Securable Temporary Manhole or Catch Basin Cover

Abstract

An improved securable temporary manhole or catch basin cover is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the cover comprises a central segment attached to an inflatable bladder, tube, or tire. In another embodiment, the central segment comprises a plurality of tightening mechanisms around a perimeter of the central segment. Regardless of the embodiment, the cover disclosed herein is a unique, portable, and durable solution that improves the state of the art by facilitating the prevention of debris from falling into the sewers and allowing for easy removal of said debris from the top of the cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a central segment having a top, a bottom, and a perimeter;   wherein the central segment comprises a taper and a lip around the perimeter of the central segment;   an inflatable tire, wherein the inflatable tire is attached to the lip around the perimeter of the central segment; and   wherein the top of the central segment comprises a handle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an air inlet valve protruding from the top of the central segment. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the air inlet valve is located on the taper. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the taper is inclined relative to the central segment. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the handle is secured to the top of the central segment by a plurality of screws. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting hole on the top of the central segment. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a lifting ring on the top of the central segment. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the lifting ring is secured to the top of the central segment by a plurality of screws. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the central segment comprises at least one of a plastic polymer or a carbon fiber material. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the inflatable tire comprises a rubber material. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the central segment is generally circular in shape and comprises a diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the diameter of the central segment is less than approximately thirty inches. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the inflatable tire does not comprise a plurality of sealing veins. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 a central segment having a top, a bottom, and a perimeter;   a plurality of first plates around the perimeter of the central segment;   wherein the plurality of first plates are attached to a plurality of tightening mechanisms on the top of the central segment.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein each one of the plurality of tightening mechanisms comprises a second plate. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the second plate is stationarily attached to a track comprising a track stopper. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the second plate is attached to an internally threaded screw casing. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  further comprising a screw bolt extending through the internally threaded screw casing. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using an improved securable temporary manhole or catch basin cover, the cover comprising:
 a central segment having a top, a bottom, and a perimeter;   wherein the central segment comprises a taper and a lip around the perimeter of the central segment;   an inflatable tire, wherein the inflatable tire is attached to the lip around the perimeter of the central segment; and   wherein the top of the central segment comprises a handle;   
       the method comprising a plurality of steps of:
 securing the cover to a top of an eccentric cone section of precast concrete; 
 inflating the tire until the cover is secured to a plurality of manhole walls within an approximately four inch vertical space at the top of the eccentric cone section. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of manually removing debris from the top of the central segment, and removing the cover from the top of the eccentric cone section by deflating the tire and lifting the handle.