Manhole cover

Abstract

 A manhole cover, of the type constituted by a quadrangular frame (11, 111, 211), to which at least two complementary triangular lids (14, 15, 114, 115, 124, 125, 214, 215, 224, 225) are coupled by means of hinges (12, 26). A first lid (14, 114, 214) of the two complementary triangular lids is coupled to a side (13) of the frame (11) by means of a hinge (12) arranged at one of its vertices (17); the second lid (15, 115, 215) is coupled to the same side (13) by means of at least one articulation (16) arranged on its side (18) that is contiguous to the vertex (17) of the first lid (14, 114, 214). A manhole cover thus structured allows an operator to access from three sides the spaces and items arranged beneath the manhole cover.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a manhole cover particularly for inspecting underground areas beneath roads.

[0002] Currently known manhole covers are constituted by a quadrangular frame, to which at least two triangular lids are coupled by means of hinges.

[0003] If the manhole cover comprises two triangular lids, such lids are hinged on two separate sides of the frame; if the manhole cover is instead formed by two pairs of triangular lids, such lids are coupled on three sides of the frame, generally one long side and two short sides.

[0004] Although such known manhole covers with triangular lids are extremely widespread, they have the drawback that since the lids are hinged on two or three sides they limit significantly the workspace of the operators who need to access the structures located below said manhole covers.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to provide a manhole cover that facilitates operator access to the spaces and objects arranged below the manhole cover.

[0006] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a manhole cover that is capable of performing its function of covering and closing a portion of the road surface as effectively as known manhole covers.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a manhole cover that is easy to handle and open and close as much as known manhole covers.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a manhole cover that can be applied to openings in the road surface conceived for known types of manhole cover.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a manhole cover that can be manufactured cheaply with known systems and technologies.

[0010] This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a manhole cover, of the type constituted by a quadrangular frame, to which at least two complementary triangular lids are coupled by means of hinges, characterized in that a first lid of said at least two complementary triangular lids is coupled to a side of said frame by means of a hinge arranged at one of its vertices, the second lid of said at least two lids being coupled to the same side by means of at least one articulation arranged on its side that is contiguous to the vertex of said first lid.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a manhole cover according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a manhole cover according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a manhole cover according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of a lid of a manhole cover according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a top view of the first embodiment of a manhole cover according to the invention, shown partially open;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of a manhole cover according to the invention, shown partially open.

[0012] With reference to the figures, a manhole cover according to the invention, in a first embodiment, is shown in Figures 1 and 5, in which it is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0013] The manhole cover 10 is constituted by a quadrangular frame 11, to which two triangular lids 14 and 15 are respectively coupled by means of hinges 12 and 26.

[0014] A first lid 14 of the pair of triangular lids is coupled to a side 13 of the frame 11 by means of a first hinge 12, which is arranged at one of its vertices 17.

[0015] The second lid 15 is coupled to the same side 13 by means of two articulations 16 and 27 that are arranged on its side 18 that is contiguous to the vertex 17 of the first lid 14. The first lid 14 and the second lid 15 are both shaped substantially like a right-angled triangle when viewed from above in the closed configuration.

[0016] The first triangular lid 14, in addition to being hinged to one side 13 by means of the first hinge 12 arranged at one of its vertices 17, as mentioned is provided with an arm 22.

[0017] The arm 22 protrudes from the face 23 that is directed downward in the closed configuration of the first lid 14 and is substantially parallel to the side 13.

[0018] The free end of the arm 22 supports a second hinge 26, which is also coupled to the side 13.

[0019] A first articulation 16 of the second triangular lid 15 is interposed on the side 13 between the first hinge 12 and the second hinge 26 of the first triangular lid 14.

[0020] The second lid 15 also comprises a second articulation 27.

[0021] The second articulation 27 is arranged on the side 13 so that the second hinge 26 lies between said second articulation and the first articulation 16.

[0022] The manhole cover 10 with two lids according to the invention has three of the four sides of the frame 11 free from hinges and articulations.

[0023] Accordingly, access to the structures covered by the manhole cover 10 in the closed configuration is easier for one or more operators when the manhole cover 10 is open.

[0024] A manhole cover according to the invention in a second embodiment is shown in Figures 2 and 6 and is designated by the reference numeral 110.

[0025] The manhole cover 110 is provided with two pairs of triangular lids: a first pair of lids 114 and 115 and a second pair of lids 124 and 125.

[0026] Both pairs of lids 114, 115 and 124, 125 are hinged on the same side 113 of the frame 111.

[0027] The manhole cover 110 with four lids also has three of the four sides of the frame 111 free from hinges and articulations.

[0028] A manhole cover according to the invention in a third embodiment is shown in Figure 3, in which it is designated by the reference numeral 210.

[0029] The manhole cover 210 comprises, in order to close the frame 211, in addition to a first pair of lids 214 and 215 as described so far, an additional second pair of triangular lids, which is composed of a third lid 224 and by a fourth lid 225.

[0030] The third lid 224 is hinged to the same first side 213 to which the first lid 214 and the second lid 215 are hinged.

[0031] The fourth lid 225 is instead hinged to a second side 219, which is adjacent to the first side 213.

[0032] The third embodiment 210 accordingly associates a second pair of lids 224 and 225 of a per se known type with a pair of triangular lids 214 and 215 according to the invention.

[0033] The manhole cover 210 therefore has two adjacent sides free from hinges and articulations.

[0034] Although the manhole cover 210 does not free three sides of the frame as in the first embodiment 10 and the second embodiment 110, it still increases the access capacity with respect to known types of manhole cover with four lids, in which there is only one free side or there are two non-adjacent free sides.

[0035] Like the triangular lids of the first embodiment of the manhole cover 10, the triangular lids 114, 115, 124, 125, 214, 215, 224 and 225 of the embodiments 110 and 210 of a manhole cover according to the invention are shaped, when viewed from above in the closed configuration, substantially like a right-angled triangle.

[0036] Each of the pairs of triangular lids, respectively 14 and 15, 114 and 115, 124 and 125, 214 and 215, 224 and 225, has, in the closed configuration, respective hypotenuses 14a and 15a, 114a and 115a, 124a and 125a, 214a and 215a, 224a and 225a that are juxtaposed.

[0037] Further, the pairs of triangular lids of the manhole covers according to the invention 110 and 210 with four lids, i.e., the pairs of lids 114 and 115, 124 and 125, 214 and 215, 224 and 225, are mutually juxtaposed by means of the facing catheti 120 and 121 for the manhole cover 110, and 220 and 221 for the manhole cover 210, of the corresponding triangular lids 114, 125 and 214, 225, which are arranged in a central position with respect to the frame 111 and 211 respectively.

[0038] In practice it has been found that the invention thus described solves problems noted in known types of manhole cover.

[0039] In particular, the present invention provides a manhole cover that facilitates operator access to the spaces and items located below said manhole cover.

[0040] Moreover, the present invention provides a manhole cover that is capable of performing its function of covering and closing a portion of the road surface as effectively as known manhole covers.

[0041] Further, the present invention provides a manhole cover that is easy to handle and open and close as much as known manhole covers.

[0042] Moreover, the present invention provides a manhole cover that can be applied to road surface openings intended for known types of manhole cover.

[0043] Not least, the present invention provides a manhole cover that can be manufactured cheaply with known systems and technologies.

[0044] In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0045] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2004U000028 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0046] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A manhole cover, of the type constituted by a quadrangular frame (11, 111, 211), to which at least two complementary triangular lids (14, 15, 114, 115, 124, 125, 214, 215, 224, 225) are coupled by means of hinges (12, 26), characterized in that a first lid (14, 114, 214) of said at least two complementary triangular lids is coupled to a side (13) of said frame (11) by means of a hinge (12) arranged at one of its vertices (17), the second lid (15, 115, 215) of said at least two lids being coupled to the same side (13) by means of at least one articulation (16) arranged on its side (18) that is contiguous to the vertex (17) of said first lid (14, 114, 214).

2. The manhole cover according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one of said at least two triangular lids (14, 15).

3. The manhole cover according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of said at least two triangular lids (114, 115, 124, 125), both pairs of lids (114, 115, 124, 125) being hinged on the same side (113) of said frame (111).

4. The manhole cover according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in order to close said frame (211), an additional pair of triangular lids (224, 225) composed of a third lid (224) and a fourth lid (225), said third lid (224) being hinged to the same first side (213) to which said first lid (214) and said second lid (215) are hinged, said fourth lid (225) being hinged to a second side (219) that is adjacent to said first side (213).

5. The manhole cover according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said triangular lids (14, 15, 114, 115, 124, 125, 214, 215, 224, 225) are shaped substantially like a right-angled triangle when viewed from above in the closed configuration.

6. The manhole cover according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pair of triangular lids (14, 15, 114, 115, 124, 125, 214, 215, 224, 225) has, in the closed configuration, its respective hypotenuses (14a, 15a, 114a, 115a, 124a, 125a, 214a, 215a, 224a, 225a) that are juxtaposed.

7. The manhole cover according to one or more of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said pairs of triangular lids (114, 115, 124, 125, 214, 215, 224, 225) are mutually juxtaposed by means of the facing catheti (120, 212, 220, 221) of the triangular lids (114, 125, 214, 225) arranged in a central position with respect to the frame (111, 211).

8. The manhole cover according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first triangular lid (14, 114, 214) coupled to a side (13, 113, 213) by means of a first hinge (12, 112) arranged at a vertex (17, 117) thereof, has a second hinge (26, 126), which is supported by an arm (22, 122) that protrudes from the face (23, 123) that is directed downward in the closed configuration of said first lid (14, 114, 214), substantially parallel to said side (13, 113, 213), said second hinge (26, 126) also being coupled to said side (13, 113, 213).

9. The manhole cover according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one articulation (16, 116) of said second triangular lid (15, 115, 215) is interposed on said side (13, 113, 213) between said first hinge (12, 112) and said second hinge (26, 126) of said first triangular lid (14, 114, 214).

Drawing