Mat ramp securement and method

Abstract

A ramp member is provided for attachment with an edge of a floor mat to facilitate transportation of an object from a floor to an upper surface of the mat. A tab is provided which extends from the ramp member and defines a plane. Two projections extend from the plane of the tab out of alignment with the plane. Additionally, two cavities are formed in the ramp member adapted for receiving at least one of the two projections therein. A method of connecting ramp members is also included.

1 . A ramp member comprising:
 an attachment to connect the ramp member to a floor mat;   an end including an edge formed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ramp member;   a tab extending from the edge of the ramp member and defining a plane;   at least one projection extending from the plane of the tab out of alignment with the plane; and   at least one cavity adapted for receiving therein a projection formed on a second ramp member for connecting the ramp member to the second ramp member.   
   
   
       2 . The ramp member of  claim 1  wherein the projection formed on the second ramp member is substantially similar to the projection extending from the plane of the tab. 
   
   
       3 . The ramp member of  claim 1  wherein the at least one projection and the tab are generally transverse to one another. 
   
   
       4 . The ramp member of  claim 1  wherein the edge of the ramp member extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ramp member. 
   
   
       5 . The ramp member of  claim 1  further comprising a groove formed in a surface of the ramp member proximate the at least one cavity. 
   
   
       6 . The ramp member of  claim 1  wherein the tab extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ramp member. 
   
   
       7 . A floor mat assembly comprising:
 a floor mat; and   a ramp system including a plurality of ramp members; wherein   each ramp member includes an attachment to connect the ramp member to a floor mat, an end including an edge formed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ramp member, a tab extending from the edge of the ramp member and defining a plane, at least one projection extending from the plane of the tab out of alignment with the plane, and at least one cavity positioned in the ramp member adapted for receiving therein at least one projection formed on the tab of a second ramp member within the plurality of ramp members for connecting the ramp member to the second ramp member.   
   
   
       8 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 7  wherein the projections and the tabs are generally transverse to one another. 
   
   
       9 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 7  wherein the edge of each ramp member extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of each ramp member. 
   
   
       10 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 7  wherein each ramp member further comprises a groove formed in a surface of the ramp member proximate the at least one cavity. 
   
   
       11 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 7  wherein the tab of each ramp member extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each ramp member. 
   
   
       12 . A ramp member adapted for attachment to an edge of a floor mat comprising:
 an end including an edge formed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ramp member;   a tab extending from the edge of the ramp member and defining a plane;   two projections extending from the plane of the tab out of alignment with the plane; and   two cavities adapted for receiving therein at least one projection formed on a second ramp member for connecting the ramp member to the second ramp member.   
   
   
       13 . The ramp member of  claim 12  wherein the projections and the tab are generally transverse to one another. 
   
   
       14 . The ramp member of  claim 12  further comprising a third projection extending from the tab. 
   
   
       15 . The ramp member of  claim 14  wherein the ramp member includes a third cavity adapted for receiving therein at least one projection formed on the second ramp member. 
   
   
       16 . The ramp member of  claim 15  wherein the ramp member includes a fourth cavity adapted for receiving therein at least one projection formed on the second ramp member. 
   
   
       17 . The ramp member of  claim 16  further comprising a groove formed in a surface of the ramp member proximate the fourth cavity. 
   
   
       18 . The ramp member of  claim 17  wherein the two projections are spaced a predetermined distance apart and the groove is spaced apart from the at least one cavity approximately one half of the predetermined distance. 
   
   
       19 . The ramp member of  claim 14  wherein the tab further comprises a second tab portion from which the third projection extends. 
   
   
       20 . The ramp member of  claim 12  wherein the edge of the ramp member extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ramp member. 
   
   
       21 . The ramp member of  claim 12  wherein the tab comprises a first tab portion from which the two projections extend. 
   
   
       22 . The ramp member of  claim 12  wherein the two projections are spaced a predetermined distance apart. 
   
   
       23 . The ramp member of  claim 22  further comprising a groove formed in a surface of the ramp member proximate one of the two cavities. 
   
   
       24 . The ramp member of  claim 23  wherein the groove is spaced apart from the cavity approximately one half of the predetermined distance. 
   
   
       25 . The ramp member of  claim 12  wherein the tab extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ramp member. 
   
   
       26 . The ramp member of  claim 12  wherein a second end of the ramp member has an edge formed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ramp member. 
   
   
       27 . The ramp member of  claim 26  wherein the edge of the second end of the ramp member extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ramp member. 
   
   
       28 . A floor mat assembly comprising:
 a floor mat; and   a ramp system, adapted for attachment to the floor mat, including a plurality of ramp members; wherein   each ramp member includes an end including an edge formed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ramp member, a tab extending from the edge of the ramp member and defining a plane, two projections extending from the plane of the tab out of alignment with the plane, and two cavities positioned in the ramp member adapted for receiving therein at least one projection formed on the tab of a second ramp member within the plurality of ramp members for connecting the ramp member to the second ramp member.   
   
   
       29 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 28  wherein the projections and the tab are generally transverse to one another. 
   
   
       30 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 28  wherein each ramp member further comprises a third projection extending from the tab. 
   
   
       31 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 30  wherein each ramp member includes a third cavity adapted for receiving therein at least one projection formed on the tab of the second ramp member. 
   
   
       32 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 31  wherein each ramp member includes a fourth cavity adapted for receiving therein at least one projection formed on the tab of the second ramp member. 
   
   
       33 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 32  wherein each ramp member further comprising a groove formed in a surface of the ramp member proximate the fourth cavity. 
   
   
       34 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 30  wherein the tab of each ramp member further comprises a second tab portion from which the third projection extends. 
   
   
       35 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 28  wherein the edge of each ramp member extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of each ramp member. 
   
   
       36 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 28  wherein the tab of each ramp member comprises a first tab portion from which the two projections extend. 
   
   
       37 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 28  wherein the two projections of each ramp member are spaced a predetermined distance apart. 
   
   
       38 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 37  wherein each ramp member further comprises a groove formed in a surface of the ramp member proximate one of the two cavities. 
   
   
       39 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 38  wherein the groove in each ramp member is spaced apart from the cavity approximately one half of the predetermined distance. 
   
   
       40 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 28  wherein the tab of each ramp member extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each ramp member. 
   
   
       41 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 28  wherein a second end of each ramp member has an edge formed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of each ramp member. 
   
   
       42 . The floor mat assembly of  claim 41  wherein the edge of the second end of each ramp member extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of each ramp member.