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US 9,174,798 B2Granted
Locking subgrade vault
AssigneeOldcastle Precast, Inc.
InventorEric Freeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A subgrade vault system and method of forming the same is provided. Specifically, a subgrade vault suitable for housing utility and similar equipment is provided, the vault comprising a main body portion, a cap, and a lid that may be selectively secured to prevent or deter unauthorized access to vault contents.
Claims20
A subgrade vault for providing an enclosed region to house utility connections, comprising:
- a body portion with a plurality of side walls defining an enclosure, said side walls having a predetermined thickness, an upper end, and a lower end;
- a substantially rectangular shaped cap member having a length and a width;
- a substantially rigid member interconnected to said cap member proximate to a corner where said length is interconnected to said width;
- a locking assembly comprising a central aperture and at least one extension, the extension in operable engagement with the substantially rigid member and providing force-transmitting communication between said locking assembly and said substantially rigid member;
- said substantially rigid member comprising a first aperture for alignment with said central aperture of said locking assembly, and a second aperture for receiving said at least one extension;
- and
- a lid for selectively securing the subgrade vault to prevent entry.
4 more elements
A vault and removable lid assembly to secure utility connections, said vault comprising:
- a precast main body portion having a peripheral wall with an upper end and a lower end to define an enclosed region;
- a cap portion integrally interconnected to said upper end of said precast main body portion and including a lip positioned within an interior edge of said cap;
- a lid for selectively covering said enclosed region, said lid comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, a predetermined length, a width, and a height, said lower surface of said lid contacting said lip, wherein said upper surface of said lid is positioned substantially flush with an upper surface of said cap portion;
- a substantially rigid member positioned proximate to a corner of said cap portion and comprising an aperture, and wherein said substantially rigid member comprises an inwardly projecting extension of said cap member;
- a locking assembly comprising an aperture positioned between opposing elongated wings, the locking assembly operably interconnected to the substantially rigid member to prevent rotational movement of said locking assembly;
- a threaded elongated fastener with a head and a shank, said shank being passed through at least a portion of said lid and extending at least partially through said locking assembly.
3 more elements
A subgrade vault with a selectively securable lid for providing an enclosed region to house utility connections, the vault comprising:
- a precast concrete body portion having four side walls which define an enclosure, each of the four side walls having a predetermined thickness, an upper end, and a lower end;
- a cap member interconnected to an upper surface of said body portion and providing a perimeter covering of said body portion;
- a lip extending at least partially around an interior perimeter of said cap;
- a brace integrally interconnected to two side walls of said cap proximate to a corner and including at least one aperture which extends between an upper surface and a lower surface of said brace;
- a locking member operably engaged to said brace and aligned with said at least one aperture, said locking member comprising a first aperture for receiving a fastener;
- a lid for selectively securing the enclosed region and sized to rest on said lip of said cap, the lid comprising a second aperture for receiving said fastener, and said fastener adapted to secure the lid to at least one of the locking member and the brace.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.