Grade-level enclosure for electrical apparatus

A grade-level enclosure for electrical or other apparatus comprising:

• a. an open-topped box adapted to be embedded in the ground with its upper and extending above ground level,
• b. support means carried by said box and operable to support electrical apparatus disposed within said box and extending above the top thereof,
• c. a cover of waterproof, electrical insulating material having the form of an open-bottomed box adapted to cover said box and the apparatus contained therein, said cover having a horizontal configuration at its bottom corresponding to the horizontal configuration of said box at its top, the lower portion of said cover, when closed, surrounding the upper portion of said box and extending below the top thereof, and
• d. securing means fastening the bottom of said cover securely but releasably to the top of said box, said securing means comprising:
• 1. a pair of hinges securing the lower edge of one side of said cover pivotally to the upper edge of the corresponding side of said box, for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, and
• 2. a locking device operable to secure the lower edge of the opposite side of said cover releasably to the upper edge of the opposite side of said box, said locking means comprising an internally threaded tube fixed in the wall of said box, the portion of said cover overlapping said box having an aperture formed therethrough which is axially aligned with said tube when said cover is closed, and a horizontal screw inserted through said aperture and threaded into said tube, the head of said screw being disposed externally of said cover.

A grade-level enclosure for electrical or other apparatus comprising:

• a. an open-topped box adapted to be embedded in the ground with its upper end extending above ground level,
• b. support means carried by said box and operable to support electrical apparatus disposed within said box and extending above the top thereof,
• c. a cover of waterproof, electrical insulating material having the form of an open-bottomed box adapted to cover said box and the apparatus contained therein, said cover having a horizontal configuration at its bottom corresponding to the horizontal configuration of said box at its top, said box and said cover being horizontally square, the lower portion of said cover surrounding the upper portion of said box when said cover is closed, and
• d. securing means fastening the bottom of said cover securely but releasably to the top of said box, said securing means comprising a pair of hinges securing the lower edge of one side of said cover pivotally to the upper edge of the corresponding side of said box, for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, and a locking device operable to secure the lower edge of the opposite side of said cover releasably to the upper edge of the opposite side of said box, the box mounted portions of said hinges and said locking device being affixed to said box each by a single screwtype releasable fastener engaged in a pre-formed aperture formed therefor in a wall of said box, access to said fasteners being blocked by said cover when said cover is closed, each of the four walls of the box being provided with identical patterns of fastener holes, whereby said cover may be oriented relative to said box to open selectively in any of four different horizontal directions.