Shouldered ramp for streetwork cover and method of use

Abstract

A road plate ramp strip has a ramp portion and a shoulder portion, preferably integral to one another, such as by integral casting or molding. The ramp strip preferably has a plurality of traction enhancing variations in an upper surface of the ramp, such as buttons grooves, dimples, holes or the like. As an environmental enhancement and to reduce costs, the ramp strip preferably has a constituent composition of a substantial admixture of post-consumer vehicular tire rubber. The ramp strip preferably has a spring lip extending from an upper portion of the ramp portion out over the shoulder portion and downward toward it at an angle α. The lip is preferably integral to the ramp portion and depends from an upper portion of the ramp out over the shoulder. There is also a method of covering an excavated work place or other surface irregularity with one or more cover plates and ramp strips.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A road plate ramp strip comprising a ramp portion and a shoulder portion.  
     
     
         2 . The ramp strip of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp portion and the shoulder portion are integral to one another [describe in terms of their connection or integral casting, vs disconnected alternatives, or parts fastened together] 
     
     
         3 . The ramp strip of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of traction enhancing variations in an upper surface of the ramp.  
     
     
         4 . The ramp strip of  claim 3 , wherein the traction enhancing variations in the upper surface of the ramp are buttons [grooves, dimples, holes etc].  
     
     
         5 . The ramp strip of  claim 1 , wherein a constituent composition of the ramp strip comprises a substantial admixture of post-consumer vehicular timer rubber.  
     
     
         6 . The ramp strip of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring lip extending from an upper portion of the ramp portion out over the shoulder portion and downward toward it at an angle α.  
     
     
         7 . The ramp strip of  claim 6 , wherein the spring lip is curved downward and angle α is an angle tangent to a midpoint of the curve.  
     
     
         8 . The ramp strip of  claim 6 , wherein angle α is an angle between 1-45 degrees from a horizontal line projected parallel to an upper surface of the shoulder portion.  
     
     
         9 . The ramp strip of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp portion and the shoulder portion are integral to one another, the ramp strip further comprising a spring lip extending from an upper portion of the ramp portion out over the shoulder portion and downward toward it at an angle α, angle α being between 1-45 degrees from a horizontal line projected parallel to an upper surface of the shoulder portion, wherein the spring lip is curved downward and angle α is an angle tangent to a midpoint of the downward curve of the lip  
     
     
         10 . A method of covering an excavated work place or other surface irregularity with one or more cover plates, method comprising the steps of: 
 a) determining a suitable cover size and an optimal position and arrangement of cover plate(s) to effect the desired cover size;    b) laying one or more ramp strips, each strip having a relatively flat shoulder portion and a triangular or wedge cross-sectioned ramp portion, about the periphery of the cover size so as to form a bed or seat comprised of the combined shoulder portions of the ramp strips;    c) lowering into the bed or seat formed thereby the selected cover plate(s).    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein removal and reuse of the cover materials generally follows a reverse course, as follows: raise the cover plate(s) that are in place over the excavation, and store in suitable location for later replacement or transport.  
     
     
         12 . A method of covering an excavated work place or other surface irregularity with one or more cover plates, method comprising the steps of: 
 a) determining a suitable cover size and an optimal position and arrangement of cover plate(s) to effect the desired cover size;    b) engaging along one or more edges of a cover plate one or more ramp strips, each strip having a relatively flat shoulder portion and a triangular or wedge cross-sectioned ramp portion, with a spring lip depending from the ramp portion and springingly engaged with the plate to hold the strip in place;    c) lowering the selected cover plate(s) over the workplace.    
     
     
         13 . A workplace cover kit, the kit comprising a plurality of ramp strips to engage along two or more edges of a cover plate.  
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , further comprising instructions as follows: 
 a) determine a suitable cover size and an optimal position and arrangement of cover plate(s) to effect the desired cover size;    b) engage along one or more edges of the cover plate one or more ramp strips;    c) lower the selected cover plate(s) over the workplace.    
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the ramp strips engage along substantially all of two or more edges of a cover plate.  
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the ramp strips are provided in standard lengths selected from one or more of the group of lengths consisting of 4 feet, 8 feet and 16 feet.  
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the ramp strips are provided in a single standard length and are cut to fit a selected cover plate.