In-ground utility access box and related methods
AssigneeAmerican Polymer Corporation
InventorsScott Genovesi, Sean Dvoran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A utility access system may include a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically upward from the base and connected together to define a cavity therein with an opening at a top thereof and a rim inside the opening, and a lid configured to close the opening when received by the rim. Each of the sidewalls may include a plurality of first and second ribs extending from the base to the rim, with the first ribs extending outwardly away from the rim and the second ribs extending inwardly beneath the rim, at least one first fin on each first rib outside of the rim, and at least one second rib on each second rib beneath the rim and coupled thereto.
Claims20
A utility access system comprising:
- a base;
- a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically upward from the base and connected together to define a cavity therein with an opening at a top thereof and a rim inside the opening;
- and
- a lid configured to close the opening when received by the rim;
- each of the sidewalls comprising
- a plurality of first and second ribs extending from the base to the rim, the first ribs extending outwardly away from the rim and the second ribs extending inwardly beneath the rim, and
- at least one first fin on each first rib outside of the rim, and at least one second fin on each second rib beneath the rim and coupled thereto.
A utility access vault comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically upward from the base and connected together to define a cavity therein with an opening at a top thereof and a rim inside the opening configured to receive a lid;
- each of the sidewalls comprising
- a plurality of first and second ribs extending from the base to the rim, the first ribs extending outwardly away from the rim and the second ribs extending inwardly beneath the rim, and
- at least one first fin on each first rib outside of the rim, and at least one second fin on each second rib beneath the rim and coupled thereto.
A method for making a utility access vault comprising:
- forming a base and a plurality of sidewalls extending vertically upward from the base and connected together to define a cavity therein with an opening at a top thereof and a rim inside the opening configured to receive a lid;
- wherein forming the sidewalls comprises
- forming a plurality of first and second ribs extending from the base to the rim, the first ribs extending outwardly away from the rim and the second ribs extending inwardly beneath the rim, and
- forming at least one first fin on each first rib outside of the rim, and forming at least one second fin on each second rib beneath the rim and coupled thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.