Lightweight panel mat with interlocking elements

Abstract

A lightweight universal panel mat made of plastic or elastomeric material and having a first section that provides a relatively flat, textured or structured top surface to facilitate movement over the upper surface and a second section having geometry that includes a plurality of cells having top surfaces that support the first section. The panel mats also have first, second, third and fourth sides that are configured with tabular extensions or openings, slots or recesses configured and dimensioned to be able to receive the tabular extensions. At least some of the tabs and slots are configured to facilitate snap-locking. Thus, a plurality of similarly configured panel mats can be connected by interlocking of the tabs of one mat into the openings, slots or recesses of one or more adjacent similarly configured mats.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Nos. 62 / 368,954 filed Jul. 29, 2016 and 62 / 402,391 filed Sep. 30, 2016, the entire content of each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto.BACKGROUND[0002]The present invention relates to a reusable lightweight panel mat system for the construction of equipment support surfaces and temporary walkways and roadways in areas having poor ground integrity characteristics. More particularly, the present invention relates to a reusable system of durable panel mats which are much lighter than wood or wood / steel mats which can be quickly and easily positioned in a single layer to form equipment support surfaces, walkways or roadways and which can thereafter be easily removed and stored until needed again.[0003]While conventional wood mats provide useful service at a reasonable cost, the wood core can deteriorate over time due to moisture causing gradual rotting and degr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]Thus, the mats of the present invention can be assembled to easily provide a temporary support surface, deck, walkway or roadway using a plurality of connected panel mats as disclosed herein. Generally, the first side tabular extensions of a first mat engage the third side openings of one or more adjacent similarly configured panel mats and the second side tubular extensions of the first mat engage the slots or recesses of the fourth side of one or more adjacent similarly configured panel mats. The mats can be joined together in a manner that allows the ends to be aligned or not. A staggered configuration is generally preferable as it avoids generating long seams between rows of joined mats where the seam can separate more easily during use of the temporary flooring. Therefore, it is preferr...

Problems solved by technology

While conventional wood mats provide useful service at a reasonable cost, the wood core can deteriorate over time due to moisture causing gradual rotting and degradation of the wood material.

This causes the mat to be discarded, because unlike some of the other materials that are used on the upper and lower layers of the mat, the core cannot be...

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