Temporary manhole cover and method
OwnerDaniel Ruckelinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temporary manhole cover and its methods of use are configured to prevent an entire person from falling into a manhole, while providing a unique structure, adjustable in some embodiments, that allows access for a user to simultaneously reach through and/or pass objects through the temporary manhole cover when it is installed in a manhole. The structure may include an annular perimeter portion optionally having an L-shaped cross-section defining a circular interior opening there-through, a first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members each attached with and extending across the circular opening, and a second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members each extending perpendicularly between and attached with the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members.
Claims11
A temporary manhole cover comprising:
- an annular perimeter portion defining a vertically-extending cylindrical wall configured to fit closely within and to engage a circular manhole opening;
- a horizontally-extending shelf extending radially inward from a top edge of the vertically-extending cylindrical wall to an inner profile surface and defining an interior opening there-through;
- a first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, each attached with and extending from a first side of the horizontally-extending shelf, across the interior opening, to and attached with a second side of the horizontally-extending shelf;
- a second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, each extending perpendicularly from and attached with a first one of the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, across an interior portion of the interior opening, to and attached with a second one of the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
- the temporary manhole cover defining a plurality of openings there-through, including:
- a first opening defined between the inner profile surface and the first one of the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
- a second opening defined between the inner profile surface and the second one of the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
- a third opening defined between the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members and between the second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
- a fourth opening defined between the inner profile surface, the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, and a first one of the second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
- and
- a fifth opening defined between the inner profile surface, the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members, and a second one of the second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members;
- wherein at least two of the plurality of openings are sufficiently large that a user can pass a hand of the user there-through, while none of the plurality of openings are sufficiently large that an entire body of the user can pass there-through;
- and
- wherein the second set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members are each removably attachable with the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members at a plurality of different predetermined locations on the first set of two parallel laterally-separated cross-members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.