Utility box fastener

Claim 2

A hold-down device for affixing a cover to a plastic box comprising: a female fastener having a central shank portion with a threaded bore through its axis and top and bottom flanges at its opposite ends normal to the axis of the bore; each said flange having a substantial thickness parallel to the axis of said bore to define a blunt peripheral bearing surface; the bottom flange extending beyond the periphery of said central shank portion to form an upwardly facing shoulder entirely around the lower end of said shank; a box composed of plastic material which undergoes significant compression under load; a portion of said plastic box being molded tightly around said fastener and bearing against the peripheral bearing surfaces of the flanges and against the upwardly facing shoulder of the lower flange, said plastic extending in between the two flanges; a cover on said box; the upper surface of said upper flange bearing on said cover; and a threaded bolt extending through said cover and threaded into said fastener.

Claim 3

A hold-down device as defined in claim 1 wherein said upwardly facing shoulder is perpendicular to the axis of said bore.

Claim 4

A hold-down device as defined in claim 1 wherein said flanges are in horizontal plan view a polygon of no more than four sides.

Claim 5

A hold-down device as defined in claim 3 wherein each side of said polygon is straight.

Claim 6

A hold-down device in claim 1 wherein said plastic of the box extends below said fastener and is engaged against its lower surface.

Claim 7

A fastener in combination with a utility box and cover device comprising: a utility box having at least one upright compressible plastic wall forming a closed shape open at the top; an upwardly facing internal shoulder on said wall near the top thereof; a pair of plastic bosses integral with said plastic wall and having a flat upper surface flush with said shoulder; a cover resting on said boss upper surface and said shoulder; a fastener embedded in said plastic boss, said fastener including, a central cylindrical shank; a threaded bore extending axially through said shank; an upper flange at the top of said shank and integral therewith; a lower flange at the bottom of said shank and integral therewith; each flange being larger in horizontal section than the central shank so as to extend beyond the periphery of the shank on all sides and form opposed shoulders; said opposed shoulders being flat and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said shank; the plastic boss firmly bearing against the peripheral surfaces of the shank and both flanges, and against the opposed shoulders of the flanges and against the lower face of the lower flange; the upper face of the upper flange being disposed generally co-planar with the upper surface of the boss so that the cover bears thereon; and a bolt extending through said cover and tightly threaded into the bore of the fastener.

Claim 8

A fastener in combination with a utility box and cover device comprising: a utility box having at least one upright compressible plastic wall forming a closed shape open at the top; an upwardly facing internal shoulder on said wall near the top thereof; a pair of plastic bosses integral with said plastic wall and having a flat upper surface flush with said shoulder; a cover resting on said boss upper surface and said shoulder; a fastener embedded in said plastic boss, said fastener including, a central cylindrical shank; a threaded bore extending axially through said shank; an upper flange at the top of said shank and integral therewith; a lower flange at the bottom of said shank and integral therewith; each flange being larger in horizontal section than the central shank so as to extend beyond the periphery of the shank on all sides and form opposed shoulders; said opposed shoulders being flat and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said shank; the plastic boss firmly bearing against the peripheral surfaces of the shank and both flanges, and against the opposed shoulders of the flanges and against the lower face of the lower flange; the upper face of the upper flange being disposed generally co-planar with the upper surface of the boss so that the cover bears thereon; and a bolt extending through said cover and tightly threaded into the bore of the fastener.