Manhole frame assembly

A manhole frame assembly for supporting a member that can obstruct an access opening when an upper surface of construction material around the opening is raised, comprising:

• an outer frame member and an inner frame member that can be received by said outer frame member, said outer frame member having a support surface and a side wall that extends from the support surface, said side wall comprising an abutment surface that prevents upward movement of said inner frame member, said side wall being constructed and arranged with an upper surface that is substantially flush with an original level of the construction material;
• and
• said inner frame member being supportable on said support surface and including
• (a) at least one protrusion extending from an outer peripheral surface thereof,
• (b) at least one adjustable joint adapted to adjust said inner frame member in its peripheral dimensions to expand to move said protrusion into a position in which it can engage said abutment surface, and to contract to remove said protrusion from said position, and
• (c) a surface for supporting a member that can obstruct the access opening.

A manhole assembly for use when an upper surface of construction material around an access opening is raised, said manhole frame assembly comprising:

• an outer frame member disposed around the access opening having a support surface and a side wall extending from said support surface, said side wall being constructed and arranged with an upper surface that is substantially flush with an original level of the construction material;
• an inner frame member that can be supported on said support surface, said inner frame member comprising a support surface;
• said side wall comprising abutment means for preventing upward movement of said inner frame member when the original level of construction material around said outer frame member is raised, wherein a portion of said inner frame member is movable in a direction transverse to a direction of a length of the access opening;
• a member for obstructing the utility access opening constructed and arranged to be supported on said support surface of said inner frame member, said obstructing member including openings disposed therein, and
• an apparatus for connecting said obstructing member to said inner frame member, comprising
• (a) at least one rotatable locking member each comprising a toe portion and a threaded portion defining a hole therein, said toe portion being adapted to engage said inner frame member,
• (b) at least one shaft each including a threaded portion, wherein each said shaft is adapted to be located in one of said openings of said obstructing member and is threaded to an associated said locking member, each said shaft including means for enabling rotation of said shaft,
• (c) thermoplastic material disposed between the threaded portion of each said locking member and the threaded portion of an associated said shaft, wherein said thermoplastic material creates a resistance to rotation between said shaft and said locking member while enabling said shaft to be rotated after said locking member contacts said inner frame member, and
• (d) at least one stop surface extending from said obstructing member each being adapted to stop rotation of said locking members at a predetermined position;
• whereby rotation of said shaft causes said locking member to rotate until said toe portion of said locking member is positioned adjacent said inner frame member at a stopping point where said locking member contacts said stop surface, and further rotation of said shaft drives said locking member toward said obstructing member to clamp said obstructing member to said inner frame member.