Roll-up surface, system and method for wet environments

Abstract

The present invention provides a ground flooring device, system and method which provides heretofore unknown strength, versatility, lightness of weight, durability, portability, storability and liquid management capabilities. The invention includes connectable slats or panels having connection means which allow a series of slats to be quickly assembled, rolled up for storage or transport, and unrolled for deployment. The slats can be secured in a series, and a series of slats can be secured in multiple rows to create a solid, manipulable floor readily deployable on ground areas of virtually any shape and wetness characteristics.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A flooring, comprising: 
 a first and second slat, each slat having a first foot and a second foot lying in a foot plane, each slat further having a length and each slat comprising a unitary rigid member extending from a first foot to form a first running member, said first running member comprising: 
 a first side wall extending from said first foot in a direction substantially perpendicular to said foot plane,  
 a top segment formed by bending said unitary rigid member at a substantially right angle to said first side wall so as to be substantially parallel to said foot plane, and  
 a second side wall formed by bending said unitary rigid member back towards said foot plane at a substantially right angle;  
   said unitary member further being bent at a substantially right angle from said second side wall and extending further away from said first and second side walls so as to form a bottom segment substantially coplanar with said foot plane,    said unitary rigid member extending at least one additional running member from said bottom segment, wherein said at least one additional running member has a first side wall, a top segment, and a second side wall, and wherein said at least one additional running member first side wall extends from said bottom segment in a direction substantially perpendicular to said foot plane and substantially parallel with said first running member first side wall, said at least one additional running member bottom member having a second foot integrally formed therewith, such that said second foot of said first slat can engage said first foot of said second slat so as to permit relative rotation of each of said first and second slats about an axis parallel to the side walls.    
     
     
         2 . The flooring of  claim 1  wherein said top segments of said first runner member and said at least one additional runner member are wider than said bottom segment.  
     
     
         3 . The flooring of  claim 1  wherein said first and second side walls of said first runner member and said at least one additional runner member each have a height H, wherein said top segments of said first runner member and said at least one additional runner member each have a width W, and wherein said height H is greater than said width W.  
     
     
         4 . The flooring of  claim 1  wherein said first and second side wall members of said first runner member and said at least one additional runner member each have a thickness T, and wherein said thickness T tapers from a wide point nearest said top segment to a narrower point at a bottom of said side walls.  
     
     
         5 . The flooring of  claim 1  wherein said first foot member extends substantially perpendicularly from said first side wall member in both directions.  
     
     
         6 . The flooring of  claim 1  wherein said second foot member extends substantially perpendicularly from said at least one additional runner member second side wall in a single direction.  
     
     
         7 . The flooring of  claim 1  wherein said second foot member terminates in a curved back segment forming an inverted T-shaped receptacle connector member.  
     
     
         8 . The flooring of  claim 7  wherein said T-shape receptacle connector member is formed by a pair of curved wall members integrally formed with said at least one additional runner member, said curved wall members each having an upper end tip which extends towards the opposing curved wall member upper end tip.  
     
     
         9 . The flooring of  claim 1  further including a U-channel connector for cooperatively engaging at least one running member from said first slat and at least one running member from said second slat so as to securely join said first and second slats in end-to-end relation.  
     
     
         10 . The flooring of  claim 1  further including a third slat secured in side-by-side relation to at least one of said first or said second slat, said third slat having a plurality of running members which cooperatively engage at least one running member of said first slat or said second slat.  
     
     
         11 . A method of providing a roll-up surface, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first and second slat, each slat having a first foot and a second foot lying in a foot plane, each slat further having a length and each slat comprising a unitary rigid member extending from a first foot to form a first running member, said first running member comprising: 
 a first side wall extending from said first foot in a direction substantially perpendicular to said foot plane,  
 a top segment formed by bending said unitary rigid member at a substantially right angle to said first side wall so as to be substantially parallel to said foot plane, and  
 a second side wall formed by bending said unitary rigid member back towards said foot plane at a substantially right angle;  
   bending said unitary member at a substantially right angle from said second side wall and extending further away from said first and second side walls so as to form a bottom segment substantially coplanar with said foot plane;    forming said unitary rigid member so as to include at least one additional running member extending from said bottom segment, wherein said at least one additional running member has a first side wall, a top segment, and a second side wall, and wherein said at least one additional running member first side wall extends from said bottom segment in a direction substantially perpendicular to said foot plane and substantially parallel with said first running member first side wall; and    providing said at least one additional running member bottom member with a second foot integrally formed therewith, such that said second foot of said first slat can engage said first foot of said second slat so as to permit relative rotation of each of said first and second slats about an axis parallel to the side walls.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said top segments of said first runner member and said at least one additional runner member are wider than said bottom segment.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said first and second side walls of said first runner member and said at least one additional runner member each have a height H, wherein said top segments of said first runner member and said at least one additional runner member each have a width W, and wherein said height H is greater than said width W.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said first and second side walls of said first runner member and said at least one additional runner member each have a thickness T, and wherein said thickness T tapers from a wide point nearest said top segment to a narrower point at a bottom of said side wall members.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said first foot member extends substantially perpendicularly from said first side wall member in both directions.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said second foot member extends substantially perpendicularly from said at least one additional runner member second side wall in a single direction.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said second foot member terminates in a curved back segment forming an inverted T-shaped receptacle connector member.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said T-shape receptacle connector member is formed by a pair of curved wall members integrally formed with said at least one additional runner member, said curved wall members each having an upper end tip which extends towards the opposing curved wall member upper end tip.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further including the step of providing a U-channel connector for cooperatively engaging at least one running member from said first slat and at least one running member from said second slat so as to securely join said first and second slats in end-to-end relation.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further including the step of providing a third slat secured in side-by-side relation to at least one of said first or said second slat, said third slat having a plurality of running members which cooperatively engage at least one running member of said first slat or said second slat.  
     
     
         21 . A flooring member, comprising: 
 a slat having a first foot and a second foot lying in a foot plane, said slat further having a length and further comprising a unitary rigid member extending from a first foot to form a first running member first side wall, being bent at an approximately right angle to said first running member first side wall and extending from said first running member first side wall to form a first running member top segment, being bent at an approximately right angle back towards said foot plane so as to form a first running member second side wall, being bent at an approximately right angle and extending further away from said first running member first side wall so as to form a bottom segment substantially coplanar with said foot plane, said first running member first side wall, top segment, first running member second side wall and bottom segment forming a first running member, said unitary rigid member extending at least one additional running member, wherein said at least one additional running member has a first side wall, a top member, a second side wall and a bottom member, and wherein said at least one additional running member first side wall extends from said first running member bottom segment in a direction substantially perpendicular to said foot plane and substantially parallel with said first running member first side wall, said at least one additional running member bottom member having a second foot integrally formed therewith.    
     
     
         22 . The flooring member of  claim 21  wherein said slat has a length and wherein said walls, top members and bottom members extend the length of said slat.