Movable curb structure and method of providing easy access to a manhole structure

A movable curb structure provides for easy access to a manhole structure wherein a permanent curb structure is substantially in line with the manhole structure by stopping the permanent curb structure on opposite sides of the manhole structure, forming a concrete pad behind and partially around the sides of the manhole structure, and removably mounting a cover box to the concrete pad with a front vertical wall of the cover box substantially in line with a back side of the permanent curb structure, and removably mounting a movable curb section to the front vertical wall of the cover box substantially in line with the permanent curb structure. Where the height of the permanent curb structure is different from the height of the movable curb section, the permanent curb structure is stopped some distance from the ends of the movable curb section so that the permanent curb structure can be blended either up or down to the height of the movable curb section depending on the relative heights of the permanent curb structure and movable curb section by providing tapered curb sections at the ends of the permanent curb structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally, as indicated, to a movable curb structure 
and method for providing easy access to a manhole structure located 
substantially in line with a new permanent curb structure during a street 
widening or the like. Such a movable curb structure is primarily intended 
to be used in road or street widening projects to eliminate the high cost 
of having to relocate a utility manhole when in the way of the street 
widening. 
Due to cost considerations and other factors, whenever possible, manholes 
utilized for accessing underground phone lines and other utilities are 
normally located in the tree lawn in residential or commercial areas. 
However, oftentimes during a street widening, the new permanent curb is 
moved back to the location of the manhole structure. Heretofore, this 
required the manhole structure to be offset or completely rebuilt at a new 
location where it is out of the way. In either case, this is both costly 
and time consuming. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention eliminates the substantial time and expense of having 
to offset or relocate a manhole structure during a street widening project 
where the new permanent curb is to be located substantially in line with 
the manhole, by providing a movable curb structure in overlying relation 
to the manhole. To that end, the new permanent curb structure is stopped 
in spaced relation from the opposite sides of the manhole structure, and a 
concrete pad is poured behind and partially around the opposite sides of 
the manhole structure. The pad is also poured sufficiently below the 
ground or grade line such that when a cover box is subsequently mounted on 
the pad, the upper surface of the cover box is substantially flush with 
the ground line. Also, the front vertical wall of the cover box is 
positioned substantially in line with the back side of the new permanent 
curb to facilitate mounting of a movable curb section to such front wall 
substantially in line with the new permanent curb structure. 
In situations where the height of the new permanent curb structure is 
greater or less than the height of the movable curb section, the new curb 
structure is desirably stopped some distance from the ends of the movable 
curb section so that the new curb structure can be blended either up or 
down to the height of the movable curb section depending on the relative 
heights of the new curb structure and movable curb section. 
Access to the manhole structure is easily obtained by unbolting the movable 
curb section from the front wall of the cover box and unbolting the cover 
box from the pad and raising the cover box. To restore the movable curb 
structure back to its original state, the process is simply reversed. 
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, 
then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly 
pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed 
drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the 
invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways 
in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now in detail to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, there is 
schematically shown a portion of a street 1 such as may be found in any 
residential or commercial area including a permanent curb structure 2 
along the sides and a sidewalk 3 paralleling the curb (street). Between 
the sidewalk 3 and curb 2 is a narrow strip of ground, commonly referred 
to as a tree lawn 4. Because of cost considerations and other factors, 
whenever possible, manholes used to access underground phone lines and 
other utilities are located in the tree lawn. One such manhole structure 5 
is schematically shown in FIG. 1. 
Should the state, city or other municipality propose a road widening 
project, the responsible utility would normally be required to move the 
manhole or other above ground obstruction if in the way of the street 
widening project. Frequently, during such a street widening, the proposed 
new permanent curb 2', shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1, will pass 
directly over the manhole 5. Heretofore, this necessitated either 
offsetting the manhole structure or rebuilding the manhole to relocate it 
out of the way. In either case, this was both a costly and time consuming 
requirement. 
The present invention eliminates the need for having to offset or relocate 
such a manhole structure. Briefly, this is accomplished in accordance with 
the present invention by stopping the new permanent curb structure 2' some 
distance from the opposite sides of the manhole structure 5 as 
schematically shown in FIG. 2 to provide room for the placement of a 
movable curb structure 6 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) in the space between the 
spaced apart ends 7, 8 of the new curb structure 2' as described 
hereafter. 
To ready the space for the placement of a movable curb structure, a 
concrete pad 1 is formed and poured in an area both behind and partially 
around both sides of the manhole structure 5 as schematically shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 4. The concrete pad 10 is poured below the ground line 11 
(i.e. below grade) so that when a cover box is subsequently mounted on the 
pad, the top of the cover box will be substantially flush with the ground 
line. Also, both the top of the pad 10 as well as the top of the manhole 5 
are desirably substantially flush with the widened street surface at that 
point so as not to create any undesirable obstructions or depressions. 
During such pouring of the pad 10, a plurality of threaded inserts 12 are 
desirably cast in the concrete to facilitate attachment and removal of the 
cover box to the pad using bolts or the like. 
In the embodiment disclosed herein, four such inserts 12 are shown, two 
along each side of the pad. However, it will be apparent that the number 
and location of such inserts or other suitable fastener means may be 
varied as desired. 
After the pad 10 has cured sufficiently, a cover box 15 is mounted to the 
pad using conventional mounting bolts or other suitable attachment means 
16 as schematically shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Preferably, the cover box 15 
has flanges 17 along opposite sides, with holes 18 therethrough in lines 
with the inserts 12 when the cover box is properly positioned on the pad 
10 for insertion of the bolts 16 through the flanges and into the inserts. 
The cover box 15 is desirably sized so that the upper surface 19 of the 
cover box is substantially flush with the ground line 11 when properly 
installed as schematically shown in FIG. 6. Also the cover box 15 is 
positioned behind the new permanent curb 2' with the front vertical wall 
20 of the cover box substantially in line with the back side of the new 
curb, to facilitate the mounting of a movable curb section 22 to such 
front wall substantially in line with the new permanent curb 2' using 
mounting bolts 23 or the like as schematically shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
Although the length and height of the movable curb section 22 may be varied 
as desired, only one size of movable curb section having a length, for 
example, of approximately forty eight inches and a height of approximately 
six inches is all that is necessary due to the fact that the movable curb 
section 22 can be blended in to fit most curbing situations. The new 
permanent curb 2' will have a height, for example, of anywhere from four 
to eight inches. In the event that the new permanent curb 2' has a height 
greater or less than the height of the movable curb section 22, when the 
new permanent curb 2' is cast, it is stopped some distance from the ends 
24,24 of the movable curb section 22, for example, approximately twelve 
inches from such ends or approximately thirty six inches from the center 
of the manhole structure 5 where the length of the movable curb section 22 
is approximately forty eight inches. This provides sufficient space to 
blend the ends of the new permanent curb 2' either up or down to the 
height of the movable curb section 22 depending on the relative sizes of 
the new and movable curbs. For example, FIG. 6 shows a permanent curb 2' 
having a height somewhat greater than the movable curb section 22, so the 
ends of the new permanent curb 2' are blended down to the ends of the 
movable curb section by adding downwardly tapered curb sections 26,27 at 
the ends of the new permanent curb 2'. Of course, a small gap 30 should 
still be left between the ends of the tapered curb sections 26,27 and the 
adjacent ends of the movable curb section 22 to facilitate insertion and 
removal of the movable curb section 22 therefrom as required. 
To access the manhole structure 5, the movable curb section 22 is simply 
unbolted from the front wall 20 of the cover box 15 and the cover box is 
unbolted from the concrete pad 10 and removed therefrom to uncover the 
manhole structure as schematically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. To restore the 
movable curb structure 6 back to its original state, the cover box 15 is 
once again bolted to the concrete pad 1 and the movable curb section 22 is 
reattached to the front wall of the cover box 15 as schematically shown in 
FIGS. 5 and 6. 
From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that the movable curb structure 
of the present invention eliminates the need for having to offset or 
relocate a manhole structure that is in line with a new permanent curb 
during a street widening or the like, in that the movable curb structure 
permits easy access to the manhole structure. Such a movable curb 
structure is much less costly to install than the cost of offsetting or 
relocating the manhole structure. Also, only one size of movable curb 
section can be blended to fit almost any curbing situations. 
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a 
certain preferred embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent alternations 
and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading 
and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all 
such equivalent alterations and modifications, and is limited only by the 
scope of the claims.