US 12,480,359 B2
Cover with adjustable width
John Alexander Black, Oxfordshire (GB); and Robert David Black, Oxfordshire (GB)
Assigned to OXFORD SAFETY COMPONENTS LIMITED, Oxfordshire (GB)
Appl. No. 17/631,097
Filed by OXFORD SAFETY COMPONENTS LIMITED, Oxfordshire (GB)
PCT Filed Jul. 13, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/051682
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 28, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/019203, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1910947 (GB), filed on Jul. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0251898 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. E06B 9/06 (2006.01); E04H 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC E06B 9/0661 (2013.01) [E04H 5/06 (2013.01); E06B 9/063 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection pit cover for covering an inspection pit opening defined in a surface and adapted to support a person, the opening defined between first and second edges, and an opening width defined between the first and second edges that is shorter than a length of the opening, the inspection pit cover comprising:
a cover width, wherein the inspection pit cover is configured to be supported, during use, at the first and second edges of the opening when the cover width is substantially parallel to the opening width, wherein the cover width is adjustable from a first cover width to a second cover width, and the cover is adapted to maintain the cover width at the second cover width during use;
parallel members, each of the parallel members is arranged to be provided between the first and second edges of the opening, and extensibly connected to an adjacent parallel member of the parallel members, such that a length of the cover is adjustable, wherein the parallel members respectively include telescopic extension arms that are adapted to be slidably received in the respective parallel members to adjust the cover width from the first cover width to the second cover width;
retaining mechanisms respectively provided on the parallel members and configured to maintain the cover width at the second cover width, wherein the retaining mechanisms are respectively defined by retaining openings respectively receiving retaining fasteners, and each retaining opening is defined by only the respective parallel member; and
wherein the retaining fasteners engage each of the telescopic extension arms to substantially permanently prevent adjustment of the cover width to the first cover width after activation of the retaining mechanisms when the cover is at the second cover width.