Patent ID: 7490443

Claim:
A floor panel for a modular flooring system, comprising: a platelike body having a plurality of first treading surfaces together generally defining a treading surface plane, first and second sides spaced from one another, and third and fourth sides spaced from one another; a first conduit chase segment having a longitudinal axis, a first longitudinal side parallel with said longitudinal axis, and a second longitudinal side parallel with said longitudinal axis and spaced from said first longitudinal side, said first conduit chase segment formed integrally with said platelike body; a plurality of slotted apertures formed in said platelilke body and spaced from one another along each of said first and second longitudinal sides, each of said plurality of slotted apertures having a total length in a direction parallel to each of said first and second longitudinal sides; and at least one first removable cover that each include a tread plate defining a second treading surface and having third and fourth longitudinal sides, said at least one first removable cover engageable with said platelike body so as to substantially cover said first conduit chase segment and so that each of said second treading surfaces is substantially flush with each of said plurality of first treading surfaces along each of said first and second longitudinal sides of said at least one conduit chase segment, said at least one first removable cover comprising a plurality of tabs engageable with corresponding respective ones of said plurality of slotted apertures when said at least one cover is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to said treading surface plane, each of said plurality of tabs including: a base securing that one of said plurality of tabs to said tread plate and having: a longitudinal axis extending parallel to each of said third and fourth longitudinal sides; and a total length, extending in a direction parallel to each of said third and fourth longitudinal sides, substantially equal to said total length of the corresponding one of said plurality of slotted apertures; a free edge opposite said base and spaced from said base, said free edge having a total length, extending in a direction parallel to each of said third and fourth longitudinal sides, less than said total length of the corresponding one of said plurality of slotted apertures; and first and second ends spaced from one another and extending between said base and said free edge so as to form converging tapers for guiding, in conjunction with the corresponding one of said plurality of slotted apertures, said at least one first removable cover into proper position during engagement of said at least one first removable cover with said platelike body.