Patent ID: 7150580
Filing Date: 2006-12-19
Classification: E02D

Abstract:
1. A resilient band for sealingly engaging a manhole structure, the manhole structure including an upper margin of a cone having a first peripheral dimension and a frame disposed above the cone, the frame having an upper and lower portion, the lower portion of the frame proximate the upper margin of the cone and the upper portion of the frame extending from the frame's lower portion and having a a second peripheral dimension smaller than the first peripheral dimension, the resilient band comprising a first and second portions and a tapered zone wherein: the first portion presents a first sealing surface sealingly engageable and having an inner surface sized to fit around the exterior of the first peripheral dimension of the manhole structure; and the second portion with a smaller peripheral dimension than the first portion presents a second sealing surface sealingly engageable and having an inner surface sized to fit around the exterior of the second peripheral dimension of the manhole structure; and the tapered zone tapers in peripheral dimension from the larger first portion of the resilient band to the smaller second portion of the resilient band, so that when the first portion of the resilient band is sealingly engaged around the first peripheral dimension of the manhole structure and the second portion is sealingly engaged around the second peripheral dimension of the manhole structure, the resilient band defines a tapered sealing barrier around the exterior of the first peripheral dimension of the manhole structure and extending to the exterior of the second peripheral dimension of the manhole structure.