Patent ID: 7104722
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: B65D,F16J

Abstract:
1. A manhole cover comprising: (a) a cylindrical manhole including manhole lugs, wherein said manhole lugs extending around the upper outer periphery of said manhole; (b) a cover including cover lugs, said cover lugs extending around the outer periphery of said cover, said cover for co-operatively mating with and closing off said manhole; (c) a means for clamping together said manhole lugs to said cover lugs thereby placing cover into a sealed position: (d) wherein said clamping means including a strap assembly having a left and right strap, each strap pivotally connected at one end to a hinge means for pivotally connecting said left and right strap, and each strap connected at the other end to a tightening means for applying tension to said straps for forceably urging together said cover and manhole lugs thereby placing cover into a sealed position and straps in a locked position, and by releasing said tightening means for releasing tension on said straps such that they can pivot freely away from each other into an unlocked position (e) wherein said hinge means including a strap hinge pin operatively connected to each strap for pivotally connecting said straps; (f) further including a means for longitudinally sliding said clamping means away from said manhole when said straps are in said unlocked position; (g) wherein said sliding means including a slot defined in a spacer plate which is attached to said manhole such that said hinge pin is slidably received within said longitudinally oriented slot thereby allowing said clamping means to be moved longitudinally to a cleared position.