Curb box stabilizing and locating device and associated method

Abstract

An underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device comprises a top surface having a through-hole defined therein and at least two legs, each of the legs being affixed to or integral with an opposing end of the top surface. The legs may project downward and outward from the top surface. The top surface may be planar.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device comprising:
 a top surface having a through-hole defined therein; and   at least two legs, each of the legs being affixed to or integral with an opposing end of the top surface.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the legs project downward from the top surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the legs project downward and outward from the top surface. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface is planar. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface is curved. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the legs are curved; and
 wherein a curvature of the legs matches a curvature of the top surface.   
     
     
         7 . A method of installing an underground component access tube, the method comprising:
 positioning an underground component access tube such that an arched lower end of the underground component access tube is positioned over an underground component and such that a top end of the underground component access tube is at or near ground level;   backfilling soil around the underground component access tube up to a first level that is lower than ground level;   positioning an underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device such that the underground component access tube protrudes through a hole defined in a top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device; and   backfilling soil around the underground component access tube and the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device up to ground level.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device comprises at least two legs, each of the legs being affixed to or integral with an opposing end of the top surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the legs project downward from the top surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising pushing the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device into the soil backfilled to the first level when positioning the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the legs project upward from the top surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein backfilling soil around the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device up to ground level further comprises backfilling soil around the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device is planar. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device is curved. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device are curved; and
 wherein a curvature of the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device matches a curvature of the top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device.