GB2381286A

GB2381286A - Plug for inserting in holes or recesses in manhole covers, access hatches etc.

Info

Publication number: GB2381286A
Application number: GB0125726A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marie Graham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-26
Filing date: 2001-10-26
Publication date: 2003-04-30
Also published as: GB0125726D0

Abstract

The plug 3, designed to be inserted in the holes and recesses in manholes, access hatches and the like, is shaped so that it matches the internal shape of the recess and may be contoured 6 to fit around any elements located within the recess such as lifting lugs 7, retaining bolts etc. The top surface of the plug is designed so that, in use, it is level with the upper surface of the e.g. manhole and the upper surface may be provided with a non-slip coating 8. The upper surface may also include a tapped hole 5 for receiving a bolt or key 4 to facilitate the removal of the plug. A silicon/mastic type bead may be applied around the top between the plug and the recess/hole so as to provide extra retention. The plug may be formed of a suitable material such as metal, plastic, wood, concrete or any combination thereof.

Description

PROSAFE PLUG This invention is a plug/insert which is shaped to the contour of a manufactured hole/cavity or invert of surface (for example-access hatches, manhole covers etc) that would be subjected to any human foot or mobile mechanical traffic.

Caps or covers that may exist would overlap the hole/cavity or invert and on to the surface, creating a protrusion and/or an uneven surface, thus causing a trip or obstructive hazard/risk.

An object of this invention is to provide a safety factor for any human foot, or mobile mechanical device which may pass over the hole/cavity or invert, as well as providing protection to anything that may be in the hole/cavity or invert, for example lifting lug/bar or retaining bolt etc.

This invention provides continuity of a flat surface where there would otherwise be a hole/cavity or invert which would be a trip hazard/risk to people, leading to possible serious injury, and also a hazard/risk for the wheels of mobile mechanical devices such as pallet trucks, mobile scaffolding etc leading to possible damage to property and serious injury to people.

Preferably the plug/insert is made of plastic material but choice may be dictated and prejudiced by the surrounding environment, for exampleIn the case of metal hatches, metal plugs would be unwise due to the threat of dissimilar metal corrosion taking place or metal plug corroding together with the hatch due to the weather etc. Also normal plastic material may have to be replaced with ant-static plastic material where the situation dictates, for example-gas plants, high voltage areas, offshore/onshore oil and gas installations etc. and for the same reason (where situation dictates) the non-slip coating may have to be made from anti-static material Therefore plugs can be made from plastic (static or anti-static), wood, metal, concrete/masonry materials or a combination of these materials.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of a manufactured hatch/manhole cover 1 with four lifting lug cavities 2 with lifting bars 7enclosed.

FIGURE 2 shows an end elevation of manufactured hatch/manhole cover and showing the lug cavities 2 with lifting bars 7.

FIGURE 3 shows the plug 3 and the cavity/hole 2 with the plug being shaped 6 to fit over/around any object enclosed in the cavity which in this case is the lifting bar 7 The plug has an non slip coating on top surface 8 and can be inserted and removed from cavity/hole by use of threaded key 4 screwed into tapped hole 5.

FIGURE 4 shows plug inserted in position inside the cavity/hole with optional silicon/mastic bead applied around top perimeter of plug between plug and cavity/hole wall for extra retention security.

Claims

1. A plug which is inserted in a man made hole or cavity of a surface where there is likelihood of foot traffic or wheels of mobile mechanical devices, and being able to take the weight of such.

2. A plug as claimed in Claim 1 which is shaped to contour of hole or cavity.

3. A plug as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 which is machined/shaped to fit inside hole or cavity and over and around any additional obstruction inside the hole or cavity (and can have the option of silicon bead applied around/between top edge of plug and cavity for extra security)

4. A plug as claimed in Claim 1 which has been coated on top with a non slip (static or anti-static) coating for anti-slip purposes.

5. A plug as claimed in any preceding claim which has a suitable depth of tapped hole on top to permit the insertion of a bolt/threaded key for the purpose of extracting plug from hole or cavity.

6. A plug as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastics material (static or anti-static), wood, concrete/masonry or from a combination of these.

7. An eliminator block substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A plug substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A safety eliminator block which is machined/shaped to fit inside a large man made hole or hollow such as found on deck plates/hatches on offshore oil & gas installations or ships, these holes/hollows being used to connect lifting/rigging gear to lift the deck plates and being large enough to trip/trap ankles and feet of people and leading to serious injury, these holes/hollows being large enough to also trap the wheels of mobile mechanical devices such as pallet trucks, mobile scaffolding, or forklifts etc, subsequently toppling any load/people on them, the eliminator block being able to bear the weight of such without collapsing, thus when placed in hole/hollow prevents serious injury/damage to people and/or equipment. Also the eliminator block when inserted in hole or hollow creates a continuity of flat surface, being enhanced by a further safety feature of a non slip surface coating on top of block to prevent feet slipping on otherwise smooth surface of block.

2. An eliminator block as claimed in Claim 1 which is shaped to contour of hole or cavity.

3. An eliminator block as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is machined/shaped to fit inside hole or cavity and over and around any additional obstruction inside the hole or cavity and can have the option of silicon bead applied around/between top edge of block and cavity for extra security 4. An eliminator block as claimed in Claim I which has been coated on top with a static or anti-static non slip coating for anti-slip purposes.

5. An eliminator block as claimed in any preceding claim which has a suitable depth of tapped hole on top to permit the insertion of a bolt/threaded key for the purpose of extracting block from hole or cavity.

6. An eliminator block as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, static or anti-static plastics material, wood, concrete/masonry or from a combination of these.