US5209601A — Manhole grade adjusting ring and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 211 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring for installation in a manhole frame to raise the level of a manhole cover, comprising: a ring including circular bar and skirt portions, said bar portion having a base surface for being supported on the manhole frame and a platform surface above said base surface for supporting the manhole cover, and said skirt portion extending above said platform surface; wherein said ring is split so as to define first and second ends adjacent to one another; an expansion lock having a first end, a second end and a V-shaped expansion joint between said first and second ends; means for securing the first end of the expansion lock to the first end of the ring with the expansion lock bridging the first and second ends of the ring and the V-shaped expansion joint pointing inward of said ring; and adjustable means for securing the second end of the expansion lock to the second end of the ring, said adjustable means allowing said second end of the lock to be releasably secured to the second end of the ring at different positions on said second end of the ring so as to vary the position of the first and second ends of the ring relative to one another.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 211 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring for installation in a manhole frame to raise the level of a manhole cover, comprising: a ring including circular bar and skirt portions, said bar portion having a base surface for being supported on the manhole frame and a platform surface above said base surface for supporting the manhole cover, and said skirt portion extending above said platform surface; wherein said ring is split so as to define first and second ends adjacent to one another; an expansion lock having a first end, a second end and a V-shaped expansion joint between said first and second ends; means for securing the first end of the expansion lock to the first end of the ring with the expansion lock bridging the first and second ends of the ring and the V-shaped expansion joint pointing inward of said ring; and adjustable means for securing the second end of the expansion lock to the second end of the ring, said adjustable means allowing said second end of the lock to be releasably secured to the second end of the ring at different positions on said second end of the ring so as to vary the position of the first and second ends of the ring relative to one another.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 79 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 1, wherein said adjustable means for releasably securing the second end of the expansion lock to the second end of the ring includes a pin and holes which are registrable with one another provided in the second end of the expansion lock and in the second end of the ring to receive said pin for securing the second end of the expansion lock and the second end of the ring together.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 61 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 2, wherein the bar portion at the second end of the ring is provided with a slot and the second end of the expansion lock has a flange for being received in said slot with at least one hole of said ring being aligned with at least one hole of said expansion lock.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 3, wherein said slot is dispersed in a radial plane approximately halfway between the base surface and the platform surface of the bar portion.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 4, wherein said slot opens to the inside surface of said bar portion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 1, wherein said means for securing the first end of the expansion lock to the first end of the ring is releasable.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 6, wherein said releasable means for securing the first end of the expansion lock to the first end of the ring includes a pin and alignable holes are provided in the first end of the expansion lock and in the first end of the ring to receive said pin.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 78 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 7, wherein a slot is provided in the first end of the ring and a flange is provided on the first end of the expansion lock to be received in said slot with the holes in said first end of the expansion lock and in the first end of the first end of the expansion lock and in the first end of the ring being aligned to receive the pin.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 8, wherein said slot and flange are disposed in a radial plane.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 9, wherein said slot is disposed approximately halfway between the base and platform surfaces of the bar portion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 10, wherein said slot opens to the inside surface of the bar portion at the first end of the ring.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 1, wherein the skirt portion flares outwardly as it extends above the platform surface.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 125 words

A method of adjusting the grade of a manhole, comprising: approximately sizing a variable diameter manhole grade adjusting ring to a manhole frame; expanding or compressing the manhole grade adjusting ring to a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said manhole frame; placing said manhole grade adjusting ring in said manhole frame; securing an expansion lock to the manhole grade adjusting ring so as to fix the expanded or compressed diameter of said manhole grade adjusting ring to provide a loose fit of the ring in the manhole frame; and expanding the expansion lock to increase the diameter of the manhole grade adjusting ring so that the ring bears against the frame to produce a tight friction fit between the ring and the frame.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 125 words

A method of adjusting the grade of a manhole, comprising: approximately sizing a variable diameter manhole grade adjusting ring to a manhole frame; expanding or compressing the manhole grade adjusting ring to a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said manhole frame; placing said manhole grade adjusting ring in said manhole frame; securing an expansion lock to the manhole grade adjusting ring so as to fix the expanded or compressed diameter of said manhole grade adjusting ring to provide a loose fit of the ring in the manhole frame; and expanding the expansion lock to increase the diameter of the manhole grade adjusting ring so that the ring bears against the frame to produce a tight friction fit between the ring and the frame.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method of installing a manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 13, wherein the step of securing the expansion lock includes pinning at least one end of the expansion lock to the ring.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

A manhole grade adjusting ring as in claim 13, wherein the step of expanding the expansion lock includes hammering the expansion lock to an expanded position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-05-10	1996-11-09	1997-05-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-05-10	2000-11-09	2001-05-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-05-10	2004-11-09	2005-05-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Manhole grade adjusting ring and method

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