EP1297225B1 - Road network device with articulated cover - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a road device with an articulated lid, in particular with lid formed in the form of a grid. It applies in particular the chimney coping devices of rainwater or closure devices for chimneys or chimneys inspecting an underground water system, such as manholes or sidewalk.

For security reasons, as for economic reasons, it is essential that the lids of the road not be removed except, if necessary, by authorized persons.

To this end, we already know road systems equipped with means preventing the removal of the lid purely manually.

We know, in particular, a device for crowning chimneys access or evacuation, comprising a frame and a lid constituted by a removable grid adapted to be articulated to the frame about an axis extending in the vicinity of one side of the gate, this gate being constituted, in the direction of its pivot axis, a middle part and two side parts with protruding trunnions in frame housing elastically connected to the middle part, which gives it a structure globally deformable. The deformability of the frame of the grid is put to advantage by giving it also one or more bars also deformable resiliently adapted to come in snap engagement with snap lugs worn by the frame to prevent opening purely manual look allowing removal of the grid. However, as a result of the generally deformable structure of the grid, the shrinkage of it is possible by pinching the outermost side bars in order to release its trunnions from their housing of the frame, by means of levers of fortune.

We also know anti-theft devices based on use, to prevent the removal of the cover, an insert, this which is also a disadvantage because this piece can be removed at way of a classic tool, and lost.

From document EP-A-0506590 is known a road device with the characteristics mentioned in the preamble to the attached claim 1.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and concerns for this purpose a road device consisting of a hinged rigid cover on a frame, the cover comprising two lateral edges carrying two trunnions defining an axis of articulation parallel to a hinge line lid and coming into two corresponding cells of the chassis at least partially supported by a wall of the chassis, characterized in that the lid further comprises an elastically flexible finger extending parallel to the side edges, the free end of this finger being located near the hinge edge and being adapted for cooperate with a thrust pin carried by the corresponding hinge edge of the chassis so as to allow, by elastic deformation of the finger resting against the pin, the establishment of the pins in their cells and their withdrawal from them.

Thanks to this structure, the malicious withdrawal and in particular the theft of lid is difficult because removal requires the use of a tool specific such as a crowbar or a pickaxe.

• l'ergot de poussée présente une surface latérale supérieure inclinée vers le haut et une surface latérale inférieure en surplomb qui, en position de fermeture du couvercle sur le châssis, coopère avec une surface d'inclinaison correspondante portée par l'extrémité libre du doigt flexible élastiquement ;
• le châssis présente, à l'opposé de l'ergot, un second ergot de poussée porté par une rive d'extrémité opposée à la rive d'articulation et adapté pour coopérer par encliquetage avec l'extrémité libre d'un second doigt flexible élastiquement porté par le couvercle ;
• le second ergot de poussée et l'extrémité libre du second doigt flexible élastiquement comportent des surfaces coopérantes formant cames, actives dans le sens d'ouverture et/ou de fermeture du couvercle ;
• l'extrémité libre de chaque doigt flexible élastiquement comporte un évidement pour une région latérale de l'ergot ;
• les doigts flexibles élastiquement s'étendent perpendiculairement à la direction dans laquelle s'étendent les tourillons d'articulation ;
• les doigts flexibles élastiquement s'étendent dans des échancrures respectives du couvercle, l'extrémité libre de chaque doigt débouchant dans un espace pratiqué dans la rive correspondante du couvercle ;
• le couvercle est une grille ;
• le couvercle est en fonte ductile ; et
• le couvercle présente une forme générale en quadrilatère.

The road device according to the invention may furthermore have one or more of the following characteristics:

• the thrust pin has an upwardly inclined upper lateral surface and an overhanging lower lateral surface which, in the closed position of the cover on the frame, cooperates with a corresponding inclining surface carried by the free end of the flexible finger elastically;
• the chassis has, opposite the lug, a second thrust pin carried by an opposite end edge to the hinge flange and adapted to cooperate by snapping with the free end of a second elastically flexible finger carried by the lid;
• the second thrust pin and the free end of the second elastically flexible finger comprise cooperating surfaces forming cams, active in the opening direction and / or closure of the lid;
• the free end of each elastically flexible finger has a recess for a lateral region of the lug;
• the resiliently flexible fingers extend perpendicular to the direction in which the hinge pins extend;
• the elastically flexible fingers extend into respective indentations of the lid, the free end of each finger opening into a space made in the corresponding side of the lid;
• the lid is a grid;
• the lid is made of ductile cast iron; and
• the lid has a general shape in quadrilateral.

• la figure 1 est une coupe schématique selon la ligne 1-1 de la figure 2, d'un châssis entrant dans la constitution d'une première forme de réalisation d'un dispositif de voirie selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique de dessus du châssis représenté en coupe sur la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une coupe schématique du châssis de la figure 2 selon la ligne III-III de cette figure ;
• la figure 4 est une coupe schématique du châssis de la figure 2 selon la ligne IV-IV de cette figure ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en élévation d'un couvercle entrant dans la constitution de la première forme de réalisation d'un dispositif de voirie selon l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique de dessus du couvercle de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une coupe schématique du couvercle de la figure 6 selon la ligne VII-VII de cette figure ;
• la figure 8 est une coupe schématique du couvercle de la figure 6 selon la ligne VIII-VIII de cette figure ;
• la figure 9 est une coupe schématique du couvercle de la figure 6 selon la ligne IX-IX de cette figure ;
• la figure 10 est une vue schématique de dessus du dispositif de voirie selon la première forme de réalisation ;
• la figure 11A est une vue schématique en perspective d'un ergot du châssis des figures 1 à 4 et de l'extrémité libre d'un doigt flexible du couvercle des figures 5 à 9 adaptés pour être en relation d'encliquetage en vis-à-vis dans la position de fermeture du couvercle mais représentés pour des raisons de clarté du dessin à distance l'un de l'autre ;
• la figure 11B est une section transversale schématique d'un autre ergot du châssis des figures 1 à 4 et d'un autre doigt flexible du couvercle des figures 5 à 9 adaptés pour être en relation d'encliquetage en vis-à-vis dans la position de fermeture du couvercle mais représentés pour des raisons de clarté du dessin à distance l'un de l'autre, au niveau de la ligne XI-XI de la figure 10 ; et
• la figure 12 est une vue schématique de dessus d'un dispositif de voirie selon une deuxième forme de réalisation de l'invention ;

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view along the line 1-1 of Figure 2, a frame forming part of a first embodiment of a road device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the frame shown in section in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a schematic section of the frame of Figure 2 along the line III-III of this figure;
• Figure 4 is a schematic section of the frame of Figure 2 along the line IV-IV of this figure;
• Figure 5 is a schematic elevational view of a cover forming part of the first embodiment of a road device according to the invention;
• Figure 6 is a schematic top view of the cover of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a schematic section of the lid of Figure 6 along the line VII-VII of this figure;
• Figure 8 is a schematic section of the lid of Figure 6 along the line VIII-VIII of this figure;
• Figure 9 is a schematic section of the cover of Figure 6 along the line IX-IX of this figure;
• Figure 10 is a schematic top view of the road device according to the first embodiment;
• FIG. 11A is a diagrammatic perspective view of a lug of the frame of FIGS. 1 to 4 and of the free end of a flexible finger of the lid of FIGS. 5 to 9 adapted to be in snap engagement relation to FIG. -vis in the closed position of the lid but shown for the sake of clarity of the drawing at a distance from each other;
• FIG. 11B is a diagrammatic cross-section of another lug of the frame of FIGS. 1 to 4 and another flexible finger of the lid of FIGS. 5 to 9 adapted to be in latching relationship facing each other in FIG. closing position of the lid but shown for the sake of clarity of the drawing at a distance from one another, at the line XI-XI of Figure 10; and
• Figure 12 is a schematic top view of a road device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

The road device illustrated by the figures is a crowning device for sewerage network, intended to be sealed in the ground, for example in a pavement, at the top end an evacuation or access chimney (not shown); this device is here a quadrilateral but this form is not naturally limiting.

The device consists of two pieces of ductile iron, namely a frame 1 here of rectangular general shape delimiting an access 2, here circular, at the chimney, and a rigid grid 3 forming a shutter cover of the chassis. The cover 3 and the frame 1 are articulated to one another by means of means of mutual articulation, so that the lid can be moved between a closed position where it rests on the frame and covers approximately access and an open position where he releases it substantially, more precisely in an approximately pivotal movement around an approximately horizontal axis parallel to the small sides of the rectangle of the device resting in the chassis between the two positions mentioned above.

Here, the word "horizontal (e)" means (and will mean throughout the text) "Parallel to the plane in which the chassis extends", although this plan may may be inclined if the device is intended to be implanted at the surface of an inclined floor, and the word "vertical (e)" will mean "perpendicular to the plane in which the chassis extends.

The means of mutual articulation of the cover 3 and the chassis 1 are respectively two journals 30A, 30B laterally projecting respectively on both sides of the lid, carried by the two lateral edges near an end bank 31 called in the suite "shore of the latter, these two journals being aligned axially one with each other to define the approximately horizontal pivot axis of the cover, and two cells 10 of the chassis adapted to receive respectively these two trunnions of the lid.

The cells 10 of the chassis are bordered by an end edge 11 and side edges 12 of the frame that belong to the outer wall of it, the end edge 11 being intended to receive facing the shore articulation 31 of the cover near which are placed the trunnions 30A, 30B; this end edge 11 of the frame serves as a stop on the lid 3 to define an open position abutting thereof.

The two cells 10 are overhung by a wall 13 whose upper face is coplanar with the upper face of the frame, that is to say the upper edge of the outer wall of the latter, and approximately with the upper face of the lid 3 when it is in position closure; for one of the cells, the overhanging wall 13 presents a notch 130 whose function will be mentioned later, while for the other cell, the wall 13 connects without discontinuity to the end edge 11 of the chassis and therefore constitutes a bridge of material above it.

The end edge 11 and the opposite end edge 11 'of the frame each provided with a thrust pin 14, 14 'for the lid 3, extending towards the interior of the chassis and whose upper face is coplanar with the upper edge of the edge 11, 11 '; the two lugs 14, 14 'are disposed opposite, on the same side of the large median 15 of the frame 1, namely on the side where the overhanging wall 13 has a notch 130, to a few millimeters from this great median; each lug comprises, at its upper part, inclined lateral surfaces converging on one towards the other in the direction of its upper face, the lateral surface 141, 141 'of each lug located on the side of the large median 15 being intended to constitute a thrust surface acting on a flexible member of the lid as will be seen later; at their lower part, the two pins also have inclined lateral surfaces, and more particularly a lateral surface 142, 142 'situated on the side of the high median of the chassis and deviating from this great median by going to the underside ergot, intended to constitute a thrust surface also acting on the flexible member of the lid, under circumstances also explained later.

For convenience, terms such as "high", "Low", "upper", "lower", "above", "below", "On", "under", used to locate certain elements of the lid 3 will be references to the location of these elements when the cover is in closing position.

The grid constituting the lid 3 is formed in one piece, generally rectangular shape, of longitudinal bars extending perpendicular to its axis of articulation and bars cross-sections extending parallel to the axis, these bars delimiting windows through and through the thickness of the lid so that it is light while having a rigid frame.

The regions of longitudinal bars 32A, 32B entering the forming the lateral edges of the grid 3 which carry the journals 30A, 30B have an inverted L-shaped section whose horizontal branch extends to the top of the grid and whose free end of the branch vertical is at the bottom of the grid; horizontal branches Ls returned from these two bars 32A, 32B extend in the same sense, and so the vertical branch of the L returned from one of the bars 32A defines a side edge of the grid, while the opposite side edge is defined by the free end of the horizontal branch of the L returned from the other bar 32B whose vertical branch is set back from this song lateral; as the two trunnions 30A, 30B extend out of the contour of the grid on approximately the same length, the 30A pin carried by the first bar 32A is shorter than the trunnion 30B carried by the second bar 32B (see Figures 7 and 8); to facilitate its implementation, the shorter trunnion 30A is further chamfered or truncated so as to present a region further shortened on the side of the end edge of the closest grid (see Figure 6).

The end bank 31 of the grid near which are placed the journals 30A, 30B (articulation flange) consists of aligned sections, here two sections 31A, 31B extending longitudinally to form this edge, separated by a space 33 extending over a distance approximately equal on both sides of the median 15 of the chassis 1 when the grid 3 is inserted in the closed position. This space 33 is extended by an indentation 34 extending towards the central region of the grid, whose bottom is constituted by a parallel transverse bar at the hinge bank 31; this notch 34, wider than the space 33 extends on both sides of the large median 15.

The transverse bar 35 belonging to the rigid frame carries, in one piece with it, an elastically flexible finger 36 extending into the notch approximately along the large median 15 of the chassis when the grid is in the closed position, that is to say perpendicularly to the hinge pin approximately from the middle of the crossbar 35, into the space 33 between the two sections 31A, 31B, from a distance of these, the region of the free end of the flexible finger 36 being approximately equidistant from these two sections. With this geometry and the proximity of the lug 14 and the large median 15, the implantation of the grid 3 in the closed position in the chassis 1 would be impossible if these two rooms did not have appropriate facilities; more precisely, the surface of the free end region of the coplanar finger with the upper face of the grid has a large opening 361 opening in this upper face as well as on the side of the near section 31B the longest 30B journal; this recess 361 constitutes a housing for the lateral region of the lug 14 of the frame situated on the side of the large median 15, when the grid is in the closed position in the chassis; the lateral surface of the same region of the finger 36 extending below the level of the recess 361 defines an inverted V-shaped ridge pointing in opposite of section 31B, consisting of an upper inclined surface 365 and a lower surface 362 overhanging. A substantially vertical face 363 connects the inclined surface 365 to the upper face of the grid.

The end edge 31 'of the opposite and approximately parallel grid at the hinge bank 31, is also constituted of sections, here of three sections 31A ', 31B', 31C 'extending longitudinally to form this bank of which two sections 31A ', 31B' are separated by a space 33 ' extending about an equal distance on either side of the large median 15 of the frame when the grid 3 is inserted in position of closing.

This space 33 'is also extended by an indentation 34' extending towards the central region of the grid, the bottom of which is constituted by a transverse bar 35 'parallel to the end edge 31'; this notch 34 ', wider than the space 33', extends on both sides of the great median 15.

The transverse bar 35 'of the rigid frame carries, in a single piece with him, a finger 36 'locking the lid in the closed position, also elastically flexible, extending into the notch approximately along the big median 15 of the chassis when the grid is in the closed position, that is to say perpendicular to the axis articulation approximately from the middle of the transverse bar 35 ', in the space 33 'between the two sections 31A', 31B ', at a distance of these, the free end region of the flexible finger 36 'being approximately equidistant from these two sections. Like, with this geometry, the implantation of the grid 3 in the closed position in the chassis 1 would be impossible if these two rooms did not have appropriate, the surface of the free end region of the finger 36 'coplanar with the upper face of the grid has a recess 361 'opening in this upper face and on the side of the section 31B 'which is itself on the side of the longer trunnion 30B; this recess 361 'constitutes a housing for the lateral region of the lug 14 'of the chassis located on the side of the large median 15, when the gate is in the closed position in the frame ; the lateral surface of the same region of the finger 36 'extending below of the level of the recess 361 'defines an inverted V-shaped ridge pointing towards the section 31B 'and constitutes a receiving surface thrust adapted to receive, when inserting the end rim 31 'of the grid in the frame facing the end edge 11' thereof, a thrust of the lateral surface 141 'of the lug 14' causing deformation finger elastic, and when clearing the end rim 31 ', a thrust of the lateral surface 142' also causing deformation elastic finger. This inverted V-shaped ridge is constituted by an upper inclined surface 365 'and a lower surface 362' in overhang, a substantially vertical face 363 'connecting the upper surface 365 'at the top of the grid.

We will now describe in detail the operations of mounting of the grid 3 in the frame 1, closure of the device, withdrawal grid, and locking the grid, and, as and when they are certain parts of the frame and the grid and more particularly lugs 14, 14 'and fingers 36, 36' which allow these operations.

on positionne la grille 3 à 90° par rapport au châssis, légèrement en biais de manière à pouvoir introduire le tourillon le plus long 30B dans l'alvéole 10 correspondante ; dans cette position, une arrête d'extrémité 364 de la face sensiblement verticale 363 du doigt flexible 36 vient en contact de la surface latérale inclinée 141 de l'ergot de poussée 14 du châssis tandis que le chanfrein du tourillon 30A vient au contact du chant vertical de la paroi 13 située du côté du tourillon 30A ; ainsi, toute translation supplémentaire de la grille en direction de la paroi 13 située du côté du tourillon 30B, nécessaire pour introduire le tourillon 30A dans son alvéole 10, est rendue impossible ; dans cette position, la branche horizontale du L retourné du barreau 32B est en regard de l'échancrure 130 ménagée dans la paroi 13 du côté du tourillon 30B ;

- on exerce alors sur la grille 3 une poussée dirigée de haut en bas, permettant ainsi au chanfrein du tourillon 30A de glisser sur le chant vertical de la paroi 13, ce qui provoque le déplacement de la grille transversalement tout en fléchissant le doigt 36 ; du côté du tourillon 30B, la branche horizontale du L retourné du barreau 32B pénètre dans l'échancrure 130 de la paroi 13, l'épaisseur de cette branche étant inférieure à la largeur de l'échancrure ;

- lorsque le tourillon 30A échappe du chant vertical de la paroi 13, le doigt 36 revient à l'état libre et renvoie ainsi le tourillon 30A dans l'alvéole 10 correspondante, ce déplacement transversal de la grille provoquant également son retrait de l'échancrure 130 de la paroi 13. Dans cette position verticale dans laquelle les tourillons sont insérés dans les alvéoles, la grille dispose d'un léger jeu transversal dont l'amplitude ne permet pas l'échappement de l'un ou l'autre des tourillons, ce qui rend la grille indémontable du châssis sans outillage adapté, le doigt élastique 36 assurant ainsi une fonction antivol.

For mounting the two journals 30A, 30B in the cells 10 of the frame 1, the procedure is as follows:

the grid 3 is positioned at 90 ° with respect to the frame, slightly at an angle so as to introduce the longer trunnion 30B into the corresponding recess 10; in this position, an end stop 364 of the substantially vertical face 363 of the flexible finger 36 comes into contact with the inclined lateral surface 141 of the thrust pin 14 of the frame while the groove of the journal 30A comes into contact with the edge vertical wall 13 located on the side of the journal 30A; thus, any further translation of the gate in the direction of the wall 13 located on the side of the pin 30B, necessary to introduce the pin 30A into its socket 10, is made impossible; in this position, the horizontal leg of the L returned from the bar 32B is opposite the notch 130 formed in the wall 13 on the side of the pin 30B;

- Then carries on the grid 3 a thrust directed from top to bottom, thus allowing the chamfer of the trunnion 30A to slide on the vertical edge of the wall 13, which causes the displacement of the grid transversely while flexing the finger 36; on the side of the trunnion 30B, the horizontal leg of the inverted L of the bar 32B enters the notch 130 of the wall 13, the thickness of this leg being less than the width of the notch;

- When the pin 30A escapes from the vertical edge of the wall 13, the finger 36 returns to the free state and thus returns the pin 30A in the corresponding cell 10, this transverse displacement of the gate also causing its withdrawal from the notch 130 of the wall 13. In this vertical position in which the pins are inserted into the cells, the grid has a slight transverse clearance whose amplitude does not allow the escape of one or the other of the pins, which makes the grid indémontable chassis without tools, the elastic finger 36 thus providing an anti-theft function.

When closing the gate, the free end of the flexible finger 36 passes under the thrust pin 14 and the inclined surface 365 of the finger approaches the inclined lateral surface 142 of the lug 14 from below to constrain the flexible finger 36 whose second function is to maintain the bank articulation 31 of the grid in contact with the frame 1. For this purpose, the inclination the surface 365 corresponds to that of the surface 142.

This cooperation between surfaces 365 and 142 thus makes it possible closing position, to press the grid on the chassis. We will also note that the surfaces 141 and 142 of the lug 14 have inclinations typical of the order of 20 ° and 30 ° respectively relative to the vertical.

• on place la grille en position d'ouverture à 90° ;
• on place un outil (barre à mine ou pioche) à proximité du tourillon 30A, entre la grille et la face interne du bord latéral 12 du châssis ;
• on exerce un effort de manière à déplacer (translater) la grille en fléchissant le doigt flexible 36 dont la face verticale 363 vient en contact avec la crête formée par les surfaces latérales inclinées 141 et 142 de l'ergot de poussée 14, et ce, jusqu'à ce que le fléchissement du doigt 36 soit suffisant pour qu'il soit possible d'extraire le tourillon 30A de son alvéole ;
• enfin, on translate la grille dans le sens opposé pour libérer le tourillon 30B le plus long.

To remove the grid 3, proceed as follows:

• the grid is placed in the open position at 90 °;
• placing a tool (mine bar or pick) near the pin 30A, between the grid and the inner face of the lateral edge 12 of the frame;
• a force is exerted so as to move (translate) the grid by bending the flexible finger 36 whose vertical face 363 comes into contact with the ridge formed by the inclined lateral surfaces 141 and 142 of the thrust pin 14, and this until the deflection of the finger 36 is sufficient for it to be possible to extract the pin 30A from its socket;
• finally, we translate the grid in the opposite direction to release the longer trunnion 30B.

To lock the grid 3 in the closed position, and thus to prevent its uprising in the sense of openness, we use the second finger flexible 36 ', located opposite the articulation and adapted to cooperate by snapping with the second thrust pin 14 'of the chassis.

The push pin 14 'has a shape as seen inverted V-shaped convex with a surface forming an upper ramp 141 ' turned upward and a lower ramp surface 142 'overhanging. Preferably, the surface 141 'is less inclined on the vertical than the surface 142 ', typical inclination values being of the order of 20 ° and 30 ° respectively. It is the same surfaces forming co-operating ramps 365 'and 362' belonging to the flexible finger 36 'which also have a convex inverted V shape, the upper face 365 'having the same inclination that the lower face 142 'of the lug 14' while the lower surface 362 'of the finger 36' at the same inclination as the upper surface 141 ' ergot 14 '.

Thus, to lock the grid 3 on the frame 1, we switch it in the direction of closing, possibly exerting a shock on it; the cooperation of the surfaces 362 'and 141' resiliently pushes the finger 36 ' then, after crossing the top of the V, the finger 36 'returns elastically to its original position. The grid is then locked by cooperation of the surface 365 'of the finger 36' with the lower surface 142 'of the spur 14 '.

This cooperation opposes the opening of the grid without an appropriate tool and plate the grid on the frame.

To open the grid (unlock), we introduce a tool, for example a crowbar between the grill and the frame in a remote area of the articulation, in particular at the level of the end rim 31 'or at the level lateral edges 12 near the shore 31 '; then, taking support against the chassis, a tilting effort is made in the direction of the opening.

The upper surface 365 'of the finger 36' then slides by the effect of cam along the lower surface 142 'of the lug 14', the finger 36 'flexing elastically until released from the grip of the thrust pin 14 '. In the unlocked final position, finger 36 'has returned elastically in the rest position.

The flexible finger 36 'thus ensures locking and unlocking grid 3, without the need to act directly on this one, which could damage it.

It can be noted that the surface 362 of the finger 36 therefore plays no part active role, and that the surface 142 of the thrust pin 14 does not intervene when assembly or disassembly of the grid; on the other hand, this surface allows, in cooperation with the inclined surface 366 of the finger 36, to grid on the frame in the closed position of the grid.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of a road device according to the invention, in which the device has a general shape approximately square. As the differences between this road device and that of the preceding figures consist in that the general form is square and not rectangular, and in that the grid 3 has a geometry only slightly different as a result of this square shape, the device of Figure 12 will not be described in detail; the visible elements on FIG. 12 which have already been described with reference to FIGS. the same numerical references.

However, of course, the invention is not limited to these forms realization, and we can foresee others without leaving its framework; we may in particular provide embodiments in which the lid is not in the form of a grid, and forms in which it exists along the same edge of the lid several spaces extended by an indentation in which extends an elastically flexible finger. We may in particular provide embodiments in which the lid is a tampon and has at least one flexible finger on the underside, that is to say, extending under its lower face, cooperating with at least one the lug of the frame shifted downward relative to the embodiments which have been described above.

Claims (10)

1. A public-road device consisting of a rigid cover (3) hingedly mounted on a frame (1), the cover (3) comprising two side edges (32A, 32B) bearing two projecting parts (30A, 30B) defining an axis of articulation parallel to a hinging border (31) of the cover and engaging with two corresponding cells (10) of the frame which are at least partially overhung by a wall (13) of the frame, characterised in that the cover (3) also comprises an elastically flexible finger (36) extending parallel to the side edges (32A, 32B), the free end ofthis finger (36) being situated in proximity to the hinging border (31) and being adapted to co-operate with a pressure lug (14) borne by the corresponding hinging edge (11) of the frame in order to permit, by elastic deformation of the finger (36) supported against the lug (14), positioning of the projecting parts (30A, 30B) in their respective cells (10) and their removal therefrom.
2. A public-road device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the pressure lug (14) has an upper side surface (141) which slopes upwards, and an overhanging lower side surface (142) which, in the closed position of the cover (3) on the frame (1), co-operates with a corresponding sloping surface (365) borne by the free end of the elastically flexible finger (36).
3. A public-road device according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that, opposite the lug (14), the frame (1) exhibits a second pressure lug (14') borne by an end border (31') opposite the hinging border (31) and adapted to co-operate by entering into a snap-fit relationship with the free end of a second elastically flexible finger (36') borne by the cover (3).
4. A public-road device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the second pressure lug (14') and the free end of the second elastically flexible finger (36') have co-operating surfaces (141', 142', 365', 362') forming cams, active in the direction of opening and/or closure of the cover.
5. A public-road device according to either of Claims 3 and 4, characterised in that the free end of each elastically flexible finger (36, 36') has a recess (361, 361') for a side region of the lug (14, 14').
6. A public-road device according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the elastically flexible fingers (36, 36') extend perpendicularly to the direction in which the hinging projecting parts (30A, 30B) extend.
7. A public-road device according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the elastically flexible fingers (36, 36') extend into respective notches (34, 34') in the cover (3), the free end of each finger terminating in a space (33, 33') manufactured in the corresponding border (31, 31') of the cover.
8. A public-road device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the cover (3) is a grid.
9. A public-road device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the cover (3) is made of ductile cast iron.
10. A public-road device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the cover (3) is of a generally quadrilateral shape.

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