Patent ID: 7607858

Claim:
A secure manhole accessway, comprising: a) a padlock, the padlock comprising a shackle, a lock, and a body; b) a manhole cover frame, the manhole cover frame having a peripheral wall, a top opening, and a bottom opening; c) an outer cover, the outer cover removably abutting the peripheral wall of the manhole cover frame and configured to cover the top opening; d) an inner cover, the inner cover having a top surface, the inner cover removably abutting the peripheral wall along the bottom opening in the manhole cover frame and configured to cover the bottom opening, the inner cover further comprising a detent in the top surface; e) a crossbar, the crossbar having a first end and a second end separated a distance from the first end, the first end and second end removably engaging the peripheral wall of the manhole cover frame, and the crossbar further comprising a threaded bore extending through the crossbar and aligned with the detent in the top surface of the inner cover; f) a saddle, the saddle having U-shape comprising a base and two upright sections, the saddle further comprising an oblong via extending through the base of the U and at least one via extending through each of the upright sections of the U-shaped saddle, the vias in the upright sections aligned, allowing the shackle of the padlock to pass therethrough and allowing the shackle to pass under the crossbar, and the base of the saddle removably positionable over the crossbar with the oblong via in the base aligned with the threaded bore in the crossbar; and g) an eyebolt, the eyebolt extending through the oblong via in the base of the saddle, and removably engaging the threaded bore in the crossbar, and further engaging the detent of the top surface of the inner cover.