METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING GRATE ASSEMBLIES

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is generally directed to a grate installed in a sidewalk, a road, or is used for flooring or walkways, and an aperture is defined in the grate for passage of an object therethrough. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a grate support assembly for strengthening a grate having an aperture for passage of an object. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a modified grate having the grate support assembly engaged therewith after manufacture in order to ensure that the aperture in the grate does not negatively impact the strength of the grate.

BACKGROUND ART

Grates configured for supporting vehicle and/or pedestrian traffic are commonly used on sidewalks and road surfaces which require venting and/or drainage. Grates are further commonly used for overhead catwalks, platforms, flooring, walkways, trench covers and/or security enclosures. Typically, grates are configured to permit variously-sized wheel and/or foot traffic to pass thereover without catching or presenting a hazard thereto. Additionally, because grates are installed in areas where they are seen and not easily concealed, they are typically designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Grates are frequently placed in locations where an object, such as a pipe, needs to pass through the grate. During manufacture, an aperture may need to be cut or formed in the grate in order to allow the object to pass therethrough. Grates with an aperture formed therein or a section removed therefrom can be readily manufactured in a fashion that maintains the structural integrity of the grate. It may not be known prior to manufacture that such an aperture for an object is required to be formed in the grate. In these instances, the aperture will be cut in the grate during or after installation of the grate. However, cutting an aperture in the grate or removing a section therefrom will typically decrease the structural strength and integrity of the grate and is therefore undesirable. It may therefore become necessary to order a new grate that meets the needs of the project and this can cause construction delays and increase costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The grate support assembly disclosed herein is operatively engaged with a grate which has been modified by cutting an aperture therein or by removing a section therefrom after manufacture. The disclosed grate support assembly is installed in situ (i.e., at a job site). The engaged grate support assembly tends to increase the structural strength and integrity of the modified grate and thereby tends to reduce the impact of cutting the aperture in the grate or removing the section therefrom. The disclosed grate support assembly thereby tends to return the grate to the structural strength or integrity that the grate had before the aperture was cut therein or the section was removed therefrom.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a grate support assembly, for engagement with a grate having a plurality of bearing bars and a plurality of cross bars, said grate support assembly comprising at least one support rail adapted to be engaged with the grate, at least one support bearing bar operably engaged with the at least one support rail, and at least one support cross bar operatively engaged with the at least one support bearing bar.

In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the at least one support bearing bar comprises a first and a second support bearing bar which are located a distance laterally apart from one another. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the at least one support cross bar comprises a first and a second support cross bar which are located a distance longitudinally apart from one another. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the at least one support rail is oriented at a right angle to the at least one support bearing bar. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the at least one support bearing bar includes a central member, a first attachment end provided at a first end of the central member, a second attachment end provided at a second end of the central member, wherein each of the first and second attachment ends are configured to operably engage the support rails. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the at least one support bearing bar further comprises a securement region, wherein the at least one support cross bar is configured to engage the securement region. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the securement region of the at least one support bearing bar defines at least one hole therein, and wherein the at least one support cross bar includes at least one projection which is complementary to the at least one hole and is receivable within the at least one hole. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide the grate support assembly further comprising at least one bracket and at least one fastener wherein the at least one bracket and the at least one fastener secure the at least one support bearing bar and the at least one support cross bar to one another. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the support cross bar comprises a first leg and a second leg integral with one another, a first projection extending outwardly from an end of the first leg, a second projection extending outwardly from an end of the second leg wherein the first projection and the second projection are receivable within a first hole and a second hole defined in the securement region. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein each of the first and second attachment ends includes a bottom end, wherein the bottom end defines a recess and wherein at least a portion of the at least one support rail and is received within the recess. In another aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the first projection and the second projection are oriented so that the second leg of the at least one support cross bar is substantially parallel to an upper surface of at least one of the plurality of bearing bars of the grate.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a grate assembly, comprising a grate comprising a plurality of bearing bars and a plurality of cross bars operably engaged with one another, an aperture extending through a portion of the plurality of bearing bars and the plurality of cross bars of the grate, said aperture being adapted to receive an object therethrough, and a grate support assembly operably engaged with the grate, said grate support assembly surrounding the aperture.

In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the grate support assembly is located vertically beneath the grate. In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the grate support assembly comprises at least one support bearing bar operably engaged with a grate frame of the grate and at least one support cross bar operatively engaged with the at least one support bearing bar. In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure wherein the grate support assembly further comprises at least one support rail operably engaged with the grate frame and wherein the at least one support bearing bar is operably engaged with the at least one support rail. In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the at least one support bearing bar comprises a first and a second support bearing bar, wherein the first support bearing bar and the second support bearing bar are located on opposite sides of the aperture in the grate to one another. In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide wherein the at least one support cross bar comprises a first and a second support cross bar, wherein the first support cross bar and the second support cross bar are located on opposite sides of the aperture in the grate to one another.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide A method comprising providing a grate, providing a grate support assembly, installing a first and a second support rail of the grate support assembly onto the grate, cutting an aperture through the grate, engaging a first support bearing bar of the grate support assembly with each of the first and second support rails, engaging a second support bearing bar of the grate support assembly with each of the first and second support rails, engaging a first support cross bar of the grate support assembly with each of the first and second support bearing bars; engaging a second support cross bar of the grate support assembly with each of the first and second support bearing bars, and supporting the grate with the grate support assembly.

In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide further comprising surrounding the aperture with the first and second support bearing bars and the first and second support cross bars and extending an object through the aperture of the grate. In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide further comprising supporting a load on the grate and transferring at least a portion of the load from the grate to the grate support assembly. In another aspect, and exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide further comprising installing a toekick on a perimeter of the aperture of the grate assembly,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Sample embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth in the following description, are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 (FIG. 1) is front, top, left side perspective view of a modified grate installed within a surface such as a sidewalk or road, wherein the modified grate includes a grate support assembly in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 (FIG. 2) is a front, top, left side perspective view of the modified grate and grate support assembly of FIG. 1, shown in isolation.

FIG. 3 (FIG. 3) is a bottom plan view of the modified grate and grate support assembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 (FIG. 4) is a front, top, left side cross section of the modified grate and grate support assembly taken along and looking in the direction of line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 (FIG. 5) is a front, top left side cross section of the modified grate and grate support assembly taken along and looking in the direction of line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6A (FIG. 6A) is a top plan view of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6B (FIG. 6B) is a bottom plan view of the grate support assembly shown FIG. 7A.

FIG. 6C (FIG. 6C) is a left side elevation view of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7 (FIG. 7) is a bottom plan view of the modified grate and grate support assembly similar to FIG. 3, but with a first support rail and second support rail of the grate support assembly removed therefrom.

FIG. 8A (FIG. 8A) is a top plan view of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8B (FIG. 8B) is a bottom plan view of the grate support assembly shown FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C (FIG. 8C) is a front, top, right side perspective view of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8D (FIG. 8D) is a rear, top, left side perspective view of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A (FIG. 9A) is a front elevation view of a support cross bar of the grate support assembly shown in isolation.

FIG. 9A (FIG. 9B) is an end side view of the support cross bar shown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A (FIG. 10A) is an enlarged rear, top, right side perspective view of the highlighted portion of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 8D.

FIG. 10B (FIG. 10B) is a front, top, left side perspective view of the portion of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10C (FIG. 10C) is a top plan view of the portion of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10D (FIG. 10D) is a top plan view of the portion of the grate support assembly shown in FIG. 9D, wherein a support bearing bar is removed.

FIG. 11 (FIG. 11) is a rear, bottom, right side perspective view of a grate.

FIG. 12 (FIG. 12) is a rear, bottom, right side perspective view of the grate of FIG. 11, wherein a pair of support rails are installed on the grate.

FIG. 13 (FIG. 13) is a rear, bottom, right side perspective view of the grate of FIG. 12, wherein an aperture has been cut into the grate.

FIG. 14 (FIG. 14) is a rear, bottom, right side perspective view of the grate of FIG. 13, wherein a pair of support bearing bars of the grate support assembly in accordance with the present disclosure are installed.

FIG. 15 (FIG. 15) is a rear, bottom, right side perspective view of the grate of FIG. 14, wherein a pair of support cross bars of the grate support assembly in accordance with the present disclosure are installed.

FIG. 16 (FIG. 16) is a rear, bottom, right side perspective view of the grate of FIG. 15, wherein a toekick of the grate support assembly in accordance with the present disclosure is installed and a pipe is extending through the aperture cut in the grate.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a sidewalk (or road) “S” into which a grate 10 has been installed. In accordance with the present disclosure the grate 10 comprises a grate frame 12, a plurality of bearing bars 14 and a plurality of cross bars 16. Grate frame 12 includes a first member 12A, a second member 12B, a third member 12C, and a fourth member 12D. First member 12A and third member 12C are opposed to one another and are arranged parallel to one another. Second member 12B and fourth member 12D are opposed to one another and are arranged parallel to one another. Second member 12B and fourth member 12D extend between ends of first member 12A and third member 12C. Each of the first member 12A, second member 12B, third member 12C, and fourth member 12D is an elongate member that is welded or otherwise secured at its ends to an end of an adjacent frame member so as to form an integral component. It will be understood that the overall lengths of first member 12A, second member 12B, third member 12C, and fourth member 12D, will vary based on the overall size of grate 10.

Bearing bars 14 are arranged parallel to one another and are laterally spaced apart. As illustrated, bearing bars 14 extend between first member 12A and third member 12C. Ends of bearing bars 14 may be welded to the respective first member 12A and third member 12C. Cross bars 16 are arranged parallel to the one another and are laterally spaced apart. As illustrated, cross bars 16 extend between second member 12B and fourth member 12D. Ends of cross bars 16 may be welded to the respective second member 12B and fourth member 12D. Bearing bars 14 and cross bars 16 are arranged substantially perpendicular to one another so as to form a grid. A plurality of openings 15 is defined in the grid to allow for air and fluid flow from a region above the grate to a region below the grate.

Grate 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is generally square in shape, but it will be understood that in other embodiments, grate 10 may, alternatively, be rectangular in shape or may be manufactured to be of any other desired shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 grate 10 is secured into sidewalk “S” with a compound material “CM”. It will be understood that grate 10 may, alternatively, be a grate designed for use in overhead catwalks, platforms, flooring, walkways, trench covers and/or security enclosures. In these instances the grate 10 may be secured to a support structure in alternative ways other than using compound material “CM”. For example, the grate may be welded or bolted to a support structure comprised of support posts and support beams.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, grate 10 is modified in a first way by cutting or forming an aperture 18 therein. Aperture 18 extends through a portion of the grid formed by the plurality of bearing bars 14 and cross bars 16. Aperture 18 is configured to allow an object, such as a pipe or other construction member, to extend through grate 10. Grate 10, as illustrated, is further modified to include a collar or toekick 20 which is arranged around a perimeter of aperture 18 and is welded to the cut ends of the plurality of bearing bars 14 and cross bars 16. Grate 10 may be referred to hereinafter as “modified grate 10”.

Aperture 18 is illustrated in the attached figures as being generally circular when grate 10 is viewed from above. It should be understood that in other instances the aperture may be differently sized and shaped from the aperture 18 illustrated in the attached figures. It should further be noted that cutting or forming aperture 18 into grate 10 is one manner of modifying the grate in order to allow an object to pass through the grate. In other instances a section of the grate may need to be removed in order to accommodate the object. Aperture 18, as illustrated, is therefore exemplary of the type of modification that may need to be made to a grate after manufacture in order to allow an object to pass through the grate. It should further be understood that whatever the shape and size of the aperture formed in the grate, or the shape and size of the removed section, a complementary sized and shaped toekick or collar 20 may be welded or otherwise secured to the grate to surround the aperture formed therein or to surround the perimeter of the grate from which a section is removed. In other instances, however, the toekick or collar 20 may be omitted.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-3, a grate support assembly 40 in accordance with the present disclosure is operatively engaged with the modified grate 10 to improve the structural stability and strength of grate 10. Grate support assembly 40 is engaged with the grate 10 in order to try and return the modified grate 10 to the structural strength and stability the grate had before the aperture 10 was formed therein.

Grate support assembly 40 generally comprises a pair of support rails 42A, 42B (FIG. 2), a pair of support bearing bars 50, and a pair of support cross bars 80. Modified grate 10 and grate support assembly 40 define an imaginary centerline “C” (FIG. 3) which extends between first member 12A and third member 12C. Modified grate 10 comprises a first half and a second half located on either side of centerline “C”. Grate support assembly 40 comprises a first half and a second half located on either side of centerline “C”. It will be understood that the first half and the second half of modified grate 10 are mirror images of one another about centerline “C”. It will also be understood that the first half and the second half of grate support assembly 40 are mirror images of one another about centerline “C”. In other words, grate support assembly 40 is symmetrical about the imaginary centerline “C”. The following description of the first half of grate support assembly 40 applies equally to the second half of grate support assembly 40.

Support rails 42A, 42B are engaged with modified grate 10. Specifically, support rails 42A, 42B are elongate members which are engaged with grate frame 12. More specifically, support rails 42A, 42B are engaged with any one of first member 12A, second member 12B, third member 12C or fourth member 12D. In particular, first support rail 42A and second support rail 42B are opposed to one another and are arranged parallel to one another and are engaged with opposed frame members via any suitable method such as welding.

Support rails 42, as illustrated in FIG. 2, are generally square in cross section, but it will be understood that in other embodiments, support rails 42A, 42B may, alternatively, be rectangular in cross section or of any other desired cross section suitable for the application for grate 10. Each support rail 42A, 42B is of generally the same length as the frame member 12A through 12D with which the respective support rail is engaged. Each support rail 42A, 42B includes an upper surface 42a (FIG. 4) and a lower surface 42b located opposite and substantially parallel to one another. Support rail 42A, 42B further comprises a first side surface 42c and a second side surface 42d located opposite and substantially parallel to one another. Upper surface 42a and lower surface 42b are integral with and substantially perpendicular to first side surface 42c and second side surface 42d. Support rail 42A, 42B is adapted to receive and support at least a portion of the pair of support bearing bars 50A, 50B thereon as is shown in FIG. 4.

In one specific embodiment, each support rail 42A, 42B is welded or otherwise secured to one or the other of first member 12A and third member 12C after manufacture of grate 10.

In another specific embodiment, each support rail 42A, 42B is formed as part of first member 12A and third member 12C during manufacture and/or are separate components which are engaged with the first member 12A and third member 12C during fabrication of grate 10. This may occur in an instance where it is known that an aperture 18 will ultimately be cut into grate 10 at the job site but the specific location, size, and/or shape of that aperture 18 is not known at the time of the grate's manufacture.

In yet another specific embodiment, first member 12A and/or third member 12C may be formed to have a similar cross-sectional shape as the combined profiles of first member 12A (or third member 12C) and support rail 42.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, grate support assembly 40 is shown as comprising a first support bearing bar 50A and a second support bearing bar 50B. First support bearing bar 50A and second support bearing bar 50B are located opposed to one another, are arranged parallel to one another, and are spaced a distance laterally apart from one another.

It will be understood that first support bearing bar 50A and second support bearing bar 50B are substantially identical to one another. The following description of first support bearing bar 50A should be understood to apply equally to second support bearing bar 50B.

Referring to FIGS. 6C, 8C and 8D, each support bearing bar 50A, 50B is an elongate member which is generally L-shaped when viewed from one of the first end and second end. Each support bearing bar 50A, 50B has a vertical wall 60 and a horizontal wall 62 which are oriented generally at ninety degrees to one another and are integral with one another.

Vertical wall 60, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, is generally rectangular in shape and has a top 60a and a bottom 60b located opposite and substantially parallel to one another. Vertical wall 60 further has an inner surface 60c (FIG. 8D) and an outer surface 60d arranged opposite to one another and parallel to one another. It will be understood that in other embodiments instead of being generally rectangular in shape, vertical wall 60 may, alternatively, be of any other desired shape.

Vertical wall 60 forms at opposed ends, a first attachment end 52A and a second attachment end 52B. First attachment end 52A and second attachment end 52B are located opposite to one another and are arranged as mirror images of one another. It will be understood that first attachment end 52A and second attachment end 52B are substantially identical to one another and the following description of first attachment end 52A applies equally to second attachment end 52B.

Referring now to FIG. 6C, first attachment end 52A includes a top surface 54 and a bottom surface 56 located opposite to one another. Attachment end 52 further comprises an end 58 extending between top surface 54 and bottom surface 56. Top surface 54 has a first section 54a which is substantially straight and parallel to top 60a of vertical wall 60. First section 54a is integral with and substantially perpendicular to end 58. Second section 54b is curved and integral with first section 54a. Specifically, second section 54b is concavely curved and connects first section 54a to the top 60a of vertical wall 60. The radius of curvature of second section 54b is selected to allow at least one of the plurality of cross bars 16 of grate to extend across the vertical wall 60 of support bearing bars 50A, 50B without the first attachment end 52A interfering with the cross bars 16.

Bottom surface 56 of first attachment end 52A includes a first section 56a which is substantially straight and is parallel to first section 54a of top surface 54 of first attachment end 52A. First section 56a is integral with and substantially perpendicular to end 58 of first attachment end 52A. A second section 56b of bottom surface 56 of first attachment end 52A is curved and integral with first section 56a. Specifically, second section 56b is concavely curved and connects first section 56a with bottom 60b of vertical wall 60.

Horizontal wall 62 extends outwardly from bottom 60b of vertical wall 60 and terminates in a side 62a. Horizontal wall 62 has an inner surface 62b integral with and extending outwardly from inner surface 60c of vertical wall 60 and an outer surface 62c integral with and extending outwardly from outer surface 60d of vertical wall 60. Vertical wall 60 and horizontal wall 62 meet at a junction 62d. Junction 62d is concavely curved. Side 62a extends between and connects inner surface 62b and outer surface 62c to one another. Side 62a is beveled. In particular, side 62a may be arcuately or convexly beveled for reasons that will be described later herein.

Horizontal wall 62 further includes a first end 62e and a second end 62f which are located opposite one another and spaced a distance longitudinally apart. Side 62a extends between first end 62e and second end 62f. As best seen from FIG. 6C, first attachment end 52A on vertical wall 60 extends for a distance outwardly beyond first end 62e of horizontal wall 62. Similarly, second attachment end 52B on vertical wall 60 extends for a distance outwardly beyond second end 62f of horizontal wall 62.

Referring now to FIG. 6C, vertical wall 60 further includes a first securement region 64A and a second securement region 64B arranged a distance longitudinally spaced apart from one another. First securement region 64A and second securement region 64B are arranged on vertical wall 60 as mirror images of one another. First securement region 64A and second securement region 64B are substantially identical to one another and the following description of first securement region 64A applies equally to second securement region 64B.

Securement region 64 comprises a first hole 66, a second hole 68, and a third hole 70 extending through vertical wall 60 from inner surface 60c to outer surface 60d thereof. Each of the first hole 66, second hole 68, and third hole 70 is differently configured and serves a different purpose, as will be described later herein.

Support rails 42A and 42B and support bearing bars 50A and 50B are operably engaged with one another. Specifically, attachment ends 52A, 52B of support bearing bars 50A, 50B operably engage with support rails 42A, 42B. Even more specifically, the bottom surface 56 of each attachment end 52A, 52B operably engages with the upper surface 42a of each support rail 42A, 42B. Most specifically, first section 56a of bottom surface 56 of each attachment end 52A, 52B rests upon the upper surface 42a of each support rail 42A, 42B. This is seen in FIG. 6C. In particular, first section 56a of bottom surface 56 of first attachment end 52A operably engages upper surface 42a of first support rail 42A. First section 56a of bottom surface 56 of second attachment end 52B operably engages upper surface 42a of second support rail 42B.

First section 56a of bottom surface 56 of first attachment end 52A may be secured to upper surface 42a of first support rail 42A. First section 56a of bottom surface 56 of second attachment end 52B may be secured to with upper surface 42a of second support rail 42B. First section 56a of first attachment end 52A and first section 56a of second attachment end 52B may be welded or otherwise fixedly attached to upper surface 42a of first support rail 42A and upper surface 42a of second support rail 42B respectively.

It will be understood that attachment ends 52A, 52B are of a shape where top 60a of vertical wall 60 is substantially aligned with upper surface 14a of bearing bar 14. It will be understood that support bearing bars 50A, 50B are aligned or below upper surface 14A of bearing bar 14.

As indicated earlier herein, grate support assembly 40 further comprises a pair of support cross bars 80A, 80B which are operatively engaged with the support bearing bars 50A, 50B. First support cross bar 80A and second support cross bar 80B are opposed to one another, are arranged parallel to one another, and are spaced a distance longitudinally apart from one another.

It will be understood that first support cross bar 80A, and second support cross bar 80B are substantially identical to one another and the following description of first support cross bar 80A applies equally to second support cross bar 80B.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, first support cross bar 80A is generally L-shaped when viewed from one end and comprises a first leg 82 and a second leg 92 which are integral with one another. First leg 82 and second leg 92 are arranged at a right angle to one another and meet at a corner 96. First leg 82 extends outwardly from corner 96 and terminates at a first end 82a. First end 82a is located a distance from corner 96. Second leg 92 extends outwardly from corner 96 and terminates at a second end 92a a distance from corner 96.

As best seen in FIG. 9A, the first end 82a of the first leg 82 defines an inset 84 at either end. The insets 84 are each complementary in configuration to at least an end portion of the horizontal wall 62 of one of the first support bearing bar 50A and second support bearing bar 50B. In particular, the insets 84 each include a concavely curved surface 84a which transitions to a flat surface 84b. First leg 82 further includes an end surface 82b which is oriented generally at ninety degrees to first end 82a. Flat surface 84b of inset 84 and end surface 82b are integral with one another and meet at a fillet 86. As seen in FIGS. 10A and 10B, fillet 86 is complementary to the junction 62d provided on each of the support bearing bars 50A, 50B.

Referring now to FIG. 9D, first leg 82 defines a first projection 88 extending outwardly from each end surface 82b. Each first projection 88 is configured to be complementary to the configuration of the second hole 66 defined in one or the other of first bearing bar 50A and second bearing bar 50B. First leg 82 further defines a passage 90 (FIG. 9A) extending through first leg 82.

Referring now to FIGS. 9B & 9D, second leg 92 includes a pair of opposed end surfaces 92b. A second projection 94 extends outwardly from each end surface 92b and is configured to be complementary in configuration to second hole 68 defined in each of the first bearing bar 50A and second bearing bar 50B. Second projections 94 are configured to be selectively received in the second holes 68 defined in the first and second bearing bars 50A, 50B.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A & 9B, support cross bars 80A and 80B and support bearing bars 50A and 50B are selectively engageable with one another. Specifically, the opposed end regions of support cross bars 80A and 80B are placed onto the horizontal wall 62 of the opposed support bearing bars 50A, 50B. The curved surfaces 84a of first leg 82 are complementary to and substantially contiguous with the side 62a of horizontal wall 62 of each support bearing bar 50A, 50B. Flat surface 84b of each first leg 82 is complementary to and is substantially contiguous with inner surface 62b of horizontal wall 62 of the two opposed support bearing bars 50A, 50B.

First projections 88 of first leg 82 are configured to be received within the first hole 66 of securement region 64 of support bearing bar 50. Each second projection 94 of second leg 92 is configured to be received within the second hole 68 of securement region 64 of one of the support bearing bars 50A, 50B. First projections 88 and second projections 94 are of an orientation that causes second leg 92 of support cross bars 80A, 80B to be substantially parallel to upper surface 14a of at least one of the plurality of bearing bars 14 when support cross bars 80A, 80B are engaged with support bearing bars 50A, 50B.

Referring now to FIGS. 9B-9D, grate support assembly 40 further comprises a plurality of brackets and fasteners which are utilized to secure first and second support cross bars 80A, 80B to first and second bearing bars 50A, 50B. Grate support assembly 40 includes a first bracket 100A engaging first support bearing bar 50A and first support cross bar 80A to one another; a second bracket 100B engaging first support bearing bar 50A and second support cross bar 80B to one another; a third bracket engaging second support bearing bar 50B and first support cross bar 80A to one another; and a fourth bracket 100D engaging second support bearing bar 50B and second support cross bar 80B to one another.

It will be understood that first bracket 100A, second bracket 100B, third bracket 100C, and fourth bracket 100D are substantially identical to one another and the following description of first bracket 100A and how it is used applies equally to second bracket 100B, third bracket 100C, and fourth bracket 100D.

Referring to FIGS. 9B to 9D, bracket 100A is generally L-shaped and comprises a first arm 102 and a second arm 104 which are integral with one another, are oriented at ninety degrees to one another, and meet at a corner 100′. First arm 102 defines a first hole therein (not shown) extending through first arm 102 from an inner surface thereof to an outer surface thereof. Second arm 104 defines a second hole therein (not shown) extending through second arm 104 from an inner surface thereof to an outer surface thereof. The first hole defined in the first arm 102 of any of the brackets 100A through 100D is configured and positioned so as to be alignable with the third hole 70 in an associated one of the first support bearing bar 50A and second support bearing bar 50B. The second hole defined in the second arm 104 is configured and positioned so as to be alignable with the passage 90 defined in one of the first support cross bar 80A and second cross bar 80B.

Referring to FIGS. 6A & 6B, first projection 88 of first leg 82 of first half of first support cross bar 80A is configured to be received within first hole 66 of first securement region 64A of first support bearing bar 50A. Second projection 94 of second leg 92 of first half of first support cross bar 80A is configured to be received within second hole 68 of first securement region 64A of first support bearing bar 50A. The projections 88 and 94 on the other end of the first support cross bar 80A are similarly engaged with second support bearing bar 50A. In order to then removably secure each of the support bearing bars 50A, 50B to the support cross-bar 80A, the appropriate brackets 100A and 100D are seated in the corners formed between the support cross bar 80A and respective support bearing bars 50A, 50B. Fasteners 106 and 108 are utilized to secure the components to one another. For example, a bolt 106 is inserted through the aligned first hole in the first arm 102 and third hole 70 in the support bearing bar 50A and is secured in place with a nut (not numbered). Washers (not numbered) are utilized with the nut and bolt 106 where needed. A bolt 108 is furthermore inserted through the aligned second hole in the second arm 104 and passage 90 defined in the support cross bars 80A, 80B and is secured in place with a nut (not numbered). Washers (not numbered) are utilized with the nut and bolt 108 as needed.

Other mechanisms for securing support bearing bars 50A, 50B and support cross bars 80A, 80B to one another may be utilized in other embodiments. For example, the support bearing bars 50A, 50B and support cross bars 80A, 80B may be welded to one another so that the connection between these components is non-removable. In other embodiments, the support bearing bars 50A, 50B and support cross bars 80A, 80B may be clamped to one another using any suitable clamping mechanism.

Having now described the engagement between the modified grate 10 and grate support assembly 40, a method of modifying the grate 10 and installing the grate support assembly 40 will now be described.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a grate 10 is provided for installation into a sidewalk or road or in a catwalk or other walkway. FIG. 11 shows that a pair of support rails 42A, 42B are engaged with the grate 10. Specifically, support rails 42A, 42B are installed onto grate frame 12. More specifically, first support rail 42A is welded or otherwise secured onto first frame member 12A of grate 10 and second support rail 42B is welded or otherwise secured onto third frame 12C of grate 10.

As discussed earlier herein, support rails 42A, 42B may be preinstalled onto grate frame 12 during manufacture of grate 10 or after manufacture of grate 10.

Referring now to FIG. 12, an aperture 18 is formed in grate 10. This is accomplished by a user removing at least a portion of the plurality of bearing bars 14 and at least a portion of the plurality of cross bars 16 from grate 10. As discussed earlier herein, the location of aperture 18 in grate 10 is planned based on the need for a construction member such as pipe “P” (FIG. 15) to pass through a specific region of grate 10. A collar or toekick 20 is then welded to the cut ends of the plurality of bearing bars 14 and cross bars 16. (It will be understood that in some embodiments, the toekick 20 may be omitted from grate 10.)

Referring now to FIG. 13, the user engages support bearing bars 50A, 50B with support rails 42A, 42B as has been previously described herein with reference to FIG. 6C. User engages support bearing bars 50A, 50B with support rails 42A, 42B where support bearing bars 50A, 50B will not be able to interfere with the object “P” that will ultimately extend through aperture 18. Specifically, user rests the attachment ends 52A, 52B of support bearing bars 50A, 50B with support rails 42A, 42B. First support bearing bar 50A is secured to modified grate 10 by engaging first attachment end 52A with first support rail 42A and engaging second attachment end 52B with second support rail 42B. Second bearing bar 50B is secured to modified grate 10 in a similar manner by engaging first attachment end 52A of second bearing bar 50B with first support rail 42A and engaging second attachment end 52B of second bearing bar 50B with second support rail 42B. (FIG. 6C shows first support bearing bar 50A engaged with the support rails 42A, 42B.) The attachment ends 52A, 52B are kept in place on first support rail 42A and second support rail 42B by friction and downward pressure on support bearing bars 50A, 50B from the plurality of bearing bars 14 and cross bars 16 of the grate 10.

Referring now to FIG. 14, user engages support cross bars 80A, 80B with support bearing bars 50A, 50B as has been previously described herein with reference to FIGS. 8C through 9D. In particular, the user will engage support cross bars 80A, 80B with securement region 64 of each support bearing bar 50A, 50B. In particular, the user engages first support cross bar 80A with first securement region 64A of first support bearing bar 50A and with first securement region 64A of second support bearing bar 50B. User further engages second support cross bar 80B with second securement region 64B of first support bearing bar 50A and with second securement region 64B of second support bearing bar 50B. In particular and as described earlier herein, user inserts first projection 88 of support cross bars 80A, 80B within first hole 66 of securement region 64A, 64B of support bearing bars 50A, 50B. User additionally inserts second projection 94 within second hole 68 of securement region 64A, 64B of support bearing bars 50A, 50B. User then secures support cross bars 80A, 80B and support bearings bars 50A, 50B via brackets 100A through 100D utilizing fasteners 106 and 108.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the user inserts object “P” through aperture 18 of grate 10. The support bearing bars 50A, 50B and support cross bars 80A, 80B of the grate support assembly 40 surround the aperture 18 and thereby provide additional strength and stability to the modified grate 10 because they help transfer any weight on the grate 10 outwardly to the support rails 42A, 42B and thereby to the frame 12 of grate 10.

It will be further understood that any connections between various components not explicitly described herein may be made through any suitable means including mechanical fasteners, or more permanent attachment means, such as welding or the like. Alternatively, where feasible and/or desirable, various components of the present disclosure may be integrally formed as a single unit.

Unless explicitly stated that a particular shape or configuration of a component is mandatory, any of the elements, components, or structures discussed herein may take the form of any shape. Thus, although the figures depict the various elements, components, or structures of the present disclosure according to one or more exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that any other geometric configuration of that element, component, or structure is entirely possible.

Various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims (if at all), should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

While components of the present disclosure are described herein in relation to each other, it is possible for one of the components disclosed herein to include inventive subject matter, if claimed alone or used alone. In keeping with the above example, if the disclosed embodiments teach the features of A and B, then there may be inventive subject matter in the combination of A and B, A alone, or B alone, unless otherwise stated herein.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the term “effecting” or a phrase or claim element beginning with the term “effecting” should be understood to mean to cause something to happen or to bring something about. For example, effecting an event to occur may be caused by actions of a first party even though a second party actually performed the event or had the event occur to the second party. Stated otherwise, effecting refers to one party giving another party the tools, objects, or resources to cause an event to occur. Thus, in this example a claim element of “effecting an event to occur” would mean that a first party is giving a second party the tools or resources needed for the second party to perform the event, however the affirmative single action is the responsibility of the first party to provide the tools or resources to cause said event to occur.

When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, “above”, “behind”, “in front of”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “lateral”, “transverse”, “longitudinal”, and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements, these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed herein could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. Furthermore, the use of any and all examples or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) is intended merely to better illustrate or illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of that or those embodiments. No language in this specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiment.

If this specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element or “another” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element or the another element.

Additionally, the method of performing the present disclosure may occur in a sequence different than those described herein. Accordingly, no sequence of the method should be read as a limitation unless explicitly stated. It is recognizable that performing some of the steps of the method in a different order could achieve a similar result.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

To the extent that the present disclosure has utilized the term “invention” in various titles or sections of this specification, or in the context of those sections, this term has been included as required by the formatting requirements of word document submissions (i.e., docx submissions) pursuant the guidelines/requirements of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and shall not, in any manner, be considered a disavowal of any subject matter.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of the disclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.