Distribution box

Abstract: The distribution box has a shape slightly resembling that of a frustum of pyramid, and its removable diaphragms, with outer rings (9, 10) for the insertion of pipes, are made in recessed parts (7, 8) of the side walls of the distribution box and do not protrude from the said recesses, which are preferably open at the bottom and have a width that increases downwards. The inside of the distribution box is thus characterized by presenting parts that are in relief corresponding to the said external recesses (7, 8), on which are inserted the bottom open and free parts of the same external recesses (7, 8) when a number of distribution boxes of the type referred to are piled up so that they fit vertically into one another. To ensure proper and stable stacking of the distribution boxes, the latter are provided with vertical, external stiffening ribs (14), appropriately distributed and of equal height, with which one distribution box rests on the top rim (101) of the distribution box beneath it, when a number of distribution boxes are piled up so that they fit vertically into one another.

Description: The present invention relates to the distribution boxes made of plastic material designed to be laid underground, normally used in laying water-supply and drainage systems or electricity systems, the said distribution boxes being provided on the side walls with annular lines of weakening that circumscribe diaphragms which can be easily removed in order to provide holes of various diameters into which corresponding pipes of the sort widely used in various plants and systems may be inserted. On the aforesaid diaphragms are usually provided, made of a single piece with the same, concentric rings, protruding outwards from the distribution box, that form openings in which it is possible to insert corresponding pipes of various diameters, which may thus be connected so as to form a tightly sealed joint with the distribution box, also via the possible use of silicone or adhesives. On account of the presence of these projecting openings and owing to the shape, which is not adequately tapered downwards, the existing distribution boxes made of plastic material are not stackable vertically inside one another, so that they give rise to considerable problems of encumbrance from the standpoint of storage and transportation. In document EP-A-0151905 is described a distribution box having a cubic shape, the side walls being provided, in a central portion of each wall, with several concentric ribs; the base wall of a distribution box can fit in the top opening of another box, being formed on the side walls an appropriated supporting step. However, this way of stacking the boxes does not save any space. In US-A-4663036 is described a drop box having tapered side walls; the said walls are provided with openings in which are snap-fitted seal means. On storage, the walls of the drop boxes are completely flat, and the stacking, which is possible owing to the taper of the box side walls, cannot be considered as particularly stable. The present invention intends to overcome this problem with the inventing idea illustrated hereinafter. The distribution box has a shape that slightly resembles a frustum of pyramid, and the removable diaphragms, with rings for inserting pipes, are formed in a portion of the side wall of the distribution box which is appropriately set back towards the inside of the latter and which forms part of a recessed area open at the bottom and having a width appropriately increasing downwards. The inside of the distribution box is thus characterized by presenting parts in relief corresponding to the said external recesses, into which the bottom and free parts of the same external recessed parts slide when a number of distribution boxes of the type described are piled up on top of one another. To ensure proper and stable stacking of the distribution boxes, it is moreover envisaged that the said distribution boxes will be provided with external stiffening ribs, appropriately distributed and of equal height, with which one distribution box rests on the rim of another distribution box beneath it when a number of distribution boxes are piled up on top of one another. Further characteristics of the invention and the advantages deriving therefrom will appear evident from the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown by way of non-limiting example in the drawings attached hereto, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a distribution box according to the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the distribution box of Fig. 1 sectioned in the direction of the height and shown in conditions of use; Fig. 3 shows two distribution boxes sectioned in the direction of the height and piled on top of one another; Fig. 4 presents a cross section of a wall of a distribution box arranged for connection to the end of a prefabricated drainage offlet. From the figures it may be noted that the distribution box 1, made by injection of an appropriate plastic material in a mould, has the shape of a frustum of pyramid with a substantially square or rectangular base (see hereinafter), is closed on the bottom, and its side walls are inclined by a few degrees, for example between three and five degrees, so that a number of distribution boxes of the type described herein may be piled up one fitting inside another to enable storage with reduced encumbrance. The distribution box is equipped on top with a projecting rim 101 with an L-shaped or Z-shaped profile, in which a lid or a grid 2 may be housed, either of a normal type or of a trafficable type, and possibly provided with side clamping levers, which may be operated by means of a screw-driver (not illustrated herein in so far as they are of a widely used type) and are prepared for the anchoring in slots 3 provided on top of two opposite side walls of the distribution box, which in the area of these slots is reinforced by external stiffening ribs 103. The corner areas of the body of the distribution box 1 are appropriately rounded and widened out at the top and become more sharp-edged above the steps 4 set at a short distance from the rim 101. On the outside of these steps are provided vertical protuberances 5, integral with the rim 101 and provided with an axial cavity open on the horizontal part of the rim 101 itself, as designated by 6, in order to provide slots for the corresponding pins of modular rings that enable enable an extension of the height of the distribution box, as described in the Italian patent No. 1.258.209 owned by the same applicant. From the drawings it may be noted that on at least two side walls, preferably opposite ones, the distribution box referred to herein is equipped, preferably in the middle, with recessed areas 7 and 8 having the shape of a portal frame, with the top rounded, and the walls 107 and 108 of which are substantially parallel to the walls of the distribution box provided with the recesses referred to. The recesses 7 and 8 protrude inside the distribution box with corresponding raised portions having the shape of a portal frame. On the walls 107 and 108 of the said recessed areas, are made diaphragms of known type with the annular lines of weakening and with the annular openings 9 and 10 that protrude towards the outside of the distribution box, but not from the recessed areas 7 and 8, and which according to the pipe to be used, may be easily removed to insert the pipes tight-sealed in the annular openings 9 and 10 of corresponding diameter, as indicated, for example, by 11 and 12 in Fig. 2. The removable diaphragms, with the corresponding openings 9 and 10 may be provided at the same distance from the bottom of the distribution box or may be at different distances, as shown in the drawings, where the openings 9 are approximately at the centre of one wall of the distribution box, whilst the openings 10 are in a position such that the one having the larger diameter is tangential to the bottom of the distribution box. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the bottom 201 of the distribution box is appropriately raised owing to the presence in the bottom part of the distribution box itself of a protruding perimetric rim 301. In this way, the bottom 201 may be provided with impressions 13 sunk into it set slanting outwards, and one of these impressions terminates at the opening 9 of larger diameter, so that when this opening is used as a drain-off, the water that arrives there will not collect in the bottom of the distribution box. Finally, the recesses 7 and 8 are characterized by having a width L (Fig. 1) appropriately increasing downwards so that when a number of distribution boxes of the type referred to herein are piled on top of one another, the recesses 7 and 8 of the various distribution boxes can fit into one another as illustrated in Fig. 3. To ensure that, when being stacked, the distribution boxes remain properly centred and aligned, even if they are subjected to off-line loads, on the outer part of the distribution boxes are provided stiffening ribs 14 set preferably at the corner areas, appropriately widened at the upper end 114 of connection to the rim 101 and having the same height and a thickness such as to rest on the rim 101 of the distribution box beneath it when a number of distribution boxes are stacked on top of each other as shown in Fig. 3, so as to ensure the aforesaid conditions of stability. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the distribution box is preferably equipped, on the side walls not provided with recesses 7 and 8 mentioned previously, with annular weakenings which are round and concentric or circumscribing one another 15 and 115, corresponding to the various diameters of pipes, the ends of which are to be inserted in the distribution box in non-seal conditions. The outermost one of the said annular lines of weakening may be such as to enable the formation of a hole of suitable diameter for enabling the installation of a seal of the type described in the Italian patent referred to previously, when a pipe is to be seal-fitted, even with an orientation that may not be perpendicular to the distribution box itself. Figure 1 also illustrates the fact that, in the case where the distribution box itself (for instance the one not illustrated, i.e., one having a rectangular base) is provided, on the opposite side walls of smaller size, with recesses 7 having openings 9 set lower down, above these recesses may be provided, on the said walls, weakenings 16 such as to enable the convenient formation of an opening of a suitable shape for inserting in the distribution box the end of a prefabricated and sectional offlet 17, as for example the one shown in Fig. 4.

Claims: Distribution box (1) made of plastic material which may be piled up together with other distribution boxes of the same kind, and in which the side walls are provided in preset positions with sets of round concentric, or inscribed one inside another weakening lines of different diameters so as to provide removable diaphragms so as obtain holes into which it is possible to insert the ends of commercially available pipes of various diameters, and of the type in which the diaphragms are provided with respective rings that protrude outwards forming openings (9, 10) having diameters such as to enable insertion, in the opening that is left in position, of the end of a commercially available pipe, also with the aid of silicone or adhesives, to ensure a tightly sealed connection between the said parts, wherein the said lines of weakening with the openings for insertion formed by rings that protrude outwards are made on at least corresponding recessed portions of the side walls of the distribution box, which form corresponding protuberances inside the distribution box itself, and it being envisaged that the said rings do not protrude from non-recessed portions of the side walls characterised in that said distribution box has the shape of a frustum of pyramid tapered downwards with a substantially square or rectangular base, said recessed portions being open downwards, and being characterized by a width that progressively increases downwards, so that said recessed portions of the various distribution boxes fit into one another when the said boxes are stacked. Distribution box according to Claim 1) characterized by being provided, integral with the external side surface, preferably at the corner areas, with stiffening ribs (14) presenting portions (114) widened-out at the top and connected to the collar (101) of the said distribution box, which terminate approximately half-way up the distribution box and which are preferably the same and are sized so that when a number of distribution boxes are piled up, the bottom ends of the stiffening ribs of one distribution box rest on the collar of the distribution box beneath it, thus making for stable stacking of the distribution boxes. Distribution box according to Claim 2), in which the external stiffening ribs (14) are arranged symmetrically in pairs in each corner area of the distribution box. Distribution box according to Claim 1), in which the sets of openings (9, 10) for inserting pipes, the openings being located in the said recessed areas (7, 8), occupy the same position of height; for example, they are all half-way up the sides of the distribution boxes, or else are all at a short distance from the bottom of the distribution box. Distribution box according to Claim 1), in which the sets of openings (9, 10) for inserting pipes, the openings being located in the said recessed areas (7, 8), are located at a different distance from the bottom of the distribution box, for example at least one set of openings is located half-way up, whilst the other set of openings is located at a short distance from the bottom of the distribution box. Distribution box according to one of the previous claims, in which the recesses (7, 8) in which are located the set of openings (9, 10) for inserting the pipes, have the shape of portal frames, with the upper part arched. Distribution box according to one of the previous claims, characterized by being provided with a perimetric rim (301) which protrudes below the bottom (201) of the distribution box itself and the said raised bottom being provided with impressions (13) sunk so that they slant outwards towards the removable diaphragms set at a short distance from the bottom, so that when these diaphragms are removed to form larger-sized holes, all the water that enters the distribution box flows by gravity through the pipe inserted in the said hole. Distribution box according to one of the previous claims, characterized by being provided at the top, at least on two opposite walls, with slots (3) reinforced by external stiffening ribs (103) and in which it is possible to insert the clamping levers with which the lid or grid (2) for closing the distribution box is equipped, the said levers being arranged so that they can be rotated by means of a screw-driver. Distribution box according to one the previous claims, characterized by being possibly provided, in the top and middle parts of at least two opposite side walls, with weakening lines (16) shaped so as to enable convenient formation of an opening for receiving the end of a prefabricated offlet (17) in the distribution box. Distribution box according to one of the previous claims, characterized by being provided, on the horizontal part of its own rim, with holes or seats (6) in which pins may be inserted for connecting rings that prolong the height of the distribution box.

Inventors: MANTELLI GIULIO, MANTELLI, GIULIO
Applicants: FIRST PLAST SRL, FIRST PLAST S.R.L.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E03B7
IPC codes: E03F5, E03B7, E02B13, E03F3