Pipe stand

Abstract

Pipe stands support waste-conveying pipes in a trench in a septic system. The pipe stands are preferably flat bowtie-shaped sheets (preferably polymeric). Holes or notches are formed that align when the sheet is folded, thus providing stable support for a horizontal pipe when the panels' bottom edges rest on the ground. Modified versions include panels having: a fold-out foot for engaging soft soil, a fold-out dispersing flange for dispersing waste dropped from the pipe, a stake for driving into soft soil, punch-out rings or multiple holes for supporting different sized pipes, stabilizers between the panels that fixedly maintain their spacing, a feature for receiving a grounded wire stake, and/or bias from the living hinge of the fold line causing frictional gripping of the pipe. Many versions can be used in different orientations. Also, the present pipe stand can be used to support pipes and wires hanging from overhead rafters.

1 . A pipe stand for supporting a pipe above a ground surface, comprising:
 a flat sheet having two panels defining a fold line therebetween, the panels including a first pipe-supporting surface formed to engage and stably support a pipe and including a pipe-remote section, the sheet when folded on the fold line positioning both of the pipe-supporting surfaces in an aligned position for engaging and stably supporting the pipe while simultaneously positioning the pipe-remote sections to engage the ground surface in at least three non-aligned locations for stably supporting the pipe above the ground surface.   
   
   
       2 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein a material of the sheet forms a living hinge at the fold line. 
   
   
       3 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein the two panels define a bow-tie shape with the fold line extending across a narrow region of the bow-tie shape. 
   
   
       4 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , including a slot along the fold line to thus form a pair of living hinges, one on each side of the slot. 
   
   
       5 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fold line defines a living hinge that applies a biasing force that biases the panels toward a less angled position, thus causing the panels to frictionally engage and lock onto the pipe. 
   
   
       6 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pipe-supporting surface is hole. 
   
   
       7 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pipe-supporting surface is an upwardly open notch. 
   
   
       8 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pipe-supporting surface is an open notch that extends more than 180 degrees and that is adapted to snap-lock onto the pipe. 
   
   
       9 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pipe-remote section includes an edge adapted to engage the ground surface and includes a fold-out foot along the edge that defines an enlarged area suitable for engaging soft soil of the ground surface. 
   
   
       10 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein the panels each include a fold-out dispersing flange for dispersing waste dropped from the pipe. 
   
   
       11 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein each panel includes at least one additional pipe-supporting surface, the first pipe-supporting surface defining a first shape for stably engaging and supporting a first diameter pipe, and the additional pipe-supporting surface being spaced from the first pipe-supporting surface and defining a second shape for matably engaging and supporting a second diameter pipe different than the first shape. 
   
   
       12 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , including punch-outs extending around a hole formed by the pipe-supporting surface for supporting different diameter pipes when punched out. 
   
   
       13 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , including a leg stabilizer for connecting the first and second panels at a location spaced from the fold line. 
   
   
       14 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 13 , wherein the leg stabilizer is a third panel integrally connected to one of the two panels and that is configured to engage a second one of the two panels thus creating a bridge across between the ground-engaging end of the two panels. 
   
   
       15 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein each panel includes a feature along an edge near the ground surface, and including a spike for engaging the feature and the ground, thus locking the panel to the ground surface. 
   
   
       16 . The pipe stand defined in  claim 1 , wherein each panel includes at least one downwardly pointed integrally formed stake-simulating tab for engaging the ground surface. 
   
   
       17 . A septic system comprising a septic tank, a waste-conveying pipe extending from the tank toward a drain field, and a plurality of the pipe stands as defined in  claim 1 , the pipe stands engaging and supporting the pipe in a generally horizontal orientation at spaced apart locations. 
   
   
       18 . A pipe supporting system for supporting a pipe away from a primary support, comprising:
 two panels integrally connected by a living hinge, the two panels including a pipe-supporting surface formed to engage and stably support a pipe and including a pipe-remote section configured for attachment to the primary support, the sheet when folded about the living hinge positioning the pipe-supporting surface in an aligned position for receiving and stably supporting the pipe while simultaneously positioning the pipe-remote sections to engage the primary support in at least three non-aligned locations for stably supporting the pipe away from the primary support.   
   
   
       19 . A septic system comprising:
 a drain field including a long section of waste-conveying pipe; and   a plurality of pipe stands, each including at least one panel with a pipe-supporting surface and an edge adapted to stably engage a ground surface, each panel having a width extending non-parallel the pipe, whereby the plurality of pipe stands can be slipped onto or under the waste-conveying pipe and the pipe stably arranged in a horizontal position without low sections before covering the waste-conveying pipe.   
   
   
       20 . A septic system comprising:
 an elongated chamber adapted for positioning in a trench on a ground surface;   a pipe positioned under the chamber; and   multiple pipe stands engaging and supporting the pipe at spaced locations, the pipe stands each comprising a body having a pipe-supporting portion and including a stabilizer for the body, the stabilizer having at least three non-aligned ground-engaging points for resting on the ground surface to hold the pipe in a stable position above the ground surface based primarily on gravity.   
   
   
       21 . A method of constructing a septic system comprising steps of:
 providing a trench and a long section of waste-conveying pipe;   providing a plurality of pipe stands, each including at least one panel with a pipe-supporting surface and an edge adapted to stably engage a ground surface; and   positioning the pipe stands transversely to the pipe and in a position supporting the pipe, including slipping the pipe stands onto or under the waste-conveying pipe before covering the waste-conveying pipe.