Patent ID: 7290961

Claim:
A trench shield comprising: (a) first and second adjacently spaced side panels, each panel including a core having opposing core faces and a peripheral region extending therearound, said core being formed of a honeycomb material having areas of greater and lower density; (b) non-metal stabilization means applied to each core face; (c) edge protection members affixed to the peripheral region of each panel; (d) a plurality of spreader sockets, said sockets being located on adjacent facing surfaces of the side panels proximate areas of greater core density, said sockets being rigidly affixed to supports extending outwardly from said sockets and terminating at a circumferential loading ring with an open space defined between said supports and the adjacent core face, said sockets projecting into said space having a terminal flange spaced from the adjacent core face to distribute loads; (e) resilient pads interposed between said loading rings and said facing panel surfaces; and (f) a plurality of spreaders extending between said spreader sockets to determine the spacing between said side panels.