Selectively frictionally engaged hole cover

A selectively frictionally engaged hole cover for covering a bore hole formed through a paved surface, the selectively frictionally engaged hole cover comprising:

• a cover plate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the top surface being configured to support safe passage of pedestrians and vehicular traffic across the selectively frictionally engaged hole cover, the cover plate further having a cover plate skirt formed extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the cover plate;
• and
• an engagement mechanism coupled with the cover plate and extending from the bottom surface of the cover plate, the engagement mechanism having an engagement plate selectively shiftable relative to the cover plate, the engagement mechanism further having a screw operably installed between the cover plate and the engagement plate, the screw having a head and a shank extending from the head, the shank having a threaded portion formed thereon opposite the head, the engagement plate having a substantially central threaded hole for selective receipt of the threaded portion of the screw, the engagement mechanism further having a sloped wall configured at an angle spanning between the cover plate and the cover plate skirt, the engagement mechanism further having an engagement member in contact with both the engagement plate and the sloped wall, the engagement plate configured to thereby shift the engagement member along the sloped wall and thus radially outwardly or inwardly as the engagement plate shifts relative to the cover plate;
• wherein, during an insertion procedure, the engagement mechanism is configured to be positioned within the bore hole and supported at least initially therein by the cover plate that is configured to rest upon the paved surface and substantially cover the bore hole;
• and wherein, during an engagement procedure, the engagement mechanism is configured to be actuated as by rotation of the screw in a first rotational direction to cause a first movement of the engagement plate so as to shift the engagement member along the sloped wall radially outwardly to move the engagement member into frictional contact with the bore hole to substantially prevent extraction of the engagement mechanism from the bore hole and to substantially prevent lifting of the cover plate due to forces exerted by vehicular traffic thereupon;
• and further wherein, during a disengagement procedure, the engagement mechanism is configured to be actuated as by rotation of the screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to cause a second movement of the engagement plate so as to shift the engagement member along the sloped wall radially inwardly to allow the engagement member to move out of frictional contact with the bore hole and permit extraction of the engagement mechanism from the bore hole.

A selectively frictionally engaged hole cover for covering a bore hole formed through a paved surface, the selectively frictionally engaged hole cover comprising:

• a cover plate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the top surface being configured to support safe passage of pedestrians and vehicular traffic across the selectively frictionally engaged hole cover, the cover plate further having a cover plate skirt formed extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the cover plate;
• and
• an engagement mechanism coupled with the cover plate and extending from the bottom surface of the cover plate, the engagement mechanism having an engagement plate selectively shiftable relative to the cover plate, the engagement mechanism further having a screw operably installed between the cover plate and the engagement plate, the screw having a head and a shank extending from the head, the shank having a threaded portion formed thereon opposite the head, the engagement plate having a substantially central threaded hole for selective receipt of the threaded portion of the screw, the engagement mechanism further having a retainer plate spaced from the cover plate, wherein a stand-off couples the retainer plate to the cover plate, the stand-off having a through-hole for receipt therethrough of the shank of the screw, the shank having sufficient length to pass out of the through-hole of the stand-off, the engagement mechanism further having a sloped wall extending downwardly and inwardly from the retainer plate, the engagement mechanism further having an engagement member in contact with both the engagement plate and the sloped wall, the engagement plate configured to thereby shift the engagement member along the sloped wall and thus radially outwardly or inwardly as the engagement plate shifts relative to the cover plate;
• wherein, during an insertion procedure, the engagement mechanism is configured to be positioned within the bore hole and supported at least initially therein by the cover plate that is configured to rest upon the paved surface and substantially cover the bore hole;
• and wherein, during an engagement procedure, the engagement mechanism is configured to be actuated as by rotation of the screw in a first rotational direction to cause a first movement of the engagement plate so as to shift the engagement member along the sloped wall radially outwardly to move the engagement member into frictional contact with the bore hole to substantially prevent extraction of the engagement mechanism from the bore hole and to substantially prevent lifting of the cover plate due to forces exerted by vehicular traffic thereupon;
• and further wherein, during a disengagement procedure, the engagement mechanism is configured to be actuated as by rotation of the screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to cause a second movement of the engagement plate so as to shift the engagement member along the sloped wall radially inwardly to allow the engagement member to move out of frictional contact with the bore hole and permit extraction of the engagement mechanism from the bore hole.