Abstract:
A utility enclosure assembly includes a base having at least one receiving latching mechanism and a lid having at least one attached latching mechanism, each at least one attached latching mechanism for operatively engaging a respective one of the at least one receiving latching mechanism.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is based on and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/040,378 filed Aug. 21, 2014 entitled Utility Enclosure Having Attached Cover Latching Mechanism, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to utility enclosures and, more particularly, to utility enclosures having attached cover latching mechanisms. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0005]    Utility companies such as water, electric and/or gas utilities often use subterranean passages or tunnels as conduits. For example, underground electric utilities may run through junction or utility boxes that are buried having covers at grade for workman access. The cover when installed onto the utility box can often endure vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Such covers are often bolted to the subterranean utility enclosure boxes using threaded bolts. Similarly, meters or valves for utilities such as service valves may be installed in a utility box at a street or sidewalk location to provide service to commercial or residential locations and are often placed under a utility cover. 
         [0006]    In certain circumstances, the utility cover may be attached to the utility box using a bolt that extends from the cover into the utility box. Generally, such utility cover systems require the bolt to be turned in one direction to open and the opposite direction to lock. Furthermore, the bolt in such systems can be removed from the cover such that the bolt can be readily misplaced or lost. With these systems, there is generally no way to tell whether the cover is locked or unlocked just by looking at the cover. Accordingly, these systems can lead to false belief that the lid is locked when it is actually in the unlocked position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A utility enclosure assembly includes a base having at least one receiving latching mechanism and a lid having at least one attached latching mechanism, each at least one attached latching mechanism for operatively engaging a respective one of the at least one receiving latching mechanism. 
         [0008]    A utility enclosure assembly includes a base having at least one lock plate and a lid having at least one attached spring biased locking bolt, each at least one attached spring biased locking bolt for operatively engaging a respective one of the at least one lock plate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top, side perspective view of a representative utility enclosure having a cover with attached latching mechanism according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a representative utility enclosure having a cover with attached latching mechanism according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a representative utility enclosure without a cover according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a representative utility enclosure having a cover with attached latching mechanism according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a representative utility enclosure box having a lock plate for engaging a cover with attached latching mechanism according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is an enlarged view of a representative section of the utility enclosure box shown in  FIG. 5A  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6A  is a bottom perspective view of a representative utility enclosure box cover for engaging a utility enclosure box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6B  is a top perspective view of a representative utility enclosure box cover for engaging a utility enclosure box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6C  is an enlarged view of a representative section of the utility enclosure box cover shown in  FIG. 6A  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a partial cutaway view of a representative utility enclosure box having an attached latching mechanism in an open or unlocked position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a partial cutaway view of a representative utility enclosure box having an attached latching mechanism in a closed or locked position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a latching mechanism in an unassembled state according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a partial cutaway view of a representative utility enclosure having an attached latching mechanism of  FIG. 9  in a closed or locked position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a perspective top view of a lock plate according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective bottom view of a lock plate according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a bolt according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided as improvements to various types of utility enclosures. For example, a latching mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided on and attached to a utility enclosure cover that operatively engages a corresponding latching structure in the utility enclosure box. 
         [0027]    Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for utility enclosures for avoiding lost cover bolts by providing attached cover latching mechanisms. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a latching mechanism is attached on the utility enclosure cover that is not removable and that operatively engages a corresponding latching structure in the utility enclosure box. 
         [0028]    According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a lid or cover attachment system is provided to be used with a utility enclosure. The cover attachment system includes an attached spring biased bolt provided on the cover. According to this embodiment, the latching mechanism is designed so that the spring biased bolt cannot come out, get separated from the cover and get lost. The mechanism is activated with a flat blade screwdriver. When the spring biased bolt is pushed down to compress the spring and then rotated ¼ turn or 90 degrees in either direction, a pin that transverses the spring biased bolt engages with a groove in a locking plate provided in the utility enclosure box. This causes positive latching. To unlock, the bolt head is pressed down and rotated ¼ turn or 90 degrees in either direction. This unlatches the pin from the lock plate and the spring causes the bolt to rise above the cover surface. This aids as an indicator to service personal to know the cover is not locked. If the latching mechanism bolt is in the raised position, then that portion of the cover is unlocked. When the cover is unlocked, it can be readily removed from the utility enclosure box. When locked and engaged, the bolt head sits slightly below the cover surface in a bolt head cavity provided in the cover. 
         [0029]    In certain illustrative embodiments described herein, the utility enclosure box and/or cover are constructed from plastic such as high density polyethylene (HDPE). Alternatively, illustrative embodiments may use polymer concrete for the lid and/or box. In the illustrative embodiments described herein, the latching mechanism materials may include stainless steel and spring steel as appropriate. Alternatively, steel, brass, aluminum or other appropriate alloy may be used for the appropriate latching mechanism components. Of course, other types of materials such as plastics, composites, etc. may be used as desired and where appropriate. 
         [0030]    In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the attached locking mechanism is attached to a utility enclosure lid and is provided as a ¼ turn lock mechanism having a spring biased bolt with a bolt locking pin mounted toward the bottom of the bolt. The length of the bolt used may be different depending on which enclosure it is used in. The bolt locking pin transverses the bolt and forms a “T” with the bolt. Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure function so that a positive locking position is ensured when the pin in the bolt engages with one or more grooves in a lock plate provided in the utility enclosure box. This “T’ design ensures the bolt cannot come out of the lid. This “T” design is superior to an “L” shape design that can only turn 90 degrees until it hits against the box wall and cannot turn any further. In addition, “L” latches can unlatch due to heavy vibration. The illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure provide a latching mechanism that may advantageously be rotated ¼ turn or 90 degrees in either direction to engage or disengage. Other inferior designs are turned in one direction to open and the opposite direction to lock. Unfortunately, as described above, these other designs can lead to false belief that the lid is locked when it is in the unlocked position. 
         [0031]    Embodiments of the present disclosure as described herein provide numerous useful features. For example, when the lid is removed from the box there is no chance of the bolt coming out of the lid and getting lost. Additionally, when the lid is replaced on the box by the technician in the field, the technician can readily determine visually whether the cover bolt is in the locked position before he leaves. 
         [0032]    A representative utility enclosure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and is referred to generally as utility enclosure  100 . According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, utility enclosure  100  includes a box  110 , a cover  120  and a latching mechanism  130 . According to various embodiments, the utility enclosure  100  may be made from one or more of high density polyethylene (HDPE), polymer concrete, etc. Box  110  may include one or more vertical ribs  102  and/or vertical grooves  104  providing added integral support to box  110 . According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, side walls  106  of box  110  may be slightly angled as shown to provide additional support and strength to box  110 . According to this embodiment, cover  120  includes a cavity  108  in which a lock bolt will be inserted such that the head of the lock bolt will be below the top surface of the cover  120  when the lock bolt is in the locked position. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  depicts a top view of the representative utility enclosure  100  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , with cover  120  removed. Box  110  has a generally hollow center  112  that may house, for example, one or more utility meters. Box  110  includes an attached latching mechanism  130  that may include a lock plate mounted to box  110  for engaging a lock bolt attached to the utility cover. 
         [0034]    A utility enclosure box according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  and is referred to generally as box  200 . Box  200  is generally rectangular in shape and includes a plurality of walls  202 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, vertical supporting members  208  may be formed along the walls  202  providing additional support to the walls  202 . A rim  218  extends around the box  200  along the top edge of walls  202  forming an opening  215  for a cover as will be described later below. The rim  218  may include a ledge  211  upon which the cover will rest. The ledge  211  includes a lock plate  214  that engages a cover with attached latching mechanism as will be described later below. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, box  200  is made from one or more of high density polyethylene (HDPE), polymer concrete, etc. 
         [0035]    A utility box cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C  includes a slot  222  for a locking mechanism and is referred to generally as cover  220 . Cover  220  is generally rectangular in shape and is dimensioned to fit within the opening  215  in box  200  and to rest on ledge  211  (see  FIG. 5A ). The bottom surface of cover  220  may include one or more support ribs  226  as shown in  FIG. 6A  for providing additional support to cover  220 . As depicted in  FIG. 6C , slot  222  includes a notched recess or cavity  224  provided along an edge of cover  220  which operatively engages a lock bolt as will be described later below. Recess or cavity  224  is positioned in cover  220  so that it aligns with lock plate  214  in box  200 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ledge  229  extends around the inner periphery of recess  224  for engaging a head of a lock bolt as will be described later below. When in a locked position, the head of the lock bolt will be below the top surface of cover  220 . When in an unlocked position, the head of the lock bolt will protrude above the top surface of cover  220 . According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, a portion of slot  222  along the side edge of cover  220  is open as shown. According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, slot  222  may instead by closed along the side edge of cover  220  in order to ensure that the lock bolt cannot be removed from cover  220 . A lower cavity  227  is slightly larger than recess  224  and is dimensioned for receiving a spring as will be described later below. 
         [0036]    A utility enclosure having an attached latching mechanism  330  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 7  in an open or unlocked position and is referred to generally as utility enclosure  300 . According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, a cover  320  has a cavity  322  including an orifice  352  for receiving the bolt  332 . As shown, head  354  of the bolt  332  is above the top surface  324  of cover  320  when latching mechanism  330  is in the open or unlocked position. Head  354  may have a slot  356  (see  FIG. 8 ) for receiving a regular flathead screwdriver so that bolt  332  can be turned. Spring  334  biases the bolt  332  in an upward unlocked direction shown in  FIG. 7 . Box  310  includes a cavity  312  with an upper wall  316 . Upper wall  316  has an orifice  350  formed therein which is aligned with orifice  352  in cavity  322  of cover  320  for receiving lock bolt  322 . A lock plate  340  may be mounted to upper wall  316  in any appropriate manner including, for example, screws, rivets, plastic weld, glue, etc. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, lock plate  340  is formed in situ in upper wall  316  during formation of the box  310 . A washer  336  is placed over bolt  332  and is maintained on bolt  332  by bolt lock pin  338 . Bolt lock pin  338  may be press fit or otherwise mounted inside a hole located near the distal end  351  of bolt  332 . Bolt lock pin  338  thus transverses bolt  332  forming a “T” shaped locking mechanism. In the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 7 , bolt  332  stays attached to cover  320  so that it cannot be misplaced or lost. In addition, in the unlocked position, spring  334  biases bolt  332  so that bolt head  354  is above the top surface of cover  324  so that it is visually discernable whether the cover is in the locked or unlocked position. 
         [0037]    To lock cover  320 , bolt  332  is pressed in a downward direction against the force of spring  334  until bolt lock pin  338  is just below the lower surface of lock plate  340 . Bolt  332  is then rotated ¼ turn such that bolt lock pin  338  engages notches  348  in lock plate  340 . This is the locked position and is shown in  FIG. 8  A regular flathead screwdriver can be inserted in slot  356  in head  354  of bolt  332  and used to press bolt  332  downward and to rotate bolt  332 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  depicts a latching mechanism  430  according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Bolt  433  includes a head  432  having a flat head screw driver slot  435 . A spring  434  is provided for biasing bolt  433 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, spring  434  has a first end  437  having a first diameter such that the spring  434  engages head  432  of bolt  433  and a second end  439  having a diameter larger than the first diameter that engages a portion of a cover as will be described later below. A washer  436  is placed over bolt  432  as shown. A bolt lock pin  438  is press fit or otherwise mounted inside a hole toward the end  480  of the bolt  432 . Bolt lock pin  438  forms a “T” with bolt  432 . A lock plate  440  which is designed to be mounted to a utility box includes mount holes  442  and bolt hole  444 . Depending on how lock plate  440  is to be mounted to the utility box, mount holes  442  may or may not be threaded. In the locked position, bolt lock pin  438  rests within notches  482  in lock plate  440 . 
         [0039]    A partial cutaway view of a representative utility enclosure  400  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 10 . According to this embodiment, utility enclosure  400  includes a lid or cover  420  with attached latching mechanism  430  similar to that described above with respect to  FIG. 9 . Utility enclosure  400  also includes a utility box  410 . Box  410  includes an upper vertical wall  450  having a vertical ledge  452 . Wall  450  and ledge  452  extend around the circumference of the box  410 . Cover  420  has a wall  454  extending from its upper surface  456  dimensioned such that cover  420  fits snugly within box  410  as shown. Cover  420  has a latching mechanism receiving opening  404  which includes a cavity  458 . A hole  460  is provided in a bottom  462  of cavity  458  dimensioned for receiving bolt  433  and the smaller diameter top portion of spring  434  as shown. A chamber  466  is provided below cavity  458  and is dimensioned to receive the larger diameter lower portion of spring  434 . A hole  468  is provided in the bottom of chamber  466  and is dimensioned for receiving bolt  433 . Washer  436  sits between an upper surface  470  of box  410  and a lower surface of cover  420  as shown. Washer  436  has an inner diameter smaller than the length of bolt lock pin  438  such that when bolt  433  is in the unlocked position, bolt  433  cannot be removed from cover  420 . Box  410  includes a lock plate mounting area  472  extending therefrom and dimensioned to receive lock plate  440 . Holes  474  are provided in lock plate mounting area  472  for receiving screws or rivets (not shown) which extend into the holes  442  provided in lock plate  440 . Lock plate  440  and lock plate mounting area  472  also include holes through which bolt  433  extends. The lock mechanism is shown in the locked position where bolt lock pin  438  rests in notches  482  in lock plate  440 . 
         [0040]    A lock plate  440  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 11 . Lock plate  440  includes two holes  442 , a bolt hole  444  and notch orifices  449  that extend completely through lock plate  440 . Holes  442  may have chamfered edges as shown so that a screw or rivet slips easily through holes  442 . Bolt hole  444  may also have a chamfered edge if desired so that bolt  433  can slip easily there through. Notch orifices  449  are dimensioned such that bolt  433  and bolt lock pin  438  when aligned therewith slip easily there through. Holes  442  may or may not be threaded, depending on the way lock plate  440  is to be secured to the box. 
         [0041]    A bottom perspective view of lock plate  440  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 12 . As shown, lock notches  448  are provided for receiving bolt lock pin  438 . For example, bolt  433  is inserted in hole  444  with bolt lock pin  438  aligned with notch orifices  449 . Bolt  433  is then rotated ¼ turn until bolt lock pin  438  engages lock notches  448 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 13  depicts a bolt  433  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. A hole  490  extends through bolt  433  for engaging bolt lock pin  438  (e.g., see  FIG. 9 ). Bolt  433  includes a head  432  having a flat headed screwdriver slot  435 . Of course, other types of screwdriver slots may be provided in head  432  including, for example, phillips head, TORX® head, ROBERTSON® head, allen head, etc. 
         [0043]    As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts. It will be appreciated that although the above-described embodiments show one latching mechanism being provided on a utility enclosure, two or more latching mechanisms may be provided as appropriate. 
         [0044]    While illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.