Rollable load bearing mat for turf areas

Claim 2

A load bearing mat, comprising: a mat unit having a bottom surface, a top surface, a first side, an opposing second side, a first end and an opposing second end; a plurality of spaced apart cell rows disposed in said mat unit, each of said plurality of cell rows having a plurality of generally tubular cell members, said plurality of cell members comprising a series of a first cell member and an adjoining second cell member, each of said cell members having one or more generally upstanding sidewalls, each of said first cell members axially offset relative to each of said second cell members, said plurality of cell rows comprising at least a first side row at said first side of said mat unit and a second side row at said second side of said mat unit; a plurality of generally flexible linking members interconnecting said first side row and said second side row, said linking members configured to allow said mat unit to be placed in a generally rolled condition; and means at each of said first side, said second side, said first end and said second end for connecting said mat unit to one or more adjacent mat units, said connecting means configured for complimentary interlocking engagement of said mat unit with said one or more adjacent mat units.

Claim 3

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said bottom surface is generally planar and said top surface is generally planar.

Claim 4

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls of each of said cell members form a substantially open bottom opening at said bottom surface and a substantially open top opening at said top surface, said linking members configured so as to not intrude into the interior area of said tubular cell members.

Claim 5

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein each of said first cell members and said second cell members share a common sidewall.

Claim 6

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said first side row and said second side row are substantially parallel.

Claim 7

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said linking member is an elongated strap.

Claim 8

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cell rows further comprises one or more interior cell rows disposed between said first side row and said second side row, each of said interior cell rows in generally parallel spaced apart relation to said first side row, said second side row and/or one of said interior cell rows and interconnected therewith by a plurality of said linking members.

Claim 9

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of interlocking members in corresponding relation with cooperatively configured adjacent connecting means on a peripheral edge of said adjacent mat unit.

Claim 10

The load bearing mat according to claim 8 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first side and said second side and at said first end and said second end are laterally disposed and alternatively comprise a plurality of selectively positioned projecting members and a plurality of selectively positioned open members, said open members configured to receive said projecting members in interlocking relation.

Claim 11

The load bearing mat according to claim 9 , wherein each of said projecting members comprises a lateral snap lock and each of said open members comprises a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving member cooperatively configured to provide interlocking engagement between said mat unit and said adjacent mat unit.

Claim 12

The load bearing mat according to claim 9 , wherein said projecting members and said open members are configured for generally horizontal engagement thereof.

Claim 13

The load bearing mat according to claim 8 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first side and said second side are configured to connect said mat unit to one or more cooperatively configured side disposed mat units and to permit rolling of said mat unit and said one or more side disposed units.

Claim 14

The load bearing mat according to claim 12 , wherein said interlocking members at said first side of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock disposed on an elongated connecting strap and said interlocking members at said second side of said mat unit comprise a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving opening configured for interlocking engagement with cooperatively configured like adjacent connecting means on said one or more side disposed units.

Claim 15

The load bearing mat according to claim 8 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first end and said second end are configured to connect said mat unit to one or more cooperatively configured end disposed units and to secure said mat unit to said one or more end disposed units in a substantially abutting relation.

Claim 16

The load bearing mat according to claim 14 , wherein said interlocking members at said first end of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening and said interlocking members at said second end of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving opening configured for interlocking engagement with cooperatively configured like adjacent connecting means on said one or more end disposed units.

Claim 17

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said mat unit is configured to be at least substantially embedded into a turf area with one or more adjacent mat units to provide support for movement of vehicle or other load bearing traffic over said turf area and to facilitate the growth of turf through said mat unit and said adjacent mat units.

Claim 18

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said cell members are hexagonally shaped and comprise generally rigid sidewalls.

Claim 19

The load bearing mat according to claim 1 , wherein said cell members are of generally uniform cross-sectional area and integrally molded from a thermoplastic material.

Claim 20

A load bearing mat, comprising: a mat unit having a bottom surface, a top surface, a first side, an opposing second side, a first end and an opposing second end; a plurality of spaced apart cell rows disposed in said mat unit, each of said plurality of cell rows having a plurality of generally tubular cell members, said plurality of cell members comprising a series of a first cell member and an adjoining second cell member, each of said cell members having one or more generally upstanding sidewalls forming a substantially open bottom opening at said bottom surface and a substantially open top opening at said top surface, each of said first cell members and said second cell members having a common sidewall, said plurality of cell rows comprising a first side row at said first side of said mat unit and a second side row at said second side of said mat unit; a plurality of generally flexible linking members interconnecting said first side row and said second side row, said linking members configured to not intrude into the interior area of said tubular cell members and to allow said mat unit to be placed in a generally rolled condition; and means at each of said first side, said second side, said first end and said second end for connecting said mat unit to one or more adjacent mat units, said connecting means configured for complimentary interlocking engagement of said mat unit with said one or more adjacent mat units.

Claim 21

A load bearing mat, comprising: a mat unit having a bottom surface, a top surface, a first side, an opposing second side, a first end and an opposing second end; a plurality of spaced apart cell rows disposed in said mat unit, each of said plurality of cell rows having a plurality of generally tubular cell members, said plurality of cell members comprising a series of a first cell member and an adjoining second cell member, each of said cell members having one or more generally upstanding sidewalls forming a substantially open bottom opening at said bottom surface and a substantially open top opening at said top surface, each of said first cell members and said second cell members having a common sidewall, said plurality of cell rows comprising a first side row at said first side of said mat unit and a second side row at said second side of said mat unit; a plurality of generally flexible linking members interconnecting said first side row and said second side row, said linking members configured to not intrude into the interior area of said tubular cell members and to allow said mat unit to be placed in a generally rolled condition; and means at each of said first side, said second side, said first end and said second end for connecting said mat unit to one or more adjacent mat units, said connecting means configured for complimentary interlocking engagement of said mat unit with said one or more adjacent mat units.

Claim 22

The load bearing mat according to claim 19 , wherein each of said second cell members are axially offset relative to each of said first cell members.

Claim 23

The load bearing mat according to claim 19 , wherein said plurality of cell rows further comprises one or more interior cell rows disposed between said first side row and said second side row, each of said interior cell rows in generally parallel spaced apart relation to said first side row, said second side row and/or one of said interior cell rows and interconnected therewith by a plurality of said linking members.

Claim 24

The load bearing mat according to claim 19 , wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of interlocking members in corresponding relation with cooperatively configured adjacent connecting means on a peripheral edge of said adjacent mat unit.

Claim 25

The load bearing mat according to claim 22 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first side and said second side and at said first end and said second end are laterally disposed and alternatively comprise a plurality of selectively positioned projecting members and a plurality of selectively positioned open members, said open members configured to receive said projecting members in interlocking relation.

Claim 26

The load bearing mat according to claim 23 , wherein each of said projecting members comprises a lateral snap lock and each of said open members comprises a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving member cooperatively configured to provide interlocking engagement between said mat unit and said adjacent mat unit.

Claim 27

The load bearing mat according to claim 23 , wherein said projecting members and said open members are configured for generally horizontal engagement thereof.

Claim 28

The load bearing mat according to claim 22 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first side and said second side are configured to connect said mat unit to one or more cooperatively configured side disposed mat units and to permit rolling of said mat unit and said one or more side disposed units.

Claim 29

The load bearing mat according to claim 26 , wherein said interlocking members at said first side of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock disposed on an elongated connecting strap and said interlocking members at said second side of said mat unit comprise a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving opening configured for interlocking engagement with cooperatively configured like adjacent connecting means on said one or more side disposed units.

Claim 30

The load bearing mat according to claim 22 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first end and said second end are configured to connect said mat unit to one or more cooperatively configured end disposed units and to secure said mat unit to said one or more end disposed units in a substantially abutting relation.

Claim 31

The load bearing mat according to claim 28 , wherein said interlocking members at said first end of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening and said interlocking members at said second end of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving opening configured for interlocking engagement with cooperatively configured like adjacent connecting means on said one or more end disposed units.

Claim 32

A load bearing mat, comprising: a mat unit having a bottom surface, a top surface, a first side, an opposing second side, a first end and an opposing second end; a plurality of spaced apart cell rows disposed in said mat unit, each of said plurality of cell rows having a plurality of generally tubular cell members, said plurality of cell members comprising a series of a first cell member and an adjoining second cell member, each of said cell members having one or more generally upstanding sidewalls forming a substantially open bottom opening at said bottom surface and a substantially open top opening at said top surface, each of said first cell members axially offset relative to each of said second cell members, said plurality of cell rows comprising a first side row at said first side of said mat unit, a second side row at said second side of said mat unit and one or more interior cell rows disposed between said first side row and said second side row; a plurality of generally flexible linking members interconnecting said plurality of cell rows, said linking members configured to not intrude into the interior area of said tubular cell members and to allow said mat unit to be placed in a generally rolled condition; and means at each of said first side, said second side, said first end and said second end for connecting said mat unit to one or more adjacent mat units, said connecting means configured for complimentary interlocking engagement of said mat unit with said one or more adjacent mat units.

Claim 33

A load bearing mat, comprising: a mat unit having a bottom surface, a top surface, a first side, an opposing second side, a first end and an opposing second end; a plurality of spaced apart cell rows disposed in said mat unit, each of said plurality of cell rows having a plurality of generally tubular cell members, said plurality of cell members comprising a series of a first cell member and an adjoining second cell member, each of said cell members having one or more generally upstanding sidewalls forming a substantially open bottom opening at said bottom surface and a substantially open top opening at said top surface, each of said first cell members axially offset relative to each of said second cell members, said plurality of cell rows comprising a first side row at said first side of said mat unit, a second side row at said second side of said mat unit and one or more interior cell rows disposed between said first side row and said second side row; a plurality of generally flexible linking members interconnecting said plurality of cell rows, said linking members configured to not intrude into the interior area of said tubular cell members and to allow said mat unit to be placed in a generally rolled condition; and means at each of said first side, said second side, said first end and said second end for connecting said mat unit to one or more adjacent mat units, said connecting means configured for complimentary interlocking engagement of said mat unit with said one or more adjacent mat units.

Claim 34

The load bearing mat according to claim 30 , wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of interlocking members in corresponding relation with cooperatively configured adjacent connecting means on a peripheral edge of said adjacent mat unit.

Claim 35

The load bearing mat according to claim 31 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first side and said second side and at said first end and said second end are laterally disposed and alternatively comprise a plurality of selectively positioned projecting members and a plurality of selectively positioned open members, said open members configured to receive said projecting members in interlocking relation.

Claim 36

The load bearing mat according to claim 32 , wherein each of said projecting members comprises a lateral snap lock and each of said open members comprises a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving member cooperatively configured to provide interlocking engagement between said mat unit and said adjacent mat unit.

Claim 37

The load bearing mat according to claim 32 , wherein said projecting members and said open members are configured for generally horizontal engagement thereof.

Claim 38

The load bearing mat according to claim 31 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first side and said second side are configured to connect said mat unit to one or more cooperatively configured side disposed mat units and to permit rolling of said mat unit and said one or more side disposed units.

Claim 39

The load bearing mat according to claim 35 , wherein said interlocking members at said first side of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock disposed on an elongated connecting strap and said interlocking members at said second side of said mat unit comprise a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving opening configured for interlocking engagement with cooperatively configured like adjacent connecting means on said one or more side disposed units.

Claim 40

The load bearing mat according to claim 31 , wherein said plurality of interlocking members at said first end and said second end are configured to connect said mat unit to one or more cooperatively configured end disposed units and to secure said mat unit to said one or more end disposed units in a substantially abutting relation.

Claim 41

The load bearing mat according to claim 37 , wherein said interlocking members at said first end of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock receiving member having a lateral snap lock receiving opening and said interlocking members at said second end of said mat unit comprises a lateral snap lock, said lateral snap lock and said lateral snap lock receiving opening configured for interlocking engagement with cooperatively configured like adjacent connecting means on said one or more end disposed units.

Claim 42

The load bearing mat according to claim 30 , wherein each of said first cell members and said second cell members share a common sidewall.