Patent ID: 7117883

Claim:
A self-aligning curb box assembly comprising: a curb box, being a cylindrical conduit extending from the ground surface downwardly, having a detachable cover at its upper, surface end, and having an inverted “U” shaped passageway formed at its lower end through which a generally horizontally oriented supply line, such as for water or gas, passes, said supply line having a valve body and an “open-to-shut” valve cock located in said supply line and positioned within said passageway at the lower end of said curb box, the valve cock extending upwardly, the assembly including a positioning insert placed within the curb box at its lower end thereof, said insert comprising an upper, horizontally disposed plate having a central circular opening extending therethrough, said opening diameter sized to accommodate said valve body extending therethrough to a desired tolerance therebetween, so as to limit lateral movement of said valve body in any direction throughout 360° in the plane about said valve when said insert is installed, the insert having at least two vertically oriented legs extending from said upper plate downwardly such that, when installed, said legs straddle said supply line and valve body, wherein each of said legs has a foot member extending radially outwardly and, when installed, each foot member is positioned under the lowermost end of said curb box and is held in place thereat by said curb box, wherein, when installed, said insert prevents substantial movement, both laterally and vertically, of said valve body relative to said curb box, thereby permitting ease of access to said valve cock by a valve key extending through said curb box to said valve.