AU2014201262B2

AU2014201262B2 - Locking system for a grate

Info

Publication number: AU2014201262B2
Application number: AU2014201262A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Matthew Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-07
Filing date: 2014-03-06
Publication date: 2017-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-06
Also published as: AU2014201262A1

Abstract

- 1 The present invention is directed to a locking system for a grate that has a grate with a rectangular prim shaped pin that is engageable within a key shaped opening in a 5 surrounding frame. The grate can be pivotally raised and lowered while remaining within the keyhole opening. When in a raised position the pin is locked in position by locating the pin within a slot portion of the keyhole opening. Fig. 1 cs2 13s '~ 15%~ I w'

Description

- 1 - 2014201262 06 Mar 2014

LOCKING SYSTEM FOR A GRATE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to grates for pits, gullies and stormwater drains. 5 Reference to grates includes all types of grates that can be raised to a substantially vertical position. Reference to grates includes grates for pits, gullies and drains. For convenience reference to gullies also includes pits and drains.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0 Grates used to cover pits, gullies and stormwater drains are usually very heavy in order to provide sufficient integral strength to withstand heavy loads such as trucks and motor vehicles passing over them. These grates are usually made of a heavy gauge metal lattice. The grates are usually supported around the periphery of the gully, pit or drain. From time to time, workers need access to the pit, gully or 5 drain to clean them out and perform maintenance work. The grates can be removed by an excavator by lifting them from their position. Most often the grate is removed or repositioned vertically by two or more workers. Many grates can be pivoted at one end and propped against the periphery of the gully to be in a substantially vertically position. When the grate is lifted and repositioned in a substantially vertical 0 position, a worker stands over the gully and manually slides a pin to lock the grate in the open and vertical position. By standing over the gully, the worker takes the risk of not only accidentally falling in the open gully but also having the heavy metal grate fall on them.

Currently the options for gaining access to a gully include removing the grate 25 which is not always possible and if it is possible generally requires additional workers and or machinery. Alternatively the grate can be repositioned to be substantially vertical and then manually locked into position. The latter option however involves a worker taking a risk that may result in serious injury.

30 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative solution to the positioning and locking of the grate in a substantial vertical open position to overcome at least in part the aforementioned problem. -2- 2014201262 06 Mar 2014

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a locking system for a grate including a grate with a rectangular prism shaped pin extending outwardly from one 5 side of the grate, said pin is orientated with the longitudinal axis extending outwardly and the plane of the surface of the pin that has the largest surface area is substantially aligned or parallel with the plane of the top surface of the grate; a frame for supporting the grate, said frame having a substantially key hole shaped slot on the frame, said key hole shaped slot has a round shaped slot portion 0 and an elongate slot portion, wherein in use said key hole shaped slot is orientated with the round shaped slot portion positioned above the elongate slot portion, wherein in use the grate is supported within the frame and the rectangular prism shaped pin is positioned within the key hole shaped slot, said grate is pivotal between a level closed position relative to the frame and a substantially upright open 5 position relative to the frame, when the grate is in the level closed position the pin is located within the round shaped slot portion and when the grate is raised the pin pivots and slides within the elongate slot portion to locate and lock the grate in the substantially upright open position to prevent further pivotal movement.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a locking system for 0 a grate including a grate with a rectangular prism shaped pin extending outwardly from one side, said pin is orientated with the longitudinal axis extending outwardly and the plane of the surface of the pin with the largest surface area is substantially aligned or parallel with the plane of the top surface of the grate; 25 a frame for supporting the grate, said frame having a substantially key hole shaped slot on the frame, said key hole shaped slot has a round shaped slot portion and an elongate slot portion, wherein in use said key hole shaped slot is orientated with the round shaped slot portion positioned above the elongate slot portion, wherein in use the grate is supported within the frame and the rectangular 30 prism shaped pin is positioned within the key hole shaped slot, said pin is located within the round shaped slot portion when the grate is in a level closed position relative to the frame; when said grate is raised the pin pivots and slides within the elongate slot portion to locate and lock the grate in the substantially upright open position thereby preventing further pivotal movement. -3- 2014201262 06 Mar 2014

Preferably the key hole shaped slot is on a side of the frame adjacent one end.

The pin is preferably attachable to the grate or integral with the grate.

Where the pin is attachable to the grate, the pin preferably has a twisted S-5 shape where one leg serves for attachment to the grate and another leg serves as the pin.

To lower the grate to the substantially horizontal closed position, the grate is preferably raised until the pin is positioned within the round shaped slot portion wherein it can rotate and the grate can be lowered. 0 The frame preferably has a housing surrounding the key hole shaped slot on the outside surface of the frame to provide space within which to enable the pin to rotate. More preferably the housing is a box shaped housing.

In one form there is a second pivot pin on the opposite side of the grate to facilitate movement of the grate between a raised and lowered position. The second 5 pivot pin is preferably a round pivot pin but can be another rectangular prism shaped pin. Where there is a second pivot pin, there is a housing on the outside of the frame where the second pivot pin engages the opening in the frame.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a grate assembly including 0 a grate with a rectangular prism shaped pin extending outwardly from one side, said pin is orientated with the longitudinal axis extending outwardly and the plane of the surface of the pin that has the largest surface area is substantially aligned or parallel with the plane of the top surface of the grate; a frame for supporting the grate, said frame having a substantially key hole 25 shaped slot on the frame, said key hole shaped slot has a round shaped slot portion and an elongate slot portion, wherein in use said key hole shaped slot is orientated with the round shaped slot portion positioned above the elongate slot portion, wherein in use the grate is supported within the frame and the rectangular prism shaped pin is positioned within the key hole shaped slot and adapted to rotate 30 within the round shaped slot portion when the grate moves from a substantially horizontal closed position to a substantially upright open position relative to the frame and slide within the elongate slot portion to locate and lock the grate in the substantially upright open position to prevent further pivotal movement. -4- 2014201262 06 Mar 2014 ln a further aspect the invention resides in a method of using a grate and frame as described above including the steps of: locating the grate within the frame so that the pin is located within the key hole shaped slot; 5 raising the grate and allowing the pin to rotate within the round shaped slot portion; and sliding the pin within the elongate slot portion when the grate is raised to a substantially upright position.

Features described with reference to one aspect also apply to all other 0 aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred 5 embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the grate assembly wherein the grate is supported within the frame;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the grate assembly where the grate is raised; 0 Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the grate;

Figure 4 is another diagrammatic perspective view of the grate;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the frame;

Figure 6 is another diagrammatic view of the frame;

Figure 7 is a cut-away diagrammatic view of the locking pin arrangement; 25 Figure 8 is a cut-away exploded view of the locking pin arrangement; and

Figures 9 to 12 is a sequence of cut-away diagrammatic views of raising the grate relative to the frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 30 With reference to the Figures 1 to 12, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the grate assembly 10 including a grate 11 consisting of interlinked metal bars forming a metal lattice. There is also a frame 12 which serves to support the grate 11. -5- 2014201262 06 Mar 2014

The frame 12 has a flange 13 that extends outwardly from either side of the frame to assist with the mounting of the frame about the pit drain or gully opening. There is also an inwardly extending flange 16 on either side of the frame on which the grate 11 is supported. 5 The frame 12 also has two box sections 14,15 on opposite sides of the frame 12 and adjacent an end of the frame 12. These box sections 14 provide a space within which pivot pins can turn without interference.

The frame 12 has a pivot pin opening 17 providing access to the box section 14. The frame 12 also has a key hole shaped slot 18 that provides access to the box 0 section 15. The key hole shaped slot 18 has a round shaped portion 19 and an elongate portion 20.

The grate 11 has a round pivot pin 21 extending outwardly from a side near one end. There is a rectangular opening 22 on the opposite side and near the same end. The rectangular opening 22 serves to allow the positioning of the locking pin 25 5 to pass there through. There is also shown an aperture 23 on an adjacent lattice bar for the attachment of the locking pin 25.

The locking pin 25 has a substantially s-shaped configuration formed by an L shaped attachment portion 26 and a rectangular prism shaped tongue 27. The L-shaped attachment portion 26 is bolted onto the grate 11 via aperture 23. The 0 tongue 27 passes through the rectangular opening 22 when the locking pin 25 is attached to the grate 11. The rectangular opening 22 prevents separate movement of the locking pin 25 relative to the grate 11 and in use retains the position of the locking pin 25 within the grate 11.

When in use, the frame 12 is located about the gully, pit or drain opening and 25 the grate 11 is supported within the frame 12. The tongue 27 passes through the grate rectangular opening 22 and the frame key hole shaped slot 18 and extends into the space provided by the box section 15. The tongue 27 is positioned within the round shaped portion 19. The round shaped portion 19 has a diameter wider than the width of the tongue 27 thereby allowing the tongue 27 to rotate within the 30 round shaped portion 19.

As the grate 11 is raised relative to the frame 12, the pivot pin 21 rotates within the frame pivot pin opening 17 and the locking pin 25 rotates within the round shaped portion 19. As the grate 11 becomes substantially vertical, the prism shaped 2014201262 06 Mar 2014 -6- tongue 27 slides within the elongate portion 20 and is held in position by the peripheral sides 30 bordering the elongate portion 20.

When the grate 11 needs to be lowered, it must be lifted from the elongate portion 20 to allow the tongue 27 to rotate within the round shaped portion 19. In this 5 way, the grate 11 can be raised from a substantially horizontal closed position to an open substantially vertical or upright position and automatically lock itself in this position. The arrangement of the tongue 27 with the key hole shaped slot 18 allows the grate 11 to be self locking in a substantially open upright position. The grate 11 can then be lowered and returned to the closed position. 0

ADVANTAGES

The present invention is a locking system for a grate that has a grate with a rectangular prim shaped pin that is engageable within a key shaped opening in a surrounding frame. The grate can be pivotally raised and lowered while remaining 5 within the keyhole opening. When in a raised position the pin is locked in position by locating the pin within a slot portion of the keyhole opening.

An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the invention is that locating the rectangular shaped pin in the elongate slot portion automatically locks the grate in position as the pin is prevented from rotating by the sides of the key hole in the 0 frame. Furthermore the preferred embodiment of the invention is a self locking device and requires no additional manual step by the worker to lock the grate.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of 25 illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not 30 intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims

1. A locking system for a grate including a grate with a rectangular prism shaped pin extending outwardly from one side of the grate, said pin is orientated with the longitudinal axis extending outwardly and the plane of the surface of the pin that has the largest surface area is substantially aligned or parallel with the plane of the top surface of the grate; a frame for supporting the grate, said frame having a substantially key hole shaped slot on the frame, said key hole shaped slot has a round shaped slot portion and an elongate slot portion, wherein said key hole shaped slot has a continuous perimeter, and wherein in use said key hole shaped slot is orientated with the round shaped slot portion positioned above the elongate slot portion, wherein in use the grate is supported within the frame and the rectangular prism shaped pin is positioned within the key hole shaped slot, said grate is pivotal between a level closed position relative to the frame and a substantially upright open position relative to the frame, when the grate is in the level closed position the pin is located within the round shaped slot portion and when the grate is raised the pin pivots and slides within the elongate slot portion to locate and lock the grate in the substantially upright open position to prevent further pivotal movement, and wherein the pin is attachable to the grate.

2. A locking system for a grate including a grate with a rectangular prism shaped pin extending outwardly from one side, said pin is orientated with the longitudinal axis extending outwardly and the plane of the surface of the pin with the largest surface area is substantially aligned or parallel with the plane of the top surface of the grate; a frame for supporting the grate, said frame having a substantially key hole shaped slot on the frame, said key hole shaped slot has a round shaped slot portion and an elongate slot portion, wherein said key hole shaped slot has a continuous perimeter, and wherein in use said key hole shaped slot is orientated with the round shaped slot portion positioned above the elongate slot portion, wherein in use the grate is supported within the frame and the rectangular prism shaped pin is positioned within the key hole shaped slot, said pin is located within the round shaped slot portion when the grate is in a level closed position relative to the frame; when said grate is raised the pin pivots and slides within the elongate slot portion to locate and lock the grate in the substantially upright open position thereby preventing further pivotal movement, and wherein the pin is attachable to the grate.

3. A grate assembly including a grate with a rectangular prism shaped pin extending outwardly from one side, said pin is orientated with the longitudinal axis extending outwardly and the plane of the surface of the pin that has the largest surface area is substantially aligned or parallel with the plane of the top surface of the grate; a frame for supporting the grate, said frame having a substantially key hole shaped slot on the frame, said key hole shaped slot has a round shaped slot portion and an elongate slot portion, wherein said key hole shaped slot has a continuous perimeter, and wherein in use said key hole shaped slot is orientated with the round shaped slot portion positioned above the elongate slot portion, wherein in use the grate is supported within the frame and the rectangular prism shaped pin is positioned within the key hole shaped slot and adapted to rotate within the round shaped slot portion when the grate moves from a substantially horizontal closed position to a substantially upright open position relative to the frame and slide within the elongate slot portion to locate and lock the grate in the substantially upright open position to prevent further pivotal movement, and wherein the pin is attachable to the grate.

4. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the key hole shaped slot is on a side of the frame adjacent one end.

5. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the pin has a twisted S-shape where one leg serves for attachment to the grate and another leg serves as the pin.

6. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the grate is raised until the pin is positioned within the round shaped slot portion wherein it can rotate and the grate can be lowered when the grate is to be lowered.

7. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the frame has a housing surrounding the key hole shaped slot on the outside surface of the frame to provide space within which to enable the pin to rotate.

8. A locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein there is a second pivot pin on the opposite side of the grate to facilitate movement of the grate between a raised and lowered position.

9. A locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein there is a second pivot pin on the opposite side of the grate to facilitate movement of the grate between a raised and lowered position and the second pivot pin is a round pivot pin.

10. A grate assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the key hole shaped slot is on a side of the frame adjacent one end.

11. A grate assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pin has a twisted S-shape where one leg serves for attachment to the grate and another leg serves as the pin.

12. A grate assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the grate is raised until the pin is positioned within the round shaped slot portion wherein it can rotate and the grate can be lowered when the grate is to be lowered.

13. A grate assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame has a housing surrounding the key hole shaped slot on the outside surface of the frame to provide space within which to enable the pin to rotate.

14. A grate assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is a second pivot pin on the opposite side of the grate to facilitate movement of the grate between a raised and lowered position.

15. A grate assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is a second pivot pin on the opposite side of the grate to facilitate movement of the grate between a raised and lowered position and the second pivot pin is a round pivot pin.