Crawl access and basement window well cover

Abstract

A window well protective cover. The cover has a nonskid surface, and is formed of plastic or fiberglass reinforced plastic in a suitable color. Trimmable cubes are provided along a rear extension of an edge flange, and a trimmable shoulder is provided along a rear extension of the top surface. The trimmable cubes and trimmable shoulder portions allow the cover to be trimmed for tight fitting engagement with an adjacent building structure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to window well covers, as typically used in foundations in residential and light commercial construction, and more particularly, to covers for window wells that can be easily provided in a desired size to provide weather resistant ventilation of such spaces.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In residential and light commercial construction, it is common practice to provide a fabricated steel structure to keep earth away from an opening for access to either basement windows, or to a crawl space beneath the building structure. Many workable crawl access and basement window well wall structures (hereinafter, “window well structures”) have been developed thru the years for such applications. In such structures, it is usually important to provide a suitable cover prevent the ingress of rain, as well at to prevent the ingress of vermin such as rats, mice, or other animals. Also, such covers must provide structural capability to support humans, to keep them from breaking such a cover and falling into a window well when they step on such a cover.

[0003] However, it would still be quite desirable to reduce the overall costs that must necessarily be incurred in the manufacture and distribution of covers for such window well structures. Also, labor saving techniques, or changes in the apparatus which would reduce the overall cost of installation of such covers would be welcome by the contractors charged with installing the covers on such window well structures.

[0004] We are aware of various attempts in which an effort has been made to provide an improved cover for window well structures. One of the designs which resembles the instant invention to some remote extent is disclosed by Pearson U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,348, issued May 19,1998 for a WINDOW WELL COVER. He shows a cover for a window well structure that has a sloping, planar surface with peripheral flanges to fit down over upstanding edges of a window well structure. However, he does not provide a design that includes the feature of being trimmable for fitting to a selected building structure. Nor does his cover for a window well structure provide for screened ventilation. Thus, the advantages of our simple, trimmable, ventilatable cover for a window well structure, which is made with portions that can be trimmed in the field as necessary for providing a desired fit both over a window well structure and against a building structure, to provide a strong, weather proof cover with substantially leak resistant window ventilation structure, and which is environmentally friendly, are important and self evident.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0005] In order to enable the reader to attain a more complete appreciation of the invention, and of the novel features and the advantages thereof, attention is directed to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover over a well vent structure, where the cover is fabricated in accord with the principles disclosed herein, shown in place next to a building structure to protect the space within a window well structure from the elements.

[0007] FIG. 2 provides a bottom perspective view of a cover, showing at the rear the trimmable portions, with trim patterns indicated therein, and with cross-bracing within the cover, as well as a protective lower screen.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken across a portion of FIG. 1, showing the use of a cover in place over a window well structure, with ventilation between the outside and the interior of a window well structure.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a cover in place against a building structure and over a window well structure.

[0010] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H, and 5I represent alternate colors for the material used to manufacture the plastic cover for window well structures described herein.

[0011] The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from actual implementations depending upon the circumstances. An attempt has been made to draw the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of the various embodiments and aspects of the invention. However, various other elements of the covers for window wells are also shown and briefly described to enable the reader to understand how various features, including optional or alternate features, may be utilized in order to provide a compact, efficiently constructible window well cover or crawl space access well structure cover which can be manufactured of a long lasting material in a desired color, and of high strength with minimum weight, using an environmentally friendly material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Attention is directed to FIG. 1 of the drawing, where a window well structure 10 is shown as placed against a finished foundation wall 12 to protect a window (not illustrated) against earth. A cover 20 is provided over the window well structure 10, to provide safety, as well as protection against the elements and vermin. Covers 20 as described herein may be utilized for covering existing window wells in the field, or for covering new window wells as they are installed. Since covers 20 sit flat on the upper surface of suitable existing or new window wells 10, covers 20 are ideal for protectively covering such wells.

[0013] The cover 20 includes an upper substantially planar top protective portion 22 of preselected thickness, and rear end 24. The read rend 24 extends between a first corner 251 and a second corner 252. Extending between first corner 251 and a second corner 252, a downwardly projecting flange 26 having a first side 261, a second side 262, and a front 263, is provided spaced inwardly a distance L from the peripheral edge 28 of the top 22. At the rear end 24, an upper reinforcing portion 30 is provided. At the rearward reaches of first 32 and second 34 ends of flange26, a plurality of trimmable blocks 40 are provided, preferably in cubic shape, located between vertical trim lines 42 and horizontal trim lines 44. Spaced inwardly from upper reinforcing portion 30, and spaced toward the front 46 of cover 20 from the innermost trim line 42, is a rear wall 50. Importantly, the trimmable blocks 40 enable the close fitting of a cover 20 with the details of a foundation, where the cover 20 meets a foundation or siding. AT the rear end of top protective cover portion 22, a trimmable shoulder portion 51 is provided in the general shape of a side-by-side set of double T members. However, the bottom of the T portions are, in one embodiment illustrated, truncated and replaced by the trimmable blocks 40 just mentioned above.

[0014] An interior peripheral wall 52 is provided inside of flange 26. A screen 54 of suitable dimensions having an edge wall 55 is secured between rear wall 50 and interior peripheral wall 52, at groove 57 in inward side of flange wall 26, to effectively seal the space therebetween against passage of objects below the selected screen mesh size. As noted in FIG. 3, air as represented by reference arrows 60 is free to travel outward, and as represented by reference arrows 62, is free to travel inward

[0015] The cover for window well structure or crawl space access, as disclosed herein, is ideal for manufacture as an integral, one-piece cover structure (without screen) by injection molding of a suitable plastic. During the plastic preparation process, a suitable plastic can be developed having a color selected from one of the following: colors: (a) red or pink, (b) brown, (c) violet or purple, (d) green, (e) blue, (f) gray or silver, (g) orange, (h) yellow or gold, (i) or black, all as further noted in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5A through 5I.

[0016] The cover 20 is preferably made with a ultraviolet resistant and rated plastic, with high strength, and of weather resistant material. As noted in FIG. 4, covers are ideally manufactured with a sufficient downward slope angle alpha from the horizontal line 70 that allows about one inch per foot slope away from the structure 12, to detour moisture away from the foundation and out of crawl spaces and basements. Covers also should be manufactured with strength to support human weight. We prefer a structure having a top thickness of at least ¾ inches, and with ribs of about ½ inch in transverse cross section. The rib structure noted in FIG. 2 should be evaluated and confirmed, based on the material of construction actually selected. Ideally, a criss-cross, block shaped strengthening rib structure 71 is advantageously employed, extending below the bottom surface 72 of the top protective portion 22. As shown in FIG. 2, transversely running 74 and longitudinally 76 running rib portions are provided. Also, a non-skid texture, as noted in FIG. 1, is advantageous.

[0017] It is to be appreciated that the various aspects and embodiments of the cover for crawl space access and for basement window well structure as described herein are an important improvement in the state of the art of structures and materials to cover crawl space access and to cover basement window wells. A plastic cover as described herein is virtually non-destructible by insects, vermin, and the elements, and is easily made with adequate strength to support human weight. Importantly, such a cover well is environmentally friendly, in that no metal oxides are released to the environment as would be the case with steel or galvanized steel cover structures. Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail, various details are sufficiently set forth in the drawings and in the specification provided herein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention(s), which need not be further described by additional writing in this detailed description. Importantly, the aspects and embodiments described and claimed herein may be modified from those shown without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided by this invention, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures. Numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention(s) may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Thus, the scope of the invention(s), as set forth in the appended claims, and as indicated by the drawing and by the foregoing description, is intended to include variations from the embodiments provided which are nevertheless described by the broad interpretation and range properly afforded to the plain meaning of the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. A cover for a window well structure, said cover comprising

(a) an upper substantially planar top protective portion of preselected thickness formed of plastic or fiber reinforced plastic material, said top protective portion having an a rear end having a first corner and a second corner, and a peripheral edge wall extending in a generally U-shaped configuration between said first corner and said second corner to define a first side, a front, and a second side of said top protective portion, said top protective portion having an upper surface and a bottom surface;

(b) spaced inwardly from said peripheral edge wall, a downwardly extending flange having an exterior flange wall and an interior flange wall;

(c) a plurality of strengthening ribs running from rear to said downwardly extending flange.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein in said plurality of strengthening ribs comprise a set of ribs running lengthwise from said rear to said front, below said bottom surface.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of strengthening ribs comprise a set of ribs running transversely between said first side and said second side, below said bottom surface.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a protective screen said protective screen affixed adjacent said plurality of strengthening ribs and substantially extending between said rear and said interior flange wall, said protective screen including a plurality of passageways having gaps therebetween, and adapted for passage of air through said gaps therethrough.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of trimmable blocks, said trimmable blocks extending below said bottom surface and rearward beyond said rear along a line substantially aligned with said downwardly extending flange.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said trimmable blocks are provided in column sets.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said trimmable blocks are provided in row sets.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said trimmable blocks are provided in both column sets and in row sets, and wherein said trimmable blocks comprise at least in part, substantially cubical trimmable blocks.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of trimmable shoulder sections, said trimmable shoulder sections extending rearward of said rear wall and substantially between said first corner and said second corner.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said trimmable shoulder sections are configured in a side-by-side double T configuration.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the downward leg of each of said side-by-side double T configuration is truncated and trimmable blocks are provided therebelow.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said window well structure comprises an injection moldable plastic.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover is provided in a color selected from one of the following:

(a) red or pink;

(b) brown;

(c) violet or purple;

(d) green;

(e) blue;

(f) gray or silver;

(g) orange;

(h) yellow or gold;

(i) black.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said top protective portion comprises a non-skid surface.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein

(a) said flange wall has a bottom end, and wherein said interior flange wall comprises groove spaced upward from said bottom end, and

(b) said protective screen comprises an outer edge wall, and

(c) wherein said groove is sized and shaped for receiving therein said edge wall of said protective screen.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strengthening ribs comprise a downwardly extending criss-cross box shaped web.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises an integrally molded, one-piece window well cover.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top protective portion is set an angle alpha, compared to the bottom of said strengthening ribs, so that said protective portion sets on a horizontal substrate at an outwardly and downwardly protective angle alpha (&agr;).

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said angle alpha (&agr;) provides about one inch per foot of slop outward from said rear of said cover.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top protective portion is provided in a thickness of at least 0.75 inches.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strengthening ribs are provided with a transverse cross sectional thickness of 0.5 inches.