Lightweight panel mat assemblies with adapters and side ramps

A temporary support surface, deck, walkway or roadway comprising a plurality of interlocked and interconnected panel mats and one or more side ramps;

• wherein each panel mat is made of plastic or elastomeric material and is designed to be interlocked with additional panel mats of similar side configurations, with each panel mat 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 are either open or some or all of the cells have a flat top surface;
• first, second, third and fourth sides wherein the first and second sides are configured and dimensioned to be complementary to and/or matable with the third and fourth sides, so that (a) the first side of a first mat can be interlocked with one of the third or fourth side of a second mat, (b) the second side of the first mat can be interlocked with one of the third or fourth sides of a second mat, (c) the third side of first mat can be interlocked with the one of the first or second sides of a third mat, and (d) the fourth side can be interlocked contact with the one of the first or second sides of a fourth mat;
• and
• a lower structure that extends from at least one side of the mat, with the lower structure sloping downwardly from the side of the mat to the extended end of the lower structure and including one or more openings therein;
• 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;
• and
• wherein the mats can be joined together in an aligned manner or in a manner that provides a staggered configuration that avoids generating long straight seams between rows of joined mats;
• wherein each side ramp comprises upper and lower surfaces wherein the lower surface is configured with a downward slope that corresponds to the downward slope of the lower structure of the mat, and one or more openings therein that correspond and align with the one or more openings of the mat;
• wherein the openings of the mat and side ramp are configured to interlock or to receive a fastening device therein to so the side ramp can be connected to the mat.