Importance

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Abstract

An excavation shield apparatus (10) and method prevent the collapse, or cave-in, of soil about a hole in the ground having one or more utility apparatus. The excavation shield apparatus (10) comprises a longitudinal body (11) having a lateral perimeter wall (12) surrounding a longitudinal throughway (13) adapted to be placed substantially vertically within the hole. A bottom end (11a) of the longitudinal body (11) is placed below the ground level and a top end (11b) is placed in close proximity to the ground level. The longitudinal throughway (13) is of sufficient size to permit passage of a person therethrough and has sufficient strength to endure forces imposed by the surrounding soil without substantial deformation. One or more apertures (16a-16d) are situated in the lateral perimeter wall (12) approximately at the bottom end (11a) for receiving utility apparatus therethrough so that a worker can operate upon the utility apparatus within the longitudinal throughway (13).

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First Claim