Sealing and locking valve box lid

A valve box assembly comprising:

• a valve box having a side wall, a top edge located at an upper end of the side wall, a ledge located below and distal to the top edge, the ledge extending inwardly from the side wall, the top edge defining a top aperture;
• a lid assembly comprising:
• a first plate having a first aperture extending therethrough and having a first diameter, a top surface, a first mating surface that opposes the top surface, a first outer edge located along a first perimeter of the first plate and between the top surface and the first mating surface, and a first retaining recess located between the first mating surface and the first outer edge;
• a second plate disposed below the first plate, the second plate comprising a threaded aperture, a second mating surface and a second retaining recess disposed along a second perimeter of the second plate;
• a sealing element formed of a ring of elastomeric material and disposed between the first retaining recess and the second retaining recess, the sealing element having an outer surface;
• and
• a fastener disposed in the first aperture and the threaded aperture, the threaded fastener having a threaded body and a head having a head diameter;
• wherein the lid assembly has an unsealed position in which the first and second mating surfaces are spaced apart;
• wherein the lid assembly has a sealed position in which the first mating surface is in contact with the second mating surface and the sealing element is compressed by the first plate and the second plate, thereby causing the sealing element to protrude outwardly from the first and second edges a greater distance than when in the unsealed position;
• and
• wherein the sealing element engages the side wall along the entire outer surface of the sealing element, thereby creating a water-tight seal between the sealing element and the side wall.

A lid assembly comprising:

• a first plate having a first aperture extending therethrough and having a first diameter, a top surface, a first mating surface that opposes the top surface, a first outer edge located along a first perimeter of the first plate and between the top surface and the first mating surface, and a first retaining recess located between the first mating surface and the first outer edge;
• a second plate disposed below the first plate, the second plate comprising a second outer edge, a threaded aperture, a second mating surface and a second retaining recess located at an upper end of the second outer edge and between the second mating surface and the second outer edge;
• a sealing element formed of a ring of elastomeric material and disposed between the first retaining recess and the second retaining recess;
• and
• a fastener disposed in the first aperture and the threaded aperture, the fastener having a threaded body and a head having a head diameter;
• wherein the lid assembly has an unsealed position in which the fastener extends through the first aperture and is engaged with the threaded body, the first and second mating surfaces are separated by a first distance, and the second retaining recess is located below the first mating surface;
• wherein the lid assembly has a sealed position in which the first mating surface and the second mating surface are separated by a second distance and the sealing element is compressed by the first retaining recess and the second retaining recess, thereby causing the sealing element to protrude outwardly from the first and second outer edges a greater distance than when in the unsealed position, the second distance being less than the first distance;
• wherein the second plate further comprises a lower edge that is distal to the second retaining recess and is located at a lower end of the second outer edge;
• and
• wherein the second plate further comprises a lower surface that opposes the second mating surface, the lower edge being located below the lower surface, thereby defining a lower recess between the lower edge and the lower surface.