IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0569888
(2012-08-08)
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등록번호 |
US-8453386
(2013-06-04)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
93 |
초록
▼
A cover for a structure may include a plate including upper and lower surfaces. A rim portion of the lower surface may be configured to contact an edge of the structure. The cover may include a spider including a center portion, a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the center portion,
A cover for a structure may include a plate including upper and lower surfaces. A rim portion of the lower surface may be configured to contact an edge of the structure. The cover may include a spider including a center portion, a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the center portion, and a plurality of coupling elements. Each leg may be coupled to the lower surface of the plate with a corresponding coupling element. The center portion of the spider may be movable away from the lower surface of the plate to move the spider from a locked position in which a distal end of each leg extends outward to a first radial position to engage the structure to an open position in which the distal end of each leg is withdrawn to a second radial position radially inward of the first radial position to disengage the structure.
대표청구항
▼
1. A cover for contacting a horizontal top edge of an uppermost ring forming a subterranean structure having an inside surface, the cover comprising a plate having an upper and a lower surface, the lower surface including an outer rim for contact with said top edge, a spider having a center portion
1. A cover for contacting a horizontal top edge of an uppermost ring forming a subterranean structure having an inside surface, the cover comprising a plate having an upper and a lower surface, the lower surface including an outer rim for contact with said top edge, a spider having a center portion and a plurality of radially extending legs, a like plurality of coupling elements coupling at least one of the legs to the lower surface, each leg including a distal end, the distal end being adapted to protrude into contact with the inside surface of the subterranean structure, the center portion being movable from the upper surface of the plate to cause movement of the distal ends of the legs relative to the coupling elements between a locked and an unlocked position for securing and releasing the cover to the uppermost ring. 2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the lower surface of the plate further comprises an inner flange movably coupled to the legs of the spider. 3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the center portion of the spider is movable in a direction away from the lower surface of the plate, which causes movement of the distal ends of the legs away from a receiving pocket of the inside surface of the subterranean structure. 4. The cover of claim 3 further comprising an opening in the plate aligned with the center portion of the spider for receiving a key inserted from the upper surface of the plate to cause downward displacement of the spider. 5. The cover of claim 4 wherein the key comprises an axially symmetric rod having a lower portion dimensioned to be received in the opening in the plate, a shoulder of a greater dimension than the lower portion, and a tapered portion between the lower portion and the shoulder allowing lateral displacement of the key relative to the opening in the plate. 6. A cover for contacting a structure, the cover comprising: a plate comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, a rim portion of the lower surface configured to contact an edge of the structure;a spider comprising a center portion, a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the center portion, and a plurality of coupling elements, each leg of the spider coupled to the lower surface of the plate with a corresponding coupling element;wherein the center portion of the spider is movable away from the lower surface of the plate to move the spider from a locked position in which a distal end of each leg extends outward to a first radial position to engage an inner surface of the structure to an open position in which the distal end of each leg is withdrawn to a second radial position radially inward of the first radial position to disengage the inner surface of the structure. 7. The cover of claim 6, wherein the plate further comprises an inner flange extending downward from the lower surface and positioned radially inward of the rim portion, and, in the locked position, the distal end of each leg extends radially outward beyond the inner flange to engage the inner surface of the structure. 8. The cover of claim 7, wherein the plate further comprises an outer flange extending along an outer perimeter of the plate and downward from the lower surface, and the rim portion of the lower surface is positioned between the outer flange and the inner flange. 9. The cover of claim 7, wherein each leg of the spider is coupled to the inner flange with the corresponding coupling element to couple the leg to the lower surface of the plate. 10. The cover of claim 6, wherein each leg of the spider comprises an elongated slot, and the coupling element is received within the elongated slot so that the leg is radially movable relative to the coupling element. 11. The cover of claim 6, wherein movement of the center portion of the spider away from the lower surface of the plate causes the legs to flex relative to the center portion and the distal end of each leg to move radially inward, and the legs of the spider comprise an elasticity to bias the spider toward the locked position. 12. The cover of claim 6, wherein the plurality of legs overlap one another to form the center portion of the spider. 13. The cover of claim 6, wherein the legs of the spider are spaced from one another about a circumference of the center portion of the spider so that, upon engagement of the legs with the inner surface of the structure, the cover tends to be automatically centered on the structure. 14. The cover of claim 6, wherein each leg of the spider comprises a leg portion and a tip portion attached to the leg portion to form the distal end of the leg. 15. The cover of claim 6, wherein the plate comprises an opening aligned with the center portion of the spider to receive a key inserted from the upper surface of the plate to move the center portion of the spider away from the lower surface of the plate. 16. The cover of claim 15, wherein the key comprises a lower stem portion dimensioned to be received in the opening of the plate to contact the center portion of the spider and a collar comprising a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the opening to prevent insertion of the collar into the opening. 17. The cover of claim 16, wherein the key further comprises a tapered portion positioned between the lower stem portion and the collar and comprising a step edge positioned adjacent to the lower stem portion, and, upon lateral displacement of the key relative to the opening of the plate, the step edge engages the lower surface of the plate adjacent to the opening. 18. A method of operating a cover for a structure, the method comprising: providing a spider comprising a center portion and a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the center portion, each of the plurality of legs being coupled to a lower surface of a plate;moving the center portion of the spider in a direction away from the lower surface of the plate;flexing each leg of the spider relative to the center portion of the spider in the direction away from the lower surface of the plate; andin response to flexing each leg of the spider, moving a distal end of each leg of the spider radially inward relative to the plate. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the center portion of the spider in a direction away from the lower surface of the plate comprises: introducing a key into an opening in the plate from an upper surface of the plate, the opening aligned with the center portion of the spider; andcontacting the center portion of the spider with the key. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the key laterally relative to the opening of the plate to engage the lower surface of the plate with a step edge of the key.
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