# US 7,608,313 B2 · Panel apparatus with supported connection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,313 B2 - Document ID: US7608313B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/142,996 - Filed: 2005-06-02 - Published: 2005-12-08 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2004-06-04 - Assignees: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. - Inventors: Gregory J. Solomon; Paul W. Peterson, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608313B2 ## CPC - F16B 5/0012: {a tongue on the edge of one sheet, plate or panel co-operating with a groove in the edge of another sheet, plate or panel} - E04B 1/6141: {the connection made by an additional locking key} - E04F 15/02: Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements (of webs E04F15/16) - E04F 15/02172: {Floor elements with an anti-skid main surface, other than with grooves} - F16B 21/02: Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation (with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08) - E04F 2201/0107: by moving the sheets, plates or panels substantially in their own plane, perpendicular to the abutting edges - E04F 2201/05: Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins, keys or strips - Y10T 428/192: Sheets or webs coplanar - Y10T 428/195: Beveled, stepped, or skived in thickness - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A panel apparatus comprises a tongue-in-groove connection connecting first and second panels. A support secured to one of the panels underlies the tongue-in-groove connection for support thereof when a load is applied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A composite mat, comprising: a fiber-reinforced polymer composite first panel comprising (i) a fiber reinforced upper skin having an upwardly facing upper surface, (ii) a fiber-reinforced lower skin having a downwardly facing lower surface, (iv) a core sandwiched between the upper and lower skins, (v) a fiber-reinforced polymer edge skin extending at least between the upper and lower skins, (vi) a fiber-reinforced polymer top extension extending outwardly from the edge skin, the top extension including a substantially planar upper surface coplanar with the upper surface of the upper skin and a substantially planar downwardly facing lower surface generally parallel to the upper surface of the top extension, and (vii) a fiber-reinforced polymer bottom extension extending outwardly from the edge skin, the bottom extension including a substantially planar upwardly facing upper surface facing the lower surface of the top extension with a space formed therebetween to form a groove, and a downwardly facing lower surface, and a fiber-reinforced polymer composite second panel comprising (i) a fiber reinforced upper skin having an upwardly facing upper surface, (ii) a fiber-reinforced lower skin having a downwardly facing lower surface, (iv) a core sandwiched between the upper and lower skins, (v) a fiber-reinforced polymer edge skin extending at least between the upper and lower skins, (vi) a fiber-reinforced polymer tongue extending outwardly from the edge skin, the tongue including a substantially planar upper surface and a substantially planar lower surface, the tongue received in the groove of the first panel such that the upper surface of the tongue engages the lower surface of the upper extension of the first panel and the lower surface of the tongue engages the upper surface of the lower extension of the first panel, and (vii) a fiber-reinforced polymer support extending outwardly from the lower fiber-reinforced polymer skin beyond the edge skin and underlying the tongue to form a space between the support and the tongue, wherein the lower extension of the first panel is received in the space between the support and the tongue such that the support engages the lower extension of the first panel so as to support the tongue-in-groove connection when the first and second components are mated together in the tongue-in-groove connection and a load is applied. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composite mat of claim 1, wherein the support of the second panel is adapted to restrain the lower extension of the first panel relative to the tongue upon application of the load. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composite mat of claim 1, wherein: the support and the tongue are cantilevered to the edge skin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The composite mat of claim 3, wherein the edge skin, the tongue, and the support of the second panel are portions of a one-piece member constructed of a fiber-reinforced composite material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The composite mat of claim 1, wherein: the support is configured as a support flange that is secured to and extends outwardly from the edge skin of the first panel and is formed to include a substantially planar upper surface that underlies the lower extension of the first panel such that the upper surface of the support contacts the lower surface of the lower extension. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The composite mat of claim 1, wherein a panel includes four edges and two of the four edges have a tongue and two of the four edges have a groove configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The composite mat of claim 6, wherein a panel comprises a plurality of mounts secured to a main portion, the mounts configured to provide the tongue and groove configurations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The composite mat of claim 7, wherein at least one of the mourns is composite. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The composite mat of claim 6, wherein the panel comprises a non-skid surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The composite mat of claim 6, wherein at least one of the panels have at least one opening for a mechanical connector comprising a plug, a flange secured to and extending outwardly from the plug and at least one wing secured to and extending outwardly from the plug the opening formed to include a circular portion sized to receive the plug and a slot extending from the circular portion, the slot sized to receive the wing extending outwardly from the plug. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composite mat of claim 1, wherein at least one of the panels has at least one opening for a mechanical connector comprising a plug, a flange secured to and extending outwardly from the plug and at least one wing secured to and extending outwardly from the plug the opening formed to include a circular portion sized to receive the plug and a slot extending from the circular portion, the slot sized to receive the wing extending outwardly from the plug. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composite mat of claim 1, wherein the mat weighs less than 9 pounds per square foot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The composite mat of claim 12, wherein the mat weight less than 6 pounds per square foot.