Patent ID: 7832958

Claim:
A manhole cover assembly providing access to infrastructure comprising: a frame defining an opening adjacent to an access point for infrastructure; a cover having an outer perimeter sized at least as large as the opening of said frame; a swing assembly rotatably connecting said cover to said frame whereby said cover may be selectively swung with respect to said frame about said swing assembly; and a ramp having a sloping face, said sloping face in communication with one of said cover and said frame to separate said cover from said frame as said cover is rotated with respect to said frame about said swing assembly, wherein said ramp is a frame ramp extending from said frame, said cover engaging said frame ramp through the range of motion of said cover, wherein said frame defines an inner circumferential surface around said opening, said frame ramp extending from said inner circumferential surface and said sloping face providing a sloping surface, wherein said cover has an interior face facing the infrastructure when said cover is installed on said frame, said cover including a projection extending from said interior face of said cover, said projection engaging said frame ramp through the range of motion of said cover, wherein said frame includes a support flange and a frame wall, said support flange resting on the substructure, said frame wall extending from said support flange away from the substructure, said frame wall defining said inner circumferential surface of said frame, wherein said projection is a cover ramp including a second sloping face, said second sloping face of said cover ramp engaging said sloping face of said frame ramp as said cover is rotated about said swing assembly, wherein said second sloping face slopes at an equal angle equal and opposite to said sloping face of said frame ramp, wherein said swing assembly is a pivot post, said pivot post fixedly secured to said cover and rotatably connected to said frame such that said cover and said pivot post rotate with respect to said frame.