Patent ID: 8388261

Claim:
A system for securing a road plate assembly over an irregularly shaped access trench in a roadway surface, comprising: a discontinuous assembly frame comprising: a plurality of straight assembly frame members having various lengths and adapted for attachment to the roadway surface in generally end-to-end relationship with respect to each other, each of the plurality of assembly frame members having a lower surface, an inner surface extending from the lower surface and an upper surface sloping from the inner surface, the inner surface substantially uni-planar from the lower surface to the upper surface; a plate opening defined by the assembly frame members; and a plurality of road plates having various sizes and seated in the plate opening in abutting relationship to each other and at least partially resting on the roadway surface, the road plates unattached to the assembly frame; and wherein the assembly frame members and the road plates are selectable to customize the size and shape of the road plate assembly such that the outline of the road plate assembly substantially matches the outline of the access trench.