Patent Application
20240346959
The present invention pertains generally to lids for utility access boxes, and more particularly to lids for utility access boxes with affixed nameplates and to methods for affixing nameplates to lids for utility access boxes.
Underground utility boxes have many useful applications that require accessing the box from grade level. To identify the type of installation, utility boxes are typically labeled according to their use, such as water, electric, communications, and gas. A variety of methods have been used to label utility boxes, including embossing or debossing directly on the lid of the utility box or by affixing a nameplate to the lid of the utility box.
Prior systems and methods using embossing and debossing of lids for utility access boxes require the users and others in the supply chain, such as manufacturers and distributors, to carefully plan and carry inventory for a large number of different lids with different labels to meet the market demand for lids with specific labels. Having sufficient inventory of lids with the right label at the right time is challenging.
To solve the inventory issues, existing systems provide nameplates that are either glued to a lid of a utility box or fastened to a lid of a utility box using screws or bolts. This approach requires maintaining an inventory of the various nameplates rather than an inventory of different, specifically labeled lids.
Nameplates that are screwed or bolted into place require installation labor and care to ensure the product is properly installed. Nameplates that are screwed or bolted in place are also at risk of coming loose during normal wear and tear.
Nameplates that are glued into place, however, may delaminate or detach with the passage of time and depending on the weather conditions. Nameplates affixed with glue or other adhesive are also easily removed and do not stay in place.
In one prior system, the nameplate is attached before casting, uses a round pin with a friction fit. The concrete or other material is then cast around the nameplate. In these systems, the nameplate is essentially permanently attached and must be cast in place at the time of manufacture rather than later by the customer or other user during or after installation of the utility box.
Hence, there is a need to ameliorate or overcome one or more of these significant shortcomings.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Accordingly, and in one aspect, an embodiment of the present invention ameliorates or overcomes one or more of the shortcomings of the known prior art by providing a nameplate system and method for labeling lids for utility access boxes comprising a receiver and a nameplate with a plurality of cantilever arms to affix the nameplate to the receiver in the lid for a utility access box.
The nameplate comprises a plurality of cantilever arms that each clip past a snap tab in a receiving slot to lock the nameplate in the lid for a utility access box to affix the nameplate to the lid.
In one embodiment, the receiver is cast into the lid wherein the receiver comprises a plurality of receiving slots for affixing the nameplate.
In one embodiment, the nameplate is an injection molded part with a plurality of cantilever arms integrated with the nameplate.
In one embodiment, the receiver is an injection molded part with a plurality of receiving slots wherein each of the plurality of receiving slots can receiving one of a plurality of cantilever arms on the nameplate.
In one embodiment, the lid is made from concrete.
In another embodiment, the lid is made from polymer concrete.
In another embodiment, a plurality of integrated receiving slots for receiving a nameplate are formed directly in a lid for a utility access box at the time of manufacture of the lid, eliminating the need for a separate receiver.
This invention eliminates the need for separate fasteners, such as screws, bolts, glue, or other adhesives, to attach the nameplate to the lid for a utility access box.
The nameplate is simple to install for the end user.
The nameplate is durable and difficult to remove when installed, making it suitable for pedestrian and vehicular traffic as well as harsh weather conditions, such as rain and freezing weather with subsequent thaws.
The nameplate snaps into place using the plurality of cantilever arms and snap tabs for a quick, secure installation of the nameplate allowing the user to gain the benefit of a labeling system that is simple, fast to install, and designed to last for the life of the product.
Further aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided below, when taken together with the attached drawings and claims. It should be understood, however, that numerous modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the claims as set forth below following the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosure, will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Also, it is appreciated that the drawings are not necessarily to scale as some components may be shown to be enlarged or to be out of proportion relative to the size in actual implementation in order to more clearly illustrate one or more concepts of the present disclosure. In the drawings:
The following is a detailed description of embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.
While numerous specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the invention, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details.
Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made to particular examples and implementations are for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.
Receiver 120 comprises a spine 180 and receiver arms 170 extending from spine 180. Each receiver arm 170 comprises a receiving slot 140 on a top side 122 of receiver 120.
As shown in
Nameplate 110 may be affixed to receiver 120 using the plurality of cantilever arms 130 without the use of glue, adhesive, screws, bolts, or other fasteners separate from nameplate 110.
In one embodiment as shown in
Nameplate 110 can be made using materials that are resistant to ultraviolet rays. Nameplate 110 can be made using materials that are impact resistant.
In an example embodiment, nameplate 110 is made using injection molding.
In an example embodiment, nameplate 110 is made from a plastic such as polypropylene. Other materials can also be used such as other plastics (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)), synthetic or composite materials (e.g., glass-filled resin, sheet molding compound (SMC) and bulk molding compound (BMC)), or metal.
As illustrated in
In an example embodiment, receiver 120 is made using injection molding.
In an example embodiment, receiver 120 is made from a plastic such as polypropylene. In other embodiments, other materials can also be used such as plastics (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), synthetic or composite materials (i.e., glass-filled resin, sheet molding compound (SMC) and bulk molding compound (BMC)), or metal.
Labeling assembly 100 is more efficient than prior approaches because a user can snap nameplate 110 into place in receiver 120 without the need for any other materials or tools. Another advantage is that nameplate 110 is affixed permanently, or semi-permanently, such that nameplate 110 is not intended to be removed.
The presence of the plurality of body cavities 190 in receiver 120 allows the material forming lid 104 to flow inside each of the plurality of body cavities 190 and fill each of the plurality of body cavities 190 with the material to bond receiver 120 to lid 104 and to provide strength.
As illustrated in
Receiver 120 further comprises a plurality of alignment holes 192. Plurality of alignment holes 192 are used to position and secure receiver 120 into a mold 230 (
Mold 230 further comprises mold plugs 240.
Use of plurality of alignment holes 192 is an easy, cost-effective method to ensure receiver 120 locks into place and does not float or move during casting.
Receiver plug 150 comprises a base 152 and a plug cantilever arm 154 attached to base 152. Plug cantilever arm 154 comprises a first side 158 and a second side 162. Plug cantilever arm 154 further comprises a plug finger 155 and a plug hook 156 that extends from first side 158 of plug cantilever arm 154 for clipping hook 156 past second snap tab 164 in second receiver opening 144 of receiving slot 140 in receiver 120 such that base 152 covers second receiver opening 144.
Receiver plug 150 ensures that concrete or other material does not flow into receiving slot 140 during manufacture.
In one embodiment, receiver plug 150 is made using injection molding.
Receiver plug 150 can be made of various materials, such as rubber, silicone, foam, or other materials.
In alternate embodiments, tape, putty, or other material can be used in place of receiver plug 150 to cover second receiver opening 144.
In one embodiment, first receiver opening 142 of each receiving slot 140 is plugged during manufacturing with mold plug 240 of mold 230.
In an alternate embodiment, nameplate 110 is made using compression molding.
In an alternate embodiment, receiver 120 is made using compression molding.
As shown in
Nameplate 110 may be affixed to lid 204 using the plurality of cantilever arms 130 without the use of glue, adhesive, screws, bolts, or other fasteners separate from nameplate 110.
Forming the plurality of integrated receiving slots 222 directly in lid 204 for utility access box 102 at the time of manufacture of lid 204 eliminates the need for a separate receiver.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119 (e) to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/458,586 entitled “Utility Access Box Lid Labeling System and Methods” filed on Apr. 11, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63458586 | Apr 2023 | US |
