Universal manhole adjusting ring
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, manhole covers and storm sewer grates are supported by a metal casting which is fixed in the road such that the cover or grate is at the same elevation as the road surface. However, when the road is resurfaced or repaired, the casting is considerably below the level of the new road surface such that the cover or grate is also not level with the new surface, creating driving hazards. While various adjustment rings have been employed to raise the cover to the level of the new road surface, such rings typically are difficult and awkward to set into position and are not adjustable for covers of varying thicknesses. 
     Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an adjustment ring which can be positioned on the old casting to raise the manhole cover or storm grate to the same elevation as the resurfaced road. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an adjustment ring which will fit various sized manhole castings and storm sewer castings. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an adjustment ring for manhole covers and the like which can be easily positioned by one person. 
     Still a further objective of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable ring which can be adapted for manhole covers having various thicknesses. 
     An additional objective of the present invention is the provision of a sectioned ring wherein the perimeter of the ring can be varied. 
     A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an adjustment ring having vertically adjustable height. 
     These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The adjustment ring of the present invention for manholes, storm sewers, and the like is mounted upon the existing casting so that the manhole cover or storm grate can be raised to the elevation of a newly resurfaced road. The ring comprises a plurality of ring sections each having an inner ring portion with an upper surface for supporting the cover or grate and an integrally formed outer ring portion with a lower surface for supporting the section on the casting. The outer ring portion further includes an outer peripheral edge, an inner peripheral edge, and spaced apart first and second ends. The first end of each section has a plurality of teeth extending inwardly from the outer peripheral edge while the second end of each section has a plurality of teeth extending outwardly from the inner peripheral edge. The first end of each section is adapted to overlap a portion of the second end of the adjacent section such that the teeth of the respectively overlapping ends intermesh with one another to hold the sections in their relative positions. The perimeter of the ring can be increased or decreased by varying the number of overlapping teeth, accordingly. The overlapping ends of adjacent sections are secured to one another by a screw. 
     The vertical height of each section can be adjusted by a vertically adjustable support leg extending downwardly from the inner ring portion so as to engage the support flange of the casting. Spacer shims can be positioned between the outer ring portion of each section and the casting to further stabilize the sections. Additional shims can be positioned on the top surface of the outer ring portion to provide a raised outer ring surface which is at the same elevation as the new road surface. Finally, deformable wedge-shaped members can be placed between the overlapping ends of adjacent sections such that the contour of the ring more closely approximates that of the casting. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view showing the manhole adjustment ring in use with a standard manhole cover. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one section of the adjustment ring of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the adjustment ring of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 3. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates an original road bed with an upper surface 12 in which a casting 14 for a manhole, storm drain, or the like is fixed. Casting 14 is typically made of metal and includes a top edge 16 which is flush with upper surface 12 of road bed 10, an inner wall 18 and an inwardly extending support flange 20 used to support a cover or grate 22 typically placed over the opening defined by the casting. Ideally, the upper surface 24 of cover 22 is also at the same elevation as upper surface 12 of road bed 10 to provide a smooth ride for a car, bikes or the like passing over the road. There is no standard design in the industry for casting 14 and cover 22 and therefore the various dimensions of casting 14 and cover 22 tend to vary from one community to another. 
     The inherent wear and tear that a road is subjected to oftens requires the road to be resurfaced. In the drawings, the resurfacing material is generally designated by the numeral 26 with the upper surface thereof being designated by the numeral 28. Since resurfacing material 26 is usually laid directly upon upper surface 12 of original road bed 10 and is two to three inches thick, it is necessary to raise cover 22 such that upper surface 24 thereof is again level with the new upper surface 28 of the resurfaced road. 
     The present invention raises the vertical height of cover 22 by providing a universal adjustment ring 30 which is mounted upon casting 14 so as to raise upper surface 24 of cover 22 to the elevation of the new road surface. Ring 30 is comprised of a plurality of ring sections 32 which are adapted to overlap one another so as to conform to the shape of casting 14. Preferably, for use in a circular manhole, ring 30 includes 15 uniformly curved sections which interlock to form a circular ring. For other types of openings in road bed 10, such as storm drains, sections 32 may be linear and/or angular so as to conform to the shape of the particular casting. Except for the particular curve or angle of a section, all sections 32 are substantially identical and similar parts will be numbered identically in the drawings as hereinafter described. 
     Each section 32 includes an outer ring portion 34 and an integrally formed inner ring portion 36. Outer ring portion 34 has an upper surface 38, a lower surface 40, an outer peripheral wall 42, an inner peripheral wall 44, a first end 46, and a spaced apart second end 48. Inner ring portion 36 has an upper surface 50, a lower surface 52, an inner peripheral wall 54, and an inwardly tapered outer peripheral wall 56. 
     First end 46 of outer end portion 34 has a plurality of teeth 60 extending inwardly from outer peripheral wall 42. Similarly, second end 48 has a plurality of teeth 62 extending outwardly from inner peripheral wall 44. First end 46 of each of sections 32 is adapted to overlap second end 48 of the next adjacent section whereby at least some of teeth 60 engage some of complimentarily shaped teeth 62 thereby maintaining the relative position of the adjacent sections with respect to one another. By altering the number of teeth 60 and 62 which engage one another between adjacent sections, the perimeter of ring 30 can be increased or decreased to fit the particular casting 14 upon which ring 30 is mounted. For example, the diameter of ring 30 can be increased or decreased by overlapping more or less teeth, respectively, to adjust the size of ring 30 to a particular manhole casting. Thus, ring 30 of the present invention can be universally utilized in the non-standardized manhole castings existing in various communities. 
     Means are also provided for securing the overlapping ends of adjacent sections together. More particularly, first end 46 has a threaded hole 64 therein and second end 48 has an elongated slot 66 extending therethrough which aligns hole 64 of the overlapping first end of the adjacent section. A screw 68 extends through slot 66 and is threadably received by hole 64 to secure the overlapping sections together. Slot 66 is countersunk such that head 70 of screw 68 is flush with inner peripheral wall 44 of outer ring portion 34 so as not to interfere with the placement of cover or grate 22 on ring 30. 
     A wedge-shaped member 72 can be positioned as needed between the overlapping ends of adjacent sections to increase or decrease the perimeter of ring 30 such tha the ring more closely conforms to an irregularly shaped casting. Member 72 is made of a deformable material so that the member will conform to the shape of the intermeshing teeth 60 and 62. Wedge member 72 has a first narrow end 74 and a thicker spaced apart second end 76. 
     In use, ring 30 is positioned on casting 14 such that lower surface 40 of outer ring portion 34 engages top edge 16 of casting 14 whereby inner ring portion 36 extends downwardly adjacent inner wall surface 18 of casting 14 and such that an expansion space 58 is maintained between inwardly tapered outer peripheral wall 56 of inner ring 36 and inner wall surface 18 of casting 14. Sections 32 can be positioned by one person on casting 14 one at a time with the amount of overlap of adjacent sections being selected or changed as needed to conform the shape of ring 30 to that of casting 14. Cover 22 is supported by upper surface 50 of inner ring portion 36. 
     If the thickness of resurfacing material 26 is greater than the overall height of outer ring portion 34, a plurality of shims 78 can be positioned between lower surface 40 of outer ring portion 34 and top edge 16 of casting 14. An adjustment bolt 80 adjustably threadably received within a vertically oriented hole 82 can then be adjusted downwardly from lower surface 52 of inner ring portion 36 such that upper surface 50 is vertically raised to bring upper surface 24 of cover 22 level with the new road surface 28. A lock nut 84 locks adjustment bolt 80 in the selected position. Also, shims 78 are secured to ring 30 by a screw 86 extending upwardly and threadably received within a vertically oriented hole 88 extending through outer ring portion 34. As an alternative to shims 78, an adjustment bolt similar to bolt 80 can be adjustably threadably received in hole 88 to raise the height of each section 32. Similarly, shims could be utilized between lower surface 52 of inner ring portion 36 in place of adjustment bolt 80. At a minimum, inner peripheral wall 44 of outer ring portion 34 and outer peripheral wall 56 of inner ring portion 36 have a height equal to the thinest cover or grate manufactured by the industry. In such a situation, lower surface 52 of inner ring portion 36 engages support flange 20 for additional support of section 32. If the thickness of cover or grate 22 is such that upper surface 24 thereof is at a higher elevation than upper surface 38 of outer ring portion 34 when the cover is supported by upper surface 50 of inner ring portion 36, additional shims 90 can be secured to upper surface 38 of outer ring portion 34 by a screw 92 extending downwardly into vertically oriented hole 88 to provide a new upper surface 94 which is at the same elevation as upper surface 24 of cover 22 and the new road surface 28. 
     Each section 32 may also include an outwardly extending ear 96 connected to outer peripheral wall 42 of outer ring portin 34 by welding or the like and reinforced by interconnecting web 98 so as to anchor sections 32 into resurfacing material 26. 
     Thus, from the above description, it can be seen that regardless of resurfacing material 26, regardless of the thickness of cover or grate 22, and regardless of the shape of casting 14, a novel adjustment ring 30 comprised of overlapping sections 32 can be utilized to raise upper surface 24 of cover or grate 22 to the elevation of the new road surface 28. Therefore, at least all of the stated objectives are accomplished by the adjustment ring of the present invention.