Crawl access and basement window well cover

Abstract

A window well protective cover. The cover has a nonskid surface, and is formed of plastic or fiberglass reinforced plastic in a suitable color. Trimmable cubes are provided along a rear extension of an edge flange, and a trimmable shoulder is provided along a rear extension of the top surface. The trimmable cubes and trimmable shoulder portions allow the cover to be trimmed for tight fitting engagement with an adjacent building structure.

1 . A cover for a window well structure, said cover comprising 
 (a) an upper substantially planar top protective portion of preselected thickness formed of plastic or fiber reinforced plastic material, said top protective portion having an a rear end having a first corner and a second corner, and a peripheral edge wall extending in a generally U-shaped configuration between said first corner and said second corner to define a first side, a front, and a second side of said top protective portion, said top protective portion having an upper surface and a bottom surface;    (b) spaced inwardly from said peripheral edge wall, a downwardly extending flange having an exterior flange wall and an interior flange wall;    (c) a plurality of strengthening ribs running from rear to said downwardly extending flange.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein in said plurality of strengthening ribs comprise a set of ribs running lengthwise from said rear to said front, below said bottom surface.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of strengthening ribs comprise a set of ribs running transversely between said first side and said second side, below said bottom surface.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a protective screen said protective screen affixed adjacent said plurality of strengthening ribs and substantially extending between said rear and said interior flange wall, said protective screen including a plurality of passageways having gaps therebetween, and adapted for passage of air through said gaps therethrough.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of trimmable blocks, said trimmable blocks extending below said bottom surface and rearward beyond said rear along a line substantially aligned with said downwardly extending flange.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said trimmable blocks are provided in column sets.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said trimmable blocks are provided in row sets.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said trimmable blocks are provided in both column sets and in row sets, and wherein said trimmable blocks comprise at least in part, substantially cubical trimmable blocks.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of trimmable shoulder sections, said trimmable shoulder sections extending rearward of said rear wall and substantially between said first corner and said second corner.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said trimmable shoulder sections are configured in a side-by-side double T configuration.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the downward leg of each of said side-by-side double T configuration is truncated and trimmable blocks are provided therebelow.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said window well structure comprises an injection moldable plastic.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said cover is provided in a color selected from one of the following: 
 (a) red or pink;    (b) brown;    (c) violet or purple;    (d) green;    (e) blue;    (f) gray or silver;    (g) orange;    (h) yellow or gold;    (i) black.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said upper surface of said top protective portion comprises a non-skid surface.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein 
 (a) said flange wall has a bottom end, and wherein said interior flange wall comprises groove spaced upward from said bottom end, and    (b) said protective screen comprises an outer edge wall, and    (c) wherein said groove is sized and shaped for receiving therein said edge wall of said protective screen.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said strengthening ribs comprise a downwardly extending criss-cross box shaped web.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises an integrally molded, one-piece window well cover.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said top protective portion is set an angle alpha, compared to the bottom of said strengthening ribs, so that said protective portion sets on a horizontal substrate at an outwardly and downwardly protective angle alpha (α).  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said angle alpha (α) provides about one inch per foot of slop outward from said rear of said cover.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said top protective portion is provided in a thickness of at least 0.75 inches.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said strengthening ribs are provided with a transverse cross sectional thickness of 0.5 inches.