Grade-Matching Utility Cover Systems

Abstract

Grade-matching cover systems for use with a utility cover installed to cover a utility access hole formed in a ground surface having a ground surface grade proximate the utility access hole. The cover systems include a grade-matching member, a surface member, and, optionally, a base member. The grade-matching member defines a cover grade selected to substantially match the ground surface grade. The surface member adopts the cover grade defined by the grade-matching member and has a top surface opposite the grade-matching member that is substantially coplanar with the ground surface proximate the utility access hole.

1 . A grade-matching cover system for use with a utility cover installed to cover a utility access hole formed in a ground surface having a ground surface grade proximate the utility access hole, the grade-matching cover system comprising:
 a grade-matching member operatively supported by the utility cover, the grade-matching member having a top surface opposite the utility cover, the top surface of the grade-matching member defining a cover grade selected to substantially match the ground surface grade;   a surface member operatively supported by the grade-matching member and adopting the cover grade defined by the top surface of the grade-matching member, the surface member having a top surface opposite the grade-matching member that is substantially coplanar with the ground surface proximate the utility access hole.   
     
     
         2 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the surface member and the grade-matching member to the utility cover. 
     
     
         3 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the fastener includes a bolt and a nut complimentarily configured for threading engagement; and   the grade-matching member, the surface member, and the utility cover collectively define an aligned bore and the bolt extends through the aligned bore.   
     
     
         4 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the bolt includes a head abutting the top surface of the surface member;   the nut threadingly engages the bolt in a position abutting the utility cover opposite the surface member; and   the fastener is configured to compress the surface member, the grade-matching member, and the utility cover together by adjusting the position of the nut closer to the head of the bolt.   
     
     
         5 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 1 , further comprising a base member disposed between the utility cover and the surface member in a position that is either between the utility cover and the grade-matching member or between the grade-matching member and the surface member, the base member having a height selected to position the surface member operatively supported by the grade-matching member at the level of the ground surface proximate the utility access hole. 
     
     
         6 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the base member includes a first major face and a second major face opposite the first major face, the first major face of the base member defining a base recess and the second major face of the base member including a base projection complimentarily configured with the base recess;   the grade-matching member includes a first major face and a second major face opposite the first major face, the first major face of the grade-matching member defining a grade-member recess complimentarily configured with the base projection and the second major face of the grade-matching member including a grade-member projection complimentarily configured with the grade-member recess and with the base recess;   the base member and the grade-matching member are configured to couple with one another through either the base projection matingly engaging with the grade-member recess or the grade-member projection matingly engaging with the base member recess.   
     
     
         7 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 6 , wherein the grade-member projection defines a first grade-member projection and the grade-member recess defines a first grade-member recess, the grade-matching member further comprising-:
 a second grade-member projection radially offset from the first grade-member projection; and   a second grade-member recess radially offset from the first grade-member recess.   
     
     
         8 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the grade-matching member defines a first grade-matching member and the cover grade defines a first cover grade,   the grade-matching cover system further comprising a second grade-matching member defining a second cover grade, the second grade matching member including:
 a first major face; and 
 a second major face opposite the first major face, where:
 the first major face of the second grade-matching member defines a third grade-member recess complimentarily configured with the first grade-member projection of the first grade matching member; and 
 the second major face of the second grade-matching member includes a third grade-member projection complimentarily configured with the first grade-member recess of the first grade-matching member, 
 
   the first grade-matching member and the second grade-matching member are configured to couple with one another to form a composite cover grade defined by the combination of the first cover grade and the second cover grade through the third grade-member projection of the second grade matching member matingly engaging with either the first grade-member recess or the second grade-member recess of the first grade-matching member or the third grade-member recess of the second grade-matching member matingly engaging with either the first grade-member projection or the second grade-member projection of the first grade-matching member.   
     
     
         9 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 5 , wherein the base member defines a first base member and the grade-matching cover system further comprises a second base member supported on the first base member, the first base member and the second base member defining a collective height selected to position the surface member operatively supported by the grade-matching member at the level of the ground surface proximate the utility access hole. 
     
     
         10 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 5 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the surface member, the grade-matching member, and the base member to the utility cover. 
     
     
         11 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface member, the grade-matching member, and the utility cover have major faces with substantially the same dimensions. 
     
     
         12 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface member and the grade-matching member are composed of a copolymer. 
     
     
         13 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface member includes a display region. 
     
     
         14 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 13 , wherein the display region includes indicia providing information relevant to utilities accessible through the utility access hole. 
     
     
         15 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 13 , wherein the display region is configured to be marked with indicia by a user when the surface member supported in the utility access hole. 
     
     
         16 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 13 , wherein the display region is removable and defines a first display region, the grade-matching cover system further comprising a second display region configured to mount to the surface member interchangeably with the first display region. 
     
     
         17 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 1 , wherein the cover grade of the top surface of the grade-matching member is defined by the height of the grade-matching member and the height of the grade-matching member tapers from a first position on the grade-matching member to a second position on the grade-matching member. 
     
     
         18 . A grade-matching cover system for use with a utility cover installed to cover a utility access hole formed in a ground surface having a ground surface grade proximate the utility access hole, the grade-matching cover system comprising:
 a base member supported by the utility cover;   a grade-matching member supported by the base member, the grade-matching member having a top surface opposite the utility cover, the top surface of the grade-matching member defining a cover grade selected to substantially match the ground surface grade.   a surface member supported on the grade-matching member and adopting the cover grade defined by the top surface of the grade-matching member, the surface member having a top surface opposite the grade-matching member that is substantially coplanar with the ground surface proximate the utility access hole.   
     
     
         19 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 18 , wherein the height of the base member is selected to position the cover member supported on the grade-matching member in a position substantially coplanar with the ground surface proximate the utility access hole. 
     
     
         20 . The grade-matching cover system of  claim 18 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the surface member, the grade-matching member, and the base member to the utility cover.