Storable Open Hole Cover with Stabilizing Post and Marker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for covering and marking construction or maintenance holes are not durable, require significant setup and teardown time, and do not effectively prevent injuries from falls, as they weaken over time and can pose additional hazards if not properly covered.
Innovation Solution
A portable, two-piece storable open hole cover with a marker device featuring a planar body and a post for stabilization, allowing easy installation and removal, and a marker that can be securely attached to indicate the hole's location, made from durable materials like HDPE and ABS plastic, enabling efficient storage and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plywood or fencing is used to cover and mark holes, then initial coverage and marking are achieved, but the materials weaken and become damaged over time when exposed to weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from using natural materials (plywood, fencing) to synthetic materials with enhanced weather resistance properties. The hole cover is made from durable, weather-resistant materials that maintain their structural integrity and protective function over extended periods, directly addressing the durability and service life contradiction.
2Ease of manufacture
If T-posts and fencing are used to mark holes, then hole location is indicated, but the materials become frayed and break or blow away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hole cover and marker into a single integrated unit. The marker is attached directly to the hole cover, eliminating the need for separate T-posts and fencing. This unified structure maintains the hole location indication function while preventing the marking materials from becoming frayed or breaking away.
3Ease of operation
If plywood and fencing are used for hole coverage, then immediate protection is provided, but considerable time is required for setup and teardown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the hole cover as a modular, segmented structure with a removable marker component. This allows for quick assembly and disassembly operations, reducing both setup and teardown time while maintaining ease of operation. The segmented design enables rapid deployment and removal without requiring complex assembly procedures.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional hole cover materials are used, then coverage is provided, but the materials cannot be reused as they weather and become damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs durable, weather-resistant materials that can be recovered and reused multiple times without degradation. The hole cover and marker assembly is designed to withstand repeated installation, removal, and storage cycles, eliminating the need to discard materials after single use and enabling continuous recovery and reuse.
Data Source
AI summary
Ways of marking an open construction hole may include using a marker device for marking an open construction hole. The marker device may include a planar body including a top side and a bottom side and a post disposed on the bottom side of the body. The post may be placed in the open construction hole to stabilize the marker device when the marker device is marking the open construction hole. A marker may be removably coupled on the top side of the planar body opposite the post. The marker may include an elongate body that extends in a direction away from the planar body when the marker may be coupled to the top side of the planar body.