Locking cover for wells and underground tanks

• US 7,726,902 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enviroguard Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brad Bongiovanni, Shawn Funderburk
• Inventors: Bongiovanni, Brad, Funderburk, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann; Gary S
• Application Number:
  US11/535,262
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 404/25, 52/19, 52/20, 137/371, 220/3.8
• US Class Current: 404/25
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/105 for underground containers
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/1427 Locking devices of bayonet type E02D29/14
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/1463 Hinged connection of cover to frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7021 Covers

Abstract

A locking cover apparatus for an opening in the ground is disclosed. The apparatus can be retro-fitted to an existing ground opening, or can be newly constructed ground opening fitted with the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus features a keyed lock that has a projecting portion that fits under an existing or newly constructed shroud that is installed at ground level and around the ground opening.

Claims

1. A locking cover that connects to a generally vertical pipe of a ground opening, comprising:

a) a vertical pipe mounted in the earth and having an upper end portion with a pipe diameter;

b) a shroud that is configured to be anchored to the earth at the ground opening, the shroud having an outer wall with an inner surface that has a shroud diameter greater than the pipe diameter, a central opening, and an annular ring having an annular shoulder that extends inwardly from the outer wall;

c) a lid that is movably attached to the annular ring of the shroud, the lid having a center and a peripheral portion that is sized and shaped to fit the annular ring, the lid having upper and lower surfaces, wherein the peripheral portion of the lid registers with and rests upon the annular shoulder of the annular ring when the lid is in a closed position;

d) a lock that extends through the lid at a position that is offset from the lid center, the lock communicating with the upper and lower surfaces of the lid at said peripheral portion, the lock including a key slot positioned next to the upper surface and a locking member that is movable between a first locking position that places the locking member under the annular ring and a second, unlocked position that removes the locking member from a position under the annular ring; and

e) a key that is keyed to fit the lock and operate the lock, the key accessing the lock via the lid upper surface and lock opening, wherein operation of the key enables a user to place the locking member in the locking position that engages the shroud and enables a user to place the locking member in the unlocked position that disengages the locking member from the shroud.

2. The ground opening locking cover apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the shroud.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shroud outer wall and the shoulder form an angle of between about 89 and 91 degrees.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the lid has an interlocking structure spaced circumferentially away from the lock that interlocks with the shoulder.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the interlocking structure includes first and second radially extending projecting portions extending both above and one below the shoulder.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least one projecting portion extends very close to the inside surface of the outer wall, above the shoulder.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising indicia on the lower surface of the lid that carries data identifying an installation below the ground opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lock is a rotating lock wherein rotation of the key rotates the locking member an equal rotational amount.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lid is hingedly attached to the shroud and the lock is attached to the lid at a position that is spaced about 180 degrees from the hinge.

10. The cover of claim 1 wherein the lid is generally circular in shape and the upper surface of the lid has no openings other than the key slot.

11. The cover of claim 1 wherein the shroud is an existing shroud and the lid is a retrofit to the existing shroud.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate annular ring nested in between the lid and the shroud, wherein the lid attaches to the intermediate ring and the intermediate ring is connected to the shroud with fasteners, the lid covering the fasteners when the lid is closed.

13. A locking cover for a ground opening, comprising:

a) a shroud anchored to the earth at the ground opening, the shroud having an outer wall with an inner surface, a central opening, and a shoulder that extends inwardly from the outer wall;

b) a lid that is selectively attachable to or completely removable from the shroud, the lid having a lid center and a periphery, the lid being is sized and shaped to fit the shroud and rest upon the shoulder when the lid is in a closed position, wherein an interlocking portion of the lid extends above and below the shoulder of the shroud at a first locking position;

c) a lock that extends through the lid at a position in between the lid center and the periphery, the lock communicating with the upper and lower surfaces of the lid, the lock including a key slot positioned next to the upper surface and a locking member that is movable between a first locking position that places the locking member under the shoulder and a second, unlocked position that disengages the locking member from the shoulder at a second position that is spaced away from the first position; and

d) a key that is keyed to fit the lock and operate the locking member, the key accessing the lock via the lid upper surface and lock opening, wherein the key enables a user to place the locking member in the locking position and also enables a user to place the locking member in the unlocked position.

14. The cover of claim 13 wherein the shroud outer wall and the shoulder form an angle of between about 89 and 91 degrees.

15. The cover of claim 13 wherein the interlocking structure includes first and second radially extending projecting portions that extends, one above and one below, the shoulder.

16. The cover of claim 15 wherein at least one projecting portion extends very close to the inside surface of the outer wall, above the shoulder.

17. The cover of claim 13 further comprising indicia on the lower surface of the lid that carries data identifying an installation below the ground opening.

18. The cover of claim 13 wherein the lock is a rotating lock wherein rotation of the key rotates the loading member an equal rotational amount.

19. The cover of claim 13 wherein the lid is generally circular in shape and the upper surface of the lid has no openings other than the key slot.

20. The cover of claim 13 wherein the shroud is an existing shroud and the lid is a retrofit to the existing shroud.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an intermediate annular ring nested in between the lid and the shroud, wherein the lid attaches to the intermediate ring and the intermediate ring is connected to the shroud with fasteners, the lid covering the fasteners when the lid is closed.

22. A locking cover for covering a ground opening, comprising:

a) a shroud anchored to the earth at the ground opening, the shroud having an outer wall with an inner surface, a central opening that registers with the ground opening, and a shoulder that extends inwardly from the outer wall;

b) a lid that is movably attached to the shroud, the lid having a lid center and a periphery that is sized and shaped to fit the shroud, the lid having upper and lower surfaces, a peripheral portion of the lid registering with and resting upon the shoulder when the lid is in a closed position, the lid having an opening positioned next to the lid periphery, said opening extending from the upper to the lower surface;

c) a locking device on the lid that occupies the lid opening, extending between the upper and lower surfaces and that includes a key slot positioned next to the upper surface and a locking member that is movable between a first locking position that places the locking member under the shoulder and a second, unlocked position that removes the locking member from the shoulder; and

d) a key that is keyed to fit and operate the locking member, the key accessing the locking member via the lid upper surface and lock opening, wherein operation of the key enables a user to place the locking member in the locking position and also enables a user to place the locking member in the unlocked position.

23. The ground opening locking cover apparatus of claim 22 wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the shroud.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the shroud outer wall and the shoulder form an angle of between about 89 and 91 degrees.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the lid has an interlocking structure spaced circumferentially away from the lock that interlocks with the shoulder.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the interlocking structure includes first and second radially extending projecting portions that extends, one above and one below, the shoulder.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein at least one projecting portion extends very close to the inside surface of the outer wall, above the shoulder.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising indicia on the lower surface of the lid that carries data identifying an installation below the ground opening.

29. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the lock is a rotating lock wherein rotation of the key rotates the loading member an equal rotational amount.

30. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the lid is hingedly attached to the shroud and the lock is attached to the lid at a position that is spaced from the hinge, the lid opening being the only opening that extends through the lid between the lid upper and lower surfaces.

31. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising an intermediate annular ring nested in between the lid and the shroud, wherein the lid attaches to the intermediate ring and the intermediate ring is connected to the shroud with fasteners, the lid covering the fasteners when the lid is closed.