Matting for carrying heavy loads over soft soil foundations

Abstract

A matting surface capable of carrying military equipment having a first flooring member and a second flooring member is disclosed. The first flooring member is substantially parallel to the second flooring member. Both flooring members have an end with an extending tabular member and a grooved end that is structured to slideably receive the extending tabular end of an adjacent flooring member thereby forming a joint between the flooring members and the adjacent flooring members. The first and second flooring members having means of connecting and interlocking the first flooring member to the second flooring member.

1 . A matting surface capable of carrying military equipment comprising: 
 a first flooring member;    a second flooring member;    said first flooring member being substantially parallel to said second flooring member;    said first flooring member having an extending tabular member on a first end and a groove on a second end, said groove is structured to slideably receive said tabular member of an adjacent first flooring member thereby interconnecting and forming a joint between said first flooring member and said adjacent first flooring member;    said second flooring member having an extending tabular member on a second end and a groove on a first end, said grove is structured to slideably receive said tabular member of an adjacent second flooring member thereby interconnecting and forming a joint between said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member;    each of said first and second flooring members having means for connecting and interlocking said first flooring member to said second flooring member; and    each of said first and second flooring members having means for supporting said joints.    
   
   
       2 . The matting surface according to  claim 1  wherein said first flooring member is offset from said second flooring member.  
   
   
       3 . The matting surface according to  claim 2  wherein said means for supporting said joint comprises: 
 said first flooring member having one or more support T-brackets attached to and extending from an interior surface, said support T-brackets having a top, said top located adjacent to and in contact with a surface of said joint that interconnects said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member; and    said second flooring member having one or more support T-brackets attached to and extending from an interior surface, said support T-brackets having a top, said top located adjacent to and in contact with a surface of said joint that interconnects said first flooring member and said adjacent first flooring member.    
   
   
       4 . The matting surface according to  claim 3  wherein said means for connecting and interlocking said first flooring member and said second flooring member comprises of one or more T-brackets attached to and extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface of said first flooring member and said second flooring member, said T-brackets having a top, one or more L-brackets attached to and extending from said interior surface, said L-brackets extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface.  
   
   
       5 . The matting surface according to  claim 4  wherein said top of said T-brackets and said support T-brackets have a first laterally extending tabular member and a second laterally extending tabular member, said T-brackets and said support T-brackets extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface of said first flooring member and said second flooring member so that said first and second tabular members are parallel to but not in contact with said interior surface from which said T-brackets and said support T-brackets extend.  
   
   
       6 . The matting surface according to  claim 4  wherein: 
 said L-brackets that are attached to and extend from said first flooring member have a top, said top having a first laterally extending tabular member, said L-brackets extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface of said first flooring member so that said first extending tabular member is parallel to but not in contact with said interior surface thereby forming a groove between said first extending tabular member and said interior surface, said groove slideably receives said second tabular member of said T-brackets that extend from said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member thereby interlocking said first flooring member to said second flooring member and to said adjacent second flooring member; and    said L-brackets that are attached to and extend from said second flooring member have a top, said top having a second laterally extending tabular member, said L-brackets extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface of said second flooring member so that said second extending tabular member is parallel but not in contact with said interior surface of said second flooring member thereby forming a groove between said second extending tabular member and said interior surface of said second flooring member, said groove slideably receives said first tabular member of said T-brackets that extend from said first flooring member and said adjacent first flooring member thereby interlocking said second flooring member to said first flooring member and to said adjacent first flooring member.    
   
   
       7 . The matting surface according to  claim 1  wherein 
 said means for connecting and interlocking said first flooring member and said second flooring member is a tabular member extending from said interior surface of said first and second flooring members and having one or more substantially laterally extending tabular members; and    said means for connecting and interlocking said first flooring member and said second flooring member is selected from the group consisting essentially of E-, F-, H-, I-, N-, M-, W-, and Z-shaped brackets, said brackets extend from said interior surface of said first flooring member and said second flooring member.    
   
   
       8 . The matting surface according to  claim 7  wherein: 
 said means for connecting and interlocking said first flooring member and said second flooring member extends from each of said first and second flooring members at an angle about 90°.    
   
   
       9 . The matting surface according to  claim 7  wherein: 
 said means for connecting and interlocking said first flooring member and said second flooring member extends form each of said first and second flooring members at an angle greater than about 90°.    
   
   
       10 . The matting surface according to  claim 7  wherein: 
 said means for connecting and interlocking said first flooring member and said second flooring member extends form each of said first and second flooring members at an angle less than about 90°.    
   
   
       11 . The matting surface according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said means for supporting said joint is a tabular member extending from said interior surface of said first and second flooring members and having one or more laterally extending tabular members; and    said means for supporting said joint is selected from the group consisting essentially of E-, F-, H-, I-, N-, M-, W-, and Z-shaped brackets, said brackets extend from said interior surface of said first flooring member and said second flooring member.    
   
   
       12 . The matting surface according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said extending tabular member of said first flooring member is a laterally extending tabular member; and    said extending tabular member of said second flooring member is a vertically extending tabular member.    
   
   
       13 . The matting surface according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said first flooring member, said T-brackets, said support T-brackets, and said L-brackets are extruded as one piece; and    said second flooring member, said T-brackets, said support T-brackets, and said L-brackets are extruded as one piece.    
   
   
       14 . The matting surface according to  claim 6  wherein said T-brackets, said support T-brackets, and said L-brackets are of a pre-selected heights.  
   
   
       15 . The matting surface according to  claim 1  wherein said first flooring member and said second flooring member is selected from the Aluminum Association's 2XXX, 6XXX, and 7XXX series of aluminum alloys.  
   
   
       16 . The matting surface according to  claim 15  wherein said first flooring member and said second flooring member are selected from the group of aluminum alloys consisting essentially of the Aluminum Association's 2099, 2219, 2519, 6005, 6013, 6063, 6061, 7005, 7050, and 7075.  
   
   
       17 . The matting surface according to  claim 1  wherein said first flooring member and said second flooring member are manufactured from a composite.  
   
   
       18 . A matting surface capable of carrying military equipment comprising: 
 a first flooring member;    a second flooring member;    said first flooring member being substantially parallel and offset to said second flooring member;    each of said first flooring member and said second flooring member having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a first end, and a second end;    said first end of said first flooring member having a laterally extending tabular member;    said second end of said first flooring member having a groove that is structured to slideably receive said laterally extending tabular member of an adjacent first flooring member thereby interconnecting and forming a joint between said first flooring member and said adjacent first flooring member;    said second end of said second flooring member having a vertically extending tabular member;    said first end of said second flooring member having a groove is structured to slideably receive said vertically extending tabular member of an adjacent second flooring member, thereby interconnecting and forming a joint between said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member;    each of said first and second flooring members having a one or more of T-brackets attached to and extending from said interior surface, said T-brackets having a top, said top having a first laterally extending tabular member and a second laterally extending tabular member, said T-brackets extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface of said first flooring member so that said first and second tabular members are parallel to but not in contact with said interior surface from which said T-brackets extend;    said first flooring member having a one or more of L-brackets attached to and extending from said interior surface, said L-brackets having a top, said top having a first laterally extending tabular member, said L-brackets extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface of said first flooring member so that said first extending tabular member is parallel to but not in contact with said interior surface thereby forming a groove between said first extending tabular member and said interior surface, said groove slideably receives said second tabular member of said T-brackets that extend from said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member thereby interlocking said first flooring member to said second flooring member and to said adjacent second flooring member;    said second flooring member having a one or more of L-brackets attached to and extending from said interior surface, said L-brackets having a top, said top having a second laterally extending tabular member, said L-brackets extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface of said second flooring member so that said second extending tabular member is parallel to but not in contact with said interior surface of said second flooring member thereby forming a groove between said second extending tabular member and said interior surface of said second flooring member, said groove slideably receives said first tabular member of said T-brackets that extend from said first flooring member and said adjacent first flooring member thereby interlocking said second flooring member to said first flooring member and to said adjacent first flooring member;    each of said first and second flooring members having one or more support T-brackets, said support T-brackets having a top, said top having a first laterally extending tabular member and a second laterally extending tabular member, said support T-brackets extending substantially perpendicularly from said interior surface of said first flooring member so that said first and second tabular members are is parallel to but not in contact with said interior surface from which said support T-brackets extend;    said first and second laterally extending tabular members of said support T-brackets that are attached to and extend from said first flooring member are located adjacent to and in contact with a surface of said joint that interconnects said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member; and    said first and second laterally extending tabular members of said support T-brackets that are attached to and extend from said second flooring member are located adjacent to and in contact with said joint that interconnects said first flooring member and said adjacent first flooring member.    
   
   
       19 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said first flooring member, said T-brackets, said support T-brackets, and said L-brackets are extruded as one piece; and 
 said second flooring member, said T-brackets, said support T-brackets, and said L-brackets are extruded as one piece.    
   
   
       20 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said T-brackets, said support T-brackets, and said L-brackets are of pre-selected heights.  
   
   
       21 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said first flooring member and said second flooring member are selected from a group comprising of the Aluminum Association's 2XXX, 6XXX, and 7XXX series of aluminum alloys.  
   
   
       22 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said first flooring member and said second flooring member are selected from the group of aluminum alloys consisting essentially of the Aluminum Association's 2099, 2219, 2519, 6005, 6013, 6063, 6061, 7005, 7050, and 7075.  
   
   
       23 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said first flooring member and said second flooring member are manufactured from a composite.  
   
   
       24 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said T-brackets extend from said interior surface at an angle about 90°.  
   
   
       25 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said T-brackets extend from said interior surface at an angle greater than about 90°.  
   
   
       26 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said T-brackets extend from said interior surface at an angle less than about 90°.  
   
   
       27 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  further comprising one or more keys inserted within a first channel, said first channel is defined by said interior surfaces of said first and second flooring members, said support T-brackets extending from said second flooring member, and said T-brackets extending from said first flooring member.  
   
   
       28 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  further comprising one or more keys inserted with a second channel, said second channel is defined by said interior surfaces of said first and second flooring members and said adjacent T-brackets.  
   
   
       29 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein each side of said matting surface has an end cap.  
   
   
       30 . The matting surface according to  claim 18  wherein said end cap is manufactured from an aluminum alloy selected from the Aluminum Association's 2XXX, 6XXX, and 7XXX series of aluminum alloys.  
   
   
       31 . A method of making a matting surface capable of carrying military equipment, the method comprising: 
 providing a first flooring member and a second flooring member, each of said first and second flooring members having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a first end, and a second end, said first flooring member having a laterally extending tabular member on said first end and a groove on said second end, said groove structured to slideably receive said laterally extending tabular member of an adjacent first flooring member, said second flooring member having an vertically extending tabular member on said second end and a groove on said first end, said groove structured to slideably receive said vertically extending tabular member of an adjacent second flooring member, each of said first and second flooring members having a plurality of T-brackets and L-brackets attached to and extending from said interior surface, said T-brackets and L-brackets extending perpendicularly from said interior surface of each of said first and second flooring members, each of said first and second flooring members having one or more support T-brackets that extend perpendicularly from said interior surface of said first and second flooring members;    positioning said first flooring member so that said T-brackets that extend from said first flooring member are located laterally adjacent to a groove that is formed between said L-brackets that extend from said second flooring member and said interior surface of said second flooring member and adjacent to and in contact with said interior surface of said second flooring member, and that said T-brackets that extend from said second flooring member are located laterally adjacent to a groove that is formed between said L-brackets that extend from said first flooring member and said interior surface of said first flooring member and adjacent to and in contact with said interior surface of said first flooring member; and    interlocking said first flooring member to said second flooring member by slidingly moving said first flooring member in a lateral direction whereby said T-brackets that extend from said first flooring member are slidingly received into said groove that is formed between said L-bracket of said second flooring member and said interior surface of said second flooring member and said T-brackets that extend from said second flooring member are slidingly received into said groove formed between said L-brackets of said first flooring member and said interior surface of said first flooring member.    
   
   
       32 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein prior to positioning said first flooring members, connecting a plurality of second flooring members by slidingly receiving said vertically extending tabular member of said second flooring member into said groove of an adjacent second flooring member thereby forming a joint between said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member.  
   
   
       33 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein positioning said first flooring member so that said first flooring member is offset from said second flooring member and said support T-brackets that are attached to and extend from said first flooring member are adjacent to and in contact with a surface of said joint that interconnects said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member.  
   
   
       34 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein connecting a plurality of first flooring members by slidingly receiving said laterally extending tabular member of said first flooring member into said groove of an adjacent first flooring member.  
   
   
       35 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein providing a first flooring member and a second flooring member selected from the Aluminum Association's 2XXX, 6XXX, and 7XXX series of aluminum alloys.  
   
   
       36 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein providing a first flooring member and a second flooring member selected from the group of aluminum alloys consisting essentially of the Aluminum Association's 2099, 2219, 2519, 6005, 6013, 6063, 6061, 7005, 7050, and 7075.  
   
   
       37 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein providing a first flooring member and a second flooring member manufactured from a composite.  
   
   
       38 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein inserting a plastic plug is between said T-brackets after interconnecting said first flooring member and said second flooring member to further interlock and to add stiffness to said interlocked first and second flooring members.  
   
   
       39 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein inserting one or more keys within a first channel, said first channel is defined by said interior surfaces of said first and second flooring members, said support T-brackets extending from said second flooring member, and said T-brackets extending from said first flooring member.  
   
   
       40 . The method of making a matting surface according to  claim 31  wherein positioning an end cap on each side of said matting surface.  
   
   
       41 . A method of repairing a matting surface capable of carrying military equipment wherein said matting surface comprises: 
 a damaged first flooring member;    a second flooring member;    said damaged first flooring member being substantially parallel to said second flooring member;    said damaged first flooring member having an extending tabular member on a first end and a groove on a second end, said groove is structured to slideably receive said tabular member of an adjacent first flooring member thereby interconnecting and forming a joint between said damaged first flooring member and said adjacent first flooring member;    said second flooring member having an extending tabular member on a second end and a groove on a first end, said grove is structured to slideably receive said tabular member of an adjacent second flooring member thereby interconnecting and forming a joint between said second flooring member and said adjacent second flooring member;    said damaged first member and said second flooring member each having means for connecting and interlocking said damaged first flooring member to said second flooring member; and    said damaged first flooring member and said second flooring member each having means for supporting said joints,    wherein the method comprises:    removing said groove on said second end of said damaged first flooring member from said damaged first flooring member thereby unlocking said damaged first flooring member from said adjacent first flooring member;    removing said damaged first flooring member from said matting surface; and    inserting an undamaged first flooring member in place of said damaged first flooring member.    
   
   
       42 . The method of repairing a matting surface according to  claim 41  further comprising inserting a repair piece in a gap formed between said undamaged first flooring member and said adjacent first flooring member.