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145,193 · Hyatt · "Improvement in Illuminating Vault-Covers" · Page 1 Home  > Prism Glass  > Patent Index  > Page 1

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Patents: 67 of 530	UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THADDEUS HYATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ELIZABETH A. L. HYATT, OF SAME PLACE. IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATING VAULT-COVERS.	Thaddeus Hyatt 20 of 67
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,193, dated December 2, 1873; application filed October 22, 1873. CASE 16.

To all whom it may concern:     Be it known that I, THADDEUS HYATT, of New York, in the county of New York and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vault-Covers; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which--     Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper side of a vault-cover and frame containing my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same.     Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.     In the use of metal vault-covers, sidewalk-plates, &c., great inconvenience, and frequent injury, result from the rapid wear of the surface exposed to the abrasive action of dust beneath the feet of pedestrians, said surface soon becoming smooth, slippery, and unsafe. To remove such worn plates and replace them with new ones is quite expensive, while in streets where much travel is had the interruption to traffic, while such renewal is being made, is so great as to cause the use of unsafe plates long after their condition has rendered them dangerous.     To remedy these objections is the design of my invention, which consists, principally, in a vault-cover, pavement-plate, &c., provided with a detachable bearing or wearing surface, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists, further, in a vault-cover, pavement-plate, &c., provided with a detachable bearing-surface, and having interposed between the same and said cover or plate, rubber or other elastic material, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.     Although my invention is equally applicable to any metal plate which forms a support for the feet, its use and advantages will be sufficiently illustrated by showing its application to one form of plate.     In the annexed drawing, A represents a metal frame for inclosing the upper side of a coal-vault, within the center of which is a circular opening, B, that receives and is inclosed by means of a cover, C, all in the usual manner. Within the upper side of the frame A is provided a depression, a, which has any

desired depth, and receives a metal plate, D, which, when in position, restores the surface-line of said frame to its usual appearance. The plate D is secured to or upon the frame A by screws or other suitable means, and is provided upon its upper surface with knobs, studs, or buttons d, or is, in other suitable manner, roughened, so as to furnish a firm foothold, the design being to cause said frame to present the usual appearance and bearing-surface.     When the surface of the plate has become smooth through wear, said plate can be removed and replaced by a new one in a few minutes of time, at a small cost, without interruption to traffic, and without in any manner disturbing the frame or main plate. The last-named advantage is especially important from the fact that the resetting of vault-cover frames and similar plates would cost many times the value of the same, such an operation rendering necessary the tearing away and replacing of more or less masonry.     Although the detachable bearing-plate is, preferably, placed within a recess in the main or foundation plate, it can be made to cover the whole surface of the latter, if desired.     The bearing-surface can be made elastic, if desired, by placing a rubber gasket, F, between its lower surface and the main plate, in addition to which result the usual hollow sound experienced in walking over solid metal plates will be prevented by such addition.     Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new is--     1. A vault-cover, pavement-plate, &c., provided with a detachable bearing or wearing-surface, substantially as and for the purpose specified.     2. A vault-cover, pavement-plate, &c., provided with a detachable bearing-surface, and having interposed between the same and said cover or plate, rubber or other elastic material, substantially as and for the purpose shown.     In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July, 1873. THADDEUS HYATT. Witnesses:     AMBROSE MONELL,     CHARLES SPYR.