Socket hinged construction casting assembly

1. A manhole or hatch cover assembly comprising:

a frame including an inner flange extending radially inward from an edge of the frame;

a cover, the cover having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter sized and dimensioned for receipt in the frame, the cover being coupled to the frame through a hinge connection and moveable between a closed positioned resting in the frame and an open position in which the frame is open; and

a latch pivotally coupled to the bottom surface of the cover adjacent the hinge, the latch being selectively rotated onto the inner flange to retain the cover in the open position.

2. The manhole or hatch cover assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the latch includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being angled with respect to the upper portion and configured to rest on the inner flange when the cover is in the open position.

3. The manhole or hatch cover assembly as defined in claim 2 , wherein the latch comprises a boss at a distal end of the lower portion adjacent an outer edge of the lower portion, the boss being sized and dimensioned to overhang and engage the inner flange of the frame when the cover is in the open position.

4. The manhole or hatch cover assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the latch is pivotally fastened to the cover with a hinge assembly.

5. The manhole or hatch cover assembly as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an aperture for receiving a device for pulling the latch.