Cover apparatus for an access opening

A cover apparatus to releasably secure an access opening on a pipe, a tube or a manhole opening, which comprises:

• a) an arcuate top portion which extends beyond the outer circumference of the access opening, and the arcuate top portion of the cover apparatus is rounded to form a convex surface for increased strength and rigidity;
• b) a depending side wall which depends from the top portion, the side wall portion sized to be less than the inner diameter of the access opening;
• c) an outwardly flared lower side wall extending from the lower portion of the depending side wall, the outwardly flared side wall sized to be less than the inner diameter of the access opening, and greater than the depending side wall;
• d) a central ring depending from the arcuate top portion, the central ring centered about the central axis of the top cover, a pump handle access opening extending through the top portion of the cover apparatus into the central ring;
• e) a plurality of ribs extending between the central ring and the depending side wall, and the space between the central ring, the ribs and the side wall are preferably filled with a structural foam material;
• f) an expandable bladder positioned on the depending side wall between the top portion and the outwardly flared lower side wall;
• g) a pump means secured within the central ring of the cover apparatus, the pump means in fluid communication with the expandable bladder;
• h) and an actuating means to selectively actuate the pump means to selectively expand and contract the expandable bladder.

A cover apparatus to releasably secure an access opening on a pipe, a tube or a manhole opening, which comprises:

• a) a top portion which extends beyond the outer circumference of the access opening, and the top portion of the cover apparatus is rounded to form an arcuate, convex surface for increased strength and rigidity;
• b) a depending side wall which depends from the top portion, the depending side wall of an outer diameter sized to be less than the inner diameter of the access opening;
• c) an outwardly flared lower side wall extending from the lower portion of the depending side wall, the outwardly flared side wall sized to be less than the inner diameter of the access opening, and greater than the depending side wall;
• d) an annular ring extends at a right angle to the depending side wall in spaced relation between the top portion of the cover apparatus and the outwardly flared lower side wall;
• e) a central ring depending from the top portion, the central ring centered about the central axis of the top cover, a pump handle access opening extending through the top portion of the cover apparatus into the central ring;
• f) a plurality of ribs extending between the central ring and the depending side wall, and the space between the central ring, the ribs and the side wall are filled with a structural foam material;
• g) an expandable bladder positioned on depending side wall between the annular ring and the outwardly flared lower side wall;
• h) a pump means secured within the central ring of the cover apparatus, the pump means in fluid communication with the expandable bladder;
• i) and an actuating means to selectively actuate the pump means through the pump handle access opening to selectively expand and contract the expandable bladder.