Underground support
AssigneeFCI Holdings Delaware, Inc.
InventorsKevin J. Ma, James Edward Pinkley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A underground support includes a first row of panels, and a second row of panels configured to be secured to the first series of panels to define an interior space for receiving construction aggregate or concrete. Each panel of the first row of panels and the second row of panels includes a body having a top edge, a bottom edge positioned opposite from the top edge, a left edge, and a right edge positioned opposite from the left edge, with the top edges of the panels of the first row of panels configured to abut the bottom edges of the panels of the second row of panels.
Claims20
An underground support for supporting an underground opening between a floor and a roof of the underground opening, the underground support comprising:
- a first row of panels;
- and
- a second row of panels configured to be secured to the first row of panels to define an interior space for receiving construction aggregate or concrete,
- wherein each panel of the first row of panels and the second row of panels comprises a body having a top edge, a bottom edge positioned opposite from the top edge, a left edge, and a right edge positioned opposite from the left edge, the top edges of the panels of the first row of panels configured to abut the bottom edges of the panels of the second row of panels, wherein the panels of the first row of panels are separate from each other, with the right edge of each panel of the first row of panels configured to be secured to the left edge of an adjacent panel of the first row of panels, wherein the panels of the second row of panels are separate from each other, with the right edge of each panel of the second row of panels configured to be secured to the left edge of an adjacent panel of the second row of panels, the first row of panels and the second row of panels defining a circumference of the interior space, and wherein, when the first row of panels is secured to the second row of panels to form the underground support, the underground support is configured to extend between and engage the floor and the roof of the underground opening and support the roof of the underground opening.
A method of installing an underground support for supporting an underground opening between a floor and a roof of the underground opening, the method comprising:
- positioning a plurality of panels to form a first row of panels with each panel of the first row of panels secured to an adjacent panel of the first row of panels;
- positioning a plurality of panels to form a second row of panels with each panel of the second row of panels secured to an adjacent panel of the second row of panels;
- securing the first row of panels to the second row of panels with the first and second rows of panels defining an interior space, wherein each panel of the first row of panels and the second row of panels comprises a body having a top edge, a bottom edge positioned opposite from the top edge, a left edge, and a right edge positioned opposite from the left edge, the top edges of the panels of the first row of panels configured to abut the bottom edges of the panels of the second row of panels, wherein the panels of the first row of panels are separate from each other, with the right edge of each panel of the first row of panels configured to be secured to the left edge of an adjacent panel of the first row of panels, wherein the panels of the second row of panels are separate from each other, with the right edge of each panel of the second row of panels configured to be secured to the left edge of an adjacent panel of the second row of panels, the first row of panels and the second row of panels defining a circumference of the interior space;
- and
- positioning at least one of construction aggregate and concrete within the interior space to stabilize the underground opening and support the underground opening between the floor and the roof of the underground opening, wherein, when the first row of panels is secured to the second row of panels to form the underground support, the underground support extends between and engages the floor and the roof of the underground opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.