Improvements in Coal Plates, Covers for Cellars, Electric Light Boxes, and like purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 25th May,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coal Plates, Covers for Cellars, Electric Light
Boxes, and like purposes.
We, Tue SAFETY TREAD SYNDICATE LIMITED, and JOSEPH MASON and
JONATHAN MASON, Builders all of 15 Barbican in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements applicable to coal plates, covers
for cellars, electric light boxes, hydrants manholes, meter boxes and the like.
Such covers are usually placed in pavements and like walking surfaces, and it is
desirable that they should be held securely closed to prevent accidents to persons
walking over them. To this end according to one form of our invention we provide
a metal ring which is let into the pavement or the like such ring having an
internally projecting flange the upper surface of which forms a seating for the
plate or cover while the under surface affords a hold for a pivoted and weighted lug
which is attached to the under side of the plate and for a fixed lug or lugs or rim
which is also carried by said plate. This form is adapted for a coal plate or the
like which can be reached from the inside in which case upon the pivoted lug being
removed from engagement with the flange the plate may be readily lifted up the
lug falling by its own weight into a locking position when the plate is placed on its
seat or closed again.
When however the plate or cover cannot be reached from the inside as in the
case of an electric light box or hydrant box we attach to the pivoted lug a nut
which may be pivoted so as to rock, and pass a screw through same such screw
which is suitably held terminating in a key hole or socket on the outside of the
plate.
By rotating this screw the nut will be caused to traverse up and down it so as to
move the pivoted lug and either place it in engagement with the under side of the
flange or remove it therefrom.
Where fitted to an open grating such as a manhole cover in roadway a loop or
projection may be fixed or attached to the pivoted lug to enable it to be released
from its locking position by lifting it with a hooked rod passed through the grating
from the surface.
Dated the 14th day of June 1893.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coal Plates, Covers for Cellars, Electric Light
Boxes, and like purposes.
We, THE SAFETY TREAD SYNDICATE LIMITED, and JOSEPH MASON and
JONATHAN MASON, Builders, all of 15 Barbican, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
1D 071

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements applicable to coal hole plates,
covers for cellars, electric light boxes, hydrants, manholes, meter boxes gratings
and the like. Such covers are usually placed in pavements and like walking
surfaces, and it is desirable that they should be held securely closed to prevent
accidents to persons walking over them.
To clearly explain our invention reference is made to the accompanying drawing
in which :-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing our improvement applied to a coal hole 1
plate.
Fig. 2 is a plan of same looking from beneath.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing our improvement applied to an electric
light box, hydrant cover or the like.
Fig. 4 is a plan of same looking from beneath, and
Fig. 5 is a view showing our improvement applied to a grating.
According to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 we provide a metal ring a which
is let into the pavement or the like, such ring having an internally projecting
flange, the upper surface of which forms a seating for the plate or cover c, while
the under surface may be grooved or recessed at d to afford a hold for a weighted
lug e pivoted to ear pieces attached to the under side of the plate c, and for a
fixed lug or lugs g which is also carried by said plate c. The lug e has a nose or
projection to engage with the recess d in order to hold the plate firmly and to
prevent its being readily levered up from the outside. This form is adapted for a
coal plate or the like which can be reached from the inside, in which case upon the
pivoted lug e being removed from engagement with the flange the plate may be
readily lifted up, the lug falling by its own weight into a locking position when
the plate is placed on its seat or closed again. The lug e may be provided with a
slot i in order that a stick may be used to open the plate, such slot affording a hold
for the stick. When however the plate or cover c cannot be reached from the
inside as in the case of an electric light box or hydrant box we employ a pivoted
lug e as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, such lug being forked as shown to embrace a
nut carrying pivot pins k, such pins working preferably in slots in the forked
arms. This allows the nut to rock and also allows it a short play in the fork of
the lug. Through this nut passes a screw m, such screw being held in the cover c
(so that it may rotate) by a nut n and terminating in a squared head o on the
outside of the plate. By rotating this screw by means of a key or otherwise the
nut will be caused to traverse up and down it, so as to move the pivoted lug e
and either place it in engagement with the underside of the flange or remove it
therefrom. With a locking arrangement of this kind a groove d in the flange b is
not required.
Where fitted to an open grating e' as shown in Fig. 5 such as a manhole cover
in roadways a loop ring or projection may be fixed or attached to the pivoted lug e
to enable it to be released from its locking position by lifting it with a hooked rod
such as p passed through the grating from the surface. As shown in this figure
the means employed consist of a bolt q having a ring at the end, such bolt being
secured on the weighted lug.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The improved means of securing coal plates, covers for cellars, electric light
boxes and other openings, substantially as described.
2. The improved construction of cover and fastening substantially as described
and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
3. The improved construction of cover and fastening substantially as described
and illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

page_text: 4. The improved construction of grating fastening substantially as described and
illustrated in Fig. 5.
Dated the 6th day of March 1894.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicants.