Access cover with fall protection system

Abstract

A cap to cover an access that attaches to a curb around an access. The cap comprises a cover with a cinching channel and cinching line for adjusting the size of the cap to fit around the curb. At least one reinforced opening on cover through which a temporary fixation device can be inserted to secure the cap to the curb. A fall protection system incorporated with the cap can mitigate injury and damage if a person or object steps on or falls into the access.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A cap, configured to be attached to a curb around an access, comprising a flexible, cover that is adjustable in size and that has an incorporated fall protection system. 
     
     
         2 . The cap according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cinching channel around a periphery of the cover and a cinching line arranged in the cinching channel for reducing a circumference of the cap. 
     
     
         3 . The cap according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one channel opening in the cinching channel through which at least one cinching line end extends to reduce the circumference of the cap around the curb for attachment thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The cap according to  claim 3 , further comprising one or more cut-outs in the cinching channel that allow contact with the cinching line. 
     
     
         5 . The cap according to  claim 4 , further comprising at least one reinforced opening around the periphery of the cover, adapted to receive a temporary fixation device to attach the cap to the curb. 
     
     
         6 . The cap according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one reinforcement opening is nearer to an edge of the cover than is the cinching channel. 
     
     
         7 . The cap according to  claim 5 , wherein the fall protection system comprises at least one fall protection strap having at least two strap ends and extending across a bottom side of the cover. 
     
     
         8 . The cap according to  claim 7 , wherein the ends of the at least one strap are fixedly attached to at least one of the periphery and an edge of the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The cap according to  claim 8 , wherein the ends of the at least one strap are fixedly attached to the at least one reinforced opening. 
     
     
         10 . The cap according to  claim 9 , wherein the circumference of the cap can be reduced at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, and/or 60%, or by an amount in a range between any two of the listed values. 
     
     
         11 . The cap according to  claim 10 , further comprising the at least one fall protection strap being attached to the cover so that a space there between does not exceed 36 sq/inches or wherein a side of the space there between is ≤6 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The cap according to  claim 10 , further comprising the at least one fall protection strap being capable of sustaining a minimal tensile load of at least 1,000 lbs., 1,250 lbs., 1,500 lbs., 1,750 lbs., 2,000 lbs., 2,250 lbs., 2,500 lbs., 2,750 lbs., 3,000 lbs., 3,250 lbs., 3,500 lbs., 3,750 lbs., 4,000 lbs., 4,250 lbs., 4,500 lbs., 4,750 lbs., 5,000 lbs., 5,250 lbs., 5,500 lbs., 5,750 lbs., 6,000 lbs., 6,250 lbs., 6,500 lbs., 6,750 lbs., 7,000 lbs., or a minimal tensile load in a range between any two of the listed values. 
     
     
         13 . A method for covering an access, the method comprising:
 obtaining a cap, according to  claim 1 ,   positioning the cap over a curb around the access, and   attaching the cover to one or more walls of the curb so as to cover the access.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the cap further comprises:
 a cinching channel around a periphery of the cover,   a cinching line comprising at least two cinching line ends and arranged in the cinching channel,   at least one channel opening in the cinching channel through which the at least two cinching line ends extend, and   wherein the method further comprises pulling the at least two cinching line ends to reduce a circumference of the cap around the curb.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising cooperatively engaging the cinching line ends to a tensioning device and pulling the cinching lines ends with the tensioning device to reduce the circumference of the cap around the curb. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the cap further comprises at least one reinforced opening, configured to receive a temporary fixation device, around the periphery of the cover; and the method further comprises attaching the cap to the curb with the at least one temporary fixation device through the at least one reinforced opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one reinforced opening is closer to an edge of the cover than the cinching channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the cap further comprises a fall protection system incorporated with the cover, wherein attachment of the cap to a curb with the at least one temporary fixation device will simultaneously attach at least a portion of the fall protection system to the curb. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the fall protection system comprises at least one fall protection strap having at least two strap ends and extending across a bottom side of the cover and attachment of the cap to a curb with the at least one temporary fixation device simultaneously attaches the at least two strap ends to the curb. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the at least one fall protection strap of a fall protection system being capable of sustaining a minimal tensile load of at least 1,000 lbs., 1,250 lbs., 1,500 lbs., 1,750 lbs., 2,000 lbs., 2,250 lbs., 2,500 lbs., 2,750 lbs., 3,000 lbs., 3,250 lbs., 3,500 lbs., 3,750 lbs., 4,000 lbs., 4,250 lbs., 4,500 lbs., 4,750 lbs., 5,000 lbs., 5,250 lbs., 5,500 lbs., 5,750 lbs., 6,000 lbs., 6,250 lbs., 6,500 lbs., 6,750 lbs., and/or 7,000 lbs., or a minimal tensile load in a range between any two of the listed values.