# US 9,518,369 B2 · Equipment housing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,369 B2 - Document ID: US9518369B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/573,920 - Filed: 2014-12-17 - Published: 2015-06-25 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-19 - Assignees: Zip Valve Boxes LLC - Applicants: Zip Valve Boxes LLC - Inventors: Scott M. Ducote; Frances M. Kirkland; Roy P. Prosise; Daniel Francis Caputo; Derek Litteral - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518369B2 ## CPC - E02D 29/12: Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor (for underground tanks B65D90/10; for sewerage E03F5/02 {; climbing irons or ladders E06C9/00}) - B65D 25/005: {Side walls formed with an aperture or a movable portion arranged to allow removal or insertion of contents (B65D5/16, B65D7/40 take precedence)} - B65D 88/76: for use underground (manholes, inspection openings, covers therefor B65D90/105; {special vessels for collecting or storing rain-water for use in the household E03B3/03; cesspools E03F11/00}) - B65D 88/78: for use in or under water - E02D 29/14: Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers {(gully gratings E03F5/06)} - E02D 29/1409: {adjustable in height or inclination} - E03B 7/095: {Component holders or housings, e.g. boundary boxes} - Y10T 137/7043: Guards and shields - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A housing for covering equipment located underground may include a body having a top, a bottom and a pipe aperture. The body may include at least two knockouts formed in the pipe aperture. The knockouts may be configured to be individually and selectively removed from the pipe aperture to adjust a height of the pipe aperture relative to the bottom of the body. In addition, a lid may be configured to be mounted to the body, and the lid is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A housing for covering equipment located underground, comprising: a body having a top, a bottom, side walls and a pipe aperture in each side wall, each pipe aperture comprises at least two knockouts, the knockouts comprise a respective zipper and the knockouts are configured to be individually and selectively removed from the pipe aperture via the respective zipper to adjust a height of the pipe aperture relative to the bottom of the body; and each zipper comprises a band that is connected by tabs to adjoining components of the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a body height, and the pipe apertures comprise a pipe aperture height that is selectively adjustable from about one-third of the body height, to about two-thirds of the body height. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, further comprising external vertical ribs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, further comprising internal vertical ribs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, further comprising an external bottom flange. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the pipe apertures are on opposite sides of the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the zippers for each pipe aperture comprise a first zipper located between the knockouts, and a second zipper located between one of the knockouts and the pipe aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the zippers are complementary in shape to the knockouts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the tabs have a tab thickness that is not greater than about 2 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein each zipper comprises a handle that is larger than the zipper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein each zipper is configured to remain attached to the knockout when the zipper and the knockout are removed from the body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the knockouts are crescent-shaped and the zippers are semi-circular. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the body is conical. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a concave portion on an outer surface thereof, the concave portion reduces in diameter both from an upper portion located immediately above the concave portion, and from a lower portion located immediately below the concave portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The housing of claim 1, further comprising a lid configured to be mounted to the top of the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The housing of claim 15, wherein the lid is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The housing of claim 16, wherein the lid comprises lid flanges extending therefrom, and a lid flange outer diameter (LOD) is greater than a lid recess inner diameter (RID) in the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The housing of claim 16, wherein, in the unlocked position, the lid flanges seat in lid recesses adjacent a top of the body, and in the locked position the lid is positively retained in secured recesses located within the body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The housing of claim 18, wherein each secured recess has a detent for positively engaging a respective one of the lid flanges. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The housing of claim 17, wherein the body has inner wall shoulders with bottoms configured to slidingly engage upper surfaces of the lid flanges when the lid flanges are rotated to the locked position.