Patent · US Expired

Manhole insert and tether apparatus and method

US5966876A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
20References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 1997
Grant dateOct 19, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T292/1071
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A watertight manhole insert and tether apparatus designed to prevent rainwater from entering sanitary sewer or other systems through a manhole closed by a manhole cover. The manhole insert is located beneath the manhole cover and is connected directly to the manhole by a tether apparatus mounted in the manhole, to plug the manhole, prevent theft of the manhole insert and deny access to the manhole. The manhole insert is characterized by a pan-shaped insert body having a curved, flat or ribbed insert bottom and one or more pressure-relief valves, one or more lift straps and an upward-standing, sloping or perpendicular side wall fitted with an outwardly-extending top rim for engaging a shoulder shaped in the manhole to support the manhole insert in the manhole. One end of a flexible stainless steel tether is connected to the manhole insert and the opposite end extends through a pair of tether mount loops fixed to the manhole wall and then through a grommet in the insert bottom and subsequently through a locking device. According to the method of this invention when the manhole insert is placed in the manhole, the tether is tightened in the tether mount loops as it is pulled upwardly …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.