Manhole skirt assembly and kit

Abstract

A manhole assembly is usable in combination with an underground tank assembly, and essentially comprises a double-walled, lid-supporting skirt assembly. The skirt assembly comprises inner and outer isolation walls. The inner isolation wall defines an inner manhole cavity and a moisture-directing, outer manhole channel. The outer manhole channel extends intermediate the inner isolation wall and the outer isolation wall. The outer manhole channel directs moisture from the superior skirt end adjacent a manhole lid supported by skirt assembly to the inferior skirt end thus isolating the inner manhole cavity from channel-directed moisture. The manhole assembly may further comprise a spring-actuable, lid-compressible collar assembly. It is contemplated that the collar assembly may be cooperable with the lid for selectively allowing matter to pass through the outer manhole channel depending on whether the lid is seated upon the collar assembly or removed therefrom.

1 . A manhole assembly for use in combination with an underground tank assembly, the manhole assembly comprising: 
 a lid and a skirt assembly, the lid comprising a superior lid surface and an inferior lid surface, the skirt assembly comprising a double-walled, lid-supporting skirt, the lid-supporting skirt comprising an inner isolation wall, an outer isolation wall, a superior skirt end, and an inferior skirt end, the inner isolation wall defining an inner manhole cavity and a moisture-directing, outer manhole channel, the outer manhole channel extending intermediate the inner isolation wall and the outer isolation wall, the inner isolation wall supporting the manhole lid at the inferior lid surface, the outer manhole channel directing moisture from the superior lid surface to the inferior skirt end thus isolating the inner manhole cavity from channel-directed moisture.    
   
   
       2 . The manhole assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer isolation wall is bell-shaped, the bell-shaped outer isolation wall for maximizing the radial distance intermediate the inner and outer isolation walls at the inferior skirt end, the maximized radial distance for enhancing moisture redirection away from the inner manhole cavity.  
   
   
       3 . The manhole assembly of  claim 2  wherein the outer isolation wall comprises an upper annular portion and a lower annular portion, the upper and lower annular portions being attachable to one another for effecting the bell-shaped outer isolation wall.  
   
   
       4 . The manhole assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner isolation wall comprises a plurality of arc length portions, the arc length portions being attachable to one another to form a cylindrical inner isolation wall, the plurality of arc length portions for decreasing stowage space of the inner isolation wall when in a knock-down state.  
   
   
       5 . The manhole assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer isolation wall is perforated, the perforated outer isolation wall for enhancing moisture drainage.  
   
   
       6 . The manhole assembly of  claim 5  comprising a moisture-permeable wrap, the moisture-permeable wrap being wrapped about the outer isolation wall for preventing debris from entering the perforated outer isolation wall.  
   
   
       7 . The manhole assembly of  claim 1  comprising channel-stabilizing means, the channel-stabilizing means for extending intermediate the inner and outer isolation walls for maintaining a substantially uniform distance therebetween.  
   
   
       8 . The manhole assembly of  claim 1  comprising channel debris-filtering means, the channel debris-filtering means for filtering channel-located debris and for preventing clogging of the outer manhole channel.  
   
   
       9 . The manhole assembly of  claim 1  comprising a collar assembly, the collar assembly interfacing intermediate the lid and the inner isolation wall, the collar assembly comprising a collar member and spring-actuating means, the spring-actuating means for spring-actuating the collar member, the collar member comprising channel-gating structure, the spring-actuating means being compressed when the lid is seated upon the collar member thereby opening the outer manhole channel via the channel-gating structure for allowing matter to pass through the outer manhole channel, the spring-actuating means being relaxed when the lid is removed from the collar member thereby closing the outer manhole channel via the channel-gating structure for preventing matter from passing through the outer manhole channel.  
   
   
       10 . The manhole assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner isolation wall is truncated relative to the outer isolation wall, the truncated inner isolation wall for enhancing the effectiveness of the manhole assembly.  
   
   
       11 . A manhole kit, the manhole kit for outfitting an underground tank assembly, the manhole kit comprising: 
 a knock-down skirt assembly, the knock-down skirt assembly comprising a plurality of inner wall portions and a plurality of outer wall portions, the inner wall portions being attachable to one another to form an inner isolation wall, the outer wall portions being attachable to one another to form an outer isolation wall, the inner and outer isolation walls being cooperable to form a double-walled skirt assembly, the inner isolation wall defining an inner manhole cavity and a moisture-directing, outer manhole channel, the outer manhole channel extending intermediate the inner isolation wall and the outer isolation wall, the inner isolation wall supporting the manhole lid at the inferior lid surface, the outer manhole channel directing moisture away from the inner manhole cavity.    
   
   
       12 . The manhole kit of  claim 11  wherein the outer isolation wall is bell-shaped, the bell-shaped outer isolation wall for maximizing the radial distance intermediate the inner and outer isolation walls at an inferior end thereof, the maximized radial distance for enhancing moisture redirection away from the inner manhole cavity.  
   
   
       13 . The manhole kit of  claim 11  wherein the outer isolation wall is perforated, the perforated outer isolation wall for enhancing moisture drainage.  
   
   
       14 . The manhole kit of  claim 13  comprising a moisture-permeable wrap, the moisture-permeable wrap being wrapped about the outer isolation wall for preventing debris from entering the perforated outer isolation wall.  
   
   
       15 . The manhole kit of  claim 11  comprising channel-stabilizing means, the channel-stabilizing means for extending intermediate the inner and outer isolation walls for maintaining a substantially uniform distance therebetween.  
   
   
       16 . The manhole kit of  claim 11  comprising a lid-support structure, the lid support structure being extendable intermediate the outer isolation wall and a manhole lid, the lid-support structure being sized and shaped to seatedly receive the manhole lid, the lid-support structure comprising a lid-support portion and a lid-centering portion, the outer isolation wall being cooperatively associated with the lid-support portion for enhancing support of the manhole lid and for directing diverted moisture through the outer manhole channel.  
   
   
       17 . The manhole kit of  claim 11  comprising a spring-actuable collar assembly, the collar assembly interfacing intermediate a manhole lid and the inner isolation wall and being lid-compressible for selectively allowing matter to pass through the outer manhole channel.  
   
   
       18 . A moisture-redirection assembly for use in combination with a manhole, the moisture-redirection assembly comprising a double-walled skirt assembly, the skirt assembly comprising inner and outer isolation walls, the inner isolation wall defining an inner manhole cavity and an outer manhole channel, the outer manhole channel extending intermediate the inner isolation wall and the outer isolation wall, the inner isolation wall for supporting a manhole lid, the outer manhole channel for directing moisture away from the inner manhole cavity.  
   
   
       19 . The moisture-redirection assembly of  claim 17  wherein the outer isolation wall comprises a plurality of outer wall portions, the outer wall portions being attachable to one another for forming the outer isolation wall, the plurality of outer wall portions for decreasing stowage space of the outer isolation wall when in a knock-down state.  
   
   
       20 . The moisture-redirection assembly of  claim 18  wherein the inner isolation wall comprises a plurality of inner wall portions, the inner wall portions being attachable to one another to form the inner isolation wall, the plurality of inner wall portions for decreasing stowage space of the inner isolation wall when in a knock-down state.  
   
   
       21 . The moisture-redirection assembly of  claim 18  wherein the outer isolation wall is bell-shaped, the bell-shaped outer isolation wall for maximizing the radial distance intermediate the inner and outer isolation walls at an inferior end thereof, the maximized radial distance for enhancing moisture redirection away from the inner manhole cavity.  
   
   
       22 . The moisture-redirection assembly of  claim 18  wherein the outer isolation wall is perforated, the perforated outer isolation wall for enhancing moisture drainage.  
   
   
       23 . The moisture-redirection assembly of  claim 22  wherein the outer isolation wall comprises a moisture-permeable wrap, the moisture-permeable wrap being wrapped about the outer isolation wall for preventing debris from entering the perforated outer isolation wall.  
   
   
       24 . The moisture-redirection assembly of  claim 18  comprising channel-stabilizing means, the channel-stabilizing means extending intermediate the inner and outer isolation walls for maintaining a substantially uniform distance therebetween.  
   
   
       25 . The moisture-redirection assembly of  claim 18  comprising channel debris-filtering means, the channel debris-filtering means for filtering channel-located debris.  
   
   
       26 . The moisture-redirection assembly of  claim 18  comprising channel-gating means, the channel-gating means being cooperable with the lid for selectively allowing matter to pass through the outer manhole channel.