US 12,768,124 B2Granted

Manhole cover

AssigneeStar Pipe Products, Inc.

InventorsMark Bowsher, Jade Komolaputr

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Abstract

A closure assembly includes a frame, a cover, and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly selectively connects the frame to the cover to allow rotation between an open position and a closed position. The hinge assembly includes at least one tine formed on an edge of the cover, a projection extending from the at least one tine, at least one wall formed on an upper surface of the frame, and a slot formed in the at least one wall that receives the projection. The slot includes a rotation section, an opening radiating from the rotation section, and a locking section radiating from the rotation section. The locking section allows the cover to rotate to an angle greater than ninety degrees when the projection is at least partially in the locking section. The locking section and the opening have a non-180 degree angular offset relative to one another.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A closure assembly, comprising:

a frame;
a cover;
and
a hinge assembly selectively connecting the frame to the cover, wherein the hinge assembly is configured to allow the cover to rotate between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the hinge assembly includes:
at least one tine formed on an edge of the cover,
a projection extending from the at least one tine, wherein the projection is defined by a length and a width,
at least one wall formed on an upper surface of the frame, and
a slot formed in the at least one wall and configured to receive the projection, wherein the slot includes a rotation section, an opening radiating from the rotation section, and a locking section radiating from the rotation section,
wherein the length of the projection is oriented horizontally when the projection is completely inside the rotation section, and wherein the projection is configured to enter the locking section only after rotated to a vertical position,
wherein the locking section is configured to allow the cover to rotate to an angle greater than ninety degrees when the projection is at least partially in the locking section, and
wherein the locking section and the opening have a non-180 degree angular offset relative to one another.

8 more elements

A closure assembly, comprising:

a frame;
a cover;
and
a hinge assembly connecting the frame to the cover, wherein the hinge assembly includes:
a first and a second tine formed on an edge of the cover,
a projection extending from each of the first tine and the second tine, wherein each projection is defined by a length and a width,
a first and a second wall formed on an upper surface of the frame, and
a slot formed in the each of the first wall and the second wall,
wherein each slot includes an opening, rotation section, and a locking section, and
wherein:
each opening is configured to allow passage of the associated projection into and out of the associated rotation section,
each rotation section is configured to allow rotation of the associated projection, wherein the length is coplanar with upper and lower surfaces of the cover when the cover is in the closed position, and
each locking section is defined by a vertical surface and an angled surface, wherein the vertical surface and the angled surface are separated by a distance that is larger than the width of the associated projection,
wherein the vertical surface and the angled surface are non-parallel such that the cover can rotate greater than ninety degrees while each projection is at least partially in the associated locking section,
wherein the rotation of the cover is restricted to a selected angle by a first surface of the associated projection engaging the vertical surface and a second surface of the associated projection engaging the angled surface.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.