Locking system for grade level enclosures

Abstract

A locking system for closing and locking a lid on an enclosure such as a grade level enclosure. The locking system includes a latch formed on an edge of a lid of the enclosure. The latch includes a bolt recess on an upper face of the lid which opens into a slotted wall structure that forms a passage below the lid. The bolt recess has a slotted opening which receives an L-bolt that extends down into a hollow interior of the slotted wall structure. A right angle leg on the L-bolt protrudes below the slotted wall structure when a fastener head atop the L-bolt rests in the bolt recess. The fastener head of the bolt in its at-rest position in the bolt recess provides a means of access for use in rotating the L-bolt (and its right angle leg) with a tool that fits into the bolt recess to engage the fastener head. With the right angle leg of the L-bolt rotated to an axially aligned position, a separate locking piece is driven into the interior of the slotted wall structure from beneath the lid during the assembly process. The L-bolt can be rotated to rotate the right angle leg to an open position so the lid can be closed on the enclosure. The L-bolt can be rotated back to a position in which it locks the lid to the enclosure. The bottom leg of the L-bolt, when rotated to its locked position, protrudes under a locking surface inside the enclosure. This releasably locks the lid to the enclosure. The locking piece inserted into the slotted wall structure beneath the lid holds the L-bolt in place and prevents its removal from the bolt recess.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.