Abstract: A road plate ramp strip has a ramp portion and a shoulder portion, preferably integral to one another, such as by integral casting or molding. The ramp strip preferably has a plurality of traction enhancing variations in an upper surface of the ramp, such as buttons grooves, dimples, holes or the like. As an environmental enhancement and to reduce costs, the ramp strip preferably has a constituent composition of a substantial admixture of post-consumer vehicular tire rubber. The ramp strip preferably has a spring lip extending from an upper portion of the ramp portion out over the shoulder portion and downward toward it at an angle &agr;. The lip is preferably integral to the ramp portion and depends from an upper portion of the ramp out over the shoulder. There is also a method of covering an excavated work place or other surface irregularity with one or more cover plates and ramp strips.

Abstract: A dampening and shield structure such as a fender with a plurality of resilient laminated bumpers. A plurality of these bumpers each have a two or more elastic laminae or layers. In each such multiple layer bumper, at least one of the lamina is folded to enclose at least one other lamina, so that the folded laminae and any laminae they enclose form a laminated loop. Alternate embodiments have a bumper loop that has at least one lamina that is not folded. Some embodiments have substantially different length laminae folded into a laminated loop such that there are definite spaces between one or more adjacent pairs of lamina. The number of laminae comprising the laminated loops can vary. Another embodiment is a mechanically floating fender flexibly mounted to elastically intercede during a collision. The floating fender has a plurality of bumpers which may be single layer or laminated, and the bumper loops are oriented to be continually in contact with the structure on which the fender is mounted.