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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

During building construction and renovation there can be temporary openings or accesses in the roof for skylights, chimneys, elevator vents, HVAC systems, and other purposes. These accesses, usually having a surrounding curb, provide ingress to the building interior. The curb provides an apparatus on which equipment and other structures can be supported. It is often necessary to temporarily cover these accesses and curbs to protect the building interior from the elements until the accesses can be used for their intended purpose. Such covers may need to be in place for several weeks or perhaps months, until they are enclosed with the equipment or other structures. This means that the cover may have to endure all types of weather events, including rain, high winds, hail, snow, and various combinations thereof.

Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandate is that accesses and curbs be covered in a manner to prevent accidental falling through. Additionally, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 29 currently states that such covers be capable of supporting, without failure, at least twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time, be secured when installed so as to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees, and be color coded or marked to provide warning of the hazard.

Typically, such accesses are covered with cut-to-fit sheets of plywood, which is then covered with a plastic sheet or similar material to provide some weather proofing. The plywood and plastic sheet can be attached with screws to the curb around the access. The covering is then properly marked to indicate that there is an access under the plywood. This is a very labor intensive, time-consuming process that uses relatively expensive materials, of which most cannot be reused. In the event that the access cover is accidentally or unintentionally removed or destroyed, such as during a storm, or temporarily removed for another reason, it can be critical that the access be quickly reclosed to minimize interior building damage, which is not usually possible with the current methods and available materials.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In accordance with the embodiments of the subject invention, the need to quickly and easily cover an access on a roof is solved by an adjustable, flexible cap. The cap can be placed over a curb around the access and tightened or reduced in size around the curb with a cinching line and tensioning mechanism. A plurality of reinforced openings around the periphery of the cap can also be used to attach the cap to a curb around the access.

The cap can comprise a flexible material suitable for long-term outdoor use. The cap can have any shape or size suitable for placing over an access curb. The top side of the cap can be marked with appropriate high-visibility warnings and advisories. A fall protection system can be incorporated with the cover and arranged on the bottom side of the cap comprising at least one fall protection strap. Each end of a fall protection strap can be attached to the periphery of the cover. In one embodiment, the ends of at least some of the fall protection straps overlap or align with the reinforced openings and are secured to the cover with the same reinforcement used around the reinforced openings.

The cap embodiments of the subject invention provide a quick, easy method for covering an access and the surrounding curb. The cap can be weather resistant and fully protects the interior of the building. The cap can also be secured to a curb so that it remains in place, protecting an access, even in extreme weather and wind conditions. Advantageously, the cap can also provide a type of fall protection system for curbs, which heretofore has not been known in the art. The cap is also adjustable for use on different size accesses and curbs and can be reusable.

It should be noted that this Brief Summary is provided to generally introduce the reader to one or more select concepts described below in the Detailed Disclosure in a simplified form. This Summary is not intended to identify key and/or required features of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will also become apparent from the detailed descriptions given herein. It should be understood, however, that the detailed descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent from such descriptions. The invention is defined by the claims below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that a more precise understanding of the above recited invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. The drawings presented herein may not be drawn to scale and any reference to dimensions in the drawings or the following description is specific to the embodiments disclosed. Any variations of these dimensions that will allow the subject invention to function for its intended purpose are considered to be within the scope of the subject invention. Thus, understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered as limiting in scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a cap, according to the subject invention. In this illustration the bottom side of the cap is shown with a plurality of criss-crossing straps that form a fall protection system. In this embodiment, the corners of the cap are also open to provide access to the cinching line in the adjustment channel. In this embodiment, the cinching channel is arranged around the periphery of the cap and is located nearer the edge of the cap than the plurality of grommets.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section, taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 1, which illustrates the position of the cinching channel relative to the plurality of grommets.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a cap, according to the subject invention. In this illustration the top side is shown and the underlying fall protection system is indicated with dashed lines. In this embodiment, the cinching channel spans the full periphery of the cap and terminating at the channel opening to join with the tensioning device.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a cap, according to the subject invention. In this illustration the bottom side of the cap is shown with a plurality of criss-crossing straps that form a fall protection system. In this embodiment, the plurality of grommets are arranged around the periphery of the cap and located nearer the edge of the cap than the cinching channel.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section, taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 4, which illustrates the position of the cinching channel relative to the plurality of grommets.

FIG. 6 is a photograph showing an embodiment of a cap, according to the subject invention, installed on a curb. The reflective markings can be seen on the top side and the cinching channel can be seen cinched around the periphery of the cap.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of a typical type of access and the curb to which a cap can be affixed.

FIG. 8 is a drawing that demonstrates an embodiment of the spacing between fall protection straps arranged on a bottom side of a cover.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE

The subject invention pertains to devices and methods for covering an access in the roof of a building or other structure. More specifically, the subject invention provides one or more embodiments of an adjustable, flexible, weatherproof cap for use in covering an access. The cap can be secured over the access in a manner that inhibits displacement, particularly during inclement or extreme weather conditions. The cap can be easily transported to a site and quickly deployed to cover an access. Advantageously, the cap has a fall protection system incorporated therewith to reduce or prevent incidence of injury during an accidental fall through the access. A cinching line and grommets can be used to secure the cap and the fall protection system incorporated therewith to a curb around the access.

The following description will disclose that the subject invention is particularly useful for covering rooftop openings or accesses to protect the interior of the building and in particular for those openings or accesses of sufficient size to warrant use of fall protection devices. While the subject application describes a use on accesses and curbs on large buildings, the subject invention is not limited to any particular size or shape of access or building. Embodiments of the subject application can be adjustable for accommodating a range of access and curb sizes and shapes.

Furthermore, the terms “about” or “approximately,” as used herein, are defined as at least close to a given value or either end of a range as is necessary to cover manufacturing variances, equipment tolerances, and normal variances in material, as understood by those skilled in the art.

As used herein, terms indicating relative direction or orientation, including but not limited to “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “outer”, “inner”, “front”, “back”, and the like, are intended to facilitate description of the present invention by indicating relative orientation or direction in usual use, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way to such orientations or directions.

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements that may be well known. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements may be desirable and/or required in order to implement the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended to be illustrative only because numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular for “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Reference will be made to the attached figures on which the same reference numerals are used throughout to indicate the same or similar components. With reference to the attached Figures, which show certain embodiments of the subject invention, it can be seen in the Figures that embodiments of a cap 100 of the subject invention comprise a cover 110 with a cinching channel 115 formed around of the cover. A plurality of reinforced openings 125 can be arranged around the periphery 105 of the cover near the cinching channel. Within the cinching channel there is a cinching line 130 with cinching line ends 135 extending from a channel opening 119 in the cinching channel. The cinching line ends 135 can be used to pull the cinching line in the cinching line channel to tighten and adjust the cap around a curb. The cinching line ends can be used with a tensioning device 30 to pull the cinching line in the cinching channel and adjust the circumference 50 of the cap around a curb 30. On a bottom side of the cover there can be arranged a fall protection system 150 comprising at least one fall protection strap 155 that can be further secured to cover, such as, for example, by the reinforced openings around the cinching channel. Each of these general components can have one or more sub-components, which will be discussed in detail below.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a typical type of curb 30 that can be arranged around a roof access 35. Curbs have walls 33 that can support equipment and appliances arranged in and around the access. As such, curbs come in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes and can be made from numerous materials, including wood, sheet metal, and plastics. Advantageously, the embodiments of the subject invention are adjustable to cover and fit tightly against numerous different size and styles of curbs.

The cover 110 of a cap 100 can provide protection for the access. A cover can be comprised of one or more durable, weatherproof materials such as, for example, plastics, nylons, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), latex, silicone, rubber, coated canvas, other materials known to those with skill in the art. Ideally, the material of a cap can resist tearing and is water-proof. In one embodiment, the cover is a flexible, sheet or layer of material that can be folded, bent, or otherwise made to at least partially conform to the shape of a curb. It can be beneficial for the cover material to be reinforced with woven strands. There can also be reinforced areas, such as where the corners of a curb may rub or push against the cover.

One particular material that can be suitable for a cover is heavy duty banner material often used for signage. In one embodiment, a carrier comprises a heavy duty banner material of PVC reinforced with polyester yarn, such as that available from UltraFlex System, Inc. (Tampa, Fla.). In a further embodiment, the cover is a heavy duty banner material of about 18 oz/yd². This type of banner material can be very strong with a good tensile strength, tear and UV resistance, and can withstand heat, cold, flame, and fungus. It is also suitable for screen printing, which can be beneficial for providing caution markings 170 on the top side 5.

The cover can be arranged over a curb 30 to block or protect an access 35. The edge 103 of the cover can fall below the top of the curb, so as to be pulled or adjusted to be near the sides or walls 33 of the curb. Depending on the size of the curb and the dimensions of the cover, at least some portion of the edge can extend a few inches below the top of the curb to a few inches above the bottom of the curb. It can be beneficial, though not mandatory, for the edge to be above the bottom of the curb so as not to contact the curb flange 31 or the roof surface. FIG. 6 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a cap 100 arranged on a curb 30 with the edge 103 between the curb flange 31 and the top of the curb. It can be beneficial, but is not required, for the dimensions of the cap to be sufficient that when the cap is on the curb at least a portion of the edge 103 is at or below at least half the distance between the top and the bottom of the curb. In other words, it can be beneficial, but not required, for the edge of the cap to fall at about the half the distance between the top of the curb and the bottom of the curb or be closer to the bottom of the curb.

Advantageously, the cap embodiments of the subject invention can be adjusted to fit different size curbs. Typically, curbs have a rectangular or square shape, such as shown in the examples in FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, in one embodiment, such as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, a cap has a cover that is a rectangular shape. This does not preclude embodiments of a cap having a cover that is square, round, oval, +-shaped, X-shaped, or any other shape suitable for covering a curb. In one embodiment, the length of a cap, from edge 103 to edge, is at least about 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′ 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′, 16′, 17′, 18′, 19′, 20′ and/or a length between or in a range between any two of the listed values, and the width of a cap, from edge 103 to edge 103, is at least about 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′ 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′, 16′, 17′, 18′, 19′, 20′ and/or a width between or in a range between any two of the listed values. In a very specific embodiment, the length of the cover of a cap is about 8 ft. 6″ and the width is about 5 ft. 8″.

To maintain a cap 100 on a curb 30, the edge and/or the periphery 105 of the cover can be pulled or cinched against the walls 33 of the curb. In one embodiment, the cap has a cinching channel 115 around the periphery 105 of the cover 110. The cinching channel can slidably contain and position a cinching line 130 around the periphery of the cap. FIGS. 2 and 5 illustrate examples of cinching channels 115 on a cover. In a further embodiment, the cinching channel has at least one channel opening 119 through which two cinching line ends 135 extend from the cinching channel. FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate examples of caps with cinching channels and channel openings. In one embodiment, a cinching channel has one or more cut-outs 117 that provide additional contact with the cinching line if necessary to facilitate pulling or adjusting the cinching line in the cinching channel. The cut-outs can be disposed anywhere around a cinching channel. FIG. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of cut-outs disposed in the corners of a cap.

In one embodiment, the cinching channel 115 is arranged on the bottom side 10 of a cover. When the edge 103 of the cover is cinched around the walls 33 of a curb, the cinching channel can under the cover and against the walls of the curb. FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate an example of this embodiment. In an alternative embodiment, the cinching channel is arranged on the top side 5. When the edge of the cover is cinched around the walls of a curb, the cover will be against or closer to the walls of the curb and the cinching channel will be outside the cover or away from the walls. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a cinching channel on the top side 5 of a cover.

The cinching line can slidably move within a cinching channel. This can facilitate adjustment of the cap around a curb 30 by pulling the cinching line ends 135 through a channel opening 119, as demonstrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A cinching line can be any of a variety of materials or devices capable of being pulled by hand or mechanically through a cinching channel to adjust the size of or tighten the edges of a cap to fit around the walls of a curb. In one embodiment, a cinching line is a rope and the cinching line ends are the ends of the rope. Pulling the ends of the cinching line by hand or with any of a variety of mechanical devices can cause the cinching channel to fold, pucker, contract, or otherwise be reduced in length so that it pulls up to or tightens against the walls of a curb. Cut-outs 117 in the cinching channel, if present, can be used to assist in tightening the rope and adjusting the cap to reduce the cinching channel around the curb. Once sufficiently tightened, the ends of the rope can be tied off or secured in any suitable fashion. In another embodiment, the cinching line is a woven webbing material and the ends of the webbing material exit the cinching channel as the cinching line ends. In a further embodiment, the cinching line ends of the webbing material are cooperatively engaged with a tensioning device 20, such as a winch, come-along, power puller, or other similar type of device for applying tension to the cinching line. In an alternative embodiment, the cinching line ends 135 can be configured as or with a cable tie, such that one end can be configured as a gear rack and the other end can be configured with ratchet teeth that engage with the gear rack. Cable ties are ubiquitous in the art and, as such, their operation as cinching line ends is understood by a person of skill in the art.

In one embodiment, the cinching line 130 and cinching channel 115 can reduce a circumference 50 of the cap around a curb. The example in FIG. 6 shows the circumference of a cover reduced so that the periphery 105 is against or at least close to the curb walls 33. Embodiments of a cap can have cinching line and cinching channel that reduce the circumference by at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, and/or 60%, and/or reduces the circumference by an amount in a range between any two of the listed values.

Once the cap 100 has been tightened against a curb 30, the access 35 can be protected from rain, wind, debris, and other material falling therein. The cover material can also be beneficial for inhibiting a person or other object placed on that part of the cover over the access 35 from falling through the access. Some curbs comprise a material against which the cap can potentially slide, such as steel sheeting, plastics, PVC, and other material with a low friction surface. Furthermore, if the curb and access are sufficiently large, it may be difficult to tighten the cinching line sufficiently to without deforming or damaging the structure of the curb. For example, a heavy object or person stepping or falling onto a cap placed on a stainless steel curb could cause the cap to slide up the walls of the curb and over the top, allowing the person or object to fall through the access.

In one embodiment, the cover 110 has markings 170 that can warn or advise against stepping on, sitting on, falling, or placing an object on the cap. The markings can glow, be reflective, or be a color that clearly conveys a warning.

It can be beneficial for the cap 100 to be further fixedly attached to a curb 30 to inhibit the edge 103 of the cap from being moved or sliding up the walls and disengaging from the curb. For example, the cap could be fixedly attached by secure, temporary fixation devices 40 that allow the cap to be attached to and removed from the curb without compromising the structural integrity of the curb.

In one embodiment, the cap 100 comprises a plurality of reinforced openings 125 spaced around all or at least a portion of the periphery 105 of the cap. A reinforced opening is an opening with a structure, device, or material around all or some portion of the opening that inhibits tearing, stretching, pulling, or other enlargement of the opening. The reinforced openings can be near to or adjacent to the cinching channel 115. In one embodiment, the reinforced openings are disposed away from the edge 103 of the cap, such that the cinching channel is nearer the edge of the cap than are the reinforced openings. With this embodiment, the reinforced openings would be located above the cinching channel when arranged on a curb. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate non-limiting examples of this arrangement of the reinforced openings further from the edge than the cinching channel. In an alternative embodiment, reinforced openings are disposed nearer to the edge 103 of the cap than the cinching channel. With this embodiment, the reinforced openings would be located below the cinching channel 115 when the cap is arranged on a curb. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate non-limiting examples of this embodiment of reinforced openings nearer the edge 103.

The reinforced openings 125 can be utilized to fixedly attach the periphery 105 of the cap to a curb with one or more temporary fixation devices 40. A temporary fixation device can include, but is not limited to, screws, bolts, nails, pins, adhesives, tapes, other fixation devices could also be used or combinations thereof to attach the cap to a curb through the reinforced openings. By way of a specific example, the reinforced openings can be metal grommets through which screws can be used to secure the periphery of the cap to a curb.

The reinforced openings 125 can be positioned around the cover 110 so that when the cover is adjusted to fit a curb 30 using the cinching line 130, at least some of the reinforced openings are capable of being used to secure the cap 100 to the curb. In one embodiment, the reinforced openings are arranged at a distance from each other by about 5 inches, 6 inches, 7, inches, 8 inches, 9 inches, 10 inches, 11 inches, 12 inches, 13 inches, 14 inches, 15 inches, 16 inches, 17 inches, 18 inches, 19 inches, 20 inches, 21 inches, 22, inches, 23 inches, 24 inches, and/or 25 inches or a distance from each other that is between any two of the listed values. In one specific embodiment, the reinforced openings are arranged at a distance from each other of about 14.5 inches. In another specific embodiment, the reinforced openings are arranged at a distance from each other of about 20.5 inches.

On any construction or renovation site it is always good practice to be aware of the surroundings and maintain good safety practices. Fall protection systems are commonly used to mitigate injury or other effects from falling from a height. Fall protection systems do not prevent a fall, but can limit the distance of a fall, which can reduce or prevent injury or other damage. On construction and renovation sites it is usually required that fall protection systems be used anywhere the vertical distance from the working surface is greater than a 6 feet. The embodiments of the subject invention are beneficial in covering accesses and inhibiting fall through of people or objects. The ability to secure the cap to a curb can increase the safety factor and further reduce the likelihood of falling through an access should someone step, fall, or place an object on the cover material over an access. To further reduce the likelihood of falling through an access, embodiments of a cap 100 can have incorporated therewith fall protection features.

In one embodiment, a cap 100 further comprises a fall protection system 150 comprising at least one fall protection strap arranged on the bottom side 10. A fall protection strap 155 can comprise any of a variety of materials and can be of various constructions. For example, nylon, cotton, metal, plastics, and other natural or synthetic materials, or combinations thereof can be used for a fall protection strap. By way of a further example, the construction of a fall protection strap can be a solid material, or be woven, intertwined, layered, or another configuration or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, a fall protection strap can sustain 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 can sustain a minimal tensile load in a range between any two of the listed values.

A fall protection strap 155 can have at least two strap ends 157 that are secured to the cover 110. In one embodiment, the at least one fall protection strap is arranged across or extending over the bottom side 10 of the cover with the two ends on fixedly attached at the periphery 105 or at or about the edge 103. FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 illustrate non-limiting examples of at least one fall protection strap 155 arranged on and extending across a bottom side of a cover. The ends can be fixedly attached by stitching, adhesive, heat weld, mechanical devices, by or other techniques or devices known in the art. In one embodiment, the strap ends of at least one fall protection strap are fixedly attached between the reinforced openings in the cover. In an alternative embodiment, the strap ends 157 of the at least one fall protection strap are fixedly attached so as to overlap or be arranged over the reinforced openings 125. In a further embodiment, the strap ends can be secured, at least partially, by the same mechanism or material used to reinforce the openings. With this embodiment, a temporary fixation device 40 used to attach the cover to a curb can simultaneously support and secure the strap end of a fall protection strap. Alternatively, the strap ends can be secured, at least partially, by a different mechanism or material than that used to reinforce the openings. It can be beneficial if the method by which the strap ends are fixedly attached is capable of sustaining or at least supporting the same or similar tensile loads as the fall protection strap. In one embodiment, the strap ends of a fall protection strap are fixedly attached to the cover by the same reinforcement around the reinforced openings. In a specific embodiment, metal grommets are utilized to reinforce the openings and to also fixedly attach the strap ends to the cover. In a further embodiment, the strap ends are also sewn to the cover.

In another embodiment, a fall protection system 150 comprises multiple fall protection straps 155 arranged on the bottom side 10 of a cover. Fall protection straps can be arranged at 90° angles, such as shown in FIG. 1. Fall protection straps could also be arranged diagonally, such that they do not form 90° angles, which is not shown, but would be understood by a person of skill in the art. In a further embodiment the fall protection straps are arranged so that one or more of the fall protection straps overlap on the bottom side. FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 illustrate examples of a fall protection system with overlapping fall protection straps. In another embodiment, two or more of the fall protection straps can overlap in an alternating fashion, such that they form a woven or alternately overlapping configuration. Alternatively, the fall protection straps can be arranged in layers, such that those extending in one direction, such as, for example, those in a horizontal direction are above or below other fall protection straps extending in a different directions, such as, for example, those extending vertically. With this embodiment, the fall protections straps overlap, but are not woven or are not alternately overlapping. In one embodiment, the fall protection straps are arranged on the bottom side so that the openings or spaces there between do not exceed 36 square inches. In a further embodiment, the openings or spaces there between do not exceed a length of 6 inches on any side. In a more specific embodiment, each opening, if measured across from the center of the fall protection strap on either side does not exceed 6 inches, as demonstrated in FIG. 8.

Access openings are commonly found on buildings and structures undergoing construction or renovation. It is necessary to securely cover these accesses to protect the interior of the building from the elements and to prevent people and objects from falling through. Embodiments of the subject invention provide an improved, advantageous, weather-proof or weather-resistant cap and method for covering different size accesses. Embodiments of a cap of the subject invention can be quickly and easily transported and deployed. The cap not only covers the access, but can include specific fall protection features that can further mitigate injury should a person step or fall through an access. The embodiments of the subject invention are a significant improvement over the current devices and methods for covering accesses and provide a reusable product that reduces waste and costs.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “further embodiment,” “alternative embodiment,” etc., is for literary convenience. The implication is that any particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with such an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearance of such phrases in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, any elements or limitations of any invention or embodiment thereof disclosed herein can be combined with any and/or all other elements or limitations (individually or in any combination) or any other invention or embodiment thereof disclosed herein, and all such combinations are contemplated with the scope of the invention without limitation thereto.

Claims

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, andattaching 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, andwherein 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.