A joint suitable for construction castings having a frame and a lid or cover, such as manholes, grates, trench drains, hatches and the like, and construction castings incorporating the same. No tools are necessary to separate the joint. A ball head located on a lid fits into a socket located on a frame or adjacent lid. To separate the ball head from the socket, the lid is lifted to a substantially vertical position and turned about ninety degrees. The lid can then be lifted away from the socket. When the joint is used in manhole or hatch assemblies, a latch may be used to hold the cover open and the cover may be opened and closed with a lever.
A device for closing an opening, particularly a man hole. The device includes a frame and a cover articulated to the frame around a first axis by a hinge. The device also includes a locking mechanism having a locked configuration, whereby the cover is held open in a first position, and an unlocked configuration, whereby the cover is disposed in a second position in which the cover can be pivoted around the first axis. The hinge is designed such that, while resting on the frame, the cover can pivot around a second horizontal axis. Moreover, the cover is pivoted around the second axis to move between the two positions. The device is suitable, e.g., for cast iron man holes.
