Sheeting panels for trench shoring

Abstract

A substantially rectangular trench shoring sheeting panel made primarily of polyethylene includes at least one pair of hand holes. In some embodiments, the sheeting panel includes a plurality of buttons protruding outwardly from one of the sheeting panel's surfaces. As compared to three-quarter inch FinnForm, the polyethylene sheeting panel typically has (i) equivalent or superior structural properties and (ii) a significantly lower useful-life cost.

1 . A trench shoring sheeting panel, comprising:
 a substantially rectangular sheeting panel made primarily of polyethylene, said sheeting panel having a front surface, a rear surface, and four edges; and   at least one pair of hand holes extending through said front surface and said rear surface, each of said hand holes being separated a lateral distance from each other along one of said sheeting panel's four edges.   
     
     
         2 . A trench shoring sheeting panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheeting panel is made primarily of polyethylene having a modulus of elasticity of less than 1000 ksi. 
     
     
         3 . A trench shoring sheeting panel according to  claim 1 , comprising four pairs of hand holes extending through said front surface and said rear surface, wherein:
 each of said pairs of hand holes is located along a different edge of said sheeting panel than each of said other pairs of hand holes; and   within each of said pairs of hand holes, each of said hand holes is separated a lateral distance from the other along one of said sheeting panel's four edges.   
     
     
         4 . A trench shoring sheeting panel according to  claim 1 , comprising buttons on at least one of said sheeting panel's surfaces, said buttons protruding outward from a majority of said sheeting panel's surface. 
     
     
         5 . A trench shoring sheeting panel according to  claim 4 , wherein a strip of area extending centrally across the length of said sheeting panel's surface is free of buttons. 
     
     
         6 . A trench shoring sheeting panel according to  claim 1 , comprising four corner holes extending through said front surface and said rear surface, wherein said corner holes are located in each of the shoring panel's corners. 
     
     
         7 . A trench shoring sheeting panel, comprising:
 a substantially rectangular sheeting panel made primarily of polyethylene, said sheeting panel having a front surface, a rear surface, and four edges; and   four pairs of hand holes extending through said front surface and said rear surface, each of said hand holes located along a different edge of said sheeting panel than each of said other pairs of hand holes; and   buttons on at least one of said sheeting panel's surfaces, said buttons protruding outward from a majority of said sheeting panel's surface;   wherein each of said pairs of hand holes is separated a lateral distance from the other along one of said sheeting panel's four edges.