Universal attachment assembly for clamping and bracing covers over openings

A structural brace comprising:

• an elongated structural support member;
• a plurality of ratcheting attachment assemblies, each said ratcheting attachment assembly comprising a pair of clamping levers having a first end for fixedly attaching to a tension transmitting means, a second end for engagement with a structural member and an arcuate midsection defined therebetween, wherein said first end, said second end, and said arcuate midsection define a curved shape visible from a first two opposing directions, and wherein said first end, said second end, and said arcuate midsection define a straight shape visible from a second two opposing directions, said second two opposing directions perpendicular to said first two opposing directions, said arcuate midsection for bearing against a fulcrum opening in a respective cover member;
• a ratcheting device comprising a body, said body carried between said pair of clamping levers;
• a first said tension transmitting means terminated at a first end by fixedly connecting to said clamping lever, and a second, free end for adjustably wrapping around a drum of said ratcheting device;
• a second said tension transmitting means terminated at a first end by a second said clamping lever, and terminated at a second end by fixedly attaching to the said body of said ratcheting device;
• whereby each said clamping lever can be rotatably engaged respectively to a first and second fulcrum point on said cover member to provide fine adjustment of length and the development of compressive force against respective said structural members;
• two L-profile angle adapters attached to ends of said elongated structural support member, wherein each said angle adapter has matching paired holes to provide fulcrum points to said clamping levers and to act as corresponding guide holes for said second ends of respective clamping levers, and wherein a paired plurality of opposing holes are defined in top and bottom inside faces of each said angle adapter, in matched spacing with said guide holes, whereby tension applied by said ratcheting attachment assemblies to said clamping levers is converted by fulcrums to compression, driving and holding said second ends of said clamping levers through said corresponding guide holes in a base leg of said angle adapter into a hole in an inside wall of an opening.

A lever system and panel for securing said panel over an opening, comprising:

• a pair of levers, each said lever comprising a resistance end, an effort end, and a centralized fulcrum, wherein said resistance end and said centralized fulcrum define arcuately opposing paths, and wherein said effort end and said centralized fulcrum define arcuately opposing paths;
• a tensile force transmitter carried by said pair of levers, extending from said effort ends thereof;
• and
• a tensile force generator carried by said tensile force transmitter, and adapted to deliver force thereto;
• wherein said resistance end of each said lever is passed through an aperture defined in said panel to be secured, such that said centralized fulcrum of said lever is able to perform as an axis of motion proximate said aperture, and wherein said resistance end of each said lever is dimensioned to be received by an aperture defined in a peripheral interior edge of the opening to be covered by said panel to be secured.