Construction site hole cap for covering holes

Abstract

A hole cover is provided for covering holes formed in the walking surfaces at construction job sites. The hole cover includes a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface and an edge. In addition, the cap includes a plurality of bores which project vertically from the cap's top surface to the bottom surface. The hole cover further includes a plurality of projections which are positioned within the bores. Each pin includes a head and shaft. The projections are sufficiently long so that once positioned within the bores, the projections extend downwardly so as to project into a construction site hole which is intended to be covered.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to safety devices for construction sites. More specifically, the invention relates to safety devices for covering holes formed in the floor at many job sites.

Workers face a variety of hazards while working on a construction site. One of the more prevalent hazards is caused by holes formed in walking surfaces. These holes are formed in the construction of flooring for the introduction of drains, electrical wiring, water piping, lighting systems, etc. Typically, these holes are only a few inches wide, far too small for an adult to fall into. However, they do provide a tripping hazard. Moreover, wheeled objects such as wheelbarrows, dollies, and other contraptions can be inadvertently rolled into these surface holes. Open holes can also be troublesome because various construction equipment such as nuts, bolts, brackets, and tools are prone to fall into such holes. This presents a safety hazard in multistory buildings to workers below.

In an effort to address these construction site hazards, the United States Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has promulgated a variety of regulations in an effort to increase the safety at job sites. These regulations include 29 C.F.R. § 1910.23 (e)(7) et seq; 29 C.F.R. § 1910.23 (9) and 29 C.F.R. § 1926.502(i) et. seq. which relate to the construction of floor opening covers. These sections states that hole covers may be of any material that meets a specific strength requirement that the cover will effectively support two times the weight of employees, equipment and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time. OSHA requirements also state that covers will leave no openings more than 1″ wide, that the covers can not project more than 1″ above the floor level and that all edges must be chamfered to an angle of not more than 30 degrees from the horizontal. The OSHA requirements also dictate that all hinges, handles, bolts and other parts shall set flush with the floor or cover surface, and that covers shall be color-coded or marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” to provide warning of hazard. Furthermore, the cover must be secured in place over a hole so as to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees.

Attempts have been made to comply with the OSHA requirements. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/724,583 describes a cover for covering construction site holes. The cover includes a disk-like cap and a stem which projects downwardly from the cap. The stem is sized to fit precisely into the opening of a man-made construction hole. Unfortunately, because the stem is sized to fit only one size hole, various sizes of such covers would be required to be maintained on a job site.

Therefore, there is a significant need for an improved cover which is adaptable to fit a variety of sizes of construction site holes.

There is also a need for a cover which complies with OSHA requirements.

There is also a need for a cover which is sufficiently inexpensive to manufacture and buy that contractors wouldn't think twice about purchasing such covers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the aforementioned disadvantages by providing an improved cover for covering holes formed in the walking surfaces at construction job sites.

The cover includes a planar cap for covering the hole. The cap has a substantially flat top surface, a flat bottom surface for engaging the hole and walking surface, and an edge. The cap may be constructed in various shapes and sizes. For example, where the hole to be covered is circular, which is very common, the cap will typically have a disk-like structure having a circular edge. Meanwhile, where a hole to be covered is rectangular, the cover's cap would likewise preferably be rectangular.

The hole cover of the present invention further includes a plurality of bores which are formed through the cap from the cap's top surface to the cap's bottom surface. In addition, the hole cover of the present invention includes a plurality of projections which are removably positioned within the bores so as to project from the cap's top surface through the cap to extend downwardly below the cap's bottom surface.

The term “projection” is intended to be interpreted broadly so as to include any construction that projections downwardly from the cap's top surface, through the cap, so as to project below the cap's bottom surface. Preferably, the projection include a radially extending head for preventing the projection from falling through the bores. In its most simple form, the projection may take the form of a traditional pin-like structure including a shaft and a head, similar to the head of a nail. However, the projection may take any of numerous additional forms such as similar to toggle bolt or anchor bolt constructions. Alternatively, the projection can take the form of an inverted flag-like structure including a shaft which extends downwardly through a bore. At the shaft's bottom extremity, the projection includes one or more side-extensions which extend laterally so as to engage the sidewall of a hole or to slip under the lip of a hole.

In a preferred embodiment, the bores include a recess at the cap's top surface for receipt of the projections' head. The recesses are sized for receipt of the projection's head so that when the projections are positioned within the bores, the projection's heads are flush with the cap's top surface.

The cover's bores are preferably arranged in a pattern including several discrete sets of bores. In a preferred embodiment, a first set includes two to four bores spaced equal distance from the cap's center vertical axis. For example, a preferred construction includes a set of three bores spaced 1″ from the hole's central axis. In addition, the hole cover preferably includes additional sets of bores spaced equal distance from the cover's central axis. For example, a preferred hole cover may include additional sets of bores spaced 2″ and 4″ from the cover's central axis.

As would be understood by one skilled in the art, the projections would typically not be placed in every bore when the hole cover was used to cover a hole. For example, when covering a hole having a 2″ diameter, projections are placed in the bore's located 1″ from the cap's center axis so as to be spaced apart sufficiently to engage the inner sidewalls of a hole when the hole cover was positioned in place. Likewise, when covering a hole having a 4″ diameter, projections are positioned within the bores located 2″ from the cap's central axis. Thereafter, the hole cover is positioned so that the projections extend through the bores and into the hole to be covered. Lateral movement of the hole cover is thereby restricted by the projections engaging the hole's interior sidewalls.

Various modifications of the present invention can be made. For example, the cap can have a substantially dome-like structure having a substantially spherical curved surface. Alternatively, the cap can have a truncated shape including a periphery portion which projects upwardly at an angle of less that 30 degrees terminating at a flat horizontal top surface.

The cap and projections can be made of a variety of materials including metals and plastics. However, preferably the cap and projections are made from high strength, impact resistant lightweight plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), etc.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a hole cover for covering holes found at construction job sites.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cover which complies with OSHA requirements.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cover which is adaptable for covering a variety of sized holes.

These and other further and more specific objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating use of the hole cover of the present invention within a construction job site;

FIG. 2 is top perspective view of a hole cover of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the hole cover shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the hole cover of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of a hole cover of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side cut-way view of the hole cover shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side cut-away view of the hole cover shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a side cut-way view of the hole cover shown in FIG. 2 including a projection in the form of a anchor bolt;

FIG. 9 is a side cut-way view of the hole cover shown in FIG. 2 including a projection in the form of a flag-like construction; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the hole cover shown in FIG. 9 including a projection in the form of a flag-like construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, as shown in the drawings, hereinafter will be described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

With reference to FIGS. 1-7, the hole cover 1 of the present invention includes a cap 3 and a plurality of projections 25. The cap 3 includes a top surface 5, a bottom surface 7 and an edge 9. The cap may take various forms. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the cap may be round to provide a circular edge 9 where the intended hole to be covered is a round hole. Where the hole intended to be covered is rectangular, including square holes, the cap may take a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 5. In addition, the bottom surface 7 is preferably flat to engage a substantially flat walking surface. Conversely, the top surface may be spherical, as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the top surface may take a truncated form as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Where the cap has a truncated form, the cap's top surface 5 will have a planer horizontal surface. In addition, the cap will include an angled periphery portion 15 which extends inwardly and upwardly from the cap's edge 9 to the cap's top surface 5. To comply with OSHA requirements, this periphery portion must extend at an angle of 30 degrees or less from the horizontal plane.

The cap 3 further includes a plurality of vertical bores 19 which have a recess 21 formed at the bore's upper extremity. The cap's bores are arranged in geometric patterns about the cap which are preferably spaced equal distance from the cap's central vertical axis. For example, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a circular cap and a rectangular cap, respectively, both of which include a first set 23 of bore's 19 which are spaced 1″ from the cap's center. As shown in FIG. 4, preferably a circular cap includes three bores for each set 23, while a rectangular cap includes a set of four bores. Preferably, the cap includes a plurality of sets of bores. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each cap includes a second set 24 of bore's 9 in which each bore is spaced 2″ from the cap's central vertical axis as well as additional sets of bores spaced even further from the cap's center.

Preferably, the hole cover's projections 25 have an elongate shaft 29 and a head 27 to form a construction very similar to that of a flat headed nail. As shown in FIGS. 4, 7-10, the projections' shaft is sized to telescopically slide within the bores 19 until the heads 27 rest within the bore's recess 21 so that the heads 27 are flush with the cap's top surface 5. In the most simplified form, the projections is constructed in similar manner as a nail, including only a shaft and head. However, the projections 25 may be constructed in various forms. For example, the projections may be constructed as traditional toggle bolts including arms that are biased outwardly by springs. Though not shown in the Figs., once projected through a bore, the toggle bolt construction limits movement of the hole cover because, once inserted through the hole cover bores, the arms are biased outwardly to engage a hole's sidewalls. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the projection may be constructed in the form of an anchor bolt which includes a bolt arms 28 which expand after entry through the hole cover bores upon rotation of the bolt. In still an additional embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the projections 25 may include side-extensions, thereby providing an inverted flag-like appearance. A preferred flag-like projection is shown in FIG. 10 having a bolt 32, a threaded casing, and a side extension 30. Advantageously, once inserted through the hole cover bores, the projections can be rotated so that the side-extensions engage the hole's sidewalls, or as shown in FIG. 9 project under the hole's lip, if it exists.

As would be understood by construction site workers, the hole cover of the present invention can be utilized to cover a variety of different sized holes. For example, with reference to FIGS. 1-4, a construction site having a circular hole having a 6″ diameter formed in the construction site's walking surface 33 can be covered utilizing a circular hole cover 1. Three projections 25 are placed within the bores 19 which are spaced 3″ from the cap's center vertical axis. As shown in FIG. 1, the hole cover 1 is then positioned so that the projections 25 project into the hole so as to be positioned adjacent to the hole's sidewalls 37. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the projections are flag-like structures wherein the projection is rotated until the side-extension engages the side of the hole or slides under the lip of the hole, as shown in FIG. 9. The hole cover is thereby prevented from moving horizontally by the projections.

Meanwhile, where a smaller walking surface hole 35 is found, the same hole cover 1 can be utilized by moving the projections 25 inward to reside in bores located closer to the cap's center. For example, covering a circular hole having a 2″ diameter can be accomplished by utilizing the hole covers shown in FIGS. 1-4 by placing projections 25 into the bores 19 which are positioned closest to the cap's central vertical axis. Thereafter, the hole cover is positioned to cover the hole, with the projections 25 once again projecting into the hole to prevent horizontal movement of the hole cover.

While several particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the hole cover can be made by any number of materials, though various plastics are preferred. In addition, the cap can be constructed to be substantially solid. Alternatively, to save weight, it can be constructed to be substantially hollow including a plurality of ribs 17 for structural rigidity (see FIG. 3).

Claims

1. a construction site hole cover for covering holes formed in walking: surfaces, the hole cover comprising:

a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface and a edge;

a plurality of bores projecting through said cap from said top surface to said bottom surface; and

a plurality of projections projecting downwardly through said plurality of bores to below said bottom surface for projecting into a surface hole and for restricting lateral displacement of said hole cover.

2. A construction site hole cover of claim 1 wherein said cap has a cental vertical axis and said plurality of bores and corresponding projections are positioned concentrically about said central vertical axis to form at least one set of concentrically aligned bores for allowing said projections to project into a walking surface hole.

3. A construction site hole cover of claim 2 wherein cover includes at least two sets of concentrically aligned bores for allowing said projections to project into a walking surface hole for covering holes of different sizes with the hole cover.

4. A construction site hole cover of claim 1 wherein said cap has a circular edge to form a disc-like structure.

5. A construction site hole cover of claim 1 wherein said cap has a rectangular edge.

6. A construction site hole cover of claim 1 wherein said projections are flag-like structures including a shaft and a side-extension which extends laterally from the shaft's lower extremity.

7. A construction site hole cover for covering holes formed in walking surfaces, the hole cover comprising:

a substantially disc-like cap having a top surface, a bottom surface and a circular edge;

a plurality of bores projecting through said disk-like cap from said top surface to said bottom surface; and

a plurality of projections projecting downwardly through said plurality of bores to below said bottom surface for projecting into a surface hole and for restricting lateral displacement of said hole cover.

8. A construction site hole cover of claim 7 wherein said disc-like cap has a cental vertical axis and said plurality of bores and corresponding projections are positioned concentrically about said central vertical axis to form at least one set of concentrically aligned bores for allowing said projections to project into a walking surface hole.

9. A construction site hole cover of claim 8 wherein cover includes at least two sets of concentrically aligned bores for allowing said projections to project into a walking surface hole for covering holes of different sizes with the hole cover.

10. A construction site hole cover of claim 7 wherein said projections are flag-like structures including a shaft and a side-extension which extends laterally from the shaft's lower extremity.

11. A construction site hole cover for covering holes formed in walking surfaces, the hole cover comprising:

a substantially rectangular cap including a substantially flat top, a substantially flat bottom and a rectangular edge;

a plurality of bores projecting through said rectangular cap from said top surface to said bottom surface; and

a plurality of projections projecting downwardly through said plurality of bores to below said bottom surface for projecting into a surface hole and for restricting lateral displacement of said hole cover.

12. A construction site hole cover of claim 11 wherein said disc-like cap has a cental vertical axis and said plurality of bores and corresponding projections are positioned concentrically about said central vertical axis to form at least one set of concentrically aligned bores for allowing said projections to project into a walking surface hole.

13. A construction site hole cover of claim 12 wherein cover includes at least two sets of concentrically aligned bores for allowing said projections to project into a walking surface hole for covering holes of different sizes with the hole cover.

14. A construction site hole cover of claim 11 wherein said projections are flag-like structures including a shaft and a side-extension which extends laterally from the shaft's lower extremity.