Lightweight universal panel mat

A lightweight universal panel mat made of plastic or elastomeric material and designed to be interlocked with additional panel mats of similar side configurations, comprising:

• a first section having an upper surface that forms a top surface of the panel mat and is relatively flat, textured or structured to facilitate movement over the upper surface;
• a second section having geometry that includes a plurality of cells that support the first section and open lower surfaces, wherein the cells have angled sidewalls and tops of the cells are open or at least some of the cells are closed by a flat top surface, wherein the angled sidewalls are angled with respect to the upper surface and the open lower surfaces and wherein the cells are upward facing protrusions;
• first, second, third and fourth sides wherein the first and second sides are configured and dimensioned to be complementary to and matable with the third and fourth sides, so that (a) a first or second side of a first mat can be interlocked with a third or fourth side of a second mat (b) a third side of the first mat can be interlocked with a first or second side of a third mat, and (c) a fourth side of the first mat can be interlocked with a first or second side of a fourth mat;
• wherein the upper surface of the first section is generally rectangular of length L and width W where L and W each may be any value between 1 foot and 12 feet;
• wherein the first and second sections are welded or bonded together to form a unitary panel mat,
• wherein each of the first and second sides of the first mat comprises more than one tabular extensions, and
• wherein the first section includes recesses, and the protrusions of the second section are adapted to be received by the recesses.