Temporary safety box for assistance in excavation of foundation

Abstract

A temporary safety box for assistance in excavation of an associated below grade foundation wall is placed in an associated trench located adjacent the associated foundation wall. The safety box comprises a wall member including an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end face and a second end face. The inner surface faces the associated foundation wall and includes a reinforcing element for providing strength and rigidity to the wall member. The outer surface abuts a wall of the associated trench and is configured to assist in removal of the safety box from the associated trench. The first and second end faces abut the associated foundation wall. The safety box and the associated foundation wall together substantially surround a worker in the associated trench to protect the worker from excavated debris.

1 . A temporary safety box for assistance in excavation of an associated below grade foundation wall, the safety box being placed in an associated trench located adjacent the associated foundation wall, the safety box comprising:
 a wall member including an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end face and a second end face, the inner surface facing the associated foundation wall and including a reinforcing element for providing strength and rigidity to the wall member, the outer surface abutting a wall of the associated trench and being configured to assist in removal of the safety box from the associated trench, the first and second end faces abutting the associated foundation wall, the safety box and the associated foundation wall together substantially surrounding a worker in the associated trench to protect the worker from excavated debris.   
     
     
         2 . The safety box of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement element is oriented generally perpendicularly to and extends between the first and second end faces. 
     
     
         3 . The safety box of  claim 2 , wherein the inner surface includes a plurality of spaced apart reinforcement elements, the plurality or reinforcement elements serving as steps allowing the worker to climb out of the associated trench. 
     
     
         4 . The safety box of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         5 . The safety box of  claim 4 , wherein the outer surface is coated with a low friction material. 
     
     
         6 . The safety box of  claim 4 , wherein the wall member includes a first part having the reinforcement element and a second part attached to the first part, the second part having the substantially smooth outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The safety box of  claim 4 , wherein the safety box is of one piece and is formed as a single molded unit. 
     
     
         8 . The safety box of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one handle located on an upper portion of the wall member. 
     
     
         9 . The safety box of  claim 1 , further including a first flange connected to the first end face and a second flange connected to the second end face, each flange extending generally perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces of the wall member. 
     
     
         10 . The safety box of  claim 1 , wherein the wall member has a generally arcuate shape. 
     
     
         11 . The safety box of  claim 10 , wherein the wall member spans about 180° allowing the first and second ends to abut against a straight section of the associated foundation wall. 
     
     
         12 . The safety box of  claim 10 , wherein the wall member spans about 270° allowing the first and second ends to abut against a corner section of the associated foundation wall. 
     
     
         13 . The safety box of  claim 1 , wherein the safety box has an adjustable height and comprises first and second wall member sections, wherein the second wall member section is adapted to be releasably mounted on an upper portion of the first wall member section. 
     
     
         14 . A temporary safety box for placement in an associated trench for assistance in excavation of an associated below grade foundation wall and protection of a worker from excavated debris, the safety box comprising:
 a wall member including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface including at least one reinforcing element for providing strength and rigidity to the wall member, the outer surface being substantially smooth to assist in removal of the safety box from the associated trench, the wall member having a generally arcuate shape for abutting against one of a straight section and a corner section of the associated foundation wall.   
     
     
         15 . The safety box of  claim 14 , further including at least one handle associated with an upper portion of the wall member to further assist in removal of the safety box from the associated trench. 
     
     
         16 . The safety box of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of steps defined on the inner surface of the wall member. 
     
     
         17 . The safety box of  claim 14 , wherein the wall member further includes a first end and a second end, wherein a first flange is connected to the first end of the wall member and a second flange is connected to a second end of the wall member, the first and second flanges each having a planar face configured to abut against the associated foundation wall. 
     
     
         18 . The safety box of  claim 14 , wherein the safety box has an adjustable height and comprises first and second wall member sections adapted to be releasably mounted to each other such that the second wall member section can be mounted on an upper portion of the first wall member section, the second wall member section being structurally similar to the first wall member section. 
     
     
         19 . A temporary safety box for placement in an associated trench for assistance in excavation of an associated below grade foundation wall, the safety box comprising:
 a wall member having a generally arcuate shape and including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface including at least one horizontally oriented reinforcing element for providing strength and rigidity to the wall member, the outer surface being substantially smooth to assist in removal of the safety box from the associated trench; and   a handle associated with an upper portion of the wall member to further assist in removal of the safety box from the associated trench.   
     
     
         20 . The safety box of  claim 19 , wherein the safety box has an adjustable height and comprises first and second wall member sections, the second wall member section being adapted to be releasably secured to an upper portion of the first wall member section, the second wall member section having a height less than a height of the first wall member section.