Device for Securing Covers of Drainage Holes and the Like

Abstract

A device for securing a cover having an opening therethrough over a well, drywell, or like structure having an upwardly facing horizontal base surface surrounding a bottom opening of the well includes an upper member positioned on the cover, a lower member positioned horizontally upward against the horizontal base surface, and a connecting rod that operatively connects the upper to the lower member and maintains a tension force between them via the connecting rod to secure the cover in position. A connector on the rod allows the lower member to pivot to a vertical position alongside the rod for insertion through the hole in the cover. In this way, the device can be installed with the cover in situ. The connector also provides translational movement of the lower member along the rod to provide, or remove, the tension. A locking element connected to the rod allows adjusting of the tension.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for securing a cover over a well or like structure, the cover including at least one opening therethrough, wherein the well includes a hollow walled chamber with a bottom opening that intersects with a drainage section, a portion of a ceiling of the drainage section surrounding the bottom opening forming a horizontal base surface, upwardly facing, around a periphery of the bottom opening of the well, said device comprising:
 an upper retaining member configured to engage a top surface of the cover over the well or like structure;   a lower retaining member configured to lay flat against the upwardly facing horizontal base surface of the well;   a connecting rod sized for insertion through the at least one opening, said connecting rod operatively connecting said upper retaining member to said lower retaining member, wherein a vertical position of said upper retaining member is fixed at an upper end portion of said connecting rod and said lower retaining member is translationably coupled to said connecting rod for vertical translation along said connecting rod with respect to said upper retaining member; and   a locking element positioned to engage an upper surface of said upper retaining member and coupled to said upper end portion of said connecting rod, said locking element configured to cooperate with said connecting rod for vertical translation of said lower retaining member upward and tightly against the horizontal base surface while forcibly engaging said upper retaining member down onto the cover to immobilize the cover in situ on the well.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said lower retaining member is further pivotably coupled to said connecting rod for pivoting said lower retaining member with respect to a vertical orientation of said connecting rod for insertion through the at least one opening, and for positioning horizontally against the horizontal base surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a securing connector translationably coupling said lower retaining member to said connecting rod. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said connecting rod has a threaded external surface, and said securing connector includes an eye portion having a threaded internal surface sized and configured to engage with said threaded external surface to facilitate translation of said lower retaining member along said connecting rod. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said securing connector includes a cylindrical rod portion fixedly extending from said eye portion perpendicularly to said connecting rod and coupled to said lower retaining member. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said lower retaining member is pivotably coupled to said connecting rod via said cylindrical rod portion, wherein said cylindrical rod portion is positioned in a through-hole of said lower retaining member, said lower retaining member being free to pivot around said cylindrical rod portion with respect to a vertical orientation of said connecting rod. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , said cylindrical rod portion comprising a threaded end portion protruding from said through-hole, and a bolt with a threaded internal surface threadedly fixed onto said threaded end portion to hold said lower retaining member pivotably coupled with said cylindrical rod portion. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said upper retaining member is in a shape that conforms to an upper surface of the cover, having a recessed portion that lays across the at least one opening. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said locking element is positioned to engage said upper surface of said recessed portion of said upper retaining member. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said locking element and said connecting rod are formed as one body. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said locking element comprises a structure configured for engagement by a tool uniquely keyed to said structure. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said locking element comprises a bolt head, said device configured to lock and immobilize the cover on the well by tightening the bolt head to refusal. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising an end cap fixed to a lower end of said connecting rod. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said lower retaining member is a flat bar. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said lower retaining member is at least about ¼ inches in thickness. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said lower retaining member is between about 1 and 1.5 inches wide. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said lower retaining member is between about 32 inches and 38 inches long. 
     
     
         18 . A device for securing a cover over a well or like structure, the cover including at least one opening therethrough, wherein the well includes a hollow walled chamber with a bottom opening that intersects with a drainage section, a portion of a ceiling of the drainage section surrounding the bottom opening forming a horizontal base surface, upwardly facing, around a periphery of the bottom opening of the well, said device comprising:
 an upper retaining member configured to engage a top surface of the cover over the well or like structure;   a lower retaining member configured to lay flat against the upwardly facing horizontal base surface of the well; and   a connecting rod sized for insertion through the at least one opening, said connecting rod operatively connecting said upper retaining member to said lower retaining member, wherein a vertical position of said upper retaining member is fixed at an upper end portion of said connecting rod and said lower retaining member is translationably coupled to said connecting rod for vertical translation along said connecting rod with respect to said upper retaining member; and   wherein said connecting rod is configured to cooperate with said lower retaining member for vertical translation of said lower retaining member upward and tightly against the horizontal base surface, and is configured to cooperate with said upper retaining member to forcibly engage the cover down onto the well to immobilize the cover in situ.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said cylindrical rod includes a locking element positioned to engage an upper surface of said upper retaining member, and positioned at an upper end portion of said cylindrical rod for access by a user, wherein said locking element, upon engagement by the user, is configured to vertically translate said lower retaining member upward and tightly against the horizontal base surface, while forcibly engaging said upper retaining member down onto the cover to immobilize the cover in situ on the well.