GB2298884A

GB2298884A - Manhole cover with information-carrying insert

Info

Publication number: GB2298884A
Application number: GB9600745A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian B Prosser
Original assignee: GLYNWED FOUNDRY PROD Ltd
Current assignee: GLYNWED FOUNDRY PROD Ltd
Priority date: 1995-03-16
Filing date: 1996-01-15
Publication date: 1996-09-18
Also published as: GB2298883A; GB2298883B; GB9600745D0; GB9522383D0; GB9505297D0; SG45414A1; GB2299601A

Description

PATENTS ACT 1977 DJL/A8736GB/D16 Title: Cover and Frame Assembly 2298884 1

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a cover and frame assembly and more particularly but not exclusively to a cover and frame assembly being so called roadway furniture, which is adapted to close an access opening in a pavement roadway or other ground surface, such as a manhole or pit in the ground. The cover may comprise a solid cover or may be a grating being a cover with openings provided therein for the drainage of water.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a cover and frame assembly in which the cover comprises an opening in an upper surface thereof, there being a plate carrying information, and having means to engage in the opening, to attach the plate to the cover.

It is conventional practice when casting a cover of a cover and frame assembly, to provide integrally in the casting, information. The information may simply be a name or even an initial, or a sign to indicate the nature of the access opening which is to be covered by the cover.

Obviously where a range of covers are to be provided with different identification markings, conventional practice requires a pattern to be provided for each specific kind of cover, which is expensive.

By adopting a cover construction of a cover and frame assembly in accordance with the invention, only the plate carrying the information needs uniquely to be produced.

Preferably, the upper surface of the cover is provided with a shallow recess shaped to accommodate the plate, the recess providing a plurality of openings, and the plate having a plurality of engagement means adapted to be engaged in the openings in the recess.

2 Preferably, the cover is made in a metallic material by casting or fabrication, for example by casting in a ductile iron.

The plate to be attached to the cover preferably comprises a moulding in rubber or another suitable, preferably resilient synthetic material, the engagement means comprising one or more studs extending from an underside of the plate and being receivable in the or a respective opening of the recess.

The or each stud may be headed and the head may be resiliently deformable so as to permit their insertion into and through the opening in the cover, and then the head may resiliently spring back. Tle head may comprise a shoulder which in use, seats around or closely spaced from an under surface of the cover such that once the stud is inserted into an opening in the recess of the cover it is difficult, if not impossible, to remove the plate at least without destruction of the plate.

By virtue of the plate being made in rubber or another synthetic material, e.g. by moulding, the plate may be made in a colour contrasting with the colour of the remainder of the metallic cover. For example it is conventional practice for covers of cover and frame assemblies covering fire hydrants, to be painted yellow by the fire service. By adopting the arrangement of the present invention the plate may be made in a yellow material and thus no maintenance would be required to repaint the cover yellow.

Ile (yellow) colour may be the only information on the plate, and/or information may be provided by letter, signs or otherwise.

71e plate may be rectangular, circular, or even elliptical or any other shape as desired, to match the shape of the recess provided in the cover.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a cover for a cover and frame assembly of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a plate adapted to be secured to a cover of a cover and frame assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

3 The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a sectional illustrative view through a cover of the cover and frame assembly in accordance with the invention showing an identification plate attached to the remainder of the cover, Figures 2& and 2b- are plan views showing different forms of plate, and Figures 34, 3b_ and 3g. are respectively, illustrative front, side and plan views of a plate for attachment to a cover, in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a cover 10 of a cover and frame assembly in accordance with the invention. A cover 10 comprises an upper surface 11 in which there is provided a shallow recess 12. From a bottom surface 13 of the recess, there opens a pair of openings 14 and 15 respectively.

A plate 16, carrying information such as lettering 17, is received in the shallow recess 12. In the present example, the recess 12 is generally rectangular in plan view, and the plate 16 is of a matching generally rectangular configuration.

Extending downwardly from a lower surface 18 of the plate 16 there are a pair of studs 19 and 20 of identical configuration. Each stud 19, 20 is made of a resilient material, such as rubber, and has a head 21, 22 which terminates in a respective shoulder 23, 24. Between the shoulder 23, 24 and the lower surface 18 of the plate 16, the distance corresponds generally to thickness t of the cover 10, beneath the plate 16. Hence, the heads 21 and 22 of the studs 19 and 20 may resiliently be deformed to permit the studs 19, 20 to be inserted into a respective opening 14 and 15, from the recess 12. As the plate 16 seats in the bottom of the recess 12, the heads 21 and 22 will spring resiliently outwards, such that the respective shoulders 23 and 24 will engage around the respective opening 14 or 15, or at least be spaced very close to the underside surface 26 of the cover 10. Tbus once inserted into the openings 14 and 15, the studs 19 and 20 are very difficult, if not impossible, to remove without destroying the studs 19 and 20 and/or the plate 16 as a whole.

4 Preferably the plate 16 and studs 19 and 20 are moulded integrally in rubber or another suitable synthetic material with the lettering 17 or other information 17 provided thereon.

Of course, if desired, more than two studs 19, 20 may be provided, or less than two studs, to attach the plate 16 in the recess 12.

Referring to Figures 2& and 2h there are shown two examples of the plate 16a and 1612 carrying information respectively 17.a and 17b, In Figure 21 the information is the word "metre" to denote that below the cover 10. Tliere is provided a water or other meter.

In Figure 2h, the information carried is the word 'Water" which may denote that below the cover 10 in the access opening, there is provided a water stop tap or the like. Any other suitable words may be provided on the upper surface of the plate 16.g. 16b_ as desired to convey whatever information is required.

In another example, in place of providing raised lettering 17, 17j& or 17b, the information may simply comprise the colour of the plate 16, or a combination of the colour of the plate 16 and one or more letters, signs or other.

Referring to Figures 3.a to 3Q there are shown alternative views of the plate 16 with the same parts referenced as in Figure 1. In this example, no raised lettering 17 is provided, but the information comprises the colour of the plate 16.

In another example, the plate 16 may be other than rectangular, e.g. circular or even elliptical or any other desired shape. Preferably the periphery of the plate 16 conforms to the internal periphery of the recess 12, where provided, in the cover 10. Although as shown in Figure 1, the plate 16 does not extend upwardly out of the recess 12 to any appreciable degree, in another arrangement it may be desirable for the plate 16 to extend up significantly out of the recess 12 in the upper surface 11 of the cover. Alternatively, the upper surface 11 of the cover 10 may comprise a recess deep enough for a suitable plate 16 to be received in the bottom of the recess 12, with the upper surface of the plate positioned below the surrounding upper surface of the cover.

lle invention is particularly applicable where the cover 10 is a cast cover e.g. cast in ductile iron. It has been found that it is much more expensive to provide a plurality of patterns to provide a large number of alternative covers with alternative information provided on an upper surface thereof, than it is to provide a plurality rubber or other suitable synthetic identification plates with alternative information on them.

Also, in production terms, it is preferred for a range of covers 10 to be produced using a common pattern or patterns to which can be attached any one of a plurality of alternative plates 16 to provide a cover of a cover and frame assembly specifically identified for a particular application.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

6

Claims

1. A cover and frame assembly in which the cover comprises an opening in an upper surface thereof, there being a plate carrying information, and having means to engage in the opening, to attach the plate to the cover.

2. A cover of a cover and frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein the information is a name, or an initial, or a sign to indicate the nature of the access opening which is to be covered by the cover.

3. A cover and frame assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper surface of the cover is provided with a shallow recess shaped to accommodate the plate, the recess providing at least one opening, and the plate having a corresponding number of engagement means adapted to be engaged in the or a respective opening in the recess.

4. A cover and frame assembly according to claim 3 wherein the engagement means comprises one or more studs extending from an underside of the plate and being receivable in the or a respective opening in the recess.

5. A cover and frame assembly according to claim 4 wherein the or each stud is headed and the head is resiliently deformable so as to permit their insertion into and through the respective opening in the cover, and then the head may resiliently spring back.

6. A cover and frame assembly according to claim 5 wherein the head comprises a shoulder which in use, seats around or closely spaced from an under surface of the cover such that once the stud is inserted into an opening in the 7 recess of the cover it is difficult, if not impossible, to remove the plate at least without destruction of the plate.

7. A cover and frame assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover is made in a metallic material by casting or fabrication.

8. ' A cover and frame assembly according to claim 7 wherein the cover is made by casting in a ductile iron.

9. A cover and frame assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plate to he attached to the cover preferably comprises a moulding in rubber or in a resilient synthetic material.

10. A cover and frame assembly according to claim 9 wherein the plate is made in a colour contrasting with the colour of the remainder of the metallic cover.

A cover and frame assembly according to claim 10 wherein the colour is the only information carried by the plate.

12. A cover and frame assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plate is rectangular, circular, or elliptical or any other shape adapted to match the shape of the recess provided in the cover.

13. 1 to 12.

A cover for a cover and frame assembly according to any one of claims

14. A plate adapted to be secured to a cover of a cover and frame assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

is. A cover and frame assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A cover for a cover and frame assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. A plate adapted to be secured to a cover of a cover and frame assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as herein defined and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.