Mat

Claim 2

Mat comprising a plurality of elongated rails arranged parallel to one another, each rail (2) having a receiving portion (3) adapted to receive a tread member, the mat further comprising a plurality of coupling means for lengthwise coupling a rail to an adjacent rail, as well as tread-member-retaining means, said coupling means comprising at least a first and a second connecting element, wherein said first and said second connecting elements are connected by insertion in a direction at least comprising a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rails (2), characterized in that said first connecting element comprises at least one tread-member-retaining portion (21) extending transversely with respect to the rails (2) and partly over a respective tread-member-receiving portion (3) of a respective rail.

Claim 3

Mat according to claim 1, wherein said first and second connecting elements are provided with snap means (13, 14; 22, 23, 24) so as to create a snap lock when they are connected and wherein said first connecting element is provided at its insertion end with a resilient portion (14), for resiliently abutting a corresponding abutting surface of the second connecting element when being connected.

Claim 4

Mat according to claim 1, wherein said first connecting element has at least one member (8, 18, 28) that is T-shaped in cross-section, the lower end portion (7) of said member forming an insertion end.

Claim 5

Mat according to claim 3, wherein said first connecting element is integrated with a longitudinal side of a respective rail at an upper end portion (12) of said T-shaped member (8).

Claim 6

Mat according to claim 1, wherein the second connecting element comprises at least one member (6, 26) which is U-shaped in cross-section and which is disposed at one of the longitudinal sides of a rail.

Claim 7

Mat according to claim 5, wherein at least part of a leg of said U-shaped member (6, 26) which faces the rail forms an upstanding edge portion (4') of the tread-member-receiving portion (3).

Claim 8

Mat according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate member (9, 20) is formed, at a longitudinal side of the rail (2), for fixing the first or second connecting element to the rail.

Claim 9

Mat according to claim 7, wherein said intermediate member comprises a horizontally extending, recessed portion (20) which is provided with a plurality of drain holes (16).

Claim 10

Mat according to claim 1, wherein said first connecting element is separate from said rail (FIG. 3).

Claim 11

Mat according to claim 9, wherein said first connecting element is comprised of two integrated T-shaped members (18; 28) and said second element is comprised of a first U-shaped member integral with one longitudinal side of a rail and adapted to receive a first of said integrated T-shaped members and a second U-shaped member integral with the opposite longitudinal side of a corresponding, adjacent rail of the mat and adapted to receive a second of said integrated T-shaped members when said first integrated T-shaped member is received within said first U-shaped member.

Claim 12

Mat according to claim 10, wherein said T-shaped members (28) have circular tip ends (22) and said U-shaped members (26) have narrowings (23) at their inside cooperating with said tip ends (22) for realizing a snap-lock connection.

Claim 13

Mat according to claim 1, wherein the first and second connecting elements extend along the entire length of the respective rail.

Claim 14

A mat, comprising: a plurality of longitudinally elongated rails arranged parallel to one another, each rail having a receiving portion adapted to receive a tread member, each of said rails further including a bottom portion adapted to support the tread member and a first and a second upstanding edge extending transversely with respect to the bottom portion, and said first upstanding edge being spaced from said second upstanding edge such that said bottom portion and first and second upstanding edges define said receiving portion; coupling means for coupling a rail to an adjacent rail, said coupling means comprising a first and a second connecting element, wherein said first and said second connecting elements are connected by insertion in a direction at least comprising a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rails, and said first connecting element comprising a tread-member-retaining portion, and, when said first connecting element is connected to said second connecting element, said tread-member-retaining portion extends transversely over said second upstanding edge and partly over said receiving portion at a position above said bottom portion such that said tread-member-retaining portion and said bottom portion extend above and below a tread member when the tread member is positioned in said receiving portion such that the tread member is retained in said receiving portion.

Claim 15

A mat, comprising: a plurality of longitudinally elongated rails arranged parallel to one another, each rail having a receiving portion adapted to receive a tread member, each of said rails further including a bottom portion adapted to support the tread member and a first and a second upstanding edge extending transversely with respect to the bottom portion, and said first upstanding edge being spaced from said second upstanding edge such that said bottom portion and first and second upstanding edges define said receiving portion; coupling means for coupling a rail to an adjacent rail, said coupling means comprising a first and a second connecting element, wherein said first and said second connecting elements are connected by insertion in a direction at least comprising a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rails, and said first connecting element comprising a tread-member-retaining portion, and, when said first connecting element is connected to said second connecting element, said tread-member-retaining portion extends transversely over said second upstanding edge and partly over said receiving portion at a position above said bottom portion such that said tread-member-retaining portion and said bottom portion extend above and below a tread member when the tread member is positioned in said receiving portion such that the tread member is retained in said receiving portion.