Mat Traction System With Crosshatch Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traction mats fail to provide adequate traction on wet or slippery surfaces due to mud, water, and debris filling in gaps between traction elements, and the materials used for these elements are often slippery and wear out quickly, leading to a slick surface.
Innovation Solution
A traction system with a first surface featuring first traction elements and a second surface with second traction elements that taper and form a diamond or cross-hatch pattern, providing additional grip and stability, manufactured using molds and ultrasonic welding for enhanced durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional traction elements are used on mats, then the mat provides basic traction on wet surfaces, but mud, water, and debris fill in gaps between elements making the traction elements useless
Solution Approach 1:
The traction surface is divided into multiple discrete raised elements (nubs, cones, or pyramids) spaced apart from each other, creating gaps that prevent mud and water from filling the entire surface. Each element acts as an independent traction point, ensuring that even if some elements become covered, others remain effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a vertical dimension to the traction elements by raising them significantly above the mat surface (0.25 to 2 inches). This height creates a three-dimensional structure where mud and water can flow around and through the elements rather than filling horizontal gaps, maintaining traction effectiveness in wet conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If traction elements are made from the same composite materials as the mat base, then manufacturing is simplified, but the elements become slippery and provide less traction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses different materials for the traction elements compared to the mat base. The raised elements can be made from rubber, plastic, or metal compounds that provide superior friction and grip, while the mat base remains a separate composite material. This material differentiation ensures high-traction surfaces without compromising manufacturing feasibility through separate attachment processes.
3Ease of manufacture
If the top of traction elements is made flat for stability, then the elements are easier to manufacture, but it creates a flat slippery surface that does not provide traction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs curved or rounded top surfaces on the traction elements rather than flat tops. Examples include conical shapes, pyramidal shapes with angled faces, or nubs with rounded surfaces. These curved geometries prevent mud and water from pooling on the surface while maintaining structural simplicity for manufacturing, and they provide better mechanical interlocking with tire treads or shoe soles.
4Reliability
If raised elements are distributed throughout the mat with small areas between them, then traction coverage is increased, but the elements wear out quickly under vehicle pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention varies the distribution and size of traction elements across different regions of the mat. High-wear areas under typical vehicle contact points feature larger, more robust elements or denser spacing, while peripheral areas have fewer or smaller elements. This localized optimization provides adequate traction coverage while reducing overall wear on individual elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system significantly enhances traction on both vehicle tires and pedestrian feet by providing extra grip on wet or slippery surfaces, maintaining effectiveness even as the traction elements wear down, and can be made from materials like high-density polyethylene or metal for added durability.
Implementation Method 1
manufactured using molds and ultrasonic welding for enhanced durability
Data Source
AI summary
A traction system for increasing traction on a mat can comprise a first surface and a second surface adapted for a vehicle wheel or pedestrian foot to contact wherein the first surface comprises a plurality of first traction elements extending from the first surface. The first traction elements and the second traction elements can be attached to each other. The first traction elements can have a set pattern extending across the first surface. The second traction elements can comprise one or more side walls that are arranged as a crosshatch pattern that substantially diamond shape in the middle of the crosshatch pattern each wall having substantially the same height.