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US4973191A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Manhole cover

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-01-31
•
Granted: 1990-11-27
•
Expires: 2010-01-31
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Abstract

Abstract A manhole cover including a frame and a lid having an insert plate on its upper surface. The lid is insertable into the frame which is provided in the road surface. Securing screws are provided for detachably securing the insert plate to the base portion of the lid from the underside of the lid. The insert plate is configured as an advertising area.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard Dannhauser

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 05:12
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F19/00; G09F19/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
A manhole cover, comprising: a frame having an outer rim and a shoulder; a lid having an upper surface and a recess in said upper surface whereby a rim is defined in said lid, said lid being disposed on said shoulder of said frame with the upper surface of said rim being flush with the upper surface of the outer rim of said frame; an insert plate having an upper surface provided with a raised advertising design, said insert plate being disposed in said recess of said lid such that the upper surface of said insert plate is flush with the upper surface of the rim thereof; and a screw means being effectively the exclusive means for repeatably, detachably, fastening said insert plate to said lid, whereby said insert plate is removable from said lid by said screw means and replaced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 141 words
A manhole cover, comprising: a frame having an outer rim and a shoulder; a lid having an upper surface and a recess in said upper surface whereby a rim is defined in said lid, said lid being disposed on said shoulder of said frame with the upper surface of said rim being flush with the upper surface of the outer rim of said frame; an insert plate having an upper surface provided with a raised advertising design, said insert plate being disposed in said recess of said lid such that the upper surface of said insert plate is flush with the upper surface of the rim thereof; and a screw means being effectively the exclusive means for repeatably, detachably, fastening said insert plate to said lid, whereby said insert plate is removable from said lid by said screw means and replaced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
Manhole cover according to claim 1, wherein the raised design on the upper surface (6) of the insert plate (5) has raised portions of varying heights.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
Manhole cover according to claim 1, wherein the insert plate (5) is made of bronze, brass or copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 47 words
Manhole cover according to claim 3, wherein said securing means are securing screws and the insert plate (5) has blind threaded bores (17) on its underside (13) in which said securing screws (16) engage, said securing screws extending through the base portion (15) of the lid (2).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
Manhole cover according to claim 4, wherein the blind threaded bores (17) are uniformly distributed over a circumferential region of the insert plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 44 words
Manhole cover according to claim 4, wherein each blind threaded bore (17) is disposed in a downwardly oriented, conical projection (18) of the insert plate (5), said projection engaging in a corresponding conical passage (19) provided in the base portion (15) of the lid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
Manhole cover according to claim 6, wherein each conical passage (19) includes a support shoulder (20) molded to an underside of the base portion (15) of the lid (2) to support the head of the securing screw (16).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
Manhole cover according to claim 1, wherein an underside of the base (15) of the lid (2) is provided with reinforcement ribs (22).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 54 words
Manhole cover according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcement ribs (22) comprise a circular rib (24) which is centrally located with respect to the center (23) of the lid (2) and four ribs (25) which radiate from said circular rib (24) and extend to the edge (7) of the lid with identical spacings therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 49 words
Manhole cover according to claim 9, wherein the free end of the central rib (24) is located below the underside of the edge (7) of the lid and the radial ribs (25) extend in an inclined orientation from the central rib (24) to the edge (7) of the lid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The manhole cover of claim 1, further comprising a means for locking said lid in said frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 33 words
The manhole cover of claim 11, wherein said means for locking comprises at least one locking screw, having a specially shaped head which may only be turned by means of a special key.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-11-26 1994-05-28 1994-11-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-11-26 1998-05-28 1998-11-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-11-26 2002-05-28 2002-11-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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