US4456397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Road inspection manhole
Assignee: Pont a Mousson SA
•
Filing: 1982-06-03
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Granted: 1984-06-26
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Expires: 2002-06-03
Abstract
Abstract The manhole has a frame 1 with a flange 4 to be embedded in the road and a movable cover 2 to fit in the cylindrical wall 3 of the frame. On its inside the wall 3 has three support surfaces 9 each downwardly sloping at an angle α to the horizontal in the circumferential direction and at an angle β to the horizontal in the radial direction. Between the surfaces 9 the frame has three undercut surfaces 11 extending radially. On its underside the cover 2 has six surfaces 14, 15. When the cover is on the frame three surfaces 14 are parallel to the corresponding surfaces 9 and the three surfaces 15 are parallel to the corresponding surfaces 11. The surfaces 9, 11 on the frame abut the surfaces 14, 15 by which the cover is held against rocking.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean L. Freis
- 👤 Jean C. Hauer
- 👤 Jacques Oger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:54
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D29/00; E02D29/12; E02D29/14; E02D29/1427
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A manhole, comprising: a frame (1; 22) embedded into a surface covering, said frame having on its periphery three first support surfaces (9; 42; 42A) with a double slope extending downwardly in a circumferential direction and downwardly in a radial direction toward a center axis (X--X) of said frame, and, between these three surfaces, said frame having three second support surfaces (11; 43; 43); a movable cover (2; 21) insertable into said frame, said cover having six surfaces (14, 15; 31, 32, 31A, 32) complimentary to said six surfaces of said frame which engage with said six surfaces of the frame when said cover is inserted into said frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A manhole, comprising: a frame (1; 22) embedded into a surface covering, said frame having on its periphery three first support surfaces (9; 42; 42A) with a double slope extending downwardly in a circumferential direction and downwardly in a radial direction toward a center axis (X--X) of said frame, and, between these three surfaces, said frame having three second support surfaces (11; 43; 43); a movable cover (2; 21) insertable into said frame, said cover having six surfaces (14, 15; 31, 32, 31A, 32) complimentary to said six surfaces of said frame which engage with said six surfaces of the frame when said cover is inserted into said frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said manhole comprising a road inspection manhole, and said surface covering comprising a road surface covering.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said second surfaces and said surfaces complimentary thereto being situated entirely below said first support surfaces and said surfaces complimentary thereto, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 3, said frame and said cover being formed such that a circle ( ) having its center on a rocking axis (B--B') passing through two of said first support surfaces and which circle passes through a center (C) of one of said complimentary second support surfaces also passes through an upper part (10) of said second support surface of said frame engaged with said one of said complimentary second support surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said frame and said cover being formed such that a circle ( ) having its center on a rocking axis (B--B') passing through two of said first support surfaces and which circle passes through a center (C) of one of said complimentary second support surfaces also passes through an upper part (10) of said second support surface of said frame engaged with said one of said complimentary second support surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, each first support surface and surface complimentary thereto being sloped downwardly in said radial direction so as to form a first angle (β) with a horizontal radial line of said frame, and said first angle having a value between a friction angle (Ψ) of said each first support surface plus said surface complimentary thereto and a compliment of said friction angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, each first support surface and surface complimentary thereto being sloped downwardly in said circumferential direction so as to form a first angle (α) with a horizontal line which is perpendicular to a horizontal radial line of said frame, said first angle having a value between a friction angle (Ψ) of each said first support surface plus said surface complimentary thereto and a compliment of said friction angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said second support surfaces sloping downwards in an overhanging manner so as to face downwardly relative to a plane of said surface covering.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 8, each second support surface and said surfaces complimentary thereto being sloped so as to form a first angle (ε), relative to a horizontal line in a plane (P) perpendicular to a rocking axes (B--B') passing through two of said first support surfaces, which is greater than a circumferential slope angle (α) of said first support surfaces increased by twice an angle of friction (Ψ) of said each second support surface and said surface complimentary thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said second support surfaces sloping downwardly so as to face upwardly relative to a plane of said surface covering.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 10, each second support surface and said surfaces complimentary thereto being sloped so as to form a first angle (ε), relative to a horizontal line in a plane (P) perpendicular to a rocking axes (B--B') passing through two of said first support surfaces, which is greater than a circumferential slope angle (α) of said first support surfaces increased by twice an angle of friction (Ψ) of said each second support surface and said surface complimentary thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said three second support surfaces being shifted by 60 degrees in a circumferential direction relative to said first three support surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said six surfaces of said frame and said cover being regularly and uniformly distributed over the periphery of said frame and said cover, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said six surfaces of said frame and said cover being distributed in a near uniform manner over a periphery of said frame and said cover, respectively, while displaying a slight dissymmetry about an axes (X--X) of said manhole, said cover and said frame each having an angle positioning marker.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said six support surfaces of said frame having a hardness different from a hardness of respective complimentary surfaces of said cover.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 1, said first support surfaces (42; 42A) and said surfaces complimentary thereto (31; 31A) being skew surfaces of helicoidal form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 16, said skew surfaces (31; 42) each having a rectilinear transverse cross section (29, 30).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 17, each second support surface (43) and said surface (32) complimentary thereto of said frame and said cover, respectively being close, in a circumferential direction, to an associated first support surface and surface complimentary thereto (31, 42; 31A, 42A).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 16, said first support surfaces (42A) and said surfaces complimentary thereto (31A) having a curvilinear transverse cross section, said first support surfaces of said frame being concave and said surfaces complimentary thereto on said cover being convexed, a radius of curvature (R) of said first support surfaces being greater than a radius of curvature (r) of said surfaces complimentary thereto at least in engaging areas (47, 48) of these support surfaces.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 19, said curvilinear cross section being within a quarter of a circle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 20, each second support surface (43) and said surface (32) complimentary thereto of said frame and said cover, respectively being close, in a circumferential direction, to an associated first support surface and surface complimentary thereto (31, 42; 31A, 42A).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 19, each second support surface (43) and said surface (32) complimentary thereto of said frame and said cover, respectively being close, in a circumferential direction, to an associated first support surface and surface complimentary thereto (31, 42; 31A, 42A).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 16, said first support surfaces (42A) and said surfaces complimentary thereto (31A) having curvilinear transverse cross sections, said first support surfaces of said frame being concave and said surfaces complimentary thereto on said cover being convex, a radius of curvature (R) of said first support surfaces being equal to a radius of curvature (r) of said surfaces complimentary thereto which are convex at least in engaging areas (47, 48) of these support surfaces.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 23, each second support surface (43) and said surface (32) complimentary thereto of said frame and said cover, respectively being close, in a circumferential direction, to an associated first support surface and surface complimentary thereto (31, 42; 31A, 42A).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A manhole as claimed in claim 16, each second support surface (43) and said surface (32) complimentary thereto of said frame and said cover, respectively being close, in a circumferential direction, to an associated first support surface and surface complimentary thereto (31, 42; 31A, 42A).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-12-26 | 1988-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-12-26 | 1992-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-26 | 1995-12-26 | 1996-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |