GB2457880A

GB2457880A - Cover for a manhole

Info

Publication number: GB2457880A
Application number: GB0803402A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gareth David Maund
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-26
Filing date: 2008-02-26
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-26
Also published as: GB2457880B; GB0803402D0

Abstract

The cover 10 for a manhole comprises a cover member 12 though which an opening 14 is provided, with a lid 16 hinged to the cover member and arranged to cover the opening when in a closed position. The underside of the lid is formed as a scoop 18 for receiving waste, which substantially blocks the opening 14 when the lid 16 is in an open position. The scoop is preferably provided with side elements to which pivot pins are connected, the pins being received in brackets mounted on the underside of the cover such that the pivotal axis of the scoop is, in use, below the cover. A lever 40 is preferably provided to move the lid between open and closed positions, the lever preferably being secured to a pivot pin and extending through a slot in the cover. The distal end of the lever may be accommodated in a recess in the cover when the lid is closed. The lid is preferably self-closing and a rubber seal is preferably provided around the opening.

Description

Title: Cover The present invention relates to a cover and particularly but not exclusively to a cover for a drain manhole or cesspit.

Backgound to the Invention It is known from JP 09296498 to provide a manhole cover or lid for entry to a drainage system having a central aperture in the cover to enable disposal of human waste, for use, for example during an emergency or calamity such as an earthquake.

A removable lid is provided for covering the central opening, when the opening is not in use. The lid is hinged in two parts and is lifted by hand to directly expose the drain below. A problem of this arrangement is that when the lid is lifted, items other than excrement can easily be passed through the aperture either deliberately or accidentally, which may block the drainage system below.

A similar arrangement is disclosed in JP 2001132068, which provides for the installation of a simple toilet over a manhole. Again, a hinged lid is lifted by hand to directly expose the drain. In this arrangement a wire mesh is provided across the opening to prevent unwanted waste or other items being dropped into the drains below. However a problem of this arrangement is that items can still be pushed between the mesh, and waste would tend to bind to the mesh.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cover for a manhole, which reduces or substantially obviates the aforementioned problems.

Statement of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a cover for a manhole comprising a cover member, an opening provided through the cover member, a lid hinged to the cover member and arranged to cover the opening when in a closed position, the underside of the lid being formed as a scoop for receiving waste, which substantially blocks the opening when the lid is in an open position.

An advantage of the invention is that the lid can be opened, waste, for example dog muck can be placed in the scoop, and the lid can be closed allowing the dog muck to fall into a drainage or storage system below. However, opening of the lid does not provide direct access to the space below the cover, because it is substantially blocked by the scoop. This prevents unwanted items from entering and potentially blocking the drains.

Preferably the pivotal axis of the lid is disposed beneath the cover member.

Preferably a pivot pin is attached to either side of the scoop.

Preferably the scoop has a side member disposed on each side of the scoop, the pivot pins being attached to said respective side members.

Preferably first and second brackets are mounted to the underside of the cover member, each bracket having an aperture therein in which a respective pivot pin is rotatably received.

Preferably a lever is provided for moving the lid between the open and closed positions.

Preferably the lever is attached to one of the pivot pins.

Preferably the lever extends through a slot in the cover member.

Preferably a distal end of the lever is disposed above the cover member and is accommodated in a recess in the upper surface of the cover member.

This provides the advantage of the cover being substantially flat on its upper surface and hence the cover does not provide any obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

Preferably the opening is substantially rectangular.

Preferably a planar member extends substantially perpendicularly away from the underside of the cover member along one edge of the opening, the planar member co-operating with the scoop to substantially block the opening when the lid is in an open position.

Preferably at least one inside edge of the opening is chamfered.

Preferably at least one edge of the lid is correspondingly chamfered.

Preferably a rubber seal is provided around the opening.

Preferably the lid is self-closing. This has the advantage that the fail-safe position for the lid is the closed position, in the event that a person omits to close the lid. This reduces the risk of the open lid causing an obstruction to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Preferably the scoop substantially faces downwards when the lid is in the closed position.

This ensures that the scoop is emptied into the space or drain below the cover on closing of the lid.

Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view from above of a cover for a manhole with a lid in a closed position; Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective exploded view of the cover of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the underside of the cover of Figure] in a closed position; Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the cover of Figure 1 in use in an open position; Figure 5 shows schematic cross-sectional view of the cover of Figure 1 in use in a closed position; Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the cover of Figure 1 in use; Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the cover of Figure 1 with the sides of the opening shown in enlarged views; Figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of the cover of Figure 1 with the cover in an open position; and Figure 9 shows a schematic front view of the cover of Figure 1 in a closed position.

Description of Preferred Embodiment(s)

Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a cover is indicated generally at 10. The cover includes a cover member 12 with a central rectangular aperture 14 therethrough. A hinged lid 16 is provided in the aperture 14, and has chamfered front and rear edges, as shown in the inset drawings in Figure 7. The chamfered edges provide a stop for the lid 16. A rubber seal may also be provided around the opening 14 or lid 16, if desired. Referring also to Figure 4, the underside of the lid 16 forms the rear wall 20 of a scoop 18, which is disposed substantially underneath the cover member 12. The scoop 18 has a base member 22 extending away from the rear wall 20 and first and second side walls 24,26.

With reference also to Figure 9, first and second pivot pins 28,30 are attached to the respective first and second sides walls 24,26 of the scoop. First and second U-shaped bracket members 32,34 are attached to the underside of the cover member 12, the first bracket member 32 having a U-shaped aperture 36 therein, and the second bracket member 34 having a circular 38 aperture therein. The first and second pivot pins 28,30 are located and rotate in the respective apertures 36, 38.

S A lever arm 40 is attached to the distal end of the first pivot pin 28 and extends through a slot 42 in the cover member adjacent the side of the opening 14, best seen in Figure 8. A handle member 44 is provided at the end of the lever arm 40, which sits in a recess 45 in the upper surface of the cover member 12. When the lid 16 is closed, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, the upper surface of the cover 10 including the cover member 12, the lid 16 and the handle member 44 are substantially flat, enabling a vehicle to be driven over the cover 10.

A planar member 46, best seen in Figures 3, 4 and 9, extends substantially perpendicularly away from the underside of the cover member 12 along one edge of IS the opening 14. The purpose of this planar member 46 is to co-operate with the scoop 18, when in an open position, to block entry to a drain below the cover 10.

Conventional lifting handles are also provided set into the cover member 12.

In use, the cover 10 can be used to cover a manhole, cesspit or other entry point to a drainage system or waste storage system, for example, a cess pit or foul tank. Waste, for example, pet excrement, in particular dog excrement can be placed into an under-ground system for disposal.

The lid 16 is opened by lifting the lever arm 40, preferably by foot as shown in Figure 6, although the lever can be lifted by hand. This causes rotation of the lid 16 and the scoop 18 on the underside thereof about the pivots 28, 30 to the open position, as shown in Figures 4 and 8. As can be seen from Figure 4 in particular, in the open position, the edge of the base member of the scoop 18 lies adjacent the planar member 46, which closes the open side of the scoop to the underside of the cover member 12 and the drain below. In other words the drain below the cover 10 is not open to the atmosphere above.

Excrement, indicated at 48 in Figure 4 can be placed into the scoop 18, and when the handle 44 is released, the lid and scoop rotate to the closed position under their own weight as shown in Figures 1,3 5 and 7, and the excrement fails off the base member 22 of the scoop 18 into the drain below. In this position, the base member 22 is substantially vertical and the rear wall 20 is inverted. In this manner, excrement can be placed into a drainage system, through the cover 10, without open access being provided to the drainage system.

The cover 10 can be made from galvanised steel, cast iron or any other suitable material. Although the cover 10 is shown as rectangular, it can also be circular or in any other desirable shape to fit a standard manhole. The cover 10 is intended particularly for parks, open public spaces and gardens, where disposal of dog excrement is a problem. The invention allows dog excrement to be placed directly into a drainage system for disposal and saves the need for specially designated bins, which require regular emptying.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cover for a manhole comprising a cover member, an opening provided through the cover member, a lid hinged to the cover member and arranged to cover the opening when in a closed position, the underside of the lid being formed as a scoop for receiving waste, which substantially blocks the opening when the lid is in an open position.
2. A cover as claimed in claim 1, in which the pivotal axis of the lid is disposed beneath the cover member.
3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which a pivot pin is attached to either side of the scoop.
4. A cover as claimed in claim 3, in which the scoop has a side member disposed on each side of the scoop, the pivot pins being attached to said respective side members.
5. A cover as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which first and second brackets are mounted to the underside of the cover member, each bracket having an aperture therein in which a respective pivot pin is rotatably received.
6. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a lever is provided for moving the lid between the open and closed positions.
7. A cover as claimed in claim 6, when dependent on claims 3 or 4, in which the lever is attached to one of the pivot pins.
8. A cover as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which the lever extends through a slot in the cover member.
9. A cover member as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, in which a distal end of the lever is disposed above the cover member and is accommodated in a recess in the upper surface of the cover member.
10. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the opening is substantially rectangular.
11. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a planar member extends substantially perpendicularly away from the underside of the cover member along one edge of the opening, the planar member co-operating with the scoop to substantially block the opening when the lid is in an open position.
12. A Cover as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one inside edge of the opening is chamfered.
13. A cover member as claimed in claim 12, in which at least one edge of the lid is correspondingly chamfered.
14. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a rubber seal is provided around the opening.
15. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lid is self-closing.
16. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the scoop substantially faces downwards when the lid is in the closed position.
17. A cover substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.