US-12627130-B2 - Grade level utilities enclosure having tapered walls and bracket

Abstract

A grade level utility enclosure for underground utilities connections having a tapered vertical wall structure extending continuously around an open interior region within the tapered vertical wall structure, a rim extending around a top opening to the interior of the enclosure and a bottom edge on which the enclosure is supported, a removable lid adapted for mounting on the rim over the top opening, the tapered vertical wall structure including a first wall panel section and a second wall panel section, the first wall panel section panel is smaller in circumference than the second wall panel section, and an upright rigid support bar adapted for use as a cable rack having a first end positioned in a first pocket located in the rim and a second end positioned in a second pocket located in a bracket positioned on an inside surface of the second wall panel section.

Inventors

• Edward J. Burke
• Robert H. Gwillim

Assignees

• CHANNELL COMMERCIAL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240326

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A grade level utility enclosure for underground utilities connections, comprising: a tapered vertical wall structure extending continuously around an open interior region within the tapered vertical wall structure, the wall structure made of a molded polymeric material; the tapered vertical wall structure having a rim extending around a top opening to the interior of the enclosure and a bottom edge on which the enclosure is supported; a removable lid adapted for mounting on the rim over the top opening in the grade level enclosure; the tapered vertical wall structure including a first wall panel section and a second wall panel section, the first wall panel section panel is smaller in circumference than the second wall panel section; and an upright rigid support bar adapted for use as a cable rack having a first end positioned in a first pocket located in the rim and a second end positioned in a second pocket located in a bracket positioned on an inside surface of the second wall panel section.
2. 2 . The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket pocket extending from the inside surface of the second wall panel section.
3. 3 . The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the bracket pocket is formed by curve flanges.
4. 4 . The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the bracket has a wedge-shaped vertical wall for insertion into the bracket pocket.
5. 5 . The enclosure of claim 4 , wherein the bracket includes a base section extending substantially perpendicular from the wedge-shaped vertical wall.
6. 6 . The enclosure of claim 5 , wherein the second pocket is positioned on an end of the base section opposite wedge-shaped vertical wall.
7. 7 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the second pocket has a flexible clip and a detent on the flexible clip that flexes during positioning of the second end of the support bar into the second pocket.
8. 8 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the bracket has a locating pin for receipt in an opening in the bracket pocket.
9. 9 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is substantially rectangular.
10. 10 . The enclosure of claim 5 , wherein the base section is configured to support the support bar in a substantially vertical orientation.
11. 11 . A grade level utility enclosure for underground utilities connections, comprising: a tapered wall structure extending continuously around an open interior region within the tapered wall structure, the wall structure made of a molded polymeric material; the tapered wall structure having a rim extending around a top opening to the interior of the enclosure and a bottom edge on which the enclosure is supported; a removable lid adapted for mounting on the rim over the top opening in the grade level enclosure; the tapered wall structure including a first wall panel section having a vertical surface facing the open interior region and a second wall panel section having a vertical surface facing the open interior region, the first wall panel section panel is smaller in circumference than the second wall panel section and the first wall panel section is connected to the second wall panel section by a horizontal shoulder section; and an upright rigid support bar adapted for use as a cable rack having a first end positioned in a first pocket located in the rim and a second end positioned in a second pocket located in a bracket positioned on an inside surface of the second wall panel section.
12. 12 . The enclosure of claim 11 , further comprising a bracket pocket extending from the inside surface of the second wall panel section.
13. 13 . The enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the bracket pocket is formed by curve flanges.
14. 14 . The enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the bracket has a wedge-shaped vertical wall for insertion into the bracket pocket.
15. 15 . The enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the bracket includes a base section extending substantially perpendicular from the wedge-shaped vertical wall.
16. 16 . The enclosure of claim 15 , wherein the second pocket is positioned on an end of the base section opposite wedge-shaped vertical wall.
17. 17 . The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the second pocket has a flexible clip and a detent on the flexible clip that flexes during positioning of the second end of the support bar into the second pocket.
18. 18 . The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the bracket has a locating pin for receipt in an opening in the bracket pocket.
19. 19 . The enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the enclosure is substantially rectangular.
20. 20 . The enclosure of claim 15 , wherein the base section is configured to support the support bar in a substantially vertical orientation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to enclosures for underground utility lines, and more particularly, to an underground utility enclosure having tapered walls and a bracket for attaching vertical racks to the walls. BACKGROUND Underground utility equipment enclosures include the so-called grade level vaults, splice boxes, pull boxes, and the like, for various applications requiring access to an underground service. These may include electrical, gas, water, telephone, fiber optics and cable TV installations, for example. Grade level enclosures are commonly subjected to different kinds of structural loads during use. Generally speaking, prior art enclosures and their cover plates are made from reinforced concrete, fiberglass, or polymer composite materials for added load strength, to withstand the compression forces during use. Grade level enclosures, particularly those used for telecommunications equipment, are adapted to facilitate use with different types of internal equipment. They may include splice cases, fiber optic cables, electrical wires, and the like, supported in the enclosure by metal cable racks fastened to upper portions of the enclosure's inside walls. Industry standards have been developed for conformance tests and requirements for the structural integrity of such grade level enclosures. One standard commonly used for underground enclosures is known as ANSI/SCTE 77-2010. This set of standards for underground enclosure integrity has Tier designations that relate to various load ratings to ensure proper performance for different types of underground enclosures. The objective of these standards is to ensure long product service life, minimized maintenance, and reduced product liability for those who design, develop, and market them. The ANSI/SCTE 77-2010 performance specification includes a three-position structural test simulating wheels rolling over an enclosure where loads are imparted laterally and vertically onto the side wall of the enclosure and vertically onto its cover. The related structural integrity tests comprise: (1). Position one—a lateral side wall test—a test of the area that must withstand soil forces as vehicles approach. (2). Position two—a vertical side wall test—a test of load applied directly downward onto the vertical side wall. (3). Position three—a cover test—a test showing how an enclosure responds to a load applied directly to the center of the cover. The present invention provides an enhanced strength grade level utilities enclosure that can be made from lighter weight polymeric materials. In one embodiment, the enclosure's design provides enhanced structural loading capacity in excess of ANSI Tier 15 vertical side wall load and center cover vertical load requirements. The ANSI Tier 15 test standards are one example of various industry test standards for grade level enclosures for which the present invention provides enhanced load capacities. Structural improvements, in particular, are demonstrated for enclosures' vertical side wall load capacities; and these improvements would result for different types of enclosures each having their own separate vertical side wall load capacity requirements. A prior enhanced strength grade level utility enclosure as shown in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 9,287,693 B2, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, includes parallel vertical wall structures made of a molded polymeric material. The vertical wall structure has an upright inner wall extending from the upper edge to the bottom of the vertical wall structure. The inner wall faces the interior of the enclosure. One or more narrow, vertically extending slotted regions are recessed in the inside face of the inner wall. Upright rigid support bars, adapted for use as cable racks, are positioned in separate slotted regions formed on the inside face of the wall structure. The support bars provide a substantially continuous means of rigid vertical load support extending from the upper edge down to the bottom edge of the enclosure's vertical wall structure. The recessed support bars in combination with the vertical wall structure provide enhanced wall load strength sufficient for exceeding vertical side wall load test standards, among other test standards, for grade level enclosures. A disadvantage of this design is the use of fasteners to rigidly attach the bars to the vertical walls. Mechanical fasteners require additional inventory and time to assemble and the need for the use of tools during assembly. In addition, since the walls are vertical and parallel to one another the enclosures cannot be stacked for shipping. Consequently, a need exists for an improved enhanced strength grade level utilities enclosure that addresses the drawbacks of existing enclosures and can be utilized for tapered wall enclosures. SUMMARY Briefly, one embodiment of this invention comprises an enhanced strength grade level utility enclosure which includes tapered wall structures