Lifting and removal device

Abstract

A method including providing a device including a first member having a first section, a second section and a first attachment member to form an attachment with one of two slots of a manhole cover on a distal end of the second section and a handle at a proximal end of the first section, and a second member rotatably attached to the first member and including a second attachment member to form an attachment with the other slot on a distal end thereof; placing the first attachment member in attachment with one slot and the second attachment member in attachment with the other slot; applying upward force to handle to lift the manhole cover out of a manhole in which the manhole cover is in place; and applying rearward force to the handle to drag the manhole cover away from the manhole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in connection with a manhole cover having two generally opposing slots, comprising:
 providing a device comprising a first member comprising a first section, a second section and a first attachment member on a distal end of the second section and a handle at a proximal end of the first section which extends at an angle from the first section, the first attachment member being adapted to form an attachment with one of the two slots; and a second member comprising a second attachment member on a distal end thereof, the second attachment member of the second member being adapted to form an attachment with the other of the two slots, the first member and the second member being rotatably connected so that a distance between the first attachment member of the first member and the second attachment member of the second member can be adjusted; the first section of the first member extending from the second section so that a proximal end of the first section is at a height above the surface of the manhole cover of no greater than 3 feet when the first attachment member is in attachment with one of the two slots and the second attachment member is in attachment with the other of the two slots;   placing the first attachment member in attachment with one of the two slots and the second attachment member in attachment with the other of the two slots;   applying upward force to handle to lift the manhole cover out of a manhole in which the manhole cover is in place; and   applying rearward force to the handle to drag the manhole cover away from the manhole.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first section of the first member extends from the second section so that a proximal end of the first section is at a height above the surface of the manhole cover of no greater than 2.5 feet when the first attachment member is in attachment with one of the two slots and the second attachment member is in attachment with the other of the two slots. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first section of the first member extends from the second section so that a proximal end of the first section is at a height above the surface of the manhole cover of no greater than 2 feet when the first attachment member is in attachment with one of the two slots and the second attachment member is in attachment with the other of the two slots. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the device further comprising a biasing member to bias rotation of the first member relative to the second member in a manner to draw the first attachment member of the first member and the second attachment member of the second member toward each other. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the biasing member comprises a spring attached at a first end thereof to the first member and attached at a second end thereof to the second member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein placing the first attachment member in attachment with one of the two slots and the second attachment member in attachment with the other of the two slots comprises applying a downward force to the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second member comprises a first section and a second section, the second attachment member being attached to a distal end of the second section of the second member, the first section of the second member extending from the second section of the second member so that a proximal end of the first section of the second member is at a height above the surface of the manhole cover of no greater than 3 feet when the first attachment member is in attachment with one of the two slots and the second attachment member is in attachment with the other of the two slots. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the handle attached to a proximal end of the first section of the first member extends generally perpendicular to the first section. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the biasing member is adapted to retain the device in connection with the manhole cover without manual intervention after the first attachment member is placed in attachment with one of the two slots and the second attachment member is placed in attachment with the other of the two slots. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying rearward force to the handle to drag the manhole cover back to the manhole to replace the manhole cover within the manhole. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising applying rearward force to the handle to drag the manhole cover back to the manhole to replace the manhole cover within the manhole. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein removing the device from connection with the manhole cover comprises application of a downward force to the handle.