GB2448665A

GB2448665A - Sewer access cover

Info

Publication number: GB2448665A
Application number: GB0708269A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-28
Filing date: 2007-04-28
Publication date: 2008-10-29
Also published as: GB0708269D0

Abstract

The sewer access cover, for enabling to disposal of pet waste into a sewer system, comprises a cover plate 14 with an aperture and a lid 24 non-detachable secured to the cover plate so that it is movable between a closed position covering the aperture and an open position exposing the aperture. The lid may include an opening for receiving a lifting tool 30. The lid is preferably flush with the cover when the lid is in the closed position and may be biased towards the closed position. Also claimed is a method of disposing of pet waste.

Description

Title: Sewer access cover

Technical Field

The invention relates to sewer access covers, particularly the kind found on domestic property, including manhole covers and inspection chamber covers.

Background and Prior Art

According to the Petfoods Manufacturing Association, although there has never been a dog or cat census in the UK, from sales figures it is estimated that in 2001 there were 7.5 million cats and 6.1 million dogs in the UK.

The fouling of dogs and cats in domestic and public places is a known problem. Pet owners must dispose of pet foul from their yards, patios and gardens in order to maintain hygiene standards. Additionally, dog owners are increasingly under legal obligation not to leave dog foul in public places.

Solutions to the problem of disposal of pet foul already exist. At the home pet owners can dispose of pet foul in a dustbin or wheelie bin. However this is unhygienic and unpleasant, particularly when the local authority collect domestic waste only every two weeks.

In public places, some local authorities place bespoke dog foul collection points which are typically designed to contain any foul odours. However these collection points require emptying and if not emptied often enough they fill up and become useless.

Summary of Invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a sewer access cover, comprising a cover plate having an aperture therein, and a lid non-detachablysecured to the cover plate, the lid being movable between a closed position covering the aperture and an open position exposing the aperture.

In use of a sewer access cover in accordance with the invention, the lid is normally in the closed position, with the cover being functionally identical to a conventional cover.

However, collected pet foul may be disposed of by depositing it through the aperture of a nearby sewer access cover following opening of the lid by a user. The lid is then returned to the closed position by the user. As the sewers below are already designed for handling human waste, the pet waste is conveniently and hygienically disposed of without the need for storage or collection of the foul.

The term "non-detachably secured" means that the lid is not detachable from the cover plate in normal of the cover use: it does not exclude the possibility of the lid and cover plates being separable by dismantling of the cover. Because the lid is not detachable from the cover plate this reduces possibilities for tampering with the cover.

The lid may be movable to the open position in a variety of ways, e.g. by movement on a hinge or by sliding parallel to the surface of the cover. Preferably the lid is hinged.

It is important that, under normal conditions, the lid remains in the closed position. It is thus preferably necessary to use an opening tool or implement to move the lid from the closed position to the open position. This prevents tampering and helps ensure that the lid is only used for the deposit of pet foul by a pet owner in possession of such a tool or implement. Thus, the sewer access cover, typically the lid thereof, preferably includes means for co-operating with a tool or implement to enable opening of the lid.

In a convenient embodiment, having a hinged lid, a lifting opening is provided in the lid.

The opening is preferably in the form of a slot for use with a lifting tool comprising a shaft or handle with a hooked end. The hooked end of the tool can be inserted through shot and rotated so that the hook engages the underside of the lid. By pulling on the shaft or handle, the lid can be hinged open. As a further possibility a recess may be provided in an edge of the lid, for engagement by the end of a prising tool.

The invention includes within its scope a sewer access cover in combination with an opening tool or implement such as a lifting tool.

The sewer access cover optionally includes biasing means, such as a spring, biasing the lid towards the closed position. In this way the lid will move to the closed position after use by a pet owner without the pet owner having to physically close the lid.

Suitably the aperture is sized to allow convenient passage of pet foul without being so large as to allow passage of large items not intended to be carried by the sewers. Thus it is preferred that the aperture describes an open area of from 25 to 150 cm2, preferably from to 1202 cm. The shape of the aperture is less important and may be rectangular, triangular or circular, for example. In one simple embodiment the aperture is 10cm x 10 cm. The area in plan of the aperture is preferably small in relation to the area in plan of the sewer access cover, e.g. being less than 10% of the total area of the cover.

The aperture can be at an edge of the cover plate, but is preferably within the cover plate, e.g. being centrally located. The cover plate may have a variety of shapes, and is commonly circular or square.

The cover plate and lid may be of a range of different materials, with cast iron, steel and plastics material, e.g. polypropylene, commonly being used.

It is advantageous that the surface of the lid is flush with the surface of the cover plate so that the lid does not present a trip hazard. If the lid is hinged, the hinge is preferably recessed.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of disposing of pet foul, the method comprising exposing an aperture in a sewer access cover and depositing the foul through the aperture.

This method is typically executed wherein the aperture is exposed by moving a lid from a closed position to an open position and is typically carried out on a sewer access cover in accordance with the invention.

An embodiment of a sewer access cover in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of illustration, with reference to the following figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a sewer access cover in accordance with the invention; Figure 2, shows on an enlarged scale, the aperture and associated lid of the sewer access cover of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic view, to a further enlarged scale, of the sewer access cover as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 3 show a sewer access cover 10 in accordance with the invention set in ground surface 12 on top of a cylindrical borehole leading to a sewer (not shown).

Cover 10 comprises a circular cast iron cover plate 14 approximately 50cm in diameter sitting on shoulder 16 at the top of the borehole. The cover plate 14 comprises an aperture 16 in the centre of the plate defined by a stepped edge. The stepped edge comprises a wider upper part 18 of dimensions approximately 10cm x 10cm and a lower part 20 of smaller dimensions, the two parts separated by a shoulder 22.

Lid 24 is made irom cast iron and has dimensions of approximately 10cm x 10cm and is non-detachably secured to cover plate 14 by a rebated hinge 25, so that the lid 24 rests within upper part 18 of the cover 14. The lid 24 has an elongate slot 28.

The lid 24 is hingedly by moveable between a closed position (shown at I in Figure 3) and an open position (shown at II in Figure 3). In the closed position the lid 24 rests on shoulder 22 and the upper surface of the lid 24 is flush with the upper surface of the cover plate 14. In the open position the lid 24 allows access to the aperture 16 and the borehole below.

In use the lid 24 is normally in the closed position. To open the lid a lifting tool 30 comprising a shaft 32 with a hooked end 39. The hooked end of tool 30 is inserted through the slot 28 and the shaft is rotated through about 90 so that the hook is beneath the lid surface and can engage the underside of the lid. By pulling on the shaft, the lid 24 can be raised and hinged into through the open position. A pet owner can now deposit pet foul 36 into the sewer through the aperture, as illustrated in Figure 1. The tool 30 can then be removed from the slot following a further rotation and the lid 24 moves to its closed position under the action of gravity.

Claims

Claims 1. A sewer access cover, comprising a cover plate having an

aperture therein and a lid non-detachably secured to the cover plate, the lid being moveable between a closed position covering the aperture and an open position exposing the aperture.
2. A sewer access cover according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a lifting opening, for use with a lifting tool.
3. A sewer access cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the aperture describes an open area of from 25 to 150cm2.
4. A sewer access cover as claimed in claim 3, wherein the aperture describes an open area of from 50 to 120cm2.
5. A sewer access cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper surface of the lid is flush with the upper surface of the cover plate when the lid is in the closed position.
6. A sewer access cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the cover plate, and preferably does not protrude above the surface of the cover plate.
7. A sewer access cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid comprises biasing means, biasing the lid towards the closed position.
8. A sewer access cover according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aperture is within the cover plate.
9. A sewer access cover according to any one of the preceding claims, where the area of the aperture is less than 10% of the area of the cover.
10. A method of disposing of pet foul, the method comprising exposing an aperture in a sewer access cover and depositing the pet foul through the aperture.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the aperture is exposed by moving a lid from a closed position to an open position.