US 6,685,388 B2Granted

Multi-purpose mat

AssigneesThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Humphreys Engineer Center

InventorsSteve L Webster, Carroll J. Smith

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Abstract

Multipurpose panels having L-shaped tabs are interconnected using durable connectors to form a multipurpose mat that facilitates mobility over otherwise unstable terrain. In one embodiment, four-sided panels are fabricated from laminations of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) with radiused rectangular holes machined in each of two adjacent edges and a recessed L-shaped tab formed along opposing adjacent edges. The connectors are fabricated from corrosion resistant metal and assembled to precise specifications prior to insertion in the rectangular holes machined in pre-specified types of panel. Top and bottom plates of durable connectors are fabricated from 6061-T6 aluminum stock. A threaded bolt used to tie the plates together, to which a liquid threadlocker is applied, is fabricated from a steel alloy suitable for use with aluminum. Two specially fabricated tools, a spacer guide and an alignment tool, may be used to optimize installation. These also may be fabricated from 6061-T6 aluminum stock.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A mat, able to be handled manually by only two people, said mat facilitating mobility of traffic over unstable terrain, said mat comprising:

multipurpose panels of a weight less than about 70 Kg (150 lb) and suitable for interconnection one to another via provision of:
an L-shaped tab integral with each said panel and positioned along two adjoining edges, and
precisely located rectangular holes, having radiused corners, in said L-shaped tab and said remaining edges of said panels,
wherein said L-shaped tab, having a width and a length, extends along each of two adjoining sides of said panel to within a distance from a corresponding distal edge of said panel approximately equal to the width of said L-shaped tab;
and
durable multi-part metal connectors having a rectangular cross section sized to fit said rectangular holes and configured to lock adjoining said panels together along said L-shaped tabs, comprising:
a bottom plate incorporating at least one threaded cavity in a bottommost portion thereof and a cam in a topmost portion,
wherein said bottommost portion of said bottom plate is rotatable and locked in a secure position via said cam, said rotation available through approximately 90° in a plane parallel to said mat surface;
an elongated cylindrically shaped apparatus, threadably attachable to said bottom plate;
and
a top plate with a cavity centered therein, said top plate having a topmost portion with an outer perimeter larger than said rectangular holes in said remaining edges and at least a bottommost portion, said bottommost portion having a rectangular channel formed across its width dimension such that when said elongated cylindrically shaped apparatus is tightened a top portion of said cam nests inside said rectangular channel,
wherein said durable multi-part metal connectors are inserted in said precisely located holes in overlapping structure formed by said edges and said L-shaped tabs of said adjoining panels to effect said interconnection.

9 more elements

A mat, that facilitates mobility of traffic over unstable terrain, comprising:

multipurpose panels suitable for interconnection one to another via provision of:
an L-shaped tab integral with each said panel and positioned along two adjoining edges, and
precisely located holes in said L-shaped tab and said remaining edges of said panels,
wherein said L-shaped tab, having a width and a length, extends along each of two adjoining sides of said panel to within a distance from a corresponding distal edge of said panel approximately equal to the width of said L-shaped tab, and wherein each said panel may be emplaced manually by two workers;
and
durable metal connectors comprising:
a bottom plate incorporating a cam in a topmost portion of said bottom
plate and having at least one threaded cavity,
wherein the bottommost portion of said bottom plate is rotatable and locked in a secure position via said cam, said rotation available through approximately 90° in a plane parallel to said mat surface;
an elongated cylindrically shaped apparatus, threadably attachable to said bottom plate, and
a top plate that incorporates:
a lower portion dimensioned to recess into said precisely located holes in said edges of said panel, said lower portion having a rectangular channel machined across its width dimension such that when said apparatus is tightened a top portion of said cam nests inside said rectangular channel,
wherein said nesting prevents said bottom plate from turning during movement of said traffic across said mat;
a top portion sized larger in perimeter than said precisely located holes in said edges of said panel;
a machined recessed area to house said topmost portion of said apparatus;
a full-depth center drilled hole slightly larger than the circumference of said apparatus to allow free passage thereof;
and
rounded edges for all edges of a topmost portion of said top portion,
wherein said durable metal connectors are inserted in said precisely located holes in overlapping structure formed by said edges and said L-shaped tabs of said adjoining panels to effect said interconnection.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/211,515Filed 5 Aug 2002
Published: US 2002/0192024 A119 Dec 2002
Granted: 3 Feb 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E01C 5/20
Pavings made of prefabricated single units: made of units of plastics, e.g. concrete with plastics, linoleum
E01C 5/005
Pavings made of prefabricated single units: individual couplings or spacer elements for joining the prefabricated units
E01C 9/008
Special pavings ; Pavings for special parts of roads or airfields: paving take-off areas for vertically starting aircraft
E01C 11/005
Details of pavings: methods or materials for repairing pavings