Housing apparatus for buried equipment

Abstract

An apparatus that can be placed into a surface or substrata, such as soil, to enclose and protect valves, meters and/or other equipment buried under such surface. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a bottom tray that holds the valve or meter, one or more stackable spacer segments, a cap segment and a lockable lid member.

1 . A housing apparatus for buried equipment comprising:
 a) a bottom tray having an upper opening;   b) at least one spacer segment disposed on said upper opening of said bottom tray;   c) a cap member having a central opening, disposed on said at least one spacer segment; and   d) a removable lid disposed within said central opening of said cap member.   
   
   
       2 . The housing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom tray, said at least one spacer segment, said cap member and said removable lid are constructed of at least one polymeric material. 
   
   
       3 . The housing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom tray is substantially bowl-shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The housing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one drain hole through said bottom tray. 
   
   
       5 . The housing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said removable lid further comprises a locking mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . The housing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said locking mechanism further comprises:
 a) a locking bolt retractably disposed on said lid, wherein a portion of said locking bolt extends beneath a portion of said cap; and   b) means for selectively retracting said locking bolt.   
   
   
       7 . A housing apparatus for buried equipment comprising:
 a) a substantially bowl-shaped bottom tray having an upper opening and a lip extending substantially around said upper opening;   b) at least one spacer segment disposed on said lip of said bottom tray;   c) a cap member having a central opening, disposed on said at least one spacer segment; and   d) a removable lid disposed within said central opening of said cap member.   
   
   
       8 . The housing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said bottom tray, said at least one spacer segment, said cap member and said removable lid are constructed of at least one polymeric material. 
   
   
       9 . The housing apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one drain hole through said bottom tray. 
   
   
       10 . A housing apparatus for buried equipment comprising:
 a) a bottom member having a body, a lower opening, an upper opening, a lip extending substantially around said upper opening, and at least one vertical bore extending through said lip;   b) a cap member having a body, a lower opening, an upper central opening and at least one vertical bore, wherein said cap member is disposed on the lip of said bottom member, and said at least one vertical bore of said cap member is aligned with said at least one vertical bore of said bottom member; and   c) a removable lid disposed within said central opening of said cap member.   
   
   
       11 . The housing apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a. a bolt disposed through each of said aligned vertical bores;   b. a nut threadably attached to said bolt.   
   
   
       12 . The housing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said bottom member, said cap member and said removable lid are constructed of at least one polymeric material. 
   
   
       13 . The housing apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one drain hole through said bottom tray.