Abstract: A manhole frame assembly for supporting a member that can obstruct an access opening when the level of a construction material around the opening is raised, includes an outer frame member having a support surface and a side wall extending from the support surface. The side wall is constructed and arranged with an upper surface that is substantially flush with an original level of the construction material. An inner frame member can be received on the support surface and includes a surface for supporting a member for obstructing the access opening. The side wall includes an abutment device for preventing upward movement of the inner frame member when the original level of construction material around the outer frame member is raised. A portion of the inner frame member is movable in a direction transverse to a direction of a length of the access opening.

Abstract: A locking device for securing a manhole cover support insert or a grate cover support insert to a utility access frame is disclosed. The locking device includes a plurality of rotatable locking members which are connected to the support insert. The locking members are rotatable between a position where they rest inside the perimeter of the utility access hole and a locking position outside the perimeter of the utility access hole. The locking members may be rotated from an easy to reach position above the utility access hole by turning the exposed head of a bolt. The locking members are stopped from rotating at their locking position by engagement with a stop. From their locking position, the locking members may be axially moved by further rotation of the bolt to lock the support to the frame.

Abstract: A manhole cover and frame assembly includes an outer frame having a support surface and a side wall that extends upward from the support surface and has a recessed portion. An inner frame is supportable on the support surface. The inner frame has a protrusion extending from the outer peripheral surface. The inner frame also includes an adjustable joint for adjusting the inner frame in its peripheral dimensions to expand to engage the protrusion with the recessed portion, thereby preventing upward movement of the inner frame, and to contract to remove the protrusion from the recessed portion. The inner frame also includes a cover support surface. A manhole cover is supportable on the cover support surface.

Abstract: A frame insert for raising the level of a drainage grate cover with respect to a catch basin frame. The frame insert includes a lug for providing a locking surface for a lock device connected to the grate cover. The lug permits a pre-existing lock which locked the grate cover to the catch basin frame to be used to lock the grate cover to the frame insert. The lock engages the frame insert lug at a new lock position which is approximately ninety degrees from the position where it locked the grate cover to the frame before installation of the insert.

Abstract: An anchor for securing a manhole cover support to a manhole frame is shown. Dovetail-shaped receptacles are formed at a plurality of locations about the manhole cover support. A plurality of anchor straps having a cooperating dovetail shape are inserted into the receptacles. A lower end of each anchor strap has a threaded bolt extending upward. The anchor straps are simply dropped into the receptacles and the lower bolt is rotated to wedge the dovetail shapes tightly together and, at the same time, secure the manhole cover support against the frame.

Abstract: The grip of the collar element of an existing circular manhole cover-supporting structure, such as a circular manhole frame, on a split-ring style expansion-joint-fitted manhole cover support inserted into, surrounded by, and forced by expansion against said collar element is improved by having selective stiffener means disposed in a sector of the cover support that is generally opposite to the expansion joint thereof, the stiffener means suppressing the tendency of the corresponding sector of the base ring to pull away from the collar element.

Abstract: A manhole cover support with a fixed-sized top flange is shown. The cover support is adaptable to standardizing on the manhole cover size and inventory of covers for group of manhole installations having geometrically similar but somewhat varying sizes, this as well as being useful for holding the cover level or inclined, at a new, higher grades while also permitting the efficient establishment of the new cover height elevation and adjustment of the same. The cover support comprises a top peripheral flange having a seat for a manhole cover and a cover keeper that rises from the outer periphery of the seat, and a base fitting into the confines of the cover keeper of an existing manhole cover-receiving structure such as a manhole frame, the base supporting the flange, and being in a slidable engagement therewith.

Abstract: An improvement for increasing the resistance of manhole cover supports to deformation is provided which comprises equipping the upper edge or flange thereof with a succession of pressed-in gussets, the troughs of which slope with respect to the keeper of said cover support or equipping a keeper wall thereof with a succession of pressed-out gussets.

Abstract: An adjustable manhole cover support, useful in repaving or resurfacing of road for raising the grade of an existing structure like a manhole frame, that holds a circular cover and is capable of fitting frame openings of somewhat varying diameters, is shown. With this cover support one can standardize on a specific, single diameter manhole cover size for a group of manholes that otherwise would call for an inventory of several different cover sizes.

Abstract: A manhole cover support is shown. It is used for raising the grade of an existing manhole cover-receiving structure having an upwardly projecting keeper with a rim at its top. The cover support comprises: a peripheral flange that at least substantially completely covers said rim, the flange including a bottom, an inclined seat for a manhole cover, and a cover keeper that rises from the outer periphery of the seat and has an upper rim that is correspondingly inclined; and means for anchoring the flange to a fixed part of the existing manhole structure.

Abstract: A peripherally adjustable insert is shown for raising the grade of a generally rectangular grating that previously was supported by the end sills of the frame and by the roadway-side longitudinal sill if the frame has one. The insert comprises a base having support elements, the base being adjustable in length and adapted to rest on said sills, and ledge and keeper elements supported by the base to seat the grating restrict its lateral movement. The support elements of the base comprise a pair of essentially parallel end elements and a pair of essentially parallel side elements, and the support elements being equipped with terminals that are joined to form these base elements generally into a rectangle.

Abstract: A new manhole cover support and its processes of manufacture and use are shown. Such cover supports are used to raise the effective grade of the existing manhole cover as before road resurfacing. The cover supports are mounted upon an existing manhole cover receiving structure which has an upwardly-extending shoulder surface and a sill therebelow for accommodating such cover. The new cover support comprises basically an expandable body and a flexible, compressible synthetic or natural resin-containing retention component. The body has a seat with a lateral keeper for the manhole cover, a base with an outer wall that is reactable against said shoulder surface, and an expander for the base and seat which provides at least one gap in the base and seat. The retention component is disposed between the outer wall of the base and the shoulder surface; it interacts with expansion of the base to enhance substantially the normal frictional grip between the body and the receiving structure.

Abstract: A new manhole cover support and its processes of manufacture and use are shown. Such cover supports are used to raise the effective grade of the existing manhole cover as before road resurfacing. The cover supports are mounted upon an existing manhole cover receiving structure which has an upwardly-extending shoulder surface and a sill therebelow for accommodating such cover. The new cover support comprises basically an expandable body and a flexible, compressible synthetic or natural resin-containing retention component. The body has a seat with a lateral keeper for the manhole cover, a base with an outer wall that is reactable against said shoulder surface, and an expander for the base and seat which provides at least one gap in the base and seat. The retention component is disposed between the outer wall of the base and the shoulder surface; it interacts with expansion of the base to enhance substantially the normal frictional grip between the body and the receiving structure.

Abstract: A manhole cover support is shown. It is used for raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover-receiving structure having an upwardly projecting keeper with a rim at its top. The cover support comprises: a peripheral flange that at least substantially completely covers the rim, the thickness of the flange providing the raise in the grade, the flange including a bottom for resting on the rim, a seat for a manhole cover, and a cover keeper that rises from the outer periphery of the seat; and the flange anchored to a fixed part of the existing manhole structure.

Abstract: An improved manhole cover support having a metal body comprising base, seat, and keeper portions, the keeper portion rising above the seat portion and having at least a pair of opposing ends that define a gap between them, a bridging piece for spanning each gap, the bridging piece having at least one free end, a receiver for slidably retaining each free end of each bridging piece, the receiver attached to and protruding outwardly from the keeper portion near the top thereof, the bridging piece including 2 turnbuckle for exerting parting pressure against the receivers that retain it.

Abstract: An improvement is shown in a manhole cover support having a metal body comprising a base portion with a peripheral ledge portion that projects inwardly, a lateral keeper portion that extends from the base and rises from the outer edge of the ledge portion, and a reinforcing wale that is substantially coextensive with the top of the keeper portion and projects outwardly therefrom, the wale and/or the base portion being box members. The improvement comprises having a substantial part of a box member constituted of at least one piece of metal that is distinct from the rest of the body structure and is attached thereto.

Abstract: A manhole cover support resistant to infiltration of surface water is shown. Such support is adapted for emplacing over and raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure and accommodating a new layer of paving around its perimeter and a manhole cover therewithin. The support is characterized by: a body that has at least one adjustable joint for rendering the cover support adjustable in its outer perimeter dimension, the body comprising a base having a ledge for a manhole cover, the ledge having a lateral cover keeper arising therefrom; and deformable seal elements comprising synthetic and/or natural resin-containing material, the seal elements being adapted to interact with deformable plug means for the adjustable joints to block substantial infiltration of surface water, and one of the seal elements being disposed on the ledge and at least another of the seal elements being disposed substantially around the outer perimeter of the body.

Abstract: An improved manhole cover support adapted to raise the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure such as a manhole cover frame is shown. Integral with and substantially coextensive with the top of its thin-walled cover keeper portion is a stiffening wale that defines a cavity. The cavity can be, for example, rectangular or arcuate, and it can contain a cohesive or other filler solid. The cover support need not be adjustable in perimeter, and wale need not be continuous but interrupted adjacent ends can be joined. The cover support can have water seals of compressible polymer that are interposed between its cover seat and the cover that it is to accept, and between its outer perimeter and the upper surface, e.g., paving, into which it is set and/or the shoulder of the existing manhole cover receiving structure where it sits. At least part of the sealing elements can be adherent to the cover support.

Abstract: An improved manhole cover support adjustable in perimeter and adapted to raise the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure such as a manhole frame is shown. Integral and substantially coextensive with the upper part of its thin-walled lateral cover keeper portion is a reinforcing wale. The cover support can be in the form of a split ring or a plurality of joined segments. Advantageously, it can have bridged joints and a flexible, compressible retention member on at least a portion of its expanding outer wall member.

Abstract: An improved manhole cover support adjustable in perimeter and adapted to raise the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure such as a manhole frame is shown. Integral and substantially coextensive with the upper part of its thin-walled lateral cover keeper portion is a reinforcing wale. The cover support can be in the form of a split ring or a plurality of joined segments. Advantageously, it can have bridged joints and a flexible, compressible retention member on at least a portion of its expanding outer wall member.