Kit of Parts and Apparatus for Covering a Manhole

Abstract

A kit of parts and apparatus for covering a manhole having a manhole cover defining one or more apertures therethrough, a ring defining, on the bottom thereof, one or more chambers, the ring further defining one or more apertures therethrough wherein the ring defines each of the one or more apertures therethrough within each of one or more chambers and one or more tabs such that each of the one or more tabs is housed within each of the one or more chambers defined by the ring, each of the one or more tabs slidably engages with the ring, each of the one or more tabs defining, on an end thereof, a threaded aperture therethrough for engaging a threaded device and, on an end thereof, an indention for engaging a flat-headed tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit of parts for covering a manhole, the kit of parts comprising:
 a manhole cover defining one or more apertures therethrough;   a ring defining, on the bottom thereof, one or more chambers, the ring further defining one or more apertures therethrough wherein the ring defines each of the one or more apertures therethrough within each of one or more chambers; and   one or more tabs such that each of the one or more tabs is housed within each of the one or more chambers defined by the ring, each of the one or more tabs slidably engages with the ring, each of the one or more tabs defining, on an end thereof, a threaded aperture therethrough for engaging a threaded device and, on an end thereof, an indention for engaging a flat-headed tool.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of parts of  claim 1  further comprising one or more threaded devices for passing through the one or more apertures defined by the manhole cover and through the one or more apertures defined by the ring and into the threaded aperture defined by the one or more tabs, thereby securing the manhole cover to the ring. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of parts of  claim 1  wherein the manhole cover is comprised of composite material. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of parts of  claim 1  wherein the ring is comprised of composite material. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of parts of  claim 1  further comprising expansion material attached to the one or more tabs that substantially expands or contracts in size based upon the temperature surrounding the expansion material. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of parts of  claim 5  wherein the expansion material is ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of parts of  claim 1  wherein the ring further defines one or more shoulders such that the ring defines each of the one or more shoulders about each of the one or more chambers, the ring further defines one or more threaded apertures about the one or more shoulders. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of parts of  claim 7  further comprising a plate, the plate defines one or more apertures therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of parts of  claim 8  further comprising one or more threaded devices such that each of the one or more threaded devices passes through the one or more apertures defined by the plate and is received into the one or more threaded apertures about the one or more shoulders defined by the ring, thereby securing the one or more plates to the ring so that the ring can house the one or more tabs. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for covering a manhole, the apparatus comprising:
 a manhole cover defining one or more apertures therethrough;   a ring defining, on the bottom thereof, one or more chambers, the ring further defining one or more apertures therethrough wherein the ring defines each of the one or more apertures therethrough within each of one or more chambers; and   one or more tabs such that each of the one or more tabs is housed within each of the one or more chambers defined by the ring, each of the one or more tabs slidably engages with the ring, each of the one or more tabs defining, on an end thereof, a threaded aperture therethrough for engaging a threaded device and, on an end thereof, an indention for engaging a flat-headed tool.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising one or more threaded devices for passing through the one or more apertures defined by the manhole cover and through the one or more apertures defined by the ring and into the threaded aperture defined by the one or more tabs, thereby securing the manhole cover to the ring. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the manhole cover is comprised of composite material. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the ring is comprised of composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising expansion material attached to the one or more tabs that substantially expands or contracts in size based upon the temperature surrounding the expansion material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the expansion material is ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the ring further defines one or more shoulders such that the ring defines each of the one or more shoulders about each of the one or more chambers, the ring further defines one or more threaded apertures about the one or more shoulders. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a plate, the plate defines one or more apertures therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising one or more threaded devices such that each of the one or more threaded devices passes through the one or more apertures defined by the plate and is received into the one or more threaded apertures about the one or more shoulders defined by the ring, thereby securing the one or more plates to the ring so that the ring can house the one or more tabs.