Systems and Methods of Providing a Notched Cover
Example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched cover include a lid for an underground vault for temporary use while the permanent lid to the underground vault is removed. In an example application, this underground vault lid would facilitate fiber maintenance in that the fiber optic cables may be maintained through the lid while protecting the public and the utility company employees from the danger of injury due to an “open hole in the ground” that is created when an underground vault is open. The disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched lid may include a temporary vault lid comprising a small opening relative to the size of the lid, the opening allowing the fiber optic cable to exit the vault while maintaining the pedestrian integrity of the vault lid, thereby reducing and/or eliminating the safety risk associated with the exposed vault.
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This application claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/451,549, filed on Mar. 10, 2011, which is incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure is generally related to utility systems and, more particularly, is related to a utility vault cover.
BACKGROUNDIn the process of assessing the field dangers related to utility systems and equipment maintenance, for example, in maintaining fiber operations in the telecommunications systems, open covers during maintenance operations is a legitimate safety concern. It is typical to open the cover and cordon off the area for safety reasons. Permission for blocking off the area is generally requested from the appropriate municipal entity, and safety cones and/or rope, chain, warning tape, or other material is used to attempt to keep technicians, other people, animals, etc., from walking into the underground vault, which may be, for example, as large as three feet by five feet in some cases. There are heretofore unaddressed needs with previous solutions in providing safety with access to the underground utility systems.
SUMMARYExample embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems of providing a notched cover. Briefly described, in architecture, one example embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows: a vault lid, the vault lid comprising a notched opening for providing access to the vault with the lid in place on the vault.
Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be viewed as providing methods for providing a notched cover. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: removing a utility vault cover; and replacing the utility vault cover with a temporary vault lid comprising a notched opening for providing access to the vault with the lid in place on the vault.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, and in which example embodiments are shown. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples among other possible examples.
Example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched cover include a lid for an underground vault, which may be pedestrian-rated for example, for temporary use while the permanent lid to the underground vault is removed. In an example application, this underground vault lid would facilitate fiber maintenance in that the fiber optic cables may be maintained through the lid while protecting the public and the utility company employees from the danger of injury due to an “open hole in the ground” that is created when an underground vault is open. In other example applications, hoses, wires, and/or other maintenance equipment may pass through the notch in the temporary lid. The disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched lid may include a temporary vault lid comprising a small opening relative to the size of the lid, the opening allowing the fiber optic cable to exit the vault while maintaining the pedestrian integrity of the vault lid, thereby reducing and/or eliminating the safety risk associated with the exposed vault.
When maintenance personnel or technicians are performing work in the field, a grate covers a vault containing equipment underneath a sidewalk, street, or other area. Currently, there is a cordoned area that the maintenance personnel may be required to implement to block off the whole sidewalk based on regulations and/or restrictions. When the permanent lid is removed to access the equipment, an open area is created that maintenance personnel use to access equipment in the underground vault. If care is not taken to properly cordon of the open area, a danger exists that people and/or animals could fall into the open area. The area is left open for access to the vault so that cables or other devices can pass through. Example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched cover are introduced so that the open area can now be covered, but the cables may still be run through the notch or opening to perform the work. There is no longer an open hole, and the sidewalk is not closed down, among other advantages.
Materials for example embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods of providing a notched cover may include cast iron, concrete, heavy metal, or hard plastic, among other suitable materials. The cover may be sized to fit the present opening. The cover may also additionally comprise an extra lip, to extend over the sides of the original hole to provide additional stability. The cover may be translucent so that ambient light can pass through. The notch may be of many shapes, including rectangular, square, elliptical, oval, etc. The cover may comprise a single notch, or multiple notches. The edges of the notch may be rounded. The notch may also comprise a mechanism to help run the cable through such as a non-limiting example of a rolling mechanism to assist in pulling cables through the notch. The notched cover may comprise two or more separable pieces with the notch in one piece or in multiple pieces. The notches in multiple pieces may line up to be combinable.
In an alternative embodiment, the permanent lid/cover may include a removable notch plate. When access to the underground vault is required, the notch may be removed from the permanent lid/cover, and the cables, wires, hoses, or other maintenance equipment may be passed through the notched opening. The notch may be sized for the equipment used in the particular application. Lids currently in use may be retrofitted to include a notch plate.
Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a utility vault comprising utility equipment; and
- a vault lid comprising a notched opening for providing access to the vault with the lid in place on the vault.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vault lid is a temporary vault lid used in place of a permanent vault lid.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the permanent vault lid does not have a notched opening.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the temporary vault lid is lighter than the permanent vault lid.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vault lid is a single piece.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the notched opening is located in a corner of the vault lid.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vault lid comprises a plurality of pieces.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the notched opening is located in each of the plurality of pieces of the vault lid.
9. A system comprising:
- a vault lid, the vault lid comprising a notched opening for providing access to the vault with the lid in place on the vault.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vault lid is a temporary vault lid used in place of a permanent vault lid.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the permanent vault lid does not have a notched opening.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the temporary vault lid is lighter than the permanent vault lid.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein the vault lid is a single piece.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the notched opening is located in a corner of the vault lid.
15. The system of claim 9, wherein the vault lid comprises a plurality of pieces.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the notched opening is located in each of the plurality of pieces of the vault lid.
17. A method, comprising:
- removing a utility vault cover; and
- replacing the utility vault cover with a temporary vault lid comprising a notched opening for providing access to the vault with the lid in place on the vault.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the vault lid is a temporary vault lid used in place of a permanent vault lid.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the permanent vault lid does not have a notched opening.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the temporary vault lid is lighter than the permanent vault lid.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 9, 2012
Publication Date: Sep 13, 2012
Applicant: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (Atlanta, GA)
Inventor: Brian Byrns (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)
Application Number: 13/417,191
International Classification: B65D 88/76 (20060101); B65B 7/28 (20060101); B65D 51/00 (20060101);