# US 5,345,736 A · Carpet system for utility trench and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,345,736 A - Document ID: US5345736A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/918,243 - Filed: 1992-07-23 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-07-23 - Inventors: W. Marvin Shoenfeld - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345736A ## CPC - H02G 3/14: Fastening of cover or lid to box - E04B 5/48: Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ducts, e.g. for heating or ventilating (in block-shaped elements E04C1/39; in slab- or sheet-shaped elements E04C2/52) - H02G 3/283: {in floors} - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) ## Abstract A system and method for carpeting trench headers, including a cover plate having a support flange on the bottom of one lateral edge with a notch therein and an aligned notch in the other lateral edge, a "L" bracket on the longitudinal edges and the lateral edge where the flange is located, carpet on the cover within the "L" brackets, and a tool adapted to the inserted through the slots of adjacent covers to engage the bottom of one cover and lift the cover without disturbing the carpet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A utility trench and carpet cover system in which the carpet covering the trench is not set out from the remaining carpet and in which the trench can be accessed without damage to the carpet comprising a. a floor, b. a utility trench having an open top formed in the floor and having recessed shoulders adjacent to the top of said trench, c. at least one trench cover plate positioning on said shoulders to cover the trench, the cover plate having a support flange positioned on one lateral edge with a portion of the flange secured to the underside of the plate and a portion extending outwardly from said plate for supporting the center of the next adjacent plate, a notch in the flange intermediate its ends and a longitudinally aligned notch in the opposite lateral edge of the cover plate whereby when cover plates are laid end to end the notches coincide, d. bracket means around three edges of said cover plate, and e. a carpet segment secured to the plate within said bracket means, f. whereby a tool is insertable into said alignment notches for lifting the plate off of the trench without damaging the carpet attached to the plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the bracket means comprises "L" shaped members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the bracket is contained within the pile of the carpet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the bracket means are at opposed longitudinal edges and the lateral edge at which the flange is located. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further including a lifting tool insertable into the aligned notches includes a handle, an elongated, shank, and an inturned end adapted to engage the underside of a cover plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, including a series of cover plates laid end-to-end with the notches aligned whereby access can be had to the underside of the covers through the aligned notches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 further including a lifting tool includes a handle, an elongated, shank, and an inturned end adapted to pass through the opening formed by the aligned notches and engage the underside of one of the cover plates. ### Claim 8 A utility trench and carpet cover system having both rectangular and round access openings to the trenches in which the carpet covering the trenches is not set out from the remaining carpet and in which the trenches can be accessed through the access openings without damage to the carpet comprising a. a floor, b. longitudinal utility trenches having an open top formed in the floor and having recessed shoulders adjacent to the top of said trenches, c. rectangular trench cover plates positioning on said shoulders to cover the trenches, the cover plates each having a support flange positioned on one lateral edge with a portion of the flange secured to the underside of the plate and a portion extending outwardly from said plate to support the center of the next adjacent plate, a notch in the flange intermediate its ends and a longitudinally aligned notch in the opposite lateral edge of the cover plate whereby when the cover plates are laid end to end the notches coincide, d. bracket means around three edges of said cover plate, and e. a rectangular carpet segment secured to each of the cover plates within said bracket means, whereby a tool is insertable into said alignment notches for lifting the plate off of the trench without damaging the carpet attached to the plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the carpet segments over the plates have a stiffening backing fastened thereto.