Debris cap and method therefor

Abstract

A debris cap apparatus and method, which provides a secure and debris resistant seating of a debris cap within a valve box. The debris cap has two outwardly projecting annuli—a debris seal located near the top of the cap and a retention gasket located distal from the top of the cap. The debris seal blocks debris from entering the valve box when the debris cap is in position. The retention gasket is designed to be pushed down past an inwardly projecting flange within the valve box, to deform as it passes the flange, and then to resume its original shape when past the flange so as to preclude accidental dislodging of the debris cap from the valve box. Where the debris cap is to be used within a pre-existing valve box, an adapter may be provided. It is further preferred to provide a removal tool so as to permit ready removal of the debris cap from the valve box or valve box adapter.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A debris cap apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 a debris cap;    an annular debris seal positioned about an exterior portion of said debris cap proximate an upper portion of said debris cap and projecting upwardly and outwardly from said debris cap;    an annular gasket seal positioned about an exterior portion of said debris cap distal from an upper portion of said debris cap;    a valve box; and    an inwardly projecting annular flange positioned about an interior portion of said valve box;    wherein said inwardly projecting annular flange is positioned within said valve box so that when said debris cap is inserted into said valve box, said annular gasket seal will contact said inwardly projecting annular flange, deform in shape so as to be able to pass by said inwardly projecting annular flange, and return to its original shape below said inwardly projecting annular flange so as to secure said debris cap in position in said valve box.    
     
     
         2 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said annular gasket seal is formed from a deformable and energy absorbent material.  
     
     
         3 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said deformable and energy absorbent material is Kraton®.  
     
     
         4 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising means for removing said debris cap from said valve box.  
     
     
         5 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said debris cap removal means comprises: 
 at least one slot located about an edge portion of said debris cap; and  
 a removal tool dimensioned to be inserted into said at least one slot and then to be agitated so as to impart a substantially upward force so as to cause said annular gasket seal to move in an upward direction past said inwardly projecting annular flange and thereby to permit removal of said debris cap.  
 
     
     
         6 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said removal tool comprises: 
 a handle portion;  
 two spaced apart flat legs projecting downward at right angles from said handle portion;  
 wherein each said flat leg has on an end portion thereof distal from said handle portion an angled edge dimensioned to be inserted into said slot;  
 wherein each said flat leg further has thereon proximate said angled edge an inwardly recessed area dimensioned to mate with an edge portion of said debris cap when said angled edge is inserted into said slot;  
 wherein each said flat leg further has thereon an outwardly projecting post positioned slightly above said inwardly recessed area; and  
 a lock bar slidably positioned on said flat legs between said outwardly projecting posts and said handle portion.  
 
     
     
         7 . A debris cap apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 a debris cap;    an annular debris seal positioned about an exterior portion of said debris cap proximate an upper portion of said debris cap and projecting upwardly and outwardly from said debris cap;    an annular gasket seal positioned about an exterior portion of said debris cap distal from an upper portion of said debris cap;    a valve box adapter having an external configuration dimensioned to conform to an internal configuration of a valve box; and    an inwardly projecting annular flange positioned about an interior portion of said valve box adapter;    wherein said inwardly projecting annular flange is positioned within said valve box adapter so that when said debris cap is inserted into said valve box adapter, said annular gasket seal will contact said inwardly projecting annular flange, deform in shape so as to be able to pass by said inwardly projecting annular flange, and return to its original shape below said inwardly projecting annular flange so as to secure said debris cap in position in said valve box adapter.    
     
     
         8 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said valve box adapter is round.  
     
     
         9 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said valve box adapter is four-sided.  
     
     
         10 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said annular gasket seal is formed from a deformable and energy absorbent material.  
     
     
         11 . The debris cap apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said deformable and energy absorbent material is Kraton®.  
     
     
         12 . A method for positioning a debris cap within a valve box in a secure and debris resistant manner comprising the steps of: 
 providing a debris cap;    providing an annular debris seal positioned about an exterior portion of said debris cap proximate an upper portion of said debris cap and projecting upwardly and outwardly from said debris cap;    providing an annular gasket seal positioned about an exterior portion of said debris cap distal from an upper portion of said debris cap;    providing one of a valve box and a valve box adapter;    providing an inwardly projecting annular flange positioned about an interior portion of said one of said valve box and said valve box adapter;    wherein said inwardly projecting annular flange is positioned within said one of said valve box and said valve box adapter so that when said debris cap is inserted into said one of said valve box and said valve box adapter, said annular gasket seal will contact said inwardly projecting annular flange, deform in shape so as to be able to pass by said inwardly projecting annular flange, and return to its original shape below said inwardly projecting annular flange so as to secure said debris cap in position in said one of said valve box and said valve box adapter; and    inserting said debris cap into said one of said valve box and said valve box adapter until said annular gasket seal passes by said inwardly projecting annular flange and returns to its original shape below said inwardly projecting annular flange.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said annular gasket seal is formed from a deformable and energy absorbent material.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said deformable and energy absorbent material is Kraton®.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of providing means for removing said debris cap from said valve box.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said step of providing debris cap removal means comprises the steps of: 
 providing at least one slot located about an edge portion of said debris cap; and  
 providing a removal tool dimensioned to be inserted into said at least one slot and then to be agitated so as to impart a substantially upward force so as to cause said annular gasket seal to move in an upward direction past said inwardly projecting annular flange and thereby to permit removal of said debris cap.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said removal tool comprises: 
 a handle portion;  
 two spaced apart flat legs projecting downward at right angles from said handle portion;  
 wherein each said flat leg has on an end portion thereof distal from said handle portion an angled edge dimensioned to be inserted into said slot;  
 wherein each said flat leg further has thereon proximate said angled edge an inwardly recessed area dimensioned to mate with an edge portion of said debris cap when said angled edge is inserted into said slot;  
 wherein each said flat leg further has thereon an outwardly projecting post positioned slightly above said inwardly recessed area; and  
 a lock bar slidably positioned on said flat legs between said outwardly projecting posts and said handle portion.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of removing said debris cap from said one of said valve box and said valve box adapter with said debris cap removal means.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of removing said debris cap from said one of said valve box and said valve box adapter with said debris cap removal means.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of removing said debris cap from said one of said valve box and said valve box adapter with said debris cap removal means.