TITLE

Retractable Cover for Automobile Service Pit with Oil Change Mechanism, Detent Pin and

Method of Use

Inventors

Ben Keith Rice, Sr.

Benjamin Keith Rice, Jr.

Janise L. Rice

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

N/A

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Non-Applicable SPECIFICATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retractable cover for an automotive service pit whereby an auto technician may utilize a retractable cover and oil drain attachment to successfully collect oil from an automotive oil pan in addition to providing a protective cover over an open automotive pit. Too, the present invention allows for a quick release mechanism, in the form of a detent pin, internal or external to said service pit, which allows an automotive technician to quickly and easily release the present pit cover when in need of a rapid entrance or egress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automotive service pits are located beneath the floor level in an automotive shop or oil change station on which the vehicles to be serviced are positioned. The floor opening itself is for ease of access by workmen in the pit to the automotive vehicle underside for changing of oil and repair and replacement of parts. Particularly when the service pit is in use, the pit cover may be retracted, and, when not being used, the floor opening is left exposed or open. The service pit can thereby pose a safety hazard in an uncovered, open position to potential unintended workman descent into an open cavity wherein it is appropriate to close the opening with a removable and/or retractable cover. Equally, another untoward safety situation is presented where a worker, within a covered service pit, may be precluded from exiting a service pit should a workman or service person seek immediate escape or expediated exit whereby immediate cover release is necessitated.

Seeking to remedy this “open pit” configuration, when not in use, pit operators have attempted to protect workmen from said open pit by way of various forms of coverings ranging from integrated rope material, flat plates and connected chains to a series of combined metal bars to joined placeable and retractable plates. However, such safety covers have been utilized with varying degrees of success to connect opposite sides of the floor opening together with connecting each pit end. The assembly of the consolidated rigid bars, rope, plates and chain segments is demonstrably cumbersome, use is time consuming and these configurations provide for limited use when incorporating either an oil drain pan attachment or, alternatively, quick release mechanisms in the form of rapidly releasable stays or pins designed for time-sensitive or immediate exodus in a case where near instantaneous egress is required. Too, periodic lubrication of chains and plates are also required to decrease the friction between the chains and segments and the guide rails mounting the chain elements and rigid bars. Additionally, installation, repair and replacement are decidedly untenable where the previously cited means of covering a service pit require complex, integrated systems and mechanisms which are not amendable to easy install or discrete repair and often demand complete replacement of an entire system or unit. Moreover, in operation, substantial force is required to push or slide metal bars and chain segments along supporting guide rails to any reposed storage area at the end of the rails thereby limiting, or completely obviating, the utilization of both oil drain pan attachments and quick release mechanisms.

Manifestly, it is desired to have a safety cover for the floor opening of an automotive service pit which eliminates chains, ropes, plates and rigid bars for an integrated cover, to better implement an oil drain attachment and allow for a quick release function, in the form of detent pins, to simplify installation (replacement and repair) of a cover, enhance movement of a cover between covered, partially covered and uncovered positions of the floor opening for the service pit, add functionality in terms of an attached oil drain pan attachment and further allow for swift release of said cover to increase pit cover operability and improve safety through quick end attachment and release.

While a fabric safety cover exists in the covering of open pits, such fabric covers have not utilized a webbing material, 2-inch standard or 4-inch industrial, and particularly a plurality of spaced columns of webbing material having a plurality of transverse rows of webbing material stitched to the columns which allows for (1) low effort installation, (2) ease of distinct part or section repair and replacement, (3) adjustability in installation of tension bars and variable tensioning of webbing, (4) attachment of an oil drain pan and (5) securing and fast release through insertable and removable stays or pins. What is more, no other fabric safety cover allows for differing gauges, strengths and thicknesses wherein variable grades and surface areas of webbing materials may be utilized to offer ranges of webbing offering graded webbing support, from a relatively light gauge to medium gauge up to industrial gauges, as is presented in the present application.

While separate strides have been made to provide adequate protections for open pits while equally supplying ready access and egress, together with a functioning oil drain collection receptacle, it remains an intractable issue that considerable failings remain in the field whether due to inadequate designs or deficiencies in structure and/or implementation. It is therefore the goal of inventor to remedy these shortcomings as well as offer an improved design with unparalleled ease of installation and maintenance, infinite points of adjustment, superior durability and enhanced utility for efficient oil collection, safe securement and quick release.

And, while inventor has set forth the best mode or modes contemplated of carrying out the invention known to inventor such to enable a person skilled in the art to practice the present invention, the preferred embodiments are, however, not intended to be limited in scope, but, in opposite, are included in a non-limiting sense apt to alterations and modifications and within the scope and spirit of the disclosure and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a replaceable, removable, positionable and adjustable safety cover for a floor opening of an automotive service pit, and more particularly to a cover formed of a pliant, flexible material for selective movement correspondingly to each side of a service pit as well as one or both ends of a service pit for covering, partially covering and uncovering a floor opening. The primary functioning of support insertion, stabilization and securement is achieved by an accepting C-channel (guide) rail which allows for (1) support member (T-bolts/U-bolts) and tension bar acceptance, insertion, positioning and securement, (2) stay or pin insertion for releasable immobilization of support members and tension bars (and oil drain attachments) as well as (3) accepting attachment of largely parallel tire guide rails for guidance of vehicle and an oil drain pan attachment, by the upper portion of a C-channel rail and the side barriers of tire guide rails.

As is described below, selectable positioning may be further augmented in that either end of a service pit, said pit middle, or each end of a service pit, may be adapted to incorporate an oil drain pain attachment subject to the confines, area and perimeter of a service pit and/or requirements of said service personnel which may be drawn and secured by a locking mechanism and/ or a stay or detent or cotter pin.

Appropriately and configurable to the needs or dictates of a particular service pit and/or service person, the present invention, system and method of use may be employable wherein insertable and removable insert, stay or detent pin for securement and quick release may be incorporated into said invention with or without an oil drain pan attachment whereby inserts, stays or detent pins may be utilized on either one or both pit cover sides, one or both pit cover ends or at any intermediate point (i.e., midway, at third sections, at fourth sections, or any divisible segment or length) as to provide securing, ease of insertion and/or quick release. As disclosed and illustrated, in one preferred embodiment, an insert, stay or detent pin may be inserted through corresponding orifices in both upper and lower C-channel rails whereby an insert, stay or pin exists perpendicular to the horizontal plane of each C-channel rail where the insert, stay or pin acts as a stop and abuts a tension rod that is secured, by said insert, stay or pin, at the furthest point of each end of a service pit. Otherwise, an insert may be inserted as a stop just before a tension bar to maintain a pit cover at one or both ends of a service pit or act to secure the tension bar of a pit cover which in turn is connected to an oil drain attachment. The cover and/or oil drain attachment may then be secured and immobilized with the insertion of an insert, stay or pin and freed to move horizontally coplanar with a pit cover with insert, stay or pin removal.

Upon covering, uncovering or partial uncovering of the floor opening, service persons in the service pit area of an automotive service facility are thus provided access to the underside of the vehicle for servicing the vehicle where said pit cover may be augmented and improved for oil drain pan device placement and movement within bilateral C-channel rails allowing for insertion and removal of inserts, stays or pins for cover and/or oil drain pan attachment securing and release.

The flexible material forming one preferred embodiment of the cover comprises essentially a web netting material formed by a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending parallel strips stitched to a plurality of transversely extending parallel strips, longitudinal strip and transverse strips existing perpendicular to one another. Alternating transverse strips are looped over slidable anchors (tension bars) which are manually movable within a C-channel rail system to an extended or retracted position of the cover at one or each end of a service pit opening. Thereby either cover end (a) includes a tension bar for end securement and (b) is modifiable to receive an oil drain attachment via E-track tie down strap fittings, looped to a tension bar, and E-track receivers on said oil drain pan attachment wherein said column ends are looped and secured to a fixed bar at fabric column ends. Conversely, a service pit may exhibit E-track receivers directly on either end of a service pit opening for direct attachment of a pit cover to a service pit end in the absence of an oil drain attachment or where an oil drain attachment is temporarily out of service or not being currently implemented. This securing assembly may or may not be supplemented by a detent pin securement.

In another embodiment, said oil drain attachment pans may exist at either end of said pit cover or both ends of said pit cover wherein one covered service pit may exhibit two oil drain attachments at opposite ends of said service pit.

In yet another embodiment, the pit cover may have a plurality of oil drain attachment pans positioned in the middle of a pit cover, at either or both ends of said cover wherein the middle and either or both ends may exhibit an oil drain pan attachment.

In another embodiment, detent pins may be used in the securing, attachment and detachment of either pit cover ends, or oil drain pan attachments to either end of a pit cover for quick release of either a cover end or attached oil drain pan attachment from either or both ends of a service pit cover.

In yet another embodiment, an oil drain attachment may exist in the middle of a service pit cover, with E-track tie down strap fittings and receivers existing on either side of an oil drain attachment, and pit cover transverse and longitudinal mesh structures exhibited on either side of said oil drain attachment.

In another embodiment, a hook and lever system may be utilized to extend a pit cover and pull taut one or each end of a service pit cover which may thereby be engaged, locked and subsequently unlocked.

In any of the above preferred embodiments, the webbing strips are preferably formed of a relatively tough and thick webbing or belting material of a thickness sufficient to support workmen standing or walking on the pit cover. The flat webbing material is easily looped over metal support brackets (T-bolts, U-bolts and tension bars) and then stitched for securement to the support brackets (T-bolts, U-bolts and tension bars) for adjustable tension at various points along a service pits’ sides and at either end of a service pit. Each end of the alternate transverse webbing strips is secured to a T-bolt bracket and the T-bolt bracket is mounted within a slot in a C-shaped channel member securely attached to the floor adjacent to the opening for the service pit. One end of each longitudinally extending strip is subsequently secured to a movable (slidable) tension rod adjacent to opposite ends of a floor opening and secured by at least one detent pin, most preferably, two detent pins per pit opening end where tension bars are held fixed too pit end.

Transverse webbing strips are adjusted and adjustable to a desired tension through adjustment of washer and nut assembly where tightening and loosening of a nut increases and decreases pressure on a washer that is at least slightly larger than the opening created by an upper and lower lip of a C-channel rail whereby each C-channel rail is largely parallel to a corresponding C-channel rail on the opposite upper edge of a service pit. Longitudinal webbing is tensioned and relaxed or released at either end of a pit cover through applied pressure via a locking mechanism, stays or pins, attachment of an oil drain pan (concomitantly secured to a service pit end) or a combination thereof. In use, both opposing C- channel rails and tension bars existing at either end of a service pit, with or without an oil pan drain attachment, should be coplanar and adjustable through the above detailed mechanisms.

The movable tension rod may be connected to a releasable locking mechanism so that the safety cover can be locked in the covered position of the floor opening. Upon locking of the movable tension rod, the tension rod may be manually moved or pushed along the C-shaped channel member together within slidable brackets for movement of the cover to an uncovered, partially covered or fully covered position of the pit opening.

For ease of installation and repair and replacement, tension bars may be adjustable through tubular accepting receptacles (i.e., hook adapters or adjustable nut and washer adapters) where tension bars may be shortened and inserted into hook adapters or adjustable nut and washer adapters where tension bars may be varied in length and accommodated within existing C-channels for ease of installation and movement along C-channel pathways. In concert thereby, tension bars and T-bolts/U-bolts transport along and within accepting C-channel rails via hook or adjustable nut and washer adapter assemblies and adjustable nut and washer portions of T-bolt/U-bolt to provide for tension at both sides and both ends of a service pit.

The safety cover of the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be installed in a minimum of time with few assembly steps. The C-shaped channels are secured to tire guides along opposed sides of the pit opening for proper alignment of an automobile over a service pit. Then, a pit cover is preassembled with the longitudinal and transverse webs stitched to each other and the transverse webs stitched at their ends to provide loops about the mounting brackets for T- bolt or U-bolt attachment to and movement within C-shaped channels.

The mounting brackets include externally threaded bolts which are received within the C- shaped channels and nuts threaded onto the bolts provide a selective tensioning of the cover. One end of each longitudinally extending web is secured about a fixed tension rod adjacent to one end of the pit opening, and the other end of each longitudinally extending web is secured about a movable tension rod which may be releasably locked at the other end of the pit opening.

Too, the C-shaped channels are secured to tire guides along opposed sides of the pit opening for guiding an automobile over an opened or closed pit. The fabric pit cover is preassembled and stitched with the longitudinal and transverse webs attached at right angles to each other and the transverse webs stitched at their ends to provide loops about mounting brackets. The mounting brackets (T-bolts or U-bolts) include externally threaded bolts which are received within C-shaped channels and nuts threaded onto the bolts, with an interceding washer, provide a selective tensioning of the cover wherein tightening of said nuts upon said bolts causes increased tautness across the transverse webbing through washer-based securing within each C-channel. T- bolt and U-bolt washers are braced against the upper and lower inward bending ledges which grip a washer having a diameter larger than the C-channel opening.

In one embodiment, the end of each longitudinally extending web is secured about a fixed tension rod adjacent one end of the pit opening, and the other end of each longitudinally extending web is secured about a movable tension rod which may be releasably locked via a detent pin or pins at the other end of the pit opening. In another alternative embodiment, the C-shaped channels are secured to tire guides along opposing sides of the pit opening for guiding an automobile over an opened or closed pit. The fabric pit cover is preassembled and stitched with the longitudinal and transverse webs attached at right angles to each other and the transverse webs stitched at their ends to provide loops about mounting brackets. The mounting brackets include externally threaded bolts which are received within C-shaped channels and nuts threaded onto the bolts provide a selective tensioning of the cover wherein tightening of said nuts upon said bolts causes increased tautness across the transverse webbing. One first end of each longitudinally extending web may be secured about a mobile, or fixed, tension rod adjacent one end of the pit opening and allowed to move, or be held in place, by a detent pin where a second end of a longitudinally extending webbing may be secured about a movable rod which may be releasably attached to an oil drain attachment existing at the other end of the pit opening. It should be noted that the oil drain pan attachment may exist at either end, both ends, up to and including the pit middle, wherein the construct and use of service pit and necessity dictate wherein the wheels of said oil drain pan reside above and to the outside of said tire guide rails.

Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes flexible cables for supporting the fabric webbing with adjustable webbing supports for supporting the webbing on the cables for sliding movement. The adjustable supports fit within webbing loops and are adjustable in length on the cable to vary the tautness or tension in the transverse webbing rows across the entire pit cover.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a service pit cover that is easily installed.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a service pit cover that is adjustable at a first and second end, through tension bars, and a first and second side, thorough T-bolt or U- bolt mounting and adjustment bracket assemblies which allows for tension increase and decrease about the perimeter of the entire pit cover.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a service pit cover that allows for ease of installation, repair and replacement of parts where each section of said pit covers is movably facilitated by insertion into a horizontal C-channel. Said same C-Channel rail further supporting insertion and removal of a detent pin for pit cover securing and quick release.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an oil drain pan attachment, with wheels residing on top of and to the outside of tire guide rails to allow for utilization of an oil drain attachment on top of and within existing rails which can be easily removed, placed, replaced and attached to the existing tire rail and C-channel infrastructure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a safety cover for a service pit opening which may be easily moved manually between covered, partially covered and uncovered positions of a service pit facilitated by one to a plurality of oil drain pan attachments for collection of automotive fluids and a reversibly inserted detent pin or detent pins for quick ingress and egress.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a cover formed of a fabric webbing which is easily folded and stored upon movement of the cover to an open-pit position and a taught, strong but flexible and adjustable fabric webbing upon placement over a service pit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cover which may be easily packaged for shipment to a desired location for installation, and then installed in a minimum of time.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings as further defined in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the novel features and method of use of the application are set forth above, the application itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by referencing to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in view of the appended claims, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective and side view of the preferred embodiment of the pit safety cover of the present invention shown installed over a rectangular opening of a service pit;

FIG. 2 illustrates a section of FIG. 1 providing a detailed view of an oil drain pan attachment and pit cover connection to said oil drain pan attachment and C- channels via detent pins;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged, cutaway section of FIG. 2 depicting an oil drain pan attachment and pit cover connector system;

FIG. 4 displays an enlarged section of said pit cover webbing and anchor system;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section of the present invention’s C-channel rail;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a webbing secured tension bar for maintaining a safety cover column and placing a tension bar adjacent to one end of the pit opening for securing to a pit end or to an oil drain pan attachment;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a tension bar within a cross section of a C-channel rail;

FIG. 8 depicts a locking mechanism for releasably securing and tensioning a tension bar to one end of a service pit; FIG. 9 illustrates a U-bolt securing mechanism for transverse netting rows;

FIG. 10 is a standard embodiment and industrial webbing embodiment of a support member for the end of a row of web material of transverse rows;

FIG. 11 is an industrial C-channel (left) and standard C-channel (right);

FIG. 12 shows a standard support member (T-bolt), left, and an industrial support member (T-bolt), right;

FIG. 13 illustrates tension bar length adapters;

FIG. 14 is a set of securing pins, detent and cotter;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a pit safety cover and oil drain pan attachment in an extended conformation;

FIG. 16 shows a top perspective view of pit cover attached-tension bar and E-track spring assisted coupling and receiver attached to an oil drain pain attachment; and

FIG. 17 is a side perspective view of a tension bar attached to the overlapping loops of a pit cover and oil drain pan attachment through looped extension’s to an E-track connection assembly.

RFERENCE NUMERALS

As described below, the following reference numbers are provided by the succeeding legend of numbers corresponding to the enumerated features as shown and described in the various figures 1-17 as further detailed in the Detailed Description. 22 Reinforced angle

24 Pit channel

26 Upper leg

37 End tire guide

52 Stitching

56 Standard T-bolt

57 Standard T-bolt shank

60 Standard T-bolt head

62 Hole

64 Standard T-bolt washer

66 Standard T-bolt nut

72 Opening

74 Bolt

78 Bolt

88 Locking mechanism hook

90 Locking mechanism

91 Pivot link, second

92 First center link

93 Second center link

94 Handle

95 First pivot link

96 Pivot link, third

97 Pin

100 Pit Cover

101 Pivot link, fourth

102 Concrete Foundation

103 Mounting bracket

104 Upward handle movement

105 Downward handle movement

110 Pit bottom 112 Pit side wall

115 Pit opening

120 Floor

122 Standard hook adapters 123 Industrial hook adapters

124 Adjustable nut and washer adapter

130 Tire guide rail

134 Upper flange

135 Longitudinal columns 136 Lower flange

138 Standard C-shaped guide channel

139 Industrial C-shaped guide channels

140 Service pit

144 Slot 145 Transverse rows

150 Intervening transverse rows

154 Industrial T-bolt

156 U-bolt

158 2-inch webbing 160 4-inch webbing

161 Loop, support member

169 Loop, tension bar

170 Tension bar, first end

180 Tension bar, second end 181 Looped webbing

182 Washer

184 Bolt

185 Truncated E-track bolted webbing

200 Oil Drain Pan attachment 205 Wheel 210 Axel

215 Pit end

220 Oil drain pan attachment and pit cover connector system

225 E-channel spring-assisted couplings

230 E-channel receivers

245 Industrial T-bolt head

250 Industrial T-bolt shank

255 Industrial T-bolt washer

260 Industrial T-bolt nut

265 Detent pin

270 Cotter pin

275 S wedge

280 Swedge Clip

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description provides exemplary embodiments and is not intended to in any way limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of those embodiments disclosed herein. Instead, the following description provides practical examples for implementing representative embodiments. Examples of construction, materials, measurements and dimensions are provided for specific elements and all other elements exemplify that which is known to those having skill in the field of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the examples provided have suitable alternatives that can be utilized in various and variable ways.

Referring now to the drawings a person having skill in the art will appreciate the present invention, and more particularly to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, FIG. 1 shows a portion of an automotive service pit 140 for servicing automotive vehicles including a concrete foundation 102. Concrete foundation 102 forms a floor 120 and a service pit 140 having a generally rectangular pit opening 115. Service pit 140 is able to receive service personnel to service vehicles driven over the service pit including automotive lubrication, servicing, oil changing, filter changing, and making vehicle adjustments and repairs. Service pit 140 includes pit side walls 112 and a pit bottom 110. As further evidenced in FIGS. 2-3, each side wall 112 has upon its upper edge reinforcing angle 22 at each upper corner of pit 140. Secured to this downwardly extending edge of reinforcing angle 22 is a C-channel 24 having an upper leg 26 and a lower leg 28 which may be modified as to pit channel 24 size (width and length) as to accommodate either a standard or industrial support member (i.e., T-bolt 56 or 154 in FIGS 10. and 12). As further depicted, oil drain pan attachment 200 has supporting rollers or wheel 205 supported on axels 210 at each oil drain pan attachment 200 comer for facilitating fluid sliding movement of oil drain pan 200 above said C-channel 24 and within the confines of tire guide rail 130. Movement, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, is stayed or halted by insertion of insertable pins (e.g., detent or cotter pins) but may be reversable made to move coplanar to the movement of the pit cover 100 itself through movement above and along C-channel rails 24. Succinctly, the upper surfaces of upper leg 26 and tire guide rail 130 are adapted to engage the outer surface of the wheels 205 of an oil drain attachment 200 as well as a tire (not shown) to restrict or block movement of the tire to a position over service pit 140 to the exterior of the tire guide rail but also the movement of an oil drain pan attachment wheel 205 inwardly. Further, it is in the contemplation of inventors to use an end tire guide 37, appropriately flanged, at the entrance end service pit 140 to engage the tires of a vehicle in the event the wheels of the vehicle are not centered when the vehicle is driven over rectangular opening 115 of service pit 140.

A truncated safety pit cover 100 as in FIG. 1 and full pit cover of FIG. 15 for insertion into C-channels and movement across a rectangular pit opening 115 of service pit 140 is shown spanning the pit opening 115 from pit side walls 112 and from opposite ends 215 of said service pit 140. Safety (pit) cover 100 is of a generally rectangular shape for covering rectangular pit opening 115 of service pit 140. For supporting pit cover 100 along pit side walls 112 defining rectangular pit opening 115, a C-shaped (guide) channel rails 138 (or guide channel 139) is secured., such as by welding, to the inner surface of each tire guide rail 130 or to the upper reinforced angle 22 of a service pit. C-shaped (guide) channel rails 138 and 139 has intumed upper and lower flanges 134 and 136 defining a slot 144 therebetween as shown particularly in FIG. 11. As provided, pit cover 100 insertion and movement is facilitated by C-shaped channel rail 138, 139 in the form of C-shaped guide channels extends along the length of both sides of service pit 140. Particularly, standard T-bolts 56 correspond to C-shaped channel rail 138 and industrial T- bolts 154 correspond to C-channel 139 where larger webbing 160 gauge necessitates larger support members (T-bolts 154) which, in turn begs larger C-channels 139 for insertion. In opposite, smaller webbing gauge 158 necessarily utilizes smaller T-bolts 56 and smaller C-shaped channel rails 138. This is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

As shown in FIG. 15, service pit cover 100 is secured at one end of pit opening 115 and is moved longitudinally along opening 115 from the other opposite end of pit opening 215. Pit cover 100 is adapted for longitudinal movement manually between a closed position of pit cover 100 when not in service, and an open position of service pit cover 100 when service pit 140 is in service. Pit cover 100 is formed of a fabric material, preferably a flat webbing material such as nylon or polyester with a width of about two (2) inches in width, 2-inch webbing 158, in the standard invention. Yet, As described supra and illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, inventor does contemplate an industrial webbing, approximately four (4) inches in width whereby individual components are of an increased size as to accommodate the sturdy construct. The 4-inch industrial (i.e., heavy duty) webbing 160 is used primarily when the weight limit of the pit cover 100 exceed 6000 pounds and each component is upgraded to a 3 to 1 ratio as to accommodate larger sized webbing.

The mesh itself may be a vinyl coated polyester woven mesh (1000 Denier PVC Coated 2- inch Polyester) with a breaking strength of 6900 lbs. to 7300 lbs., width variance of 1.8 to 2 inches, a thickness of 0.43 to .050 inches, a weight of approximately 12 pounds per 100 years, elongation of 8% to 14%, and self-extingui shing flammability. Further, the woven material may operate at temperatures of up to negative 40 degrees F. As best evidenced in FIG. 4, the service pit cover 100 itself consists of a plurality of longitudinally extending longitudinal columns 135 of the webbing material and a plurality of transverse extending alternate transverse rows 145 and transverse intervening rows 150 of the webbing material, longitudinal columns 135 and row 145, 150 are stitched, via stitching 52, to each other at the intersections of the separate webs by a suitable stitching 52 forming right angles to provide maximum support and reinforced assistance among and between “strips” of webbing.

Operationally, to mount pit cover 100 for sliding longitudinal movement, alternate rows 145 have support members in the form of T-bolts (standard T-bolt 56 or industrial T-bolt 154) generally mounted in corresponding C-shaped channel rail 138, 139 (See FIGS. 4-5 and 7) for sliding movement over the uppermost portion of a service pit 115. Support members comprise standard T-bolts 56 each having an externally threaded shaft or shank 57 and a head 60 or industrial T-bolts 154 having an externally threaded shank 250 and a head 245. In the former, T-bolt 56, nut 64 is screwed to threaded shank 57 as to capture an inserted washer 64 which forms the supportive structure to transvers webbing 145 wherein the washer 64 diameter (edges) of washer 64 are at least slightly larger than the inwardly turned flanges 134, 136 of C-shaped channel rail 138. Likewise, to T-bolt 154, nut 255 is screwed to threaded shank 250 as to capture an inserted washer 255 which forms the supportive structure to transverse webbing 145 wherein washer 255 diameter (edges) of washer 255 are at least slightly larger than the inwardly turned flanges 134, 136 of C- channel 139.

As shown in FIG. 4, loop 161 are formed on each end of each row 145, 150 with stitching 52 securing the loops. For positioning standard T-bolts 56 on alternate rows 145, a hole or opening 62 is burned at the center of loop 161 by a suitable heating iron. Shank 57, in the case of a standard T-bolt 56, is then inserted within loop 161 and through opening 62. A washer 64 is positioned on shank 56 and a nut 66 is threaded to a position to obtain the desired tensioning of alternate transverse rows 145 (i.e., nut advancement causing greater tension and nut retraction causing tension release). When installed, support members of standard T-bolts 56 may then be inserted from an open end of C-shaped guide channel rail 138.

For anchoring pit cover 100 at one end of pit 140, reference is made to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 in which loop 169 on the adjacent end of each fabric longitudinal column 135 extends about a tension or support rod or bar (i.e., end bar 170, 180). An opening 72 for loop 169 is burned or otherwise inserted into the webbing or fabric material centrally of the width of longitudinal column 135 by a suitable heating iron or poker. Bolts 74 with suitable washers 64 and nuts 66, or washer 182 and bolt 184, are positioned within opening 72 for securing of each longitudinal column 135 about end tension bar 170 or 180. To position rod 170, 180 for the desired tensioning of longitudinal web columns 135, a bolt 78 may be positioned within aligned openings (pit channels 24) in legs 26, 28 of C-shaped guide channel rail 138 as shown particularly in FIG. 5 and braced from loosening by upper and lower flanges 134, 136. End bar 170/180 abuts a pair of bolts 66 for mounting end bar 170/180 at a predetermined position with C-shaped channel rail 138, 139. As in FIG. 4, for releasably securing a second movable end 115 of service pit cover 100, end 180, longitudinal columns 135 are looped at 181 about tension bar 180 and wherein adjacent intervening transverse rows 150 may be interspersed between transverse rows 145 providing secured attachment at every other transverse row. However, it is contemplated by inventor to utilize each transverse row 145, 150 to equally support the insertion of support members, T-bolt 56, 154 and/or U-bolt 156 without having any transverse rows unattached to C-shaped channel rail 138, 139, where applicable, through ubiquitous and continuous support member attachment. Ideally, suitable openings are burned into loops 161 and web rows 150, similar to transverse row 145, to facilitate this enhanced securement. For tension bar 180, bolts 184 are positioned within the openings 72 with suitable washers 182 over the openings similar to loops 169 as shown in FIG. 4, bottom, for the opposite end 115 of longitudinal columns 135.

In one preferred embodiment, exhibited in FIG. 8, locking hook 88 may be secured to either tension rod 180, tension rod 170, in the alternative, or both, for releasably locking of end tension rod 180/170. A locking mechanism for hook 88 is shown generally at 90 in FIG. 8. A manual handle 94 is pivotally mounted at second pivot link 91 to mounting bracket 103 secured to concrete foundation 102. Arm 98 secured to handle 94 is pivotally mounted at pivot 101 to bracket 103. Over first center link 92 and second center 93 are pivotally mounted to each other at first pivot ling 95. Second pivot link 93 is pivotally mounted to handle 94 at third pivot link 96 and link 92 has a pin 97 received by hook 88. Handle 94 when depressed downwardly, signified by 105, from the locked position of FIG. 8, first and second center links 92, 93 about first pivot 95 pass dead center portion to permit release of first center link 92 from hook 88. Thus, pit cover 100 may be releasably locked in position, via upward handle 94 movement, designated by upward movement 104, to lock said service pit cover 100 in place and prevent inadvertent movement of pit cover 100 and subsequently released through downward 105 movement. It should be noted, however, that locking mechanism 90 may be used to secure an oil drain pan attachment 200 or a service pit cover 100 to wither end 115, 215 which may be further secured with a detent pin 265 or cotter pin 270. What is more, each of the detent pin 265 or cotter pin 270 may be tethered to a service pit cover 100, oil drain pan attachment 200 or C-shaped channel rail 138, 139 or any combination thereof for connection to any portion of the present invention.

Ideally, service pit cover 100 may be provided as a kit for installation on an existing service pit with or without tire guide rails 130. If the existing service pit 100 does not have tire guide rails 130, tire guide rails may be installed before service pit cover 100 installation. The kit preferably includes a C-shaped guide channel 138, standard T-bolts 56, standard webbing material 158, including longitudinal columns 135 and transverse rows 145 and 150 with stitching 52 at the intersections of longitudinal columns 135 and transverse rows 145 and 150, along with associated loops 161, 169, 181, tension bars 170, 180, and, if desired, locking mechanism 90. In addition to the aforementioned, an oil drain pan attachment 200 may be placed at either end 115, 215 of service pit 140, or between two service pit cover 100 subsections (not shown) wherein one, two , three or a plurality of oil drain pan attachments 200 may exist at any point at either service pit 100 ends 115, 215, both service pit ends 115, 215 or within a subsection of a one to a plurality of service pit subsections. Additionally, stays or pins (i.e., detent pins or cotter pins in FIG. 14) may be used at either service pit end 115, 215, on either side of said oil drain pan attachment 200, dependent upon placement at either end, both ends or within a subsection of a serve pit cover 100 for securement and quick release.

For installation, C-shaped guide channel 138, 139 may be first welded to the inner, upper surfaces of a service pit 140 wherein tire guide rails 130 are also installed contiguous to said C- shaped- guide channels 138, 138 above a service pit floor and at a right angle to the upper leg 26 of said C-shaped channel rail 138, 139. The fixed and movable tension bars 170 and 180 are cut to the desired length. Moreover, tension bar 170/180 may be modified to a desired length where, just as T-bolts 56 and 154 may be adjusted to provide a balance between fluid movement and appropriate tension, so too may tension bars be adjusted via standard hook adapters 122, adjustable nut and washer adapter 124 (similar to T-bot 56, 154 and U-bolt 156 support members) or industrial hook adapters 123 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 13.

Transverse rows 145 of the webbing material may have holes 62 burned in loops 161 and then threaded standard T-bolts 56 may be inserted in the openings. Washers 64 (industrial washer 255) and nuts 66 (industrial nuts 260) are then installed and nuts 66/260 are thereby tightened to move washer 64/255 along shaft 57/250 and toward head 60/245 to provide desired or required tension. Threaded standard T-bolts 56 are then inserted from the ends of the C-shaped guide channel 138. Next, support tension bars 170 and/or 180 are mounted upon burning of openings 72 in the associated web material. Bolts 74 are then secured. Next, bolt 78 is mounted and tightened or loosened, as appropriate, within C-shaped guide channel 138/139 for a desired positioning of an end bar 170 and/or 180. Openings 72 are then burned in loops 181 and standard T-bolts 56 or industrial T-bolts 154 are secured within the openings 62 or 72 as appropriate. Furthermore, it is considered by inventor to alternate, rotate, or intersperse standard T-bolts with and between industrial T-bolts, and/or U-bolts 156, to achieve desired securing and tension where various section of a service pit may have different and differing requirements.

By way of definition, industrial T-bolts 154, having a ratio of 3: 1 to comparable standard T-bolts 56, are constructed of a fortified bolt assembly consisting of an industrial T-bolt head 225, industrial T-bolt shank 230, industrial T-bolt washer 235 and industrial T-bolt nut for use in 4-inch webbing 160. Moreover, industrial T-bolts 154 necessitate industrial C-shaped guide channels 139 as well as industrial hook adapters 139.

By way of further definition, tension bars 170, 180 are adaptable for insertion into standard C-shaped guide channels 138 via standard 6-inch hook adapters 122 or adjustable nut and washer 10-inch adapters 124, in FIG. 13, which may be used to adjust the length of tension bars at either end of a service pit 140. Standard 6-inch hook adapters 122 having the dimensions of ³ /4 inch OD SCH40 black pipe and hot rolled strip A-36 and adjustable nut and washer 10-inch adapters 124 having the dimensions of ³ /4 inch OD SCH40 black pipe, 14 inch 2-inch grade 8 bolt and ⁵ /s inch by 0.265 thickness/0.25 threaded insert. Each adapter slipping onto each active passive rod (tension bar 170, 180) which allows for ease of installation even with varying service pit 140 widths thereby allowing for some variation in tension bar 170, 180 length as to accommodate differences in service pit 140 width even within a single service pit 140.

AS in FIGS. 6-8, the locking mechanism 90 itself may be mounted on a concrete foundation 102 adjacent the rectangular opening 115 at either pit end 115, 215 for securing a service pit cover 100, oil drain attachment 200 or both to a service pit 140. A suitable opening 72 for locking mechanism hook 88 may be burned or seared in the loop 169 of the center of longitudinal column 135. Then, tension bar 170 or 180 may be inserted through loops 169 or 181 of longitudinal columns 135. Locking mechanism hook 88 is then secured to tension bar 170 or 180 and adjusted with locking mechanism 90 for the desired tensioning of pit cover 100. Conversely, the same locking mechanism 90 may be used to an end of an oil pan drain attachment 200 (not shown) at an end most proximal to a service pit end 115, 215 for securing and tensioning.

A modified support member for alternate webbing transverse rows 145 is shown in FIG. 9 in which a U-bolt 156 is mounted on loop 161 of transverse row 145 (a potentially intervening transverse row 150) to provide distributed pressure on transverse webbing 145, 150 and to further obviate tearing or wear at each loop 161 center 62. Suitable washers 64 and nuts 66 are provided on the ends of U-bolt 156 which is adapted for mounting within slot 144 of the C-shaped guide channel rail 138, 139. Advantageously, the arrangement shown in FIG. 9 does not require any openings 62, 72 to be burned or punched in loop 161 in order to mount U-bolt 156.

In terms of the oil drain pan attachment 200, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, 15 and 16, oil drain pan attachment 200 is made mobile via attached wheels 205 supporting the coplanar movement of said oil drain pan attachment linearly within the confines of tire guide rail 130 and above standard C-shaped guide channel 138 or industrial C-shaped guide channel 139. The mobility of the oil drain pan attachment 200 is limited within the upper opening of pit opening 115 by the pit ends 115, 215 and tire guide rails 130. The pit cover 100 is made to attach to oil drain pan attachment 200 via drain pan connector system 220, constructed of e-channel spring-assisted couplings 225 and e-channel receivers 230, where e-channel receivers are attached to one or both side ends 235 of oil drain pan attachment 200. This may be best viewed in FIGS. 15-17 where Oil drain pan attachment and pit cover connector system 220, consisting of E-channel spring-assisted couplings 225 and E-channel receivers 230, are maintained where E-channel spring-assisted couplings 225 are connected to tension bar 170 or 180 via a truncated looped, bolted webbing 185 connecting E- channel spring-assisted couplings 225 to the exposed portion of tension bar 170/180 - existing at the exposed tension bar areas between longitudinal columns 135 an at either end of oil drain pan attachment. Said looped, bolted webbing exhibiting a rivet, bolt or other secured attachment for promoting dislodgement of said loop 185 from oil drain pan attachment 200.

Insertable and removable pins, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, 14 and 15, may be of a detent pin 260 configuration or a cotter pin 270 configuration (FIG. 14), with or without a swedge 275 and swedge clip 280 for attachment to E-channel receiver 230 on either side end of oil drain pan attachment 200. This oil drain pan attachment 200, together with detent pin 265 and connecting swedge 275 may be viewed as an interconnected system 220 (FIG. 3) consisting of an oil drain pan attachment 200 connected to pit cover 100 via e-channel spring-assisted couplings 225 and e- channel receivers 230 and an insertable and removable detent pin 265 (or cotter pin 270) for releasably fixing said pit cover 100 to both said oil drain pan attachment 200 and fixedly releasable within said channel 24 through fixing in and removal from opening 77. Alternatively, upon removal of detent pin 265 (or cotter pin 270), both pit cover 100 and oil drain pan attachment 200 may be slidably moveable within said pit channel 24 and on said pit channel 24, respectively, to move coplanar in the same direction away from a pit end 215. In yet another alternative, oil drain pan attachment 200 may be separated from pit cover 100, where e-channel spring-assisted couplings 225 and e-channel receivers 230 are uncoupled, and pit cover may thereby be detachably removed from said oil drain pan attachment 200 and moved along channel 24 and within channel slot 144.

From the above, a safety cover 100 comprising the present invention has been provided from a strong webbing material. As an example, a woven webbing material formed of polyester having a width of two inches and a 6,000-pound tensile strength has been found to be satisfactory, but as detailed an industrial 4-inch webbing 160 is contemplated by inventor for tensile strength above 6000 pounds. The rows 145, 150 of the web material are preferably spaced at centers four inches apart, longitudinal columns 135 of the webbing material may also be spaced with their centers four inches apart. Support members (T-bolt 56, 154 and or U-bolt 156 in alternate transverse rows 145) are spaced with their centers approximately eight inches apart (while other spacing is also considered). For stitching 52 of the webbing material to each other and to form loops, various stitch patterns have been utilized. Stitch patterns which have a recommended working load limit of 1/3 of the minimum break strength of the webbing material are selected by the manufacturer of the webbing material. The service pit cover 100 of the present invention shown in whole or in part in FIGS. 1-9 and 15-17 may be installed on an existing service pit by two installation personnel in around four to eight hours. While the cover is shown as extending for the entire length of the rectangular opening of the service pit, it may be desirable, under certain conditions, for the cover to extend only at designated increments (e.g., for one-third, one half or three-fourths the length of the service pit. In this type of installation, a releasable locking mechanism 90, detent pins/cotter pins 265, 270 or a combination thereof may be utilized for each movable tension bar 170/180.

Of note, other embodiments and various permutations are possible. Although the description above contains specificity in terms of arrangement, configuration and implementation of certain elements, this specification should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure, but as merely providing exemplary representations of some of the presently preferred embodiments and best modes contemplated by inventor of implementing those embodiments. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall squarely within the scope of this disclosure.

Thus, the scope of this disclosure should be determined by the appended claims, in light of the present disclosure, along with their legal equivalents. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiments will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are expressly incorporated herein by reference as is to be read into the present claims.