GB2397322A

GB2397322A - Access cover for manholes

Info

Publication number: GB2397322A
Application number: GB0300838A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Francis Clark
Original assignee: CLARKSTEEL Ltd
Current assignee: CLARKSTEEL Ltd
Priority date: 2003-01-15
Filing date: 2003-01-15
Publication date: 2004-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-15
Also published as: GB2397322B; GB0300838D0

Abstract

The access cover, of the type shaped to receive an infill of a settable material or one or more slabs, is in the form of a tray that includes two lifting devices 13 that each comprise a T-shaped receptacle 14 and a handle 15 extendible from and retractable into the receptacle, with the handle being held captive relative to the receptacle. Each handle preferable has a T-shape with an additional foot portion that extends out the from the stem that is wider that the stem portion of the receptacle such that the handle can move up and down but not be fully removed. The tray and lifting devices are preferably formed from plastic material. The lifting device preferably also includes a body portion and a separate plate 26 which form the receptacle, with the body portion being attached to a respective side wall of the tray and the plate being positioned between the body portion and the tray wall. The lifting device may be provided with a removable lid 23 for closing the receptacle when the handle is in the retracted position.

Description

1 2397322

AN ACCESS COVER

This invention relates to an access cover for manholes and the like and more particularly relates to such a cover designed to receive an infil which may be in the form of a gettable material or one or more slabs.

Traditionally, infil covers have keyways and separate keys are provided which co-operate with the keyways so that the cover can be raised or lowered relative to an access hole.

According to the present invention, there is provided an access cover shaped to receive an infil, the cover being in the form of a tray and having two lifting devices, each lifting device comprising a T-shaped receptacle and a handle extendible from and retractable into the receptacle, the handle being held captive relative to the receptacle.

Preferred and/or optional features of the present invention are set forth in claims 2 to 9, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a perspective view of one embodiment of an access cover according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of one of the lifting devices of the cover, and Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the lifting device shown in Figure 2 but from the opposite side.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown therein an access cover 10 which may be of plastics material, typically polypropylene, and which is designed to receive an infil, such as gettable material or one or more slabs. The cover is in the form of a rectangular tray having a horizontal base 11 and substantially vertical side walls 12.

The cover 10 has two lifting devices 13 bolted to the inside of opposite side walls 12 of the tray.

Each lifting device 13 may also he of plastics material, typically nylon, and comprises a I-shaped receptacle 14 and a handle 15 extendible from and retractable into the receptacle 14.

Each handle 15 comprises a stem portion 16, a head portion 17 extending transversely to opposite sides of the upper end of the stem portion 16 and a foot portion 18 extending transversely to opposite sides of the lower end of the stem portion 16.

Each receptacle 14 defines a recess 19 having a head portion 20 for receiving the head portion 17 of a respective handle 15 when in a retracted condition, a stem portion 21 receiving the stem and foot portions 16 and 18 of the handle 15 and a neck portion 22 between the head portion 20 and the stem portion 21. The neck portion 22 is defined by two inwardly extending projections 25 and is narrower than the foot portion 18 of the handle so that the handle is held captive relative to the receptacle 14.

A plate 26 is interposed between each receptacle 14 and a respective side wall 12 of the cover 10. The side walls 12 are very slightly inclined to the vertical and the thickness of each plate 26 is downwardly tapered to compensate for the very slight inclination of the side walls 12 to ensure that the handles 15 lift vertically. This gives a straighter lift. The plates 26 also protect the handles 15 from abrasion against the upper surface of the cover 10.

Each lifting device 13 has a removable lid 23 for closing the receptacle 14 when the handle 15 is in a retracted condition.

Each lid 23 has two depending pegs 24 which are press fittable in respective holes 27 in the upper surface of the receptacle 147 to locate the lid 23 in place.

When it is desired to raise or lower the cover 10, the lid 23 is removed from each of the receptacles 14 and the handle 15 is raised until the foot portion 18 of the handle engages beneath the neck portion 22 of the recess 19.

The provision of integral lifting devices facilitates raising and lowering of the cover.

The embodiment described above 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 invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the tray 10 and lifting devices 13 could be of other appropriate materials, including metal, and the side walls 12 of the tray 10 could be inclined rather than being vertical.

Claims

1. An access cover shaped to receive an infil, the cover being in the form of a tray and having two lifting devices, each lifting device comprising a T-shaped receptacle and a handle extendible from and retractable into the receptacle, the handle being held captive relative to the receptacle.

2. An access cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein each handle comprises a stem portion, a head portion extending transversely to opposite sides of the in use upper end of the stem portion and a foot portion extending transversely to opposite sides of the in use lower end of the stem portion.

3. An access cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein each receptacle defines a recess having a head portion for receiving the head portion of a respective handle when in a retracted condition, a stem portion receiving the stem and foot portions of the handle and a neck portion between the head portion and the stem portion, the neck portion being narrower than the foot portion of the handle so that the handle is held captive relative to the receptacle.

4. An access cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray and lifting devices are formed of plastics material.

5. An access cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray is rectangular and has an in use horizontal base and in use vertical or substantially vertical sidles.

6. An access cover as claimed in claim 5, wherein each lifting device further comprises a body portion and a separate plate.

7. An access cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein the body portion is attached to a respective side wall of the tray and the plate is interposed between the body portion and said respective side wall.

8. An access cover as claimed in claim 7, wherein the thickness of the plate is downwardly tapered.

9. An access cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each lifting device has a removable lid for closing the receptacle when the handle is in a retracted condition.

10. An access cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.