Adjustable mat locking pin and methods of use thereof

Abstract

An adjustable locking pin useful for connecting at least first and second adjacent mats includes an elongated main body having a bore extending therethrough. An elongated rotor is configured to be disposed at least partially within the bore of the main body and extend downwardly therefrom. The rotor includes at least one foot disposed at its lower end and configured to releasably engage the second mat, The rotor is moveable relative to the main body to provide multiple locking positions of the locking pin relative to the first and second mats.

1 . Adjustable locking pin useful for connecting at least first and second adjacent mats configured to be placed upon the ground or another one or more surfaces, the first mat being configured to at least partially overlap the second mat so that a connecting hole in the first mat aligns over a connecting hole in the second mat, the adjustable locking pin comprising:
 an elongated main body having an upper end, a lower end and an at least partially threaded bore extending through said main body, said main body being configured to extend through the connecting hole of the first mat and into the connecting hole of the second mat; and   an elongated at least partially threaded rotor configured to threadably engage said bore of said main body and extend therefrom, said rotor having an upper end and a lower end and being configured to be rotatable through at least one 360 degree revolution of rotation relative to said main body,   said rotor having at least one foot disposed at said lower end thereof and being movable therewith relative to said main body, each said foot being rotatably movable between multiple locking and multiple unlocked positions when said main body is disposed within the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats, wherein each said foot in each said unlocked position is configured to be movable up through the connecting holes of the first and second mats, further wherein each said foot in each said locking position is configured to be non-movable up through the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats, engage the second mat at least partially around the connecting hole thereof and anchor the locking pin to the first and second mats,   wherein said rotor is configured so that the rotation thereof in one direction relative to said main body draws said foot closer to said bottom of said main body and provides at least two different said locking positions of said foot, said foot in each said successive locking position being configured to form a tighter connection of the first and second mats, whereby the rotational adjustability of said rotor allows the first and second mats to be tightly held together.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 1  wherein said main body includes a head at said upper end thereof, said head being configured to assist in preventing the rotation of said main body in the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 2  further including at least one elastomeric seal extending around the periphery of said head of said main body, said at least one seal being configured to form a fluid tight seal between said head of said main body and the first mat around the connecting hole thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 3  wherein said at least one seal is configured to prevent the entry of liquid into the connecting hole of the first mat from above. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 3  wherein each said foot, in each successive locking position as it is rotated in one direction, is configured to form a tighter connection of the first and second mats and increase compression of said at least one seal between said head of said main body and the first mat. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 3  wherein the first mat includes an indentation formed in an upper surface thereof around the connecting hole thereof, the indentation having a rim extending around the connecting hole, the rim having a curved outer surface, further wherein said head of said main body at least partially seats within the indentation of the first mat and said at least one seal is configured to engage and be compressed against the rim of the indentation of the first mat. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 6  wherein said at least one seal includes an upper bulb portion and an elongated lip extending downwardly therefrom, said upper bulb portion and elongated lip both extending around said head of said main body, said lip having a length defined by inwardly-tapered inner and outer sides terminating at a rounded bottom portion, wherein as said at least one seal is compressed between said head and the rim of the indentation of the first mat, said rounded bottom portion of said lip is configured to engage said rim. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 3  wherein the outer peripheral edge of said head of said main body has an unbroken oblong shape, further including at least one recess formed in said head to receive an extraction tool useful for removing the adjustable locking pin from the first and second mats, said at least one recess being spaced away from said outer peripheral edge of said head to allow a fluid tight seal to be formed around said head and between said at least one seal and the first mat. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 1  wherein said rotor has at least three threads formed therein. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 9  wherein each said foot has a flat upper surface. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 9  wherein the second mat includes an indentation formed in a lower surface thereof around the connecting hole thereof, further wherein each said foot in each said locking position engages the indentation of the second mat. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 1  wherein said rotor includes at least 5 threads formed therein. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 1  wherein said rotor is configured to allow the tight connection of at least first and second mats having different respective thicknesses or being disposed upon an uneven surface. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 1  wherein said main body has a plurality of weight reduction cut-outs formed therein. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 14  wherein said plurality of weight reduction cut-outs includes a plurality of slots formed in said main body, a plurality of ribs formed in said main body or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 1  wherein said rotor is configured to be rotatable through at least two 360 degree revolutions of rotation relative to said main body and wherein the rotation of said rotor in one direction relative to said main body provides at least four different said locking positions of said at least one foot, each said foot in each successive locking position being configured to form a tighter connection of the first and second mats. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable locking pin of  claim 1  wherein said bore of said main body includes an upper section and a ledge disposed at the lower end of said upper section, further wherein said rotor includes a rotor head configured to be axially moveable within said upper section of said bore and sealable on said ledge of said bore, further wherein said rotor head includes a receiver at its upper end configured to receive a tool useful to rotate said rotor relative to said main body. 
     
     
         18 . A sealing locking pin releasably engageable with at least first and second adjacent mats placed upon the ground or another one or more surfaces and useful to connect the mats together, the first mat being configured to at least partially overlap the second mat so that a connecting hole in the first mat aligns over a connecting hole in the second mat, the connecting hole of each mat extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of its respective mat, the sealing locking pin comprising:
 an elongated main body having an upper end, a lower end and a bore extending through said main body, said main body being configured to extend through the connecting hole of the first mat and into the connecting hole of the second mat, said main body having a head at said upper end thereof configured to engage the upper surface of the first mat around the connecting hole thereof;   at least one elastomeric seal configured to extend around the periphery of said head of said main body, said at least one seal being configured to form a fluid tight seal between said head and the upper surface of the first mat when the locking pin is engaged with the first and second mats; and   an elongated rotor configured to be disposed at least partially within said bore of said main body and extend downwardly therefrom, said rotor having an upper end and a lower end and being configured to be movable upwardly and downwardly in said bore relative to said main body, said rotor having at least one foot disposed at said lower end thereof and being movable therewith relative to said main body, each said foot being movable between multiple successive locking and unlocked positions when said rotor is moved in at least one direction relative to said main body and said main body is disposed within the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats, wherein each said foot in each said unlocked position is configured to be movable up through the connecting holes of the first and second mats, and wherein each said foot in each said locking position is configured to be non-movable up through the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats, engage the lower surface of the second mat at least partially around the connecting hole thereof and anchor the locking pin to the first and second mats.   
     
     
         19 . The sealing locking pin of  claim 18  wherein when said rotor is moved upwardly relative to said main body, each said foot in each said successive locking position is configured to form a tighter connection of the first and second mats. 
     
     
         20 . The sealing locking pin of  claim 18  wherein said main body is configured to be non-rotatable when disposed in the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats. 
     
     
         21 . A method of connecting at least first and second mats positionable on the ground or one or more other surfaces with the use of an adjustable locking pin, the first mat at least partially overlapping the second mat so that a connecting hole in the first mat aligns over a connecting hole in the second mat, the adjustable locking pin having a main body with a threaded bore extending therethrough, a threaded rotor threadably engaged in the bore and extending downwardly therefrom, having a foot at its lower end and being rotatable in each direction through at least one 360 degree revolution of rotation relative to the main body, the method comprising:
 inserting the main body through the connecting hole of the first mat and into the connecting hole of the second mat until the foot of the rotor is positioned below the second mat; and   selectively rotating the rotor relative to the main body and the first and second mats in the direction that moves the foot of the rotor closer to the main body into one among at least two different locking positions of the foot relative to the mats until a head at the upper end of the main body tightly engages the first mat at least partially around the connecting hole thereof and the foot of the rotor tightly engages the second mat at least partially around the connecting hole thereof, preventing vertical movement of either mat relative to the other at the location of the locking pin.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further including compressing at least one elastomeric seal that extends around the periphery of the head of the main body against the first mat, the at least one seal forming a fluid tight seal between the head of the main body and the first mat around the connecting hole thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further including, after the passage of time since the first and second mats are connected with the adjustable locking pin and at least one of the mats has deformed, deteriorated or shifted, again selectively rotating the rotor relative to the main body and the first and second mats in the direction that moves the foot of the rotor closer to the main body until the head of the main body tightly engages the first mat and the foot of the rotor tightly engages the second mat, preventing vertical movement of either mat relative to the other at the location of the locking pin.