Sturdy adjustable manhole cover support

Claim 2

A manhole cover support comprising a body having a base portion with a cover seat portion, and a lateral keeper portion integral with the base portion, the keeper portion projecting upwardly from the seat portion, the base portion having at least one adjustable joint means for adjusting the base in peripheral dimension, the transverse wall thickness of the keeper portion being substantially less than the corresponding transverse thickness of the base, the cover support being adapted for raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure wherein the base portion of the support body rests on the sill of the receiving structure, the outer wall of the base portion faces the upwardly-extending shoulder surface of the receiving structure, and expansion of the joint presses the outer wall of the base portion against the shoulder surface of the receiving structure, the cover support including a reinforcing wale that is integral with and substantially coextensive with the upper part of the keeper portion.

Claim 3

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein the base portion and the keeper portion are in the form of a split-ring.

Claim 4

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein the base portion and the keeper portion are in segments.

Claim 5

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein the wale is substantially solid in cross section.

Claim 6

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein the wale mainly is hollow.

Claim 7

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein each adjustably joint is bridged by an extension of the wale.

Claim 8

The manhole cover support of claim 5 wherein a tubular or solid shaft fits into and connects pairs of adjacent wale ends.

Claim 9

The manhole cover support of claim 5 wherein the wale is substantially rectangular in cross section.

Claim 10

The manhole cover support of claim 5 wherein the wale is at least partially arcuate in cross section.

Claim 11

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein a flexible, compressible retention component is interposed between at least part of the outer wall of the base portion and the shoulder surface of the existing receiving structure.

Claim 12

The manhole cover support of claim 10 wherein the retention component comprises a polymer bonded to the outer wall of the base portion.

Claim 13

The manhole cover support of claim 11 wherein the retention component comprises a foamed elastomer.

Claim 14

The manhole cover support of claim 11 wherein the retention component comprises a cured plastisol.

Claim 15

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein the cover support body and the receiving structure are substantially of ferrous metal.

Claim 16

The manhole cover support of claim 1 which includes screw means which render the joints adjustable.

Claim 17

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein the elevation of its base portion is adjustable by screw means.

Claim 18

The manhole cover support of claim 1 which is for a substantially circular cover.

Claim 19

The manhole cover support of claim 1 which is for a polygonal cover.

Claim 20

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein the base portion is substantially a hollow channel, and it and at least part of the keeper portion are formed from a single piece of steel.

Claim 21

The manhole cover support of claim 1 wherein the base portion and the keeper portion including the wale are of a single piece of structural metal or structural polymeric material.

Claim 22

A manhole cover support comprising a ferrous metal body having a base portion with a cover seat portion, and a lateral keeper portion that is integral with the base portion, the keeper portion projecting upwardly form the seat portion, the base portion having at least one joint adjustable peripherally by turnbuckle means, the transverse wall thickness of the keeper portion being substantially less than the corresponding transverse wall thickness of the base, the cover support being adapted for raising the effective grade of an existing manhole receiving structure wherein the base portion of the cover support body rests on the sill of the receiving structure, the outer wall of the base portion faces the upwardly-extending shoulder surface of the receiving structure, and expansion of the joint presses the outer wall of the base portion against the shoulder surface of the receiving structure, the cover support including a reinforcing wale that is integral with and substantially coextensive with the upper part of the keeper portion and a retention component comprising a polymer that is bonded to the outer wall of the base portion.

Claim 23

A manhole cover support comprising a ferrous metal body having a base portion with a cover seat portion, and a lateral keeper portion that is integral with the base portion, the keeper portion projecting upwardly form the seat portion, the base portion having at least one joint adjustable peripherally by turnbuckle means, the transverse wall thickness of the keeper portion being substantially less than the corresponding transverse wall thickness of the base, the cover support being adapted for raising the effective grade of an existing manhole receiving structure wherein the base portion of the cover support body rests on the sill of the receiving structure, the outer wall of the base portion faces the upwardly-extending shoulder surface of the receiving structure, and expansion of the joint presses the outer wall of the base portion against the shoulder surface of the receiving structure, the cover support including a reinforcing wale that is integral with and substantially coextensive with the upper part of the keeper portion and a retention component comprising a polymer that is bonded to the outer wall of the base portion.

Claim 24

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein the base portion and the keeper portion are in the form of a split ring.

Claim 25

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein the base portion and the keeper portion are in segments.

Claim 26

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein the wale is substantially solid in cross section.

Claim 27

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein the wale is mainly hollow.

Claim 28

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein each adjustable joint is bridged by an extension of the wale.

Claim 29

The manhole cover support of claim 26 wherein a tubular or solid shaft fits into and connects pairs of adjacent wale ends.

Claim 30

The manhole cover support of claim 26 wherein the wale is substantially rectangular in cross section.

Claim 31

The manhole cover support of claim 26 wherein the wale is at least partially arcuate in cross section.

Claim 32

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein the retention component comprises a foamed elastomer.

Claim 33

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein the retention component comprises a cured plastisol.

Claim 34

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein the elevation of its base portion is adjustable by screw means.

Claim 35

The manhole cover support of claim 21 which is for a substantially circular cover.

Claim 36

The manhole cover support of claim 21 which is for a polygonal cover.

Claim 37

The manhole cover support of claim 21 wherein the base portion is mainly a hollow channel, and it and at least part of the keeper portion are formed from a single piece of steel.

Claim 38

The manhole cover support comprising a ferrous metal body having a base portion with a cover seat portion, and a lateral keeper portion that is integral with the base portion, the keeper portion projecting upwardly from the seat portion, the base portion having at least one joint adjustable peripherally by turnbuckle means, the transverse wall thickness of the keeper portion being not substantially more than about 0.1 inch, the cover support being adapted for raising the effective grade of an existing manhole receiving structure wherein the base portion of the cover support body rests on the sill of the receiving structure, the outer wall of the base portion faces the upwardly-extending shoulder surface of the receiving structure, and expansion of the joint presses the outer wall of the base portion against the shoulder surface of the receiving structure, the cover support including a reinforcing wale that is integral with and substantially coextensive with the upper part of the keeper portion.

Claim 39

The manhole cover support comprising a ferrous metal body having a base portion with a cover seat portion, and a lateral keeper portion that is integral with the base portion, the keeper portion projecting upwardly from the seat portion, the base portion having at least one joint adjustable peripherally by turnbuckle means, the transverse wall thickness of the keeper portion being not substantially more than about 0.1 inch, the cover support being adapted for raising the effective grade of an existing manhole receiving structure wherein the base portion of the cover support body rests on the sill of the receiving structure, the outer wall of the base portion faces the upwardly-extending shoulder surface of the receiving structure, and expansion of the joint presses the outer wall of the base portion against the shoulder surface of the receiving structure, the cover support including a reinforcing wale that is integral with and substantially coextensive with the upper part of the keeper portion.

Claim 40

The manhole cover support of claim 36 wherein the base portion and the keeper portion are in the form of a split ring.

Claim 41

The manhole cover support of claim 36 wherein the base portion and the keeper portion are in segments.

Claim 42

The manhole cover support of claim 36 wherein the wale is substantially solid in cross section.

Claim 43

The manhole cover support of claim 36 wherein the wale mainly is hollow.

Claim 44

The manhole cover support of claim 36 wherein each adjustable joint is bridged by an extension of the wale.

Claim 45

The manhole cover support of claim 40 wherein a tubular or solid shaft fits into and connects pairs of adjacent wale ends.

Claim 46

The manhole cover support of claim 40 wherein the wale is substantially rectangular in cross section.

Claim 47

The manhole cover of claim 40 wherein the wale is at least partially arcuate in cross section.

Claim 48

The manhole cover support of claim 36 wherein a flexible, compressible retention component is interposed between at least part of the outer wall of the base portion and the shoulder surface of the existing receiving structure.

Claim 49

The manhole cover support of claim 45 wherein the retention component comprises a polymer bonded to the outer wall of the base portion.

Claim 50

The manhole cover support of claim 46 wherein the retention component comprises a foamed elastomer.

Claim 51

The manhole cover support of claim 46 wherein the retention component comprises a cured plastisol.

Claim 52

The manhole cover support of claim 36 wherein the elevation of its base is adjustable by screw means.

Claim 53

The manhole cover support of claim 36 which is for a substantially circular cover.

Claim 54

The manhole cover support of claim 36 which is for a polygonal cover.

Claim 55

The manhole cover support of claim 36 wherein the base portion is mainly a hollow channel, and it and at least part of the keeper portion are formed from a single piece of steel.