Abstract:
A valve box system is disclosed for providing operators with access to utility lines such as municipal water and gas systems. This valve box system provides alignment between its multiple sections and a four-notched upper section for a better interface with an adjustment tool. The result is an efficient system which may serve as a stand-alone product or may serve to retrofit existing valve box systems.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/793,935, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention generally relates to valve boxes, which provide access to utility systems and which are often located underground, including but not limited to municipal water or gas systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Valve box systems are provided to assist an operator access underground utility networks. Valve box systems often provide access to an underground utility line such that an operator may operate a valve on a municipal water or gas system. Such access is a necessity to control an end user&#39;s access to municipal services, among other needs in maintaining and operating such services. 
     Present valve box systems often use multiple sections or components, which are often composed of cast iron, to provide access to a utility line, valve, etc. For example, Tyler Union manufactures two types of valve box systems, which are referred to in the industry as the 6500 series and the 6800 series valve box systems. These systems comprise two threaded sections, a top section and a bottom section. The top and bottom sections screw together and provide access to an underground utility line. As a further example, East Jordan Iron Works also manufactures a two-section valve box system, having a top section and a bottom section. 
     These two examples represent the current state of the art. However, these designs have inherent deficiencies and are difficult to properly install. One issue with simply screwing together two threaded sections is that thread tolerances do not ensure a vertical orientation of the valve box system. Due to erosion and settling of soils surrounding the two threaded sections, the joints between the two threaded sections may bend or become displaced, so that an operator may no longer have clear access through the threaded sections to the utility line, valve, etc. The result is that municipalities or contractors have to re-excavate valve box sites to correct the bend between threaded sections. The resulting delay in achieving access to the valve box may cause serious problems to the utility operator, including the potential for injury and other hazards. 
     Prior art designs also suffer from additional flaws, which in the event of an emergency situation can cause significant problems. For example, the inability to isolate water (or gas) lines in an emergency due to misaligned valve boxes has the capacity to impact a high number of municipal water (or gas) customers. By correcting even one of the valve boxes in a particular area or section, such as by replacing the valve box with a system described herein, the service providers may isolate the problem (i.e., may shut down a street verses a whole neighborhood) and rely on the improved valve box to access that system. 
     Further, current valve box systems have two notches on the surface section to allow adjustment of the height of the valve box system. Having only two points of contact for an adjustment tool causes slippage and difficult height adjustment of the valve box system, or possibility even injury. Furthermore, the assembly and placement of the surface of the prior art valve box system often results in damage to the notches, which can thereby eliminate any method for raising or lowering the height of the valve box after installation, such as following a regrade of the road surface surrounding the prior art valve box system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a valve box system to correct the deficiencies and other shortcomings of present valve box systems. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the invention comprises a system where sections of a valve box assembly seat against one another, aligning the sections of the system such that there is not a bending problem. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the top section has four notches to provide a more secure interface with an adjustment tool, which will prevent slippage and avoid damage and resulting lack of utility. The valve box system disclosed herein may be utilized as a stand-alone product or it may be used to retrofit existing valve box systems. 
     One having skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure may be constructed of materials known to provide, or predictably manufactured to provide the various aspects of the present disclosure. These materials may include, for example, iron, cast iron, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, steel alloy, aluminum alloy, chromium alloy, and other metals or metal alloys. These materials may also include, for example, ABS plastic, polyurethane, polyethylene resins, particularly fiber-encased resinous materials rubber, latex, synthetic rubber, synthetic materials, polymers, and natural or environmentally beneficial materials. 
     The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present disclosure is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the Detailed Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
     The above-described benefits, embodiments, and/or characterizations are not necessarily complete or exhaustive, and in particular, as to the patentable subject matter disclosed herein. Other benefits, embodiments, and/or characterizations of the present disclosure are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, as set forth above and/or described in the accompanying figures and/or in the description herein below. Further details and other features will become apparent after review of the following Detailed Description and accompanying drawing figures. In addition, the materials provided in Appendix A are expressly made part of this disclosure and are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Those of skill in the art will recognize that the following description is merely illustrative of the principles of the disclosure, which may be applied in various ways to provide many different alternative embodiments. This description is made for illustrating the general principles of the teachings of this disclosure invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein. 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
       It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the valve box system with a first and second middle section; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of the top section; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the top section; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the first middle section; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the connector section; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the bottom section. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention provides its benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is applicant&#39;s intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts most closely related to the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the system is provided, which illustrates the nature of the invention, and, with the annexed drawings, form a part of the specification. The exemplary method of installing the valve box system is described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the art, can be modified in numerous ways within the scope and spirit of the invention, the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification. 
     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘ —————— ’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, subparagraph (f). 
       FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the valve box system  100  that has at least a first middle section  140  and a second middle section  180 . In a preferred embodiment, the first middle section  140  and the second middle section  180  are interchangeable and identical in dimension and orientation. In this particular embodiment, the top section  120  threads into the first middle section  140 . The first middle section  140  threads onto a connector section  160 . The connector section  160  threads into the second middle section  180 . Finally, the second middle section  180  threads onto the bottom section  200 . The additional second middle section  180  allows the system to reach deeper utility lines than a simpler three section embodiment of the valve box system  100 . Fewer or more sections may be provided, for example, for shallower installations or where the depth of the valve box does not require multiple sections. Furthermore, sections may be cut to length to accommodate a specific depth for a new installation or to meet a new depth or grade for an installation that is affected by a repaving of the road surface, for example. 
       FIG. 2B  depicts one embodiment of a top section  120  of the present disclosure. The top section  120  has a top section thread  128  to screw into a first middle section  140 . Further, the top section  120  has a top section seat  132  which allows the top section  120  to align against the first middle section  140 . The top section  120  also has a top section notch  124  which allows adjustment of the top section&#39;s  120  height relative to ground level. In one embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2A , the top section  120  has four top section notches  124 . In this embodiment a four-sided valve tool can securely selectively interconnect with the four top section notches  124  for easy adjustment. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a first middle section  140 . In this embodiment the first middle section  140  has a first middle section thread  144 . This first middle section thread  144  allows the first middle section  140  to screw onto a top section  120 . At the other end, the first middle section thread  144  may allow the first middle section  140  to screw onto a bottom section  200  or onto a connector section  160 , depending on the particular embodiment of the valve box system  100 . Although the second middle section is not shown in  FIG. 3 , it is expressly understood that the foregoing description applies equally to the second middle section, which in a preferred embodiment is identical in dimension and orientation to the first middle section. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a connector section  160 . The connector section  160  has a connector section thread  164  which allows the operable interconnection of a first middle section  140  and a second middle section  180 . Further, the connector section  160  has a connector section first seat  168  and a connector section second seat  172 . These seats provide for the alignment of the first middle section  140 , the connector section  160 , and the second middle section  180 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a bottom section  200 . The bottom section  200  has a bottom section thread  204  which allows the bottom section  200  to screw into a first middle section  140  or a second middle section  180 . Further, the bottom section  200  has a bottom section seat  208  which aligns the bottom section  200  with a first middle section  140  or a second middle section  180 . 
     The valve box system  100  and its components disclosed herein may be made of a variety of different materials. These materials may include, by way of example but not limitation, iron, cast iron, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, steel alloy, aluminum alloy, chromium alloy, and other metals or metal alloys. These materials may also include, for example, ABS plastic, polyurethane, polyethylene resins, particularly fiber-encased resinous materials rubber, latex, synthetic rubber, synthetic materials, polymers, and natural or environmentally beneficial materials. 
     The following is a listing of components described in connection with the specification and the annexed drawing figures, and is provided to assist in describing the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Reference No. 
                 Component 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 100 
                 System 
               
               
                 120 
                 Top Section 
               
               
                 124 
                 Top Section Notch 
               
               
                 128 
                 Top Section Thread 
               
               
                 132 
                 Top Section Seat 
               
               
                 140 
                 First Middle Section 
               
               
                 144 
                 First Middle Section Thread 
               
               
                 160 
                 Connector Section 
               
               
                 164 
                 Connector Section Thread 
               
               
                 168 
                 Connector Section First Seat 
               
               
                 172 
                 Connector Section Second Seat 
               
               
                 180 
                 Second Middle Section 
               
               
                 200 
                 Bottom Section 
               
               
                 204 
                 Bottom Section Thread 
               
               
                 208 
                 Bottom Section Seat 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, as set forth in the following claims. 
     The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Moreover, though the present disclosure has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g. the use of a certain component described above alone or in conjunction with other components may comprise a system, while in other aspects the system may be the combination of all of the components described herein, and in different order than that employed for the purpose of communicating the novel aspects of the present disclosure. Other variations and modifications may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. This method of disclosure is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.