Universal lid for underground access boxes

A universal lid for an access box for an underground utility, the access box having a generally cylindrical shape defining an upper circular opening, an annular interior wall portion defining an undercut annular shoulder, the lid comprising:

• a disk-shaped lid body adapted to overlie and close the access box opening;
• pairs of diametrically opposite tabs extending downwardly from and generally perpendicular to the underside of the body, the tabs having semi-cylindrical outer surfaces defining a common radially outer cylindrical surface, each tab including a flexible tongue formed integrally with the tab and joined thereto along a vertical connecting seam, said tongues extending generally circumferentially from the connecting seam with respect to the lid body and tangentially with respect to the outer surface of the tab, the tongues having upper edges spaced from the underside of the lid body and flat radially outer surfaces dimensioned to contact the box opening and to deflect radially inwardly to provide radially biased frictional contact with the interior wall portion and each of said tongues having a trailing edge defining a plurality of vertically spaced stepped detents providing selective locking contact with the underside of the shoulder, and circumferentially adjacent tongues having respective pluralities of detents that are vertically separated.