Flanged road mat and method and apparatus for assembling same

Abstract

An overlapping flanged mat system for assembling the mat system for fabricating an artificial road including parallel upper surface boards extending longitudinally in one array, an intermediate plurality of surface boards transverse to the upper layer, and a lower set of boards extending parallel to the upper boards, said lower set having an inner-connecting section, extending outwardly from the longitudinal position of the first and second set of boards, creating a landing surface. The mats are inner-connected by laying down a succession of such three-ply mats to form an artificial road.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A mat for forming a road including the following: 
 a. having three sections with the first and third section capable of being either the top or bottom surface as desired, said first and third sections formed of a plurality of boards made of lumber or other suitable materials and being of the same width and length (W and L) said boards positioned parallel to each other, said first and third sections being offset longitudinally to each other to form a inner-connecting receiving section and an inner-connecting receiving gap; and    b. a third intermediate section positioned between said first and third sections and of the same width and length as of said first and third sections, having a plurality of parallel boards in said intermediate section positioned transverse to the boards of said first and third sections, said intermediate section thus forming an inner-connecting receiving section and an inner-connecting receiving gap with said first section wherein a mat is formed for inner-connecting succeeding mats with each other to form a board road.    
     
     
         2 . The mat of  claim 1  wherein the first layer is formed by a first set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards, wherein the second layer is formed by a second set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards transverse to the first set and extending the length of the first layer and flush with the edges of the first layer, wherein a third layer is formed by a third set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards transverse to the second set and substantially parallel to the first set, the third layer elements are disposed so as to be offset a substantially equal amount from one end of the unit extending a like amount from the other end of the unit, the second layer is attached to the first layer; and the third layer is offset from and attached to the second layer.  
     
     
         3 . A method of constructing board roads comprising the steps of: 
 a. assembling a plurality of similar mats wherein each said unit is formed by having a first layer having a set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards, wherein the second layer is formed by a second set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards transverse to the first set and extending the length of the first layer and flush with the edges of the first layer, wherein a third layer is formed by a third set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards transverse to the second set and substantially parallel to the first set, the third layer elements are disposed so as to be offset a substantially equal amount from one end of the unit extending a like amount from the other end of the unit; the second layer is attached to the first layer and the third layer is offset from and attached to the second layer;    b. laying down a first mat with the third layer runner elements in contact with the ground;    c. laying down a second unit, with the third layer runner elements in contact with the ground and aligned with the first unit so that the first layer runner elements and the second layer runner elements of the second unit overlap the third layer runner elements of the first unit;    d. thereafter laying down units extending from the second underlying or first overlaying unit to extend the decking in the longitudinal direction as desired.    
     
     
         4 . A method of forming an array or staging area comprising: 
 a. The steps of assembling a plurality of similar mats wherein each said unit is formed by having a first layer having a set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards, wherein the second layer is formed by a second set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards transverse to the first set and extending the length of the first layer and flush with the edges of the first layer, wherein a third layer is formed by a third set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards transverse to the second set and substantially parallel to the first set, the third layer elements are disposed so as to be offset a substantially equal amount from one end and one side of the unit extending a like amount from the other end and other side of the unit; the second layer is attached to the first layer and the third layer is offset from and attached to the second layer;    b. laying down a first unit with the third layer runner elements adjacent to the ground;    c. laying down a second unit at the longitudinal end of the first unit, with the third layer runner elements in contact with the ground and aligned with the first unit so that the first layer runner elements and the second layer runner elements of the second unit overlap the third layer runner elements of the first unit;    d. laying down a third unit at the lateral ends of the first and second units, with the third layer runner elements in contact with the ground and aligned with the first and second units so that the first layer runner elements and the second layer runner elements of the third unit overlap the third layer runner elements of both the first and second units and where the intersection of the first and second units is substantially in the middle of the third unit causing the mats to be staggered when compared laterally;    e. thereafter laying down units extending from any underlying or overlaying unit to extend the decking in the direction desired.