GB2448371A

GB2448371A - Trench cover

Info

Publication number: GB2448371A
Application number: GB0707222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher James Whiteley
Original assignee: Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-14
Filing date: 2007-04-14
Publication date: 2008-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-14
Also published as: GB0707222D0; GB2448371B; WO2008125819A1

Abstract

A trench cover 12 suitable for covering or bridging trip or drop hazards comprises a generally planar main body 15. The body bears a first protuberance 22 from an edge of the main body 15; a corresponding first recess 24 disposed upon an edge of the main body 15, said first protuberance 22 and said first recess 24 are such that, when the trench cover 12 is in an attachment orientation relative to a similar adjacent trench cover 14, the first protuberance 22 of said trench cover 12 may be releasably received by the first recess 24 of said similar adjacent trench cover 14. When the first protuberance 22 of the trench cover 12 has been received by the first recess 24 of said adjacent similar trench cover 14, the trench cover 12 is rotatable to an attached orientation relative to said similar adjacent trench cover 14, which causes the first protuberance 22 of said trench cover 12 to become retained within the first recess 24 of said similar adjacent trench cover 14, and hence facilitates the releasable attachment of a plurality of trench covers 12 adjacent to one another in an end to end fashion.

Description

Trench Cover The invention herein described relates to a trench cover

primarily for use in covering excavations made in the process of engineering works.

It is common that during engineering works a trench or hole is excavated presenting a drop or trip hazard to passing pedestrians and traffic. As a result, such excavations are routinely covered or bridged with a trench cover. Trench covers are commonly planar in shape and may be fabricated of materials including steel and heavy-duty plastics material.

Depending on the size of the excavation and the size of the trench cover, a plurality of trench covers may be used for a single excavation. When using a plurality of french covers for a single excavation similar trench covers are frequently placed adjacent to one another in an end-to-end fashion.

In some cases, particularly when the trench covers are of steel plate construction, adjacent trench covers tend not to be mechanically connected in any way. As sucb, there is no transfer of load between one trench cover and another. This in-ability to transfer load between adjacent trench covers may result in a reduction in the maximum load a trench cover can support in use; and a diminished lifetime of the trench cover. There is also the risk that adjacent covers may move apart over time leaving the hazard exposed.

Occasionally, such as with some types of heavy-duty plastics material trench covers, adjacent trench covers are secured to one another by use of a steel plates and nuts and bolts arrangement Such an arrangement is both time consuming and complicated to assemble; and as many trench covers may need connecting together to cover or bridge a particular excavation it can be responsible for a vezy large workload for those installing the trench covers. Additionally the use of nuts and bolts necessitates the utilisation of tools.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a trench cover suitable for covering or bridging trip or drop hazards comprising a generally planar main body; a first protuberance from an edge of the main body, a corresponding first recess disposed upon an edge of the main body; said first protuberance and said first recess being such that, when the trench cover is in an attachment orientation relative to a similar adjacent trench cover, the first protuberance of said trench cover may be releasably received by the first recess of said similar adjacent trench cover; and when the first protuberance of the trench cover has been received by the first recess of said adjacent similar trench cover, the trench cover is rotatable to an attached orientation relative to said similar adjacent trench cover, this causing the first protuberance of said trench cover to become retained within the first recess of said similar adjacent trench cover, hence facilitating the releasable attachment of a plurality of trench covers adjacent to one another in an end to end fashion.

Preferably, said edge from which there is a first protuberance and said edge upon which there is disposed a first recess run substantially parallel to one another and have corresponding profiles such that when said trench cover is in its attached orientation with respect to said adjacent similar trench cover, both trench covers tessellate the plane in which their said main bodies lie. This ensures that if adjacent trench covers are attached to one another in order to cover a large excavation there are no gaps between the trench covers which may pose a drop or tripping hazard.

Desirably, the trench cover further comprises a second protuberance and a second recess, the second protuberance forming a pair with said first recess and the second recess forming a pair with said first protuberance; said pairs each being disposed on a same edge of the trench cover and said second protuberance and second recess capable of co-operating in a similar manner to that of the first protuberance and first recess. This allows greater load transfer between adjacent joined trench covers and also increases the stability of the connection between them.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of two adjacent instances of an embodiment of the invention in use; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of two adjacent instances of an embodiment of the invention, one of which being in an attachment orientation relative to the other.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of two adjacent instances of the same embodiment of the invention shown in figure 2, both of which are in an attached configuration with respect to the other.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a component from each of two adjacent instances of an embodiment of the invention, the components being in an attachment orientation relative to one another.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a component from each of two adjacent instances of the same embodiment of the invention shown in figure 4, the components being in an attached orientation relative to one another.

Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of that shown in figure 5.

As seen best in figure 1, it is common that during engineering works a trench 10 is excavated presenting a drop or flip hazard to passing pedestrians and traffic. In use, a trench cover 12 of sufflcient size to bridge the width of the trench 10 is placed over the trench 10, so as to provide means of crossing and/or preventing trip or drop hazards.

Figure 1 shows that, depending on the size of the excavation 10 and the size of the trench cover 12, a plurality of trench covers 12 may be used for a single excavation 10.

In this case a similar trench cover 14 is placed adjacent to another 12. In this way an excavation 10 of any size can be covered by placing a plurality of trench covers 12, 14 adjacent one another in an end-to-end fashion.

Each trench cover 12 comprises a generally oblong main planar surface 15, it being placed, in use, over the excavation 10 such that its longitudinal axis lies substantially parallel to the width of the excavation 10. The trench cover 12 has a convex profile along its longitudinal axis such that ramped portions 16, 18 of the planar surface 15 are provided so as to facilitate easy movement of people, equipment or vehicles from the surface adjacent the excavation 10 to the trench cover 12 and vice-versa The trench cover 12 also comprises a plurality of fixing holes 20 which pass through the cover 12 adjacent both edges which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, pegs (not shown) being passed through said fixing holes 20 in order to secure the trench cover 12 in position to the surface either side of the excavation 10.

Both edges of the trench cover 12 which run parallel to its longitudinal axis comprise a protuberance 22 and a recess 24. The protuberance 22 and recess 24 are sized and positioned such that, when the trench cover 12 is in an attachment orientation relative to a similar adjacent trench cover 14 (as shown in figures 2 and 4), the protuberance 22 of each trench cover 12, 14 may be releasably received by the recess 24 of each trench cover 12, 14. In this case the attachment orientation is an angle of approximately 45 degrees between the plane of each cover 12, 14.

Once the protuberances 22 have been received within the recesses 24, the relative orientation between the trench covers 12, 14 can be changed by rotating one relative to the other such that they occupy their attached orientation (as seen in figures 3, 5 and 6) where the trench covers 12, 14 are substantially co-planar. In this orientation, as seen best in figures 3 and 6, relative movement between the trench cover 12 and adjacent trench cover 14 within their co-plane is prevented by the co-operation of the protuberances 22 and recesses 24. Detachment of attached trench covers 12, 14 is a reversal of the attachment process.

As a protuberance 22 and recess 24 pair is provided on both edges which run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trench cover 12, it is possible to join a plurality of trench covers 12 to one another in an end-to-end fashioa In an embodiment shown the protuberances 22 and recesses 24 are formed by separate protuberance members 26 and recess members 28. The protuberance members 26 and recess members 28 aie recved within apertures (not clearly visible) in the longitudinal edges of the trench cover 12. The protuberance members 26 and recess members 28 are inserted from the inside of the trench cover 12; the apertures into which they are inserted being sized such that there is a push fit between the aperture wall and a fitting collar 30 on each member 26, 28. Each member 26, 28 also comprises an alignment edge 32 which abuts the planar surface 15 of the trench cover 12 to ensure that the members 26,28 remain in the correct orientation relative to the trench cover 12.

The layout of protuberances 22 and recesses 24 is such that they are not banded and so trench covers 12 can be connected to one another via either longitudinal edge. This non-handedness of the trench cover 12 also enables the use of only one end moulding in its manufacturing process, if it is made from a mouldable plastics material.

It will be appreciated that a number of modifications can be made to the device within the scope of the invention. Examples include, but are not limited to, the use of a different shape of protuberance and recess, the forming of the protuberance, recess and trench cover as part of a one-piece construction, use of a non-oblong main planar surface and use of a different profile protuberance such that the attachment orientation is a different angle between two adjacent trench covers.

Claims

Claims 1. A trench cover suitable for covering or bridging trip or drop

hazards comprising: a generally planar main body; a first protuberance from an edge of the main body; a corresponding first recess disposed upon an edge of the main body; said first protuberance and said first recess being such that, when the trench cover is in an attachment orientation relative to a similar adjacent trench cover, the first protuberance of said trench cover may be releasably received by the first recess of said similar adjacent trench cover; and when the first protuberance of the trench cover has been received by the first recess of said adjacent similar trench cover, the trench cover is rotatable to an attached orientation relative to said similar adjacent trench cover, this causing the first protuberance of said trench cover to become retained within the first recess of said similar adjacent french cover, hence facilitating the releasable attachment of a plurality of trench covers adjacent to one another in an end to end fashion.
2. A trench cover as claimed in claim I where said edge from which there is a first protuberance and said edge upon which there is disposed a first recess run substantially parallel to one another and have corresponding profiles such that when said trench cover is in its attached orientation with respect to said adjacent similar trench cover, both trench covers tessellate the plane in which their said main bodies lie.
3. A trench cover as claimed in either claim I or 2 which further comprises a second protuberance and a second recess, the second protuberance forming a pair with said first recess and the second recess forming a pair with said first protuberance; said pairs each being disposed on a same edge of the trench cover and said second protuberance and second recess capable of co-operating in a siniilar manner to that of the first protuberance and first recess.
4. A trench cover as claimed in any of claims 1-3 where at least one protuberance or at least one recess is formed, at least in part, as separate component which is attached to the main body.
5. A trench cover as claimed in any of claims 1-3 where at least one protuberance or at least one recess is formed as part of a one-piece construction which also incorporates the main body.
6. A trench cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.