Manhole debris catcher

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a support assembly configured for removable mounting inside a manhole. The support assembly includes an anchor assembly having a mounting ring and at least two adjustable anchors secured to the mounting ring, and a setter assembly secured to the mounting ring. The setter assembly is capable of holding the anchor assembly in a predetermined position relative to an inside surface of the manhole and the anchors are adjustable relative to the mounting ring to contact the inside surface of the manhole thereby mounting the support assembly to the inside of the manhole.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A support assembly configured for removable mounting within a manhole, comprising: 
 an anchor assembly having a mounting ring and at least two adjustable anchors secured to the mounting ring; and    a setter assembly secured to the mounting ring;    whereby the setter assembly is capable of holding the anchor assembly in a predetermined position relative to an inside surface of the manhole, and the anchors are adjustable relative to the mounting ring to contact the inside surface of the manhole thereby mounting the support assembly to the inside of the manhole.    
     
     
         2 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting ring is circular shaped  
     
     
         3 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the setter assembly includes adjustable arms.  
     
     
         4 . The support assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the arms are releasably secured to mounting ring.  
     
     
         5 . The support assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the setter assembly includes a mounting plate and the adjustable arms are pivotally secured to the mounting plate.  
     
     
         6 . The support assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the setter assembly is adjustable between a first position with the arms extending in a horizontal plane and a second position with the arms extending in a plane different from the horizontal plane.  
     
     
         7 . The support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the setter assembly includes an arm engaging structure configured to move the adjustable arms between the first and second positions.  
     
     
         8 . The support assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the adjustable arms are compression shocks.  
     
     
         9 . The support assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper mat configured for mounting on top of the anchor assembly  
     
     
         10 . The support assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the stopper mat comprises water resistant material and forms a water tight seal with the inside surface of the manhole.  
     
     
         11 . A method of mounting a support assembly to inside surfaces of an enclosed structure, the support assembly including a setter assembly and an anchor assembly, the method comprising: 
 securing the setter assembly to the anchor assembly;    mounting the setter assembly to the inside surface of the enclosed structure; and    mounting the anchor assembly to the inside surface of the enclosed structure.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising removing the setter assembly and positioning a stopper mat on top of the anchor assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the setter assembly includes at least two arms, and step of mounting the setter assembly includes contacting the arms against the inside surface of the enclosed structure to hold the setter assembly in a fixed position.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the setter assembly includes at least one adjustable arm and the anchor assembly includes a mounting ring, and step of securing the setter assembly includes securing the arms to the mounting ring.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the setter assembly further includes a mounting plate and the adjustable arms are pivotally secured to the mounting plate so as to be movable between a first pivoted position and a second pivoted position, and the step of mounting the setter assembly further comprises moving the adjustable arms between the first and second pivoted positions.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the setter assembly further includes an arm engaging structure configured to engage the adjustable arms when moved relative to the mounting plate, the step of mounting the setter assembly further comprising moving the arm engaging structure relative to the mounting plate to move the adjustable arms between the first and second pivoted positions.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the anchor assembly includes a mounting ring and at least two anchors adjustably mounted to the mounting ring, and the step of mounting the anchor assembly includes moving the anchors relative to the mounting ring to contact the inside surface of the enclosed structure.  
     
     
         18 . A manhole debris catcher suitable for use inside a manhole structure, comprising: 
 a support assembly including an anchor assembly configured to contact inside surfaces of the manhole structure to removably mount the support assembly within the manhole structure; and    a catcher mat configured for mounting on top of the anchor assembly when the anchor assembly is removably mounted in the manhole structure.    
     
     
         19 . The catcher of  claim 18 , wherein the support assembly further includes a setter assembly configured to hold the anchor assembly in a predetermined position in the manhole structure while the anchor assembly is removably mounted to the inside surfaces of the manhole structure.  
     
     
         20 . An enclosed structure assembly, comprising: 
 an enclosed structure having side walls and a plurality of holes preformed in the sidewalls; and    a support structure having at least two adjustable arms sized to engage the holes, the arms configured to adjust between a first position engaging the holes to mount the support structure in the enclosed structure, and a second position disengaged from the holes such that the support structure is capable of being removed from the enclosed structure.