Snap on meter pit extension
AssigneeBingham & Taylor Corp.
InventorsKevin J. Levesque, Randy Gibson, Mark de Lancellotti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pit and an extension, each having flanges extending perpendicular to an axis of the pit and extension. The pit includes holes extending outwardly in the wall of the pit, preferably these holes are located at one end of the pit. Surfaces of the flanges are configured to mate together and clips secure the flanges together to inhibit movement apart of the pit and extension along the axis. In certain embodiments, the extension includes support ribs which may be both interior and exterior and the extension narrows from its flange towards an opposite end thereof.
Claims17
A pit extension system for installation in the ground to house utility items, plumbing devices, valves, or meters comprising:
- a first piece having at least one flange located at an end, the first piece having a first wall surrounding an inner void, the inner void extending through the first piece in a lengthwise direction, the flange extending outwards transverse to the lengthwise direction to an outer edge of the flange and the flange having a thickness measured in the lengthwise direction;
- a second piece having first and second ends and an inner void extending through the second piece between the first and second ends, the first end comprising a first wall section and a first surface, the first wall section having an inner dimension sized to fit around the edge of the flange and extending from the first surface towards the first end at a first distance greater than the thickness of the flange;
- the first surface configured to interact with the flange to limit movement of the first piece relative to the second piece in the lengthwise direction;
- a plurality of voids which extend through the first wall section;
- a plurality of clips integrally formed to the second piece around an outer wall thereof, the plurality of clips configured to secure to the at least one flange to thereby secure the first piece to the second piece;
- a living hinge formed in the plurality of clips such that the plurality of clips folds over the living hinge to hold the flange and the plurality of clips are located at the plurality of voids such that when each of the plurality of clips are folded over, they insert into a corresponding one of the plurality of voids in the first wall section.
A pit extension system for installation in the ground to house utility items, plumbing devices, valves, or meters comprising:
- a first piece having at least one flange located at an end, the first piece having a first wall surrounding an inner void, the inner void extending through the first piece in a lengthwise direction, the flange extending outwards transverse to the lengthwise direction an outer edge of the flange and the flange having a thickness measured in the lengthwise direction;
- a second piece having first and second ends and an inner void extending through the second piece between the first and second ends, the first end comprising a first wall section and a first surfaced, the first wall section having an inner dimension sized to fit around the edge of the flange and extending from the first surface towards the first end at a first distance greater than the thickness of the flange,
- the first surface configured to interact with the flange to limit movement of the first piece relative to the second piece in the lengthwise direction;
- a plurality of voids which extend through the first wall section;
- a plurality of clips integrally formed to the second piece around an outer wall thereof, the plurality of clips configured to secure to the at least one flange to thereby secure the first piece to the second piece;
- a living hinge formed in the plurality of clips such that the plurality of clips folds over the living hinge to hold the flange;
- and
- at least one void in each of the plurality of clips which extends all the way through the clip and allows edges of the clip to flex inwardly, the flexing inwardly reducing a size of the at least one void when the clip is folded over to insert into a corresponding one of the plurality of voids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.