WO2008145944A1

WO2008145944A1 - Cover assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2008145944A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/001979
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Jon Massey
Original assignee: Christopher Jon Massey
Priority date: 2007-05-26
Filing date: 2007-05-26
Publication date: 2008-12-04

Abstract

A cover assembly (10) for temporarily closing a hole (12) in a concrete beam. The assembly (10) including a substantially planar cover member (16) locatable above and to cover the hole (12), and a pair of elongate strips (22) extending below the cover member (16) and resiliently engaging with the sides of the wall (12) to retain the assembly (10) in position. A spacer (36) may be located beneath the strips (22) and engageable therewith to push them apart. The spacer (36) can be mounted to the cover member (16) by an elongate toothed member 38 engageable through a locking member (32) provided on the cover member (16).

Description

Cover Assembly

This invention relates to cover assemblies, and particularly but not exclusively to cover assemblies for temporarily covering holes in concrete floor beams or concrete floors, and apparatus and a method for temporarily covering such holes.

Holes are often provided in concrete floor beams and concrete floors to receive services such as soil pipes, other pipework, and cables etc. Such holes can be a single circular hole, or for instance an elongate cut out. Such holes may be formed in beams during manufacture, or may be formed in beams or floors on site. These holes can form a trip hazard when installed or during installation, or even for instance when beams are being carried on a lorry. Furthermore, when in situ there is a potential for objects falling through such holes and causing damage or injury below.

Conventionally such holes have been temporarily covered by wooden boards, which in themselves generally provide a trip hazard. Such boards are generally mounted on the beams or floor by screws, and therefore require power tools for mounting. If such boards are for instance accidentally kicked off, then they cannot be simply replaced in position but require remounting.

According to the present invention there is provided a cover assembly, the assembly including a substantially planar cover member locatable over a hole and to extend beyond at least part of the hole so as to at least partially close the hole, and engagement means extending in use beneath the cover member to engage with a side wall of the hole to retain the cover member in position.

The engagement means may be arranged to engage with substantially opposite side walls of the hole to retain the cover member in position. The engagement means may include a pair of engagement members which are resiliency urged apart to engage with the respective hole side walls.

The engagement members may extend from one end from the cover member, and may in use be inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to the cover member. The engagement members may be resiliently urged towards an orientation generally parallel to the cover member.

The engagement members may comprise elongate members mounted at one end to the underside of the cover member, with the elongate members being mounted to a generally central part of the cover member.

Formations may be provided on the free ends of the engagement members to facilitate engagement with the hole side walls.

Urging means may be selectively engageable with the engagement members to urge same against the hole side walls. The urging means may include a member beatable in use beneath the engagement members which can be moved upwardly to urge the engagement members towards the cover member and hence urge the engagement members into engagement with the hole side walls.

Formations such as recesses or openings may be provided on the engagement members with which the urging means is engageable.

Lock means may be provided for retaining the urging means in a required position relative to the cover member. The lock means may include a profiled elongate member and a locking member on the cover member to retain the elongate member in a required position. The locking member may be arranged so as to permit the elongate member to move therethrough in a first direction, but to automatically prevent movement of the elongate member therethrough in an opposite direction. The elongate member may be provided with a plurality of formations along the length thereof, with which formations the locking member is engageable

The locking member may be provided on the cover member, and may be provided substantially centrally thereon. The locking means may be arranged such that the profiled elongate member extends upwardly through the locking member to above the cover member, to a required extent.

In an alternative embodiment the engagement means includes a base member spaced below the cover member and connected thereto by a pivotal linkage, and a pair of abutment parts engageable against substantially opposite side walls of a hole, the linkage being arranged such that as the base member is moved towards the cover member the abutment parts move outwardly.

The pivotal linkage may include a pair of elongate abutment members pivotally mounted at one end to the base member, with their other ends providing the abutment parts, the abutment members extending upwardly and outwardly from the base member, and two elongate linking members each extending respectively from a one of the abutment members part way along its length and on a side thereof facing the other abutment member, to the underside of the cover member.

The linking members may be mounted at their ends away from the abutment members to a top member. The top member may be releasably mountable on the underside of the cover member.

A connecting member may extend from the base member to the cover member, and be movable relative to the cover member. Lock means may be provided for retaining the connecting member in a required position relative to the cover member.

The lock means may include a profiled elongate member and a locking member on the cover member to retain the elongate member in a required position. The locking member may be arranged so as to permit the elongate member to move therethrough in a first direction, but to automatically prevent movement of the elongate member therethrough in an opposite direction. The elongate member may be provided with a plurality of formations along the length thereof, with which formations the locking member is engageable.

The locking means may be arranged such that the profiled elongate member extends upwardly through the locking member to above the cover member, to a required extent.

Surface formations may be provided on at least an outer part of the upper surface of the cover member, which formations can aid the grip of a person standing or walking thereon.

Surface formations may be provided on at least an outer part of the lower surface of the cover member, which formations can in use engage with the edge of a hole to be covered.

The respective lower and upper surface formations may be engageable with each other when adjacent cover members overlap. The surface formations may be resilient.

The cover member is preferably less than 25mm thick.

The cover assembly may be integrally formed. Alternatively, the engagement means may be mountable on the cover member. Mounting means for mounting the engagement means on the cover member may be provided. The mounting means may be in the form of cooperating formations on the engagement means and cover member. The locking member may be arranged so as to permit the elongate member to move therethrough in a first direction, but to automatically prevent movement of the elongate member therethrough in an opposite direction.

In one embodiment the engagement means is in the form of a substantially rigid bracket member which extends beneath the cover member. The bracket member may be mountable to a side wall of the hole to retain the cover member in position.

Mounting means for mounting the bracket member on the cover member may be provided. The mounting means may be in the form of cooperating formations on the brackets and cover member.

The cover assembly may be made of plastics material and may be made of polypropylene or nylon.

The invention also provides apparatus for temporarily covering a hole in a concrete beam or concrete floor, the apparatus being according to any of the preceding twenty six paragraphs.

The invention still further provides a method for temporarily covering a hole in a concrete beam or concrete floor, the method including mounting a cover assembly according to any of said preceding twenty six paragraphs in and to at least partially surround, the hole.

The urging means may be employed to cause the engagement members to be urged against the hole side walls. Following engagement of the engagement members, any part of the elongate member extending above the cover member can be cut away.

When the engagement means is in the form of a bracket member, the bracket member may be mounted to the side wall of the hole to retain the cover member in position.

A plurality of cover assemblies may be used to close a hole, with adjacent cover members overlapping each other.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross sectional side view of a first cover assembly in a rest condition adjacent a hole to be covered;

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but with the assembly covering the hole;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the assembly of Fig. 1 in a rest condition;

Fig. 4 is a view from beneath of the assembly of Fig. 1 in a rest condition;

Fig 5 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but with the assembly incorporating urging means;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of two cover assemblies according to the invention closing a larger hole;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above of a second cover assembly in a first configuration; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view from beneath of the assembly of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above of a component of the assembly of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic cross sectional side view of part of the assembly of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a similar view to Fig. 7, but with the second cover assembly in a second configuration;

Fig. 12 is a similar view to Fig. 8, but with the second cover assembly again in a second configuration; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a component usable in the second cover assembly in the second configuration.

Figs. 1 to 4 show a first cover assembly 10 for temporarily closing a hole 12 in a concrete beam 14. The hole 12 is circular in cross section and is formed in the beam 14 during manufacture and is intended to receive services such as a waste pipe and/or cabling.

The assembly 10 is integrally formed of polypropylene and includes a substantially planar cover member 16 and engagement means 18 extending therebelow. The cover member 16 is substantially square in plan view and is provided with a surface formation 20 extending along two sides thereof for approximately a quarter of the width of the member 16. The surface formation 20 comprises a plurality of resilient saw tooth projections, and is provided on the upper and lower faces of the member 16. The engagement means 18 comprises a pair of elongate strips 22 extending on opposite directions parallel to the side edges of the cover member 16 on either side of a central hole 24 on the under side of the cover member 16. A chevron cut out 26 is provided on the end of the strips 22 to define two points 28.

A plurality of formations 30 such as slots or recesses are provided in the strips 22 as shown in Fig. 4. At rest the strips 22 will lie at an acute angle to the underside of the cover member 16 as shown in Fig. 1. Mounted on the upper side of the cover member 16 around the hole 24 is a locking member

32 similar to that found in cable ties.

The assembly 10 can be mounted to close the hole 12 by pushing the strips 12 towards each other to permit them to be inserted into the hole 12. When no longer being held the strips 22 spring outwardly as shown in Fig. 2, such that the ends of the strips 22 and particularly the points 28 engage with the side walls of the hole 12. The surface formation 20 on the underside of the cover member 16 also provides some engagement with the edge of the hole 12. The thickness of the cover member 16 is chosen such that the assembly 10 does not provide a significant trip hazard, and the cover member 16 should be significantly less than 25mm thick.

Fig. 5 shows an arrangement incorporating an urging means 34. The urging means 34 incorporates a spacer 36 which is mounted substantially centrally to an elongate toothed member 38. The free end of the elongate member 38 passes through the locking member 32, and the members 32, 38 are arranged such that the elongate member 38 can be pulled upwardly through the locking member 32 but cannot pass back downwardly therethrough. The spacer 36 can be pulled upwardly by the elongate member 38 so as to urge the strips 22 apart to cause engagement of the strips 22 with the side walls of the hole 12. At least initially, the ends of the spacer 36 may engage with a one of the formations 30. Once the spacer member 36 is in position the part of the elongate member 38 extending above the locking member 32 can be cut off and discarded.

In some instances larger holes such as the hole 40 shown in Fig. 6 are provided in beams, for instance to accept services for a number of floors in the building. In Fig. 6 the hole 40 has been closed by two cover assemblies

42 with respective cover members 16 overlapping each other. The respective surface formations 20 on the upper and undersides of the cover member 16 engage with each other. The engagement strips 44 of the cover assemblies 42 are shown with a different end profiles including two points 46, for providing engagement with the hole side walls.

The cover assemblies 10, 42 can readily be removed for instance from beneath or using tools, for reuse or disposal at an appropriate time. Such assemblies may be brightly coloured such that they are readily visible.

Whilst the invention has been described above in relation to holes in concrete beams, the invention is equally applicable to holes in concrete floors or other similar structures which may be formed in situ.

Figs. 7 to 13 show a second cover assembly 50 which is usable in at least two configurations as shown. The assembly 50 is not integrally formed, but includes a second cover member 52 engagement means 54, and a connecting member 56.

The cover member 52 is square in plan view and includes profiled upstanding gripping formations 58 on its upper face, and a number of through holes 60. A central opening 62 is provided. A locking arrangement 60, best seen in Fig. 10, is provided centrally on the underside of the cover member 52. The arrangement 60 comprises an upstanding collar 66 from which a coaxial flexible web 68 extends upwardly to an annular ring 70 provided on the underside of the top of the cover member 52. The web 68 defines a saw tooth profile 72 immediately above the collar 66 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The engagement means includes a top member 74 in the form of a rectangular plate 76 with a central opening 78. Four upstanding barbs 80 are provided adjacent each corner of the plate 76, and the barbs 80 are selectively engageable in four of the through holes 60, to retain the plate 76 on the underside of the cover member 52 around the central opening 62.

Two linking members 82 pivotally extend from opposite ends of the plate 76. The linking members 82 pivotally connect at their opposite ends to a pair of elongate abutment members 84. The linking members 82 are connected to the abutment members 84 part way along the length thereof, with upper ends of the abutment members 84 defining abutments parts 82. The lower ends of the abutment members 84 are pivotally connected to a base member 88 in the form of a rectangular plate 90 with a circular through hole 92.

The connecting member 56 is in the form of a double sided cable tie, with teeth 94 engageable with the saw tooth profile 72. A circular head 96 is provided at the lower end of the connecting member 56, which is larger than the hole 92.

In use, the engagement means 54 can be mounted on the underside of the cover member 52 by the barbs 80. The connecting member 56 can be connected from beneath, with the connecting member 56 extending through the locking arrangement 64, and with the head 96 engaging around the edges of the hole 92. The saw tooth profile 72 prevents the connecting member 56 from moving downwardly.

The assembly 50 can then be located over a hole, with the engagement means 54 extending into the hole. The connecting member 56 can then be pulled upwardly which causes the abutment members 84 to pivot outwardly and the abutment parts 86 to come into contact with opposite sides of the hole to retain the assembly 50 in position covering the hole. Once the assembly is in a required position with the engagement means 54 fully engaged, the part of the connecting member 56 extending above the cover member 52 can be cut away.

Figs. 11 to 13 show the assembly 50 in a second configuration. Rather than the engagement means 54, a triangular leg 98 is provided. The leg 98 has three barbs 100 along a shorter side and four barbs 102 along the longer side, which barbs are engageable in respective ones of the through holes 60 to mount the leg 98 on the cover member 52. If required the leg could be mounted onto the wall of a hole, or one or more of such legs 98 could be provided on the underside of the cover member 52, and simply rest in a hole.

It is to be realised that a wide range of other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the cover members may be a different shape. The assemblies may be made of different materials, and other plastics materials such as nylon may be used. Different urging means may be provided if required. Different surface formations could be used, and it may in some circumstances be possible not to provide these.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A cover assembly, the assembly including a substantially planar cover member beatable over a hole and to extend beyond at least part of the hole so as to at least partially close the hole, and engagement means extending in use beneath the cover member to engage with a side wall of the hole to retain the cover member in position.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 , characterised in that the engagement means is arranged to engage with substantially opposite side walls of the hole to retain the cover member in position.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the engagement means includes a pair of engagement members which are resiliently urged apart to engage with the respective hole side walls.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that the engagement members extend from one end from the cover member.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that the engagement members in use are inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to the cover member.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that the engagement members are resiliently urged towards an orientation generally parallel to the cover member.

7. An assembly according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the engagement members comprise elongate members mounted at one end to the underside of the cover member, with the elongate members being mounted to a generally central part of the cover member.

8. An assembly according to any of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that formations are provided on the free ends of the engagement members to facilitate engagement with the hole side walls.

5

9. An assembly according to any of claims 3 to 8, characterised in that urging means are selectively engageable with the engagement members to urge same against the hole side walls.

I O 10. An assembly according to claim 9, characterised in that the urging means include a member locatable in use beneath the engagement members which can be moved upwardly to urge the engagement members towards the cover member and hence urge the engagement members into engagement with the hole side walls.

15

11. An assembly according to claims 9 or 10, characterised in that formations such as recesses or openings are provided on the engagement members with which the urging means is engageable. 0

12. An assembly according to any of claims 9 to 11 , characterised in that lock means are provided for retaining the urging means in a required position relative to the cover member.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, characterised in that the lock 5 means include a profiled elongate member and a locking member on the cover member to retain the elongate member in a required position.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, characterised in that the locking member is arranged so as to permit the elongate member to move 0 therethrough in a first direction, but to automatically prevent movement of the elongate member therethrough in an opposite direction.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, characterised in that the elongate member is provided with a plurality of formations along the length thereof, with which formations the locking member is engageable

5 16. An assembly according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterised in that the locking member is provided on the cover member.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, characterised in that the locking member is provided substantially centrally on the cover member.

I O

18. An assembly according to any of claims 13 to 17, characterised in that the locking means is arranged such that the elongate member extends upwardly through the locking member to above the cover member, to a required extent.

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19. An assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the engagement means includes a base member spaced below the cover member and connected thereto by a pivotal linkage, and a pair of abutment parts engageable against substantially opposite side walls of a hole, the 0 linkage being arranged such that as the base member is moved towards the cover member the abutment parts move outwardly.

20. An assembly according to claim 19, characterised in that the pivotal linkage includes a pair of elongate abutment members pivotally mounted at 5 one end to the base member, with their other ends providing the abutment parts, the abutment members extending upwardly and outwardly from the base member, and two elongate linking members each extending respectively from a one of the abutment members part way along its length and on a side thereof facing the other abutment member, to the underside of the cover

30 member.

21. An assembly according to claim 20, characterised in that the linking members are mounted at their ends away from the abutment members to a top member.

22. An assembly according to claim 21 , characterised in that the top member is releasably mountable on the underside of the cover member.

23. An assembly according to any of claims 19 to 22, characterised in that a connecting member extends from the base member to the cover member, and is movable relative to the cover member.

24. An assembly according to claim 23, characterised in that lock means are provided for retaining the connecting member in a required position relative to the cover member.

25. An assembly according to claim 24, characterised in that lock means include a profiled elongate member and a locking member on the cover member to retain the elongate member in a required position.

26. An assembly according to claim 25, characterised in that the locking member is arranged so as to permit the elongate member to move therethrough in a first direction, but to automatically prevent movement of the elongate member therethrough in an opposite direction.

27. An assembly according to claim 26, characterised in that the elongate member is provided with a plurality of formations along the length thereof, with which formations the locking member is engageable

28.. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that surface formations are provided on at least an outer part of the upper surface of the cover member, which formations can aid the grip of a person standing or walking thereon.

29. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that surface formations are provided on at least an outer part of the lower surface of the cover member, which formations can in use engage with the edge of a hole to be covered.

30. An assembly according to claim 29 when dependent on claim 28, characterised in that the respective lower and upper surface formations are engageable with each other when adjacent cover members overlap.

31. An assembly according to any of claims 28 to 30, characterised in that the surface formations are resilient.

32. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover member is less than 25mm thick.

33. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover assembly is integrally formed.

34. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 32, characterised in that the engagement means is mountable on the cover member.

35. An assembly according to claim 34, characterised in that mounting means for mounting the engagement means on the cover member are provided.

36. An assembly according to claim 35, characterised in that the mounting is in the form of cooperating formations on the engagement means and cover member.

37. An assembly according to claim 36, characterised in that the locking member is arranged so as to permit the elongate member to move therethrough in a first direction, but to automatically prevent movement of the elongate member therethrough in an opposite direction.

38. An assembly according to claim 1 , characterised in that the engagement means is in the form of a substantially rigid bracket member which extends beneath the cover member.

39. An assembly according to claim 38, characterised in that the bracket member may be mountable to a side wall of the hole to retain the cover member in position.

40. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover assembly is made of plastics material.

41. An assembly according to claim 40, characterised in that the cover assembly is made of polypropylene or nylon.

42. Apparatus for temporarily covering a hole in a concrete beam or concrete floor, the apparatus being according to any of the preceding claims.

43. A method for temporarily covering a hole in a concrete beam or concrete floor, the method including mounting a cover assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in and to at least partially surround, the hole.

44. A method according to claim 43, characterised in that the urging means is employed to cause the engagement members to be urged against the hole side walls.

45. A method according to claim 44, characterised in that following engagement of the engagement members, any part of the elongate member extending above the cover member is cut away.

46. A method according to any of claims 43 to 45, characterised in that a plurality of cover assemblies are used to close a hole, with adjacent cover members overlapping each other.