Utility chambers and surrounds and methods therefor

Abstract

A cover assembly for a utility chamber, comprising a frame with side walls defining a chamber opening and a seating interface, and a cover that closes the opening and seats with the seating interface, a portion of the cover sidewalls profiled to engage with complimentary profiled portions in the frame sidewalls to position and stabilise the cover relative to the frame. The assembly also preferably has a retainer or retainers which engage to secure the cover to the frame. A subsurface utility chamber, comprising a main housing with a base and walls, a frame having a central aperture for chamber access, a cover to close the aperture, and an extension section located between the main housing and the frame, the frame, extension section, and housing releasably and adjustably connected together so as to allow a gap to be established between at least part of the frame and the extension section.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A cover assembly for a utility chamber or similar, comprising:
 a frame comprising a side wall or walls that form the perimeter of an opening which passes through said frame, said opening in use forming an entry or opening into said utility chamber, said side wall or walls further forming or defining a seating interface or surface,   a cover, seating with said seating interface or surface in use and comprising a generally planar upper section sized to close or fill said opening in use, said cover further comprising a sidewall or sidewalls extending from the underside of said upper section,   at least a portion of the cover sidewall or sidewalls profiled in both depth and height to in use engage with complimentary profiled portions formed in said frame sidewall or walls, said profiled portions defining a keyed profile to position the cover relative to the frame and stabilise said cover and said frame against movement relative to one another.   
     
     
         27 . A cover assembly as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said cover and frame sidewall face profiles are generally trapezoidal shapes formed in relief from said sidewalls, the side edges of said sidewall face profiles angled such that said trapezoidal shapes have the form of truncated triangles, said profiles formed and shaped so that said cover can be mated with said frame by inserting said cover into said frame from above. 
     
     
         28 . A cover assembly as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said profiles are formed with said side edges arranged at an angle that maximises the stability of said cover and said frame against movement relative to one another. 
     
     
         29 . A cover assembly as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said cover further comprises or includes at least one retainer attached to, or forming part of, said cover, said retainer adapted to in use engage with said frame to rigidly and/or unyieldingly secure said cover and frame in position relative to one another. 
     
     
         30 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A cover assembly as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said frame further comprises at least one spring, each of said spring or springs engaging with an equivalent one of said retainers in use to assist in rigidly and/or unyieldingly securing said cover and frame in position relative to one another. 
     
     
         34 . A cover assembly as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said retainer comprises at least in part a movable latch configured to act between said cover and said frame, said latch being movable between a frame engaging position where said latch is engaged with said retention interface and a retracted or non-frame engaging position. 
     
     
         35 - 88 . (canceled) 
     
     
         89 . A chamber comprising
 a container with an opening and a cover for said opening that can be moved between a closed position closing said opening and an open position exposing at least part of said opening, the interface between said cover and said container including a series of nestable or complementary surfaces that interact with each other upon closing of the opening by said cover that, under the influence of gravity, bias the cover relative to said container to positions having an ever decreasing degree of movement lateral to the vertical, as said cover moves towards the closed position.   
     
     
         90 . A chamber as claimed in  claim 89  wherein said cover also includes or further comprises cover side walls extending downwards from the underside of a generally planar upper section, at least a portion of the cover sidewall or sidewalls profiled in both depth and height to in use engage with complimentary profiled portions formed in said chamber sidewall or walls, said profiled portions defining a keyed profile to position the cover relative to the chamber and stabilise said cover and said chamber against movement relative to one another. 
     
     
         91 . A chamber as claimed in  claim 90  wherein said cover and chamber sidewall face profiles are generally trapezoidal shapes formed in relief from said sidewalls, the side edges of said sidewall face profiles angled such that said trapezoidal shapes have the form of truncated triangles, said profiles formed and shaped so that said cover can be mated with said chamber by inserting said cover into said chamber from above. 
     
     
         92 . A chamber as claimed in  claim 90  wherein said profiles are formed with said side edges arranged at an angle that maximises the stability of said cover and said chamber against movement relative to one another. 
     
     
         93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . A chamber as claimed in  claim 89  wherein said chamber further comprises a retainer adapted to retain said cover on said chamber, so that in use with said retainer engaged, said chamber and said frame are stabilised against movement relative to one another. 
     
     
         95 . A chamber as claimed in  claim 94  wherein said chamber further comprises a spring, said spring engaging with said retainer in use to assist in rigidly and/or unyieldingly securing said chamber and frame in position relative to one another. 
     
     
         96 . A chamber as claimed in  claim 94  wherein said retainer comprises at least in part a movable latch configured to act between said cover and said chamber, said latch being movable between a chamber engaging position and a retracted or non-chamber engaging position. 
     
     
         97 - 200 . (canceled)