Patent ID: 7284933

Claim:
In a mine roof support system of the type having a bearing plate, a mine roof bolt passing through the bearing plate and one end of the roof bolt securely mounted in bore hole in the mine roof, wherein the mine roof bolt positions the bearing plate to the mine roof, the improvement comprising: the bearing plate, comprising: a first major surface; an opposite second major surface; end connecting the first and second major surfaces, the end positioned over one of the major surfaces, and spaced from the perimeter of the bearing plate; and a hole in center portion of the bearing plate and extending through the first and second major surfaces of the bearing plate, wherein the mine roof bolt is received through the hole; and at least one rib member area disposed between the hole and the perimeter and circumscribing the hole, wherein the at least one rib member area comprises: at least one continuous rib member circumscribing the hole and a flat continuous surface area defined as a linear surface member circumscribing the rib member.