GB2291088A - Access cover frames and assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A frame for an access cover having an infill of settable material is of dished shape and has a base 10 and four side walls. The frame further comprises a plurality of lugs 15 on the outer surfaces of the side walls, the lugs being deformable between a first position in which a part 18, 19 of the lug projects below the base of the frame so that it can sit on a corresponding lug of a like frame to support the two frames in spaced relationship one above the other and a second position in which the lug does not project below the frame. Such frames allow covers to be supported in their frames and stacked so that the settable material in the covers can set without the need for specially designed pallets as used hitherto. <IMAGE>

Description

ACCESS COVER FRAMES & ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to a frame for an access cover having an infill of settable material, a frame and cover assembly and a method of making access covers having an infill of settable material.

It is known to provide an access frame and cover assembly comprising a dished frame and a dished cover which sits in the frame. The dished cover is filled or substantially filled with settable material, typically concrete, and the cover is then placed in its frame and left so that the concrete can set. In order that the frame and cover assemblies can be stacked to allow the concrete to set, and also for handling, specially designed pallets are provided between adjacent frame and cover assemblies.

These are costly and occupy space.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame for an access cover having an infill of settable material, the frame being of dished shape having a base and side walls and further having a plurality of lugs on the outer surfaces of the side walls, the lugs being deformable between a first position in which a part of the lug projects below the base of the frame so that it can sit on a corresponding lug of a like frame to support the two frames in spaced relationship one above the other and a second position in which the lug does not project below the frame.

It will be appreciated that such frames allow covers to be supported in their frames and stacked so that the settable material in the covers can set without the need for specially designed pallets as used hitherto, thus providing a saving in both cost and space.

Preferably, each lug serves as a combined stacking and grouting lug according to whether it is in its first or second position, respectively.

Preferably, each lug is deformable along a horizontal bend line and a slot extends along the bend line to provide a weakened zone where the lug can be deformed and to permit the insertion of a tool which can be used to deform the lug.

Preferably, each lug has a first top portion extending parallel or substantially parallel to the base of the frame, a second portion adjoining the top portion and secured to one of the side walls of the frame, a third portion adjoining the second portion and being deformable relative to the second portion, the third portion projecting below the base of the frame when the lug is in its first position, and a fourth portion adjoining the third portion and extending parallel or substantially parallel to the base of the frame when the lug is in its first position, the fourth portion being adapted to sit on the top portion of a corresponding lug of a like frame when the two frames are stacked one above the other. In this case, the third portion preferably extends at a small angle to the second portion when the lug is in its first position.

Conveniently, the frame is rectangular and has at least one lug on each of its shorter sides and at least two lugs on each of its longer sides.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a frame according to the first aspect of the invention in combination with an access cover having an infill of settable material.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making access covers having an infill of settable material, comprising the steps of: a) taking a plurality of frames according to the first aspect of the invention, the lugs of the frames being in their first positions; b) filling a first cover with settable material; c) placing said first cover in a first frame; d) filling a second cover with settable material; e) placing said second cover in a second frame and supporting said second frame on said first frame with the lugs of said second frame sitting the corresponding lugs of said first frame; and f) subsequently, prior to use of the covers and frames, deforming the lugs of each frame from said first to said second positions.

Preferably, in use, the lugs are grouted in.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of an access cover frame according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the frame shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary side views showing two positions, respectively, of a deformable stacking/grouting lug of the frame, on an enlarged scale; Figure 5 is a view in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing two frames stacked one on the other.

Referring to the drawings, the access cover frame shown therein is of dished shape and comprises a rectangular base 10 and four side walls 11, 12, 13 and 14.

The frame also has six combined stacking and grouting lugs 15 secured to the sides 11 to 14 of the frame, such as by welding. Each longer side 12 and 14 has two such lugs 15 and each shorter side 11 and 13 has one such lug 15 which in this case is located midway between its ends.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 5, each lug 15 has a first top portion 16, a second portion 17 which is secured to the side of the frame, a third portion 18 and a fourth portion 19. When the lug 15 is in a first position as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the first and fourth portions 16 and 19, respectively, extend parallel to one another and to the base 10 of the frame. The third portion 18 connects the fourth portion 19 to the second portion 17 and projects below the base 10 of the frame by a distance greater than the distance which the first portion 16 is spaced below the upper edge of the frame so that when two frames are stacked one above the other (as shown in Figure 6) with the fourth portion 19 of the lug 15 of the upper frame sitting on the first portion 16 of the corresponding lug of the lower frame, the two frames are spaced from one another.

As will be noted, particularly from Figure 3, the third portion 18 is not coplanar with the second portion 17, but extends outwardly at a small angle, typically about 10 , to the second portion 17. This produces a bend line 20 between the two portions 17 and 18. An elongate slot 21 is provided in the lug 15 and extends along the bend line 20. This slot 21 provides local weakening of the lug 15 so that the lug can be more easily deformed by bending to adopt a second position as shown in Figure 4. In this position, the third portion 18 is flush with (but could instead be above) the base 10 of the frame and is ready for grouting in. Bending of the lug 15 from its position shown in Figures 3 and 5 to its position shown in Figure 4 can be effected using a tool, such as a stout screwdriver, inserted into the slot 21.

It will be appreciated that these frames are stackable when the lugs 15 are in positions as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6 and easily adapted for use by bending the lugs 15 to the positions shown in Figure 4.

The frames are adapted to receive access covers having an infill of settable material, typically concrete.

The covers are of dished shaped and are generally designed to withstand vehicular traffic loads. Typically, these covers are used to cover access holes and chambers storing telecommunications or cable television junctions. The covers can be supported in the frames while the concrete sets and the lugs 15 are designed so that air can circulate between each cover and an adjacent frame when so stacked.

Internal loops 25 provide a location for a supporting beam (not shown) where two covers are inserted side by side in the frame. External loops 26 are used for keying the frame into surrounding concrete.

The above embodiment is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the base of the frame need not be a continuous plate provided it gives the frame sufficient strength and rigidity to support the cover to its desired load bearing capacity. For example, the base of the frame could, instead, be in the form of a grid like structure. Also, the number of lugs 15 will vary according to the shape of the frame and in particular on whether the frame is designed to hold one, two or three covers.

Claims (10)

1. A frame for an access cover having an infill of settable material, the frame being of dished shape having a base and side walls and further having a plurality of lugs on the outer surfaces of the side walls, the lugs being deformable between a first position in which a part of the lug projects below the base of the frame so that it can sit on a corresponding lug of a like frame to support the two frames in spaced relationship one above the other and a second position in which the lug does not project below the frame.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lug serves as a combined stacking and grouting lug according to whether it is in its first or second position, respectively.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each lug is deformable along a horizontal bend line and a slot extends along the bend line to provide a weakened zone where the lug can be deformed and to permit the insertion of a tool which can be used to deform the lug.

4. A frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each lug has a first top portion extending parallel or substantially parallel to the base of the frame, a second portion adjoining the top portion and secured to one of the side walls of the frame, a third portion adjoining the second portion and being deformable relative to the second portion, the third portion projecting below the base of the frame when the lug is in its first position, and a fourth portion adjoining the third portion and extending parallel or substantially parallel to the base of the frame when the lug is in its first position, the fourth portion being adapted to sit on the top portion of a corresponding lug of a like frame when the two frames are stacked one above the other.

5. A frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third portion extends at a small angle to the second portion when the lug is in its first position.

6. A frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is rectangular and has at least one lug on each of its shorter sides and at least two lugs on each of its longer sides.

7. A frame for an access cover having an infill of settable material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with an access cover having an infill of settable material.

9. A method of making access covers having an infill of settable material, comprising the steps of: a) taking a plurality of frames as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the lugs of the frames being in their first positions; b) filling a first cover with settable material; c) placing said first cover in a first frame; d) filling a second cover with settable material; e) placing said second cover in a second frame and supporting said second frame on said first frame with the lugs of said second frame sitting on the corresponding lugs of said first frame; and f) subsequently, prior to use of the covers and frames, deforming the lugs of each frame from said first to said second positions.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein, in use, the lugs are grouted in.