Patent ID: 8091571
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: B25B,E03B,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve box and valve control device assembly, comprising: a valve box including: a resilient tubular member having a central longitudinal axis, a lower end, an upper end, an interior diameter, an inside wall and an outside wall; a support member to be received into and below the ground and having a central longitudinal axis, and a tubular section having a lower end, an upper end and a predetermined interior diameter sized for slidably receiving the lower end of said resilient tubular member; a valve control device located in said valve box including: an uncentered control rod having an upper end and a lower end, said control rod being uncentered when extending at an angle to the central longitudinal axis of the support member, the lower end of said control rod having an attachment that is pivotably attached to the underground valve, the upper end having a projection; a control key including: a key head having a maximum exterior diameter at a lower end, a cone shaped cavity defined by an interior wall of said key head and a recess portion at the top of the cavity, said interior wall being continuous from the lower end of said key head to said recess portion; a key handle; and a key stem connected between said key handle and an upper top of said key head; wherein said resilient tubular member is telescopable into the tubular section of said support member until the lower end of said resilient tubular member may be lowered toward said lower end of said tubular section and the central longitudinal axes of said members are substantially in alignment, the upper end of said resilient tubular member extending above the ground with said tubular member at least partially telescoped into said support member; the interior diameter of said resilient tubular member and the exterior maximum diameter of said key head are sized to be substantially equal to each other such that said key head is slidable along the inside wall of said resilient tubular member; and the recess portion in said key head is dimensioned to engage the projection of said control rod.