundation frame having an integral upper and lower portion and (b) a surface mountable unit for use in a method according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein an upper portion of the foundation frame comprises an upwardly projecting flange which is arranged to interact with said surface mountable unit. 
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein a lower portion of the foundation frame comprises a ground engaging flange. 
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the foundation frame has openings in a lower portion thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 10  which further comprises shuttering means, adapted to surround the foundation frame. 
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein the shuttering means is modular. 
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 11  wherein the surface mountable unit is attachable to the upper portion of the foundation frame using secret bolting. 
   
   
       17 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the surface mountable unit is a cabinet. 
   
   
       18 . A system according to  claim 17  wherein the cabinet comprises a flat-pack system of sections. 
   
   
       19 . A system according to  claim 18  wherein the sections of the cabinet are connectable together using secret bolting. 
   
   
       20 . A foundation frame having an integral upper and lower portion for use in ground surface mounting system according to  claim 10 . 
   
   
       21 . A surface mountable unit adapted to be attachable to a foundation frame according to  claim 20 , for use in a ground surface mounting system according to  claim 10 . 
   
   
       22 . A surface mounted unit comprising a system according to  claim 10 , which has been attached to a ground surface using a method according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       23 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the surface mountable unit is selected from the group consisting of telemetry, telephone, broadband, gas and electricity cabinets. 
   
   
       24 . A surface mountable unit according to  claim 23  which is selected from the group consisting of telemetry, telephone, broadband, gas and electricity cabinet. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the surface mountable unit is selected from the group consisting of telemetry, telephone, broadband, gas and electricity cabinet.