Single component lock mechanism of a pedestal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12374871-B2
Application number	US-202318202738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2023
Priority date	May 26, 2023
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A single, unitary component for a pedestal that houses utility/communication lines/connections. The unitary component includes a tool engageable portion for rotation thereby and a hooked finger extending from the tool engageable portion and moving in an arc during rotation for engagement with a catch. The single, unitary component includes a resilient finger integral to and extending from at least one of the tool engageable portion or the hooked finger and having an engagement distal end. The engagement distal end of the resilient finger is engageable with a surface with the resilient finger resiliently deforming during rotation of the single, unitary component in a rotational direction to move the hook away from the catch and the resilient finger resiliently biasing the hook toward interaction with the catch.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A pedestal to securely house at least one of utility/communication lines or connections therefor, the pedestal comprising:
a first pedestal housing portion;
a second pedestal housing portion, the second pedestal housing portion being movable relative to the first pedestal housing portion between an open condition and a closed condition, the first pedestal housing portion and the second pedestal housing portion providing an interior for the at least one of utility/communication lines or connections therefor; and
a mechanical arrangement to secure the second pedestal housing portion to the first pedestal housing portion in the closed condition, the mechanical arrangement comprising:
a single, unitary component rotationally mounted relative to one of the first pedestal housing portion or the second pedestal housing portion;
a component housing associated with the single, unitary component and fixed relative to the one of the first pedestal housing portion or the second pedestal housing portion; and
a catch located on the other of the first pedestal housing portion or the second pedestal housing portion,
the single, unitary component comprising:
a tool engageable portion for engagement by a tool and rotation of the single, unitary component by the tool;
a hooked finger integral to and extending from the tool engageable portion and having a hook at a distal end of the hooked finger away from the tool engageable portion, with the hook moving in an arc about the tool engageable portion during rotation of the single, unitary component and, when the first pedestal housing portion and the second pedestal housing portion are in the closed condition, the hook may interact with the catch to inhibit the second pedestal housing portion from moving relative to the first pedestal housing portion to the open condition; and
a resilient finger integral to and extending from at least one of the tool engageable portion or the hooked finger and having an engagement distal end, the engagement distal end of the resilient finger engageable with a surface of the component housing with the resilient finger resiliently deforming during rotation of the single, unitary component in a rotational direction to move the hook away from the catch and the resilient finger resiliently biasing the hook toward the catch to interact with the catch to inhibit the second pedestal housing portion from moving relative to the first pedestal housing portion to the open condition.

2. The pedestal as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the resilient finger extends from the hooked finger.

3. The pedestal as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the resilient finger extends from the tool engageable portion.

4. The pedestal as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the component housing is fixed relative to the second pedestal housing portion and the catch is located on the first pedestal housing portion.

5. The pedestal as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical arrangement is configured to automatically secure the second pedestal housing portion to the first pedestal housing portion as the second pedestal housing portion is moved relative to the first pedestal housing portion toward the closed condition due to the resilient finger resiliently biasing the hook toward the catch.

6. The pedestal as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the resilient finger automatically elastically deforms as the second pedestal housing portion is moved relative to the first pedestal housing portion toward the closed condition due to the engagement distal end of the resilient finger engaging with the surface of the component housing.

7. The pedestal as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the resilient finger has a cam surface at the engagement distal end for camming against the surface of the component housing.

8. A mechanical arrangement for a pedestal that securely houses at least one of utility/communication lines or connections therefor, the pedestal comprising a first pedestal housing portion and a second pedestal housing portion where the second pedestal housing portion is movable relative to the first pedestal housing portion between an open condition and a closed condition, the mechanical arrangement comprising:
a single, unitary component rotationally mounted relative to one of the first pedestal housing portion or the second pedestal housing portion;
a component housing associated with the single, unitary component and fixed relative to the one of the first pedestal housing portion or the second pedestal housing portion; and
a catch located on the other of the first pedestal housing portion or the second pedestal housing portion,
the single, unitary component comprising:
a tool engageable portion for engagement by a tool and rotation of the single, unitary component by the tool;
a hooked finger integral to and extending from the tool engageable portion and having a hook at a distal end of the hooked finger away from the tool engageable portion, with the hook moving in an arc about the tool engageable portion during rotation of the single, unitary component and, when the first pedestal housing portion and the second pedestal housing portion are in the closed condition, the hook may interact with the catch to inhibit the second pedestal housing portion from moving relative to the first pedestal housing portion to the open condition; and
a resilient finger integral to and extending from at least one of the tool engageable portion or the hooked finger and having an engagement distal end, the engagement distal end of the resilient finger engageable with a surface of the component housing with the resilient finger resiliently deforming during rotation of the single, unitary component in a rotational direction to move the hook away from the catch and the resilient finger resiliently biasing the hook toward the catch to interact with the catch to inhibit the second pedestal housing portion from moving relative to the first pedestal housing portion to the open condition.

9. The mechanical arrangement as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the resilient finger extends from the hooked finger.

10. The mechanical arrangement as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the resilient finger extends from the tool engageable portion.

11. The mechanical arrangement as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the component housing is fixed relative to the second pedestal housing portion and the catch is located on the first pedestal housing portion.

12. The mechanical arrangement as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the mechanical arrangement is configured to automatically secure the second pedestal housing portion to the first pedestal housing portion as the second pedestal housing portion is moved relative to the first pedestal housing portion toward the closed condition due to the resilient finger resiliently biasing the hook toward the catch.

13. The mechanical arrangement as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the resilient finger automatically elastically deforms as the second pedestal housing portion is moved relative to the first pedestal housing portion toward the closed condition due to the engagement distal end of the resilient finger engaging with the surface of the component housing.

14. A single, unitary component of a mechanical arrangement, the mechanical arrangement comprising a component housing associated with the single, unitary component and fixed relative to one of a first housing portion or a second housing portion, and a catch located on the other of the first housing portion or the second housing portion, the single, unitary component comprising:
a tool engageable portion for engagement by a tool and rotation of the sin

Assignees

• Preformed Line Products Co

Inventors

• Hanneman Andrew James
• Grubish Christopher Stephen
• Cloud Randy G

Classifications

• E05B65/00

  Locks {or fastenings} for special use · CPC title

• H02B1/50 Primary

  Pedestal- or pad-mounted casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title