FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to underground utility enclosures for providing protection for below ground devices such as water meters, valves, telecom hardware, and the like and, more particularly, to a foldable and/or collapsible plastic/composite utility enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Utility enclosures are used to protect buried meters, valves, and telecom hardware and need to be capable of withstanding heavy loads that may be placed on the cover of the utility enclosure. Concrete utility enclosures are commonly used in or near roadways and driveways since they are heavy duty and are capable of withstanding heavy loads placed on the cover. Concrete utility enclosures are formed by a wall of concrete that extends around the utility. A lip extends about the top of the utility enclosure in the interior of the utility enclosure. The cover of the utility enclosure fits into the interior of the utility enclosure and rests on the lip. The concrete lip provides sufficient support to the cover to enable the utility enclosure to withstand the force of heavy loads.

Concrete utility enclosures present some disadvantages, however. Concrete utility enclosures are difficult to transport and install. They are bulky and take up space. During transport, concrete utility enclosures are prone to being chipped, and significant amounts of concrete utility enclosures become non-usable because of damage incurred in transport. Installation of concrete utility enclosures is difficult because of the weight of the utility enclosures. Installation of a concrete utility enclosure generally requires the effort of two people because the utility enclosures weigh in excess of two hundred pounds each. The weight of the concrete utility enclosures also presents some danger of physical injury to the persons installing the utility enclosure.

Plastic utility enclosures are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,750 discloses a plastic utility enclosure that is durable, lightweight, and capable of being located in roadways or driveways and withstanding heavy loads. However, plastic utility enclosures also are bulky and take up space during transportation. What is needed is a foldable utility enclosure that takes up reduced space when folded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a foldable plastic/composite utility enclosure having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side. Each of the sides has a first end and a second opposite end. The first end of the first side is connected to the first end of the third side by means of a first hinge. The second opposite end of the second side is connected to the second opposite end of the third side by means of a second hinge. The second opposite end of the first side is connected to the second opposite end of the fourth side by means of a third hinge. The first end of the second side is connected to the first end of the fourth side by means of a fourth hinge.

The third side is constructed to rotate on the first and second hinges only away from the first side. The fourth side is constructed to rotate on the third and fourth hinges only towards the first side. The third side and the fourth side are constructed to rotate until the first side engages the second side and the foldable plastic/composite utility enclosure is in a folded configuration. The folded plastic/composite utility enclosure when in a folded configuration has only 15 to 20 percent of the thickness compared to an unfolded configuration.

The first end of the first side and the first end of the second side are curved. The first end of the third side is positioned slideably over the first end of the first side and the first end of the fourth side is positioned slideably over the first end of the second side. The second opposite end of the first side abuts against the second opposite end of the fourth side and the second opposite end of the third side abuts against the second opposite end of the second side. The second opposite ends are angled.

Each hinge consists of hinge members wherein each hinge member is positioned in a housing. The housing has an open interior to help anchor the housing in the ground. Each edge of each side has a plurality of spaced-apart hinge members wherein hinge members on one side engage the hinge members on another side to form the hinge. One or more of the hinges may have a reversibly insertable locking pin that prevents the sides from rotating on the hinges and prevents the foldable plastic/composite utility enclosure from folding.

The foldable and/or collapsible plastic/composite utility enclosure of this invention can be made of any type of plastic or composite, preferably plastic imbedded with fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, or ceramic fibers or imbedded with particles such as glass particles. The use of plastic/composite and various openings or cutouts makes the utility enclosure light weight. The hinges allow the utility enclosure to be folded flat for storage and transportation. The pairs of sides are symmetrical which facilitates manufacturing. The foldable plastic/composite utility enclosure is ideal for housing underground utilities. However, it can be used to house or contain any desired device.

A preferred embodiment of a lid for the utility enclosure has a front end, a rear end, a right side, a left side, a top lid portion, and a bottom, defining an interior. First reinforcement ribs are on an interior surface of the top lid portion. Metal bars are embedded in the first reinforcement ribs. The lid is made, preferably, of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene.

The first reinforcement ribs form a lattice-type structure, with second reinforcement ribs mounted in spaces formed by the lattice type structure. The metal bars are positioned in the first reinforcement ribs near a bottom of the first reinforcement ribs and are spaced above the bottom of the first reinforcement ribs. The top lid portion has a recess with a lift pin therein. A lifting tool can be inserted into the recess and under the lift pin to lift the lid off a utility enclosure. The top lid portion may have bolt holes to bolt the lid to the utility enclosure. The lid is constructed to withstand up to 33,750 pounds of force without breaking or being deformed.

