Selectively Frictionally Engaged Hole Cover

Abstract

A selectively frictionally engaged hole cover for a bore hole cored from a paved surface that includes a cover plate configured to cover the bore hole and support vehicular traffic. An engagement mechanism is attached to the cover plate and extends down into the bore hole. The engagement mechanism is configured to be actuated by a user torque input that causes an engagement plate selectively shiftable relative to the cover plate to thereby shift an engagement member along a engagement member stop and thus radially outwardly or inwardly, causing the engagement mechanism to selectively engage or disengage the wall of the bore hole. When the engagement member is in frictional contact with the hole, unintentional extraction of the engagement mechanism is prevented. The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover effectively provides a temporary cover for a bore hole in a road, parking lot, or other paved surface.

1 . A selectively frictionally engaged hole cover comprising a cover plate, engagement support bracket, a bracket housing, and an engagement mechanism:
 the cover plate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the cover plate having an access hole centrally located therethrough, the top surface sized to cover a bore hole formed through a paved surface;   the engagement support bracket comprising a sidewall extending from the bottom surface of the cover plate and ending in a support plate, the support plate having a support plate hole centrally located therethrough, the support plate hole sufficiently aligned with the access hole of the cover plate,   the bracket housing comprising a sloped wall and a skirt portion, the skirt portion affixed to the bottom surface of the cover plate thereby encasing the engagement support bracket,   the engagement mechanism comprising an engagement screw, an engagement plate, and an engagement member,
 the engagement screw operably installed between the cover plate and the engagement plate thereby coupling the cover plate to the engagement mechanism; and 
 the engagement plate being selectively shiftable to enable a first movement of the engagement member relative to the cover plate or a second movement of the engagement member relative to the cover plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the engagement mechanism comprises rotation of the engagement screw in a first rotational direction to cause the first movement and rotation of the engagement screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to cause the second movement. 
     
     
         3 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 1 , wherein, during an engagement procedure, the engagement mechanism is actuated to cause the first movement of the engagement plate to shift the engagement member up and against the sloped wall of the bracket housing, thereby causing radially outward movement of the engagement member. 
     
     
         4 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 3 , wherein the radially outward movement of the engagement member provides frictional contact with the bore hole to substantially prevent removal of the selectively frictionally engaged hole cover from the bore hole. 
     
     
         5 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 1 , wherein, during a disengagement procedure, the engagement mechanism is actuated to cause the second movement of the engagement plate to shift the engagement member down and away from the sloped wall of the bracket housing, thereby causing radially inward movement of the engagement member. 
     
     
         6 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 5 , wherein the radially outward movement of the engagement member provides frictional contact release with the bore hole to permit extraction of the selectively frictionally engaged hole cover from the bore hole. 
     
     
         7 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket housing comprises a flat bottom portion, flat bottom portion having a bracket housing hole centrally located therethrough, the bracket housing hole sufficiently aligned with the support plate hole of the engagement support bracket and the access hole of the cover plate. 
     
     
         8 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 7 , wherein the bracket housing is bowl-shaped where the sloped wall is an angular portion that extends at an upward and outward angle from the bottom portion, and the skirt portion extends from the sloped portion and is substantially perpendicular to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         9 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement support bracket further comprises one or more bracing ribs extending radially from the sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more bracing ribs is six bracing ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 9 , wherein a bottom edge of each of the one or more bracing ribs is attached to an inner surface of the bracket housing and wherein a side edge of each of the one or more bracing ribs is attached to an inner surface of the sloped wall and the skirt portion of the bracket housing. 
     
     
         12 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement screw comprises a head and a shank extending from the head, the shank having a threaded portion formed thereon opposite the head. 
     
     
         13 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 12 , wherein the head of the engagement screw is situated substantially flush or below the top surface of the cover plate and sufficiently aligned with the access hole to permit actuation of the engagement screw through the access hole. 
     
     
         14 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 12 , wherein the engagement plate comprises a substantially central threaded hole for selective receipt of the threaded portion of the engagement screw. 
     
     
         15 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 12 , wherein the access hole and the support plate hole receive therethrough the shank of the engagement screw while the head of the engagement screw seats on the support plate. 
     
     
         16 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement plate has an engagement plate hole centrally located therethrough, the engagement plate hole sufficiently aligned with the support plate hole of the engagement support bracket and the access hole of the cover plate. 
     
     
         17 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement plate further comprises a perimeter lip oriented to contact the engagement member. 
     
     
         18 . A selectively frictionally engaged hole cover comprising a cover plate, engagement support bracket, a bracket housing, and an engagement mechanism:
 the cover plate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the cover plate having an access hole centrally located therethrough, the top surface sized to cover a bore hole formed through a paved surface;   the engagement support bracket comprising a sidewall extending from the bottom surface of the cover plate and ending in a support plate, the support plate having a support plate hole centrally located therethrough,   the bracket housing comprising a bottom portion, a sloped wall and a skirt portion, the bottom portion having a bracket housing hole centrally located therethrough, and the skirt portion affixed to the bottom surface of the cover plate thereby encasing the engagement support bracket,   the engagement mechanism comprising an engagement screw, an engagement plate, and an engagement member,
 the engagement screw operably installed between the cover plate and the engagement plate thereby coupling the cover plate to the engagement mechanism; and 
 the engagement plate having an engagement plate hole centrally located therethrough, the engagement plate being selectively shiftable to enable a first movement of the engagement member relative to the cover plate or a second movement of the engagement member relative to the cover plate, 
   wherein the support plate hole of the engagement support bracket, the bracket housing hole of the bracket housing, and the engagement plate hole of the engagement plate are each sufficiently aligned with the access hole of the cover plate.   
     
     
         19 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 18 , wherein, during an engagement procedure, the engagement mechanism is actuated to rotate the engagement screw in a first rotational direction to cause the first movement of the engagement plate to shift the engagement member up and against the sloped wall of the bracket housing, thereby causing radially outward movement of the engagement member, and
 wherein, during a disengagement procedure, the engagement mechanism is actuated to rotate the engagement screw in a second rotational direction to cause the second movement of the engagement plate to shift the engagement member down and away from the sloped wall of the bracket housing, thereby causing radially inward movement of the engagement member.   
     
     
         20 . The selectively frictionally engaged hole cover of  claim 18 , wherein the engagement plate further comprising a reinforcement plate, the reinforcement plate having a reinforcement plate hole centrally located therethrough, the reinforcement plate hole sufficiently aligned with the engagement plate hole of the engagement plate.