Stackable mine rock shields

Abstract

A stackable mine rock shield is disclosed. The mine rock shield includes a body having a first surface and a second surface, an aperture positioned at about the center of the body for receiving a fastening mechanism, a continuous protuberance extending outwardly from the first surface of the periphery of the body and defining a recess wherein the continuous protuberance intersects the first surface of the body to form an angle of intersection with such first surface, and an edge portion at the perimeter of the body. The mine rock shield may further include a rigid notch at the periphery of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mine rock shield comprising:
 a generally planar body having a first surface and a second surface;   an aperture positioned at about the center of the body for receiving a fastening mechanism;   continuous protuberance extending outwardly from the first surface of the periphery of the body and defining a recess, wherein the continuous protuberance intersects the first surface of the body to form an angle of intersection with such first surface;   a plurality of rigid notches extending outwardly from the first surface and positioned at the angle of intersection between the continuous protuberance and the first surface of the body; and   an edge portion at the perimeter of the body immediately adjacent to the continuous protuberance, the edge portion being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the body is round. 
     
     
         3 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the body is rectangular. 
     
     
         4 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the body is constituted of a metal, wood, polymer or composite material. 
     
     
         5 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the body is constituted of commercial grade steel. 
     
     
         6 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous protuberance intersects the body to form a right angle of intersection with the first surface of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous protuberance intersects the body to form an obtuse angle of intersection with the first surface of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous protuberance intersects the body to form an acute angle of intersection with the first surface of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the continuous protuberance cross-section is selected from the group consisting of a post, half-post, hook, bulb, T-shape, arrow, half-arrow, rectangle, square, round triangle or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the edge portion is rounded, rolled, folded or looped. 
     
     
         11 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the edge portion is turned upward. 
     
     
         12 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the edge portion is turned downward. 
     
     
         13 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , further comprising a second aperture at the periphery of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , further comprising a second continuous protuberance extending outwardly from the first surface of the body and defining a recess at the periphery of the body, wherein the continuous protuberance is disposed between the aperture and the first continuous protuberance. 
     
     
         15 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid notch is round. 
     
     
         16 . The mine rock shield of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid notch is square. 
     
     
         17 . A mine support system comprising:
 a mine rock shield comprising:   a generally planar body having a first surface and a second surface;   an aperture positioned at about the center of the body for receiving a fastening mechanism;   continuous protuberance extending outwardly from the first surface of the periphery of the body and defining a recess, wherein the continuous protuberance intersects the first surface of the body to form an angle of intersection with such first surface;   a plurality of rigid notches extending outwardly from the first surface and positioned at the angle of intersection between the continuous protuberance and the first surface of the body; and   an edge portion at the perimeter of the body immediately adjacent to the continuous protuberance, the edge portion being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body;   a bearing plate having an aperture, wherein the bearing plate contacts the mine rock shield such that the aperture of the bearing plate and the aperture of the mine rock shield are substantially aligned; and   a fastening mechanism extending through the aperture of the bearing plate and the aperture of the mine rock shield coupling the mine rock shield to the bearing plate.   
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of mine rock shields each mine rock shield comprising:   a generally planar body having a first surface and a second surface;   an aperture positioned at about the center of the body for receiving a fastening mechanism;   continuous protuberance extending outwardly from the first surface of the periphery of the body and defining a recess, wherein the continuous protuberance intersects the first surface of the body to form an angle of intersection with such first surface;   a plurality of rigid notches extending outwardly from the first surface and positioned at the angle of intersection between the continuous protuberance and the first surface of the body; and   an edge portion at the perimeter of the body immediately adjacent to the continuous protuberance, the edge portion being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body;   wherein a first mine rock shield of the plurality is stacked on a second mine rock shield of the plurality of mine rock shields such that the plurality of notches of the second mine rock shield form a stacking surface thereby providing a space between the generally planar body of the first rock shield and the generally planar body of the second mine rock shield.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of mine rock shields wherein the edge portion is folded. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of mine rock shields are easily separable.