Utility Box Cover

Abstract

A cover for residential outdoor utility boxes provides unfettered access, ventilation, and improved aesthetics. The cover provides a cloth material and includes (1) a semi-rigid rectangular top that corresponds to the top portion of the outdoor utility box, (2) at least one side attached to the top at a rigid seam to form a rectangular opening, (3) an adjoining strip descending from the top, and having length less than the side, which is attached along both edges of the strip, (4) a fastener opening formed between non-adjoining edges of the side beyond the length of the adjoining strip, and (5) a fastener affixed to each non-adjoining edge of the side for securing the cover in place, whereby the fastener opening and the adjoining strip combine to enlarge a portion of the rectangular opening for extending the cover over and removing the cover from the outdoor utility box.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover for outdoor utility boxes, the cover comprising:
 a cloth material adapted to enclose an outdoor utility box, the cloth material further including:
 a rectangular top that corresponds to a top portion of the outdoor utility box, the top being semi-rigid; 
 at least one side attached to the rectangular top at a rigid seam along each edge of the rectangular top, the at least one side descending therefrom toward a flexible material at an end of the at least one side to form a rectangular opening corresponding to the rectangular top; 
 the at least one side also including an adjoining strip descending from one edge of the rectangular top, the adjoining strip having a length less than that of the at least one side, so that the at least one side attaches along both edges of the adjoining strip along its length; 
 a fastener opening distal from the rectangular top, the fastener opening formed between non-adjoining edges of the at least one side that extend beyond the length of the adjoining strip; and 
 a fastener affixed to the each non-adjoining edge of the at least one side for securing the cover in place over the outdoor utility box, 
   whereby the fastener opening and the adjoining strip combine to provide flexibility sufficient to enlarge a portion of the rectangular opening for extending the cover over and removing the cover from the outdoor utility box.   
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the cloth material is canvas. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the cloth material has a density sufficient to retain a rectangular shape along the rectangular opening. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the cover fits snugly to the outdoor utility box. 
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is washable. 
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is one of the following:
 hook and loop;   snap;   a string extending through an opening in the flexible material around the end of the at least one side;   a rope extending through an opening in the flexible material around the end of the at least one side; and   a cord extending through an opening in the flexible material around the end of the at least one side.   
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the rectangular top is a square top and the rectangular opening is a square opening. 
     
     
         8 . The cover of  claim 1 , the at least one side further comprising a plurality of ventilation slits for providing air flow within the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side is a one-piece side. 
     
     
         10 . A cover for outdoor utility boxes, the cover comprising:
 a cloth material adapted to enclose an outdoor utility box, the cloth material further including:
 a cylindrical top that corresponds to a top portion of the outdoor utility box, the top being semi-rigid; 
 at least one side attached to the cylindrical top at a rigid seam along each edge of the cylindrical top, the at least one side descending therefrom toward a flexible material at an end of the at least one side to form a cylindrical opening corresponding to the cylindrical top; 
 the at least one side also including an adjoining strip descending from one edge of the cylindrical top, the adjoining strip having a length less than that of the at least one side, so that the at least one side attaches along both edges of the adjoining strip along its length; 
 a fastener opening distal from the cylindrical top, the fastener opening formed between non-adjoining edges of the at least one side that extend beyond the length of the adjoining strip; and 
 a fastener affixed to the each non-adjoining edge of the at least one side for securing the cover in place over the outdoor utility box, 
   whereby the fastener opening and the adjoining strip combine to provide flexibility sufficient to enlarge a portion of the cylindrical opening for extending the cover over and removing the cover from the outdoor utility box.   
     
     
         11 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein the cloth material is canvas. 
     
     
         12 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein the cloth material has a density sufficient to retain a cylindrical shape along the cylindrical opening. 
     
     
         13 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein the cover fits snugly to the outdoor utility box. 
     
     
         14 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein the cover is washable. 
     
     
         15 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener is one of the following:
 hook and loop;   snap;   a string extending through an opening in the flexible material around the end of the at least one side;   a rope extending through an opening in the flexible material around the end of the at least one side; and   a cord extending through an opening in the flexible material around the end of the at least one side.   
     
     
         16 . The cover of  claim 10 , the at least one side further comprising a plurality of ventilation slits for providing air flow within the cover. 
     
     
         17 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side is a one-piece side. 
     
     
         18 . A cover for outdoor utility boxes, the cover comprising:
 a cloth material adapted to enclose an outdoor utility box, the cloth material further including:
 a cover top that corresponds to a box top portion of the outdoor utility box, the cover top being semi-rigid; 
 at least one side attached to the cover top at a rigid seam along each edge of the cover top, the at least one side descending therefrom toward a flexible material at an end of the side to form an opening corresponding to the cover top; 
 the at least one side also including an adjoining strip descending from one edge of the cover top, the adjoining strip having a length less than that of the at least one side, so that the at least one side attaches along both edges of the adjoining strip along its length; 
 a fastener opening distal from the cover top, the fastener opening formed between non-adjoining edges of the at least one side that extend beyond the length of the adjoining strip; and 
 a fastener affixed to the each non-adjoining edge of the at least one side for securing the cover in place over the outdoor utility box, 
   whereby the fastener opening and the adjoining strip combine to provide flexibility sufficient to enlarge a portion of the rectangular opening for extending the cover over and removing the cover from the outdoor utility box.   
     
     
         19 . The cover of  claim 11 , wherein the cover top is one of:
 a rectangular top;   a square top;   a circular top;   an elliptical top.