Flexible grid and predominantly concrete mat employing same

Abstract

A predominantly concrete mat comprises a concrete slab having two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges and having relatively thicker portions and relatively thinner portions, which include relatively thinner portions among the longitudinal and transverse edges, and a flexible grid embedded in the concrete slab. The flexible grid, which is polymeric, is molded so as to have longitudinally extending members and transversely extending members. End portions of specific ones but not all of the longitudinally extending members of the flexible grid extend into and nearly or completely through the relatively thinner portions along the transverse edges of the concrete slab. End portions of specific ones but not all of the transversely extending members of the flexible grid extend into and nearly or completely through the relatively thinner portions along the longitudinal edges of the concrete slab.

1 . A flexible grid adapted to be embedded in a concrete slab having two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges and having relatively thicker portions and relatively thinner portions, which include relatively thinner portions among the longitudinal and transverse edges, the flexible grid having longitudinally extending members and transversely extending members, the longitudinally and transversely extending members meeting at nodes, wherein specific ones of the longitudinally extending members have end portions extending beyond the end portions of the others of the longitudinally extending portions and beyond whichever of the transversely extending members are endmost, and wherein specific ones of the transversely extending members have end portions extending beyond the end portions of the others of the transversely extending portions and beyond whichever of the longitudinally extending members are endmost. 
   
   
       2 . The flexible grid of  claim 1 , wherein all of the longitudinally extending members have end portions extending beyond whichever of the transversely extending members are endmost, while the end portions of the specific ones of the longitudinally extending members extend further than the other ones of the longitudinally extending members beyond whichever of the transversely extending members are endmost, and wherein all of the longitudinally extending members have end portions extending beyond whichever of the transversely extending members are endmost, while the end portions of the specific ones of the transversely extending members extend further than the other ones of the transversely extending members beyond whichever of the longitudinally extending members are endmost. 
   
   
       3 . The flexible grid of  claim 1 , wherein the specific ones of the longitudinally extending members are separated from one another and from whichever of the transversely extending members are endmost by one or more of the longitudinally extending members, and wherein the specific ones of the transversely extending members are separated from one another and from whichever of the longitudinally extending members are endmost by one or more of the transversely extending members. 
   
   
       4 . The flexible grid of  claim 2 , wherein the specific ones of the longitudinally extending members are separated from one another and from whichever of the transversely extending members are endmost by one or more of the longitudinally extending members, and wherein the specific ones of the transversely extending members are separated from one another and from whichever of the longitudinally extending members are endmost by one or more of the transversely extending members. 
   
   
       5 . A predominantly concrete mat comprising a concrete slab having two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges and having relatively thicker portions and relatively thinner portions, which include relatively thinner portions among the longitudinal and transverse edges, and a flexible grid according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein the flexible grid is embedded in the concrete slab so that the end portions of the specific ones of the longitudinally extending members of the flexible grid extend into the relatively thinner portions along the transverse edges of the concrete slab and so that the end portions of the specific ones of the transversely extending members of the flexible grid extend into the relatively thinner portions along the longitudinal edges of the concrete slab. 
   
   
       6 . A predominantly concrete mat comprising a concrete slab having two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges and having relatively thicker portions and relatively thinner portions, which include relatively thinner portions among the longitudinal and transverse edges, and a flexible grid according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein the flexible grid is embedded in the concrete slab so that the end portions of the specific ones of the longitudinally extending members of the flexible grid extend into and nearly or completely through the relatively thinner portions along the transverse edges of the concrete slab and so that the end portions of the specific ones of the transversely extending members of the flexible grid extend into and nearly or completely through the relatively thinner portions along the longitudinal edges of the concrete slab.