Temporary road cover

Abstract

A temporary floor cover arrangement 10 for use with ramp-edged cover panels (1a, 1b; Fig.1) that have a groove at their ramp-to-ramp joint when laid down side by side, the arrangement 10 comprising an

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to temporary floor cover panels of the type used to cover temporarily opened surfaces such as roads or footpath pavements. More specifically, the invention relates to cover panels that have a ramped edge that, when laid down in series, results in a groove at the ramp-to-ramp joint, and to so-called infill strips that are used to cover the groove at a ramp-to-ramp joint so that a series of ramped panels can be used to form a continuous multi-panel cover with a relatively even surface. Background Temporary floor cover panels are known for covering a temporary opening in a ground, such as a trench. The panels may be used to cover footpaths and walkways, although some panels are sufficiently strong to carry the load of a vehicle. Such panels are often of rectangular footprint, such that a series of panels can be laid over a length of a trench to provide a continuous multi-panel cover. A common form of cover panel comprises an edge ramp permanently attached or integrally formed, often extending around all sides of the panel, to reduce trip hazards and to facilitate passage of wheel based transportation means. When ramp edged floor cover panels are installed in series, it will be appreciated that such panels adjoin at their ramps, forming a groove at the ramp-to-ramp joint between the adjoined panels, the groove usually having a V-shaped profile formed between to two adjoined ramps. The present applicant has developed an infill strip of generally elongate dimensions having a generally flat top surface and a generally triangular underside profile that can be seated in the ramp-to-ramp joint, to reduce the effective depth of the groove and to provide a more even surface over the ramp-to-ramp joint. While such infill strips provide an effective reduction of trip hazards, there have been concerns that an insufficiently affixed infill strip may contribute to a trip hazard rather than mitigating it. The present invention seeks to provide an infill solution that at least partially addresses the concerns. Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a temporary floor cover arrangement as defined in claim 1, for use with ramp-edged cover panels to be placed adjacent one another in a manner forming a ramp-to-ramp joint defining an interstitial groove, the arrangement comprising an infill strip comprising a base profiled to be seated in the groove, the arrangement further comprising one or more anchoring elements for attaching the infill strip to one or two of such adjacent cover panels, wherein the anchoring elements are configured to provide a retainer structure configured to slidingly engage a structure of the infill strip to hold the infill strip to the groove while permitting movement of the infill strip along the groove. Herein, a cover panel is understood to be a panel for temporarily covering an opening such as a trench formed in a surface in a ground or floor, such as a footpath or road surface. The cover panel is of a load-bearing design suitable for supporting passersby or may be dimensioned to support larger loads such as vehicles. The panel may be made from, or comprise, reinforcing metal and / or composite material structures. One example of such a cover panel is described in United Kingdom patent publication GB2537755 and comprises a plate provided with ramp structures around the panel edge that provide an anti-slip support function. However, in other forms, ramp structures may be provided integrally formed with the panel, e.g. by a bevelled edge design. Such ramp-edged panels have become popular due to the reduced trip hazard and suitability for wheel-based transportation means such as wheelchairs, pushchairs, trolleys, and the like. If it is desired to create a multi-panel cover from a series of such panels laid down side by side, it will be appreciated that a generally V-shaped or triangularly profiled groove will be formed at the ramp-to-ramp joint. The present applicant has developed an infill strip to cover the groove. A typical infill strip is an elongate body providing a joint cover characterised by a generally triangularly-profiled base, or by a base profile shaped so as to conform to a groove profile underneath. A top surface of the infill strip is generally even, although may be provided with anti-slip features such as protrusions. The base profile may be provided by a solid body, or more commonly by an arrangement of spaced apart ribs extending perpendicularly to, or along, an elongate extension of the infill strip. Such infill strips may be relatively lightweight, and may have a length in the region of a meter, or longer, corresponding to the side length of a cover panel, such that a single infill strip suffices to cover a ramp-to-ramp joint. Cover panels may be provided in different size dimensions, although in practice many suppliers will offer a limited number of pre-defined sizes. As such, while an infill strip may have any length, it will be appreciated that in practice the length of an infill strip for use with an arrangement of the invention will be selected so as to conform to a side length of the cover panels used to form a series of adjacent cover panels. To further reduce a trip hazard, such infill strips may be affixed to the ground, e.g. to the cover panels, or to the ramps of the cover panels, using bolts or suitable screw connections. Conveniently, the infill strips may be used to connect two adjacent cover panels to another. An appreciation underlying the development of the invention was an observation by the inventor that the process of attaching the infill strips to the panel underneath required a relatively closely matched geometry of the infill strip and the cover panels. The suggestion made herein is to provide one or more anchoring elements that may be arranged, or affixed, separately of the infill strip, wherein the anchoring elements are configured to provide a retainer structure with which to engage the infill strip. In this manner, the infill strip may be attached or installed by attachment to or engagement with the anchoring elements, after installation of the anchoring elements. In practice, the retainer structure may be provided in the form of a hook, ring, elongate slot, pocket, socket, elongate protrusion, or the like, to allow sliding or pushing the infill strip into the anchoring element. The anchoring elements may be provided at, or near, the ends of the groove, whereby two opposing anchoring elements may effectively hold an infill strip between them. An appreciation underlying the invention was that, if the anchoring elements are designed so as to be attachable prior to the infill strip, a good degree of alignment precision is required when using conventional screws or bolts for the infill strip to be fixed securely to the anchoring elements. However, by configuring an anchoring element and / or infill strip in a manner permitting sliding engagement, e.g. with engagement structures that provide an elongate extension, a certain degree of variation in length or position of an infill strip may be better tolerated. It will be appreciated that the sliding engagement may be permitted in the longitudinal direction of the groove, while the infill strip is intended to be retained in the groove in the vertical direction and in a direction perpendicular to the groove. A sliding engagement may be provided by an overlapping or overhanging retainer structure, which achieves that an infill strip is effectively retained against vertical dislocation or lifting from the groove, while requiring a less precise alignment of the anchoring structures in the length direction of the groove. In this manner, a reliable attachment is provided to hold the infill strip to, and in practice within, the groove between two adjacent ramps. As will be appreciated, if the engagement of the infill strip in the anchoring elements is of a slidable manner, this provides for a better accommodation of slight variations in length that may be found in products from different batches, manufacturers, and / or products of different age. This is believed to at least partially facilitate the installation of the anchoring elements, because the anchoring elements may be installed without requiring as high a degree of alignment as would otherwise be the case with fixed point fixations such as bolts. The arrangement thereby facilitates that the anchoring elements can be attached in a separate assembly step, specifically before inserting or attaching an infill strip. This reduces the need for installers to carry with them relatively large infill strips merely to join cover panels. Instead, an installer may carry anchoring elements that may be much smaller, to make progress with the joining of cover panels, followed by inserting infill strips. It is believed that the installation processes of a multi-panel cover may, in this manner, be more effective. In some embodiments, at least one of the anchoring elements comprises a hook structure for retaining the infill strip. In some embodiments, at least one of the anchoring elements comprises a hoop structure for retaining the infill strip. In some embodiments, at least one of the anchoring elements comprises an abutment structure, the abutment structure to provide a limiter to limit movement of the infill strip along the groove. The abutment structure may be provided by a portion of a hook or hoop structure providing along a portion of the groove, e.g., near an end of the groove, a wall or upstand to limit the movement of the infill strip along the groove. Thereby, the arrangement may achieve both the ability to allow a certain degree of movement or position variation between limiters, and also a limitation of the movement beyond a distance defined by the limiters. In some embodiments, the arrangement comprises one or more cover panels provided with attachment locations for the anchoring structures. The attachment locations may be mounting holes, such as screw or bolt holes for the anchoring structures. In some embodiments, the arrangement comprises one or more cover panels comprising integral anchoring elements. The anchoring elements may be provided integrally formed with the cover panels. In that case, the floor cover arrangement may be provided by cover panels with integral anchoring elements and an infill strip, potentially avoiding a need for separate installation of anchoring components to the cover panels. In some embodiments, the integral anchoring elements are provided by recess structures. In some embodiments, the infill strip comprises one or more retaining structures for engagement in the anchoring element. The retaining structures may be provided by recesses, tabs, tongue structures, or the like. The retaining structures are preferably located at, or near, the ends of the infill strip. The retaining structures will be understood to be of a form suitable for engaging in a sliding movement with the anchoring elements. As such, the retaining structures may extend in the direction of the elongate extension of the infill strip, which is understood to correspond to the extension of a groove in which it is installed and along which it may be moved for engagement with the anchoring elements. In some embodiments, one or more of the retaining structures comprise one or more engagement protrusions extending in the extension of the infill strip. The protrusions may, in this manner, provide an engagement region permitting sliding, yet secure, retention in the anchoring structure. In this manner, slight variations of the distance between anchoring locations may be tolerated while still providing a secure retention (down) to the groove. In some embodiments, one or more of the retaining structures comprise hook structures. In some embodiments, one or more of the retaining structures comprise hoop structures. In some embodiments, the arrangement comprises one or more cover panels of injection moulded form. In some embodiments, the arrangement comprises one or more cover panels of blow moulded form. In some embodiments, the arrangement comprises one or more cover panels of metal material form. In some embodiments, the ramp structure is provided by a ramp component attached to the cover panel. For instance, the ramp structure may be formed in the manner disclosed in United Kingdom patent publication GB2537755 by the present Applicant. In some embodiments, the ramp structure is provided integrally with the cover panel. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an infill strip as defined in claim 15, of the type used as a joint cover to cover a ramp-to-ramp joint of two adjacent cover panels, the infill strip comprising an body having an elongate extension, the body comprising a first surface to form, in use, a top surface, and a second surface to form, in use, a support base, the first surface comprising a generally even surface and the second surface comprising a generally triangular profile extending along the elongate extension, the infill strip further comprising at or near its distal end a retainer structure extending in the elongate extension. The retainer structure may be characterised by a recess extending into the body, or by a protrusion or return hook structure extending in the extension of the body. A return hook structure may be oriented in the elongate extension towards the infill strip body, i.e. inward, and / or away from it, i.e. outward in the elongate extension. Such a feature is believed to provide a characteristic distinction over known infill strips that have a generally even edge, rounded or tapered edge so as to reduce trip hazards, whereas the infill strip disclosed herein is configured to facilitate a sliding engagement of the distal ends in a retainer structure of the first aspect. In some embodiments, the retainer structure of the infill strip comprises a protrusion or a recess defined by a structure extending along the elongate extension of the body. The retainer structure may be provided by a hook, ring, elongate slot, pocket, socket, elongate protrusion, or the like, oriented to extend in the elongate extension to thereby provide a sliding engagement as defined in the first aspect. Any one of the infill strip embodiments of the second aspect may be used with or as part of any one of the embodiments of the first aspect. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of laying a series of ramp-edged cover panels, the method comprising, as defined in claim 17, the steps of laying a first ramp-edged cover panel, laying a second ramp-edged cover panel to form a ramp-to-ramp joint with the first ramp-edged cover panel, providing a first anchoring element in a first location along the ramp-to-ramp joint, providing a second anchoring element in a second location along the ramp-to-ramp joint, providing an infill strip, and engaging the infill strip in the first and second anchoring elements. The series comprising two or more cover panels is understood to form a multi-panel cover, with a groove defined between each pair of adjacent cover panels. In some embodiments, one or both of the anchoring elements are integral with one or more cover panels. In such embodiments, the step of providing an anchoring element is provided by providing a cover panel with integral anchoring element. In some embodiments, one or both of the anchoring elements are separate components, and providing the anchoring elements comprises attaching the anchoring elements to one or more cover panels. The anchoring elements may be attached from underneath to be at least partially located between the panels and ground underneath. In some embodiments, the method comprises using an anchoring element to form a connection between two cover panels. In some embodiments, the method comprises temporarily deforming the infill strip to engage it in the first and second anchoring elements. In some embodiments, the method comprises allowing the infill strip to relax into engagement with the first and second anchoring elements. In some embodiments, the method comprises bending, warping or twisting the infill strip to insert it into the first and second anchoring elements, and, optionally, allowing it to relax into a rest condition on the ramp-to-ramp joint. In some embodiments, the method comprises tensioning the infill strip to attach it to the first and second anchoring elements, and, optionally, allowing it to relax into a rest condition on the ramp-to-ramp joint. In some embodiments, the method comprises maintaining a clearance relative to at least one anchoring element, the clearance being sufficient to permit movement of the infill strip along the ramp-to-ramp joint while engaged in the anchoring element. Any one or more embodiments described in relation to one of the first, second or third aspects may be used with and / or combined with, as applicable, with any one or more embodiments described in relation to the respective other of the first, second or third aspects. Embodiments described in relation to the steps of the third aspect may use any one or more of the embodiments described in relation to the variants of the first and second aspects. Description of the Figures Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric exploded view of components used in embodiments; Figure 2 is an isometric view of a component part of an arrangement; Figure 3 is a detailed view of an end portion of the Figure 2 component part; Figure 4 is an isometric view of a component part of an arrangement; Figure 5 is a top view of the Figure 2 component part; Figure 6 is a side view of the Figure 2 component part; Figure 7 is a base view of the Figure 2 component part; Figure 8 is a detail view of a portion of Figure 5; Figure 9 is a top view of the Figure 4 component part; Figure 10 is a detail view of a portion of Figure 6; Figure 11 is a side view of the Figure 4 component part; Figure 12 is a top view of a portion of an assembly; Figure 13 is a first section corresponding to the line A-A in Figure 12; and Figure 14 is a second section corresponding to the line B-B in Figure 12. Description Referring to the Figures, Figure 1 shows an exploded isometric view of two cover panels 1a, 1b to be used with, or as part of, a temporary floor cover arrangement 10. Each cover panel 1a, 1b is of generally rectangular form and comprises a rectangular panel provided with a peripherally extending ramp 3a, 3b, whereby the cover panels 1a, 1b constitute ramp-edged panels. The cover panels 1a, 1b are each provided with a number of mounting holes 5a, 5b, here located on each corner of a panel within the region of the ramp 3a, 3b, respectively. The mounting holes 5a, 5b may be provided to fix a cover panel 1a, 1b to a surface underneath, and may be used to join adjacent panels using a bracket. The two cover panels 1a, 1b are arranged side-by-side such that two ramp edges 3a, 3b are adjacent to each other, forming a groove 7, constituting an interstitial groove at the ramp-to-ramp joint between the two cover panels 1a, 1b. The groove 7 may be provided with an infill strip 20, to be held to the cover panels 1a, 1b by an arrangement of (here) two retainer hooks 12. The infill strip 20 and the retainer hooks 12 constitute, or are part of, the temporary floor cover arrangement 10. The infill strip 20 is a structure comprising a body 22 of generally elongate form, i.e., having a longitudinal extension, dimensioned to fit into a groove 7, and configured with ends 24 that provide an engagement interface with the retainer hooks 12. Along its longitudinal extension, the infill strip 20 has a generally triangular cross section complementary to the profile defined by two adjacent ramps 3a, 3b (see Figure 1). In this manner, the infill strip 20 comprises a base profiled to be seated in the groove 7. The cross section may typically be triangular and may be provided by a series of ribs 21 extending on the underside of an otherwise flat body 22 in the longitudinal extension. In a simple form, one or more groups of three ribs 21 may be provided (see Figure 7) two outer ribs 21a, 21c of same depth and a centre rib 21b that protrudes further below than the outer ribs 21a, 21c. As described herein, the ribs do not necessarily have a triangular profile. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, these may be shaped to provide a seating structure for engagement with a generally triangular surface underneath. The rib structures described in this embodiment are exemplary and other configurations may be used. For instance, the triangular body profile may be provided by ribs oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the infill strip 20, and / or by a solid body. The in-use upper face 23 of the infill strip 20 is generally flat. It may comprise rounded or bevelled edges and may be provided with anti-slip features 25 such as spaced apart spikes, ribs, and the like. With reference to Figures 3, 8 and 10, an infill strip end 24 comprises two lateral recesses 26a, 26b, extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the body 22. The lateral recesses 26a, 26b provide a region of thinner cross-section, and are curved with a radius providing clearance for a screw to be engaged in the mounting holes 5a, 5b when the infill strip is located on a groove 7. The distal (furthest) end of the end 24 is provided by two fingers 27a, 27b extending distally and defining between them a recess 28 extending in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the body 22. The recess 28 constitutes a retainer structure and comprises a web region 28c providing a shelf between the two fingers 27a, 27b and an inner edge 28a that is recessed from the distal end of the fingers 27a, 27b. The web region 28c is recessed from the upper face 23, i.e. in use further below, such that a portion of the recess 28 defines side walls 28b and an inner wall 28d effectively surrounding the web region 28c. The retainer hooks 12, illustrated in Figures 4, 9 and 11, constitute a retainer structure and comprise a generally flat body 14 on which there are provided two hollow columns 16a, 16b, providing engagement structures, when appropriately aligned, for location in two mounting holes 5a, 5b. In this manner, the retainer hook 12 may be used to connect two adjacent cover panels 1a, 1b at a distance defined by the location of the mounting holes 5a, 5b and the distance of the two hollow columns 16a, 16b. The hollow columns 16a, 16b are of generally cylindrical form and provide a location for affixing screws, bolts or other suitable fixing means. The hollow columns 16a, 16b may comprise a threaded inner surface or a lining of a material into which a threaded connections may cut or bite. For example, the hollow columns 16a, 16b may be threaded and dimensioned to accept folding wing bolts (see bolts 9a, 9b in Figures 12 and 14) that facilitate assembly of a panel-to-panel connection using a retainer hook 12 and folding wing bolts 9a, 9b without having to rely on the use of assembly tools. One edge 14a of the flat body 14 comprises a hook 18 comprising a base 18a extending from the edge 14a, further comprising a return elbow 18b extending generally upward and forming a hook arm 18c extending over a portion of the flat body 14 and ending in a free end 18d located between the hollow columns 16a, 16b. It will be appreciated that two retainer hooks 12 may be provided on opposite ends of a groove 7, as indicated in Figure 1, each providing an upstand, whereby two hooks 18 may be arranged to provide, by virtue of the return elbow 18b and the hook arm 18c, opposing limiter structures that limit the degree by which the infill strip 20 may be displaced in a longitudinal direction when located in the groove 7. Figures 12, 13 and 14 show an assembly of two adjacent cover panels 1a, 1b connected by a retainer hook 12 arranged to hold an infill strip 20 in a groove 7. The shape and dimensions of the hook 18 are designed, in this embodiment, to allow it to engage the recess 28 while remaining within the outer silhouette of the end 24. In this manner, the risk of the hook 18 protruding beyond the upper face 23 and thereby constituting a trip hazard is reduced and practically minimised. Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the free end 18d is spaced, in the longitudinal extension, from the inner wall 28d, providing an inner clearance region 32 and, in the lateral direction, from the side walls 18b, providing a lateral clearance region 36. Furthermore, the return elbow 18b is spaced from the inner edge 28a of the web region 28c to provide a distal clearance region 34. The hook arm 18c is above the surface of the web region 28c, providing a vertical clearance region 30. In this manner, the arrangement 10 allows some repositioning or movement of the infill strip 20 along the groove 7, and / or may tolerate a certain degree of variation of the size dimensions of the components used. It will be appreciated that the presence of clearances 30, 32, 34, and 36 may depend on the position of the infill strip 20 between two opposite retainer hooks 12. The infill strip 20 may be in abutment with one of two opposite retainer hooks 12, resulting in a correspondingly larger spacing from the other of two opposite retainer hooks 12. Furthermore, infill strips and / or cover panels may be from different manufacturing batches, of different age and / or may have been manufactured to different tolerances. In this manner, the retainer hook 12 enables a relatively secure attachment of the infill strip 12 to the groove 7 while at the same time permitting a degree of longitudinal movement or repositioning of the infill strip 20 along the longitudinal extension of the groove 7. Figure 14 shows that the upper surface 23 of an infill strip may be at a similar level of the upper surfaces 2a, 2b of two adjacent cover panels 1a, 1b. This reduces the unevenness and potential trip hazard otherwise presented by a groove 7. The infill strip 20 may be of plastic material form and may be generally rigid. However, it may tolerate a certain degree of bending or twisting due to the relatively long extension in relation to the thickness of the body 22. As such, the installation of the infill strip 20 may involve first the alignment and connection of two cover panels 1a, 1b using two retainer hooks 12. An infill strip 20 may be attached by slotting one end 24 into or against one of two opposite retainer hooks 12, bending the free body 22 to allow the opposite end 24 to be inserted into the other of two opposite retainer hooks 12, and allowing the body 22 to relax into a generally linearly extending, flat rest form. The clearances 30, 32, 34 and 36 reduce the need for a high degree of alignment of the retainer structures 12 on the cover panels 1a, 1b. This provides an advantage in that the installation of infill strips may be more easily achieved in two steps. In a first step, the retainer hooks 12 are used to connect adjacent cover panels. In a second step, the infill strips are inserted between two retainer hooks 12 to fill the groove 7. The steps may be carried out by different people and / or in different phases. The embodiment described in the Figures is believed to be practical for cover panels and / or infill strips of metal form and injection moulded plastic material form, including variants comprising ramped edges formed from a separate material and attached to a cover panel. The embodiment described herein is useful for infill strips of a material and / or geometry that allows them to be temporarily deformed to be inserted between two retainer structures. As will be appreciated, while the retainer structure of the example is provided by a hook, other embodiments may use a hoop structure or pocket structure and corresponding engagement protrusions. In the described embodiment, the retainer structure is provided by a separate element (here, a retainer hook 12) to be attached to the cover panels. Alternatively, the retainer structure may be provided integrally with a cover panel, e.g., in the form of a recess for engaging a protrusion of retaining structure of an infill strip. In a simple form, a secure engagement that allows a degree of play for an infill strip in a groove 7 may be provided by mounting holes of slot form, and / or by slots formed in the infill strip, that are suitable for accommodating variations in length or position of an infill strip. The fixation means proposed herein are folding wing nuts, however the invention may be embodied by fixation means integral with the infill strip and / or integral with one or two cover panels. The fixation means may be threaded, but may in other forms be of latched or other suitable form. It is believed that the invention, which effectively allows a certain degree of dislocation or movement of an infill strip, may allow a larger variety of fixation means to be used than was hitherto believed to be practical when threaded bolts were used to fix an infill strip in a manner preventing any movement. While the infill strip disclosed herein is of a type resiliently deformable by bending, retained by inward-facing retainer structures, the infill strip structure may be provided by a tensionable component engaging two outward-facing retainer structures. As will be appreciated, the invention may be embodied by a large variety of retainer structures that are suited to hold an infill strip to a ramp-to-ramp joint while allowing a degree of variation in position and / movement along the longitudinal extension of the ramp-to-ramp joint. Whilst the principle of the invention has been illustrated using exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not so limited and that the invention may be embodied by other variants defined within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A temporary floor cover arrangement for use with ramp-edged cover panels to be placed adjacent one another in a manner forming a ramp-to-ramp joint defining an interstitial groove, the arrangement comprising an infill strip comprising a base profiled to be seated in the groove, the arrangement further comprising one or more anchoring elements for attaching the infill strip to one or two of such adjacent cover panels, wherein the anchoring elements are configured to provide a retainer structure configured to slidingly engage a structure of the infill strip to hold the infill strip to the groove while permitting movement of the infill strip along the groove.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the anchoring elements comprises a hook structure for retaining the infill strip.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the anchoring elements comprises a hoop structure for retaining the infill strip.

4. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the anchoring elements comprises an abutment structure, the abutment structure to provide a limiter to limit movement of the infill strip along the groove.

5. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more cover panels provided with attachment locations for the anchoring structures.

6. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more cover panels comprising integral anchoring elements.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the integral anchoring elements are provided by recess structures.

8. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the infill strip comprises one or more retaining structures for engagement in the anchoring element.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein one or more of the retaining structures comprise one or more engagement protrusions extending in the extension of the infill strip.

10. The arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, wherein one or more of the retaining structures comprise hook structures.

11. The arrangement according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein one or more of the retaining structures comprise hoop structures.

12. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more cover panels of injection moulded form, blow moulded form, or metal material.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein at least one ramp structure is provided by a ramp component attached to the cover panel.

14. The arrangement according to claim 12 or 13, wherein at least one ramp structure is provided integrally with the cover panel.

15. An infill strip of the type used as a joint cover to cover a ramp-to-ramp joint of two adjacent cover panels, the infill strip comprising an body having an elongate extension, the body comprising a first surface to form, in use, a top surface, and a second surface to form, in use, a support base, the first surface comprising a generally even surface and the second surface comprising a generally triangular profile extending along the elongate extension, the infill strip further comprising at or near its distal end a retainer structure extending in the elongate extension.

16. The infill strip according to claim 15, wherein the retainer structure comprises a protrusion or a recess defined by a structure extending along the elongate extension of the body.

17. A method of laying a series of ramp-edged cover panels, the method comprising laying a first ramp-edged cover panel, laying a second ramp-edged cover panel to form a ramp-to-ramp joint with the first ramp-edged cover panel, providing a first anchoring element in a first location along the ramp-to-ramp joint, providing asecond anchoring element in a second location along the ramp-to-ramp joint, providing an infill strip, and engaging the infill strip in the first and second anchoring elements.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein one or both of the anchoring elements are integral with one or more cover panels.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein one or both of the anchoring elements are separate components, and providing the anchoring elements comprises attaching the anchoring elements to one or more cover panels.

20. The method according to claim 19, comprising using an anchoring element to form a connection between two cover panels.

21. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, comprising temporarily deforming the infill strip to engage it in the first and second anchoring elements.

22. The method according to claim 21, comprising allowing the infill strip to relax into engagement with the first and second anchoring elements.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, comprising bending, warping or twisting the infill strip to insert it into the first and second anchoring elements, and, optionally, allowing it to relax into a rest condition on the ramp-to-ramp joint.

24. The method according to claim 21 or 22, comprising tensioning the infill strip to attach it to the first and second anchoring elements, and, optionally, allowing it to relax into a rest condition on the ramp-to-ramp joint.

25. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 24, comprising maintaining a clearance relative to at least one anchoring element, the clearance being sufficient to permit movement of the infill strip along the ramp-to-ramp joint while engaged in the anchoring element.18

Images