Protective Edge Member For A Laminated Support Mat

Abstract

A protective edge member for a support mat includes an elongated substantially corrugated body defining two elongated ridges separated by an elongated groove.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective edge member for a support mat, the protective edge member comprising an elongated substantially corrugated body defining two elongated ridges separated by an elongated groove. 
     
     
         2 . The protective edge member according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated substantially corrugated body includes:
 first and second elongated outboard walls;   first and second elongated inboard walls, wherein the first and second elongated outboard walls are connected to the first and second elongated inboard walls, respectively; and   a central wall that connects the first and second elongated inboard walls.   
     
     
         3 . The protective edge member according to  claim 2 , wherein the first elongated inboard wall and the first elongated outboard wall define a first elongated ridge, wherein the second elongated inboard wall and the second elongated outboard wall define a second elongated ridge, and wherein the first elongated inboard wall, the second elongated inboard wall, and the central wall connected therebetween define the elongated groove. 
     
     
         4 . The protective edge member according to  claim 3 , wherein a first elongated side edge of the first outboard wall defines a first support mat engagement surface, and a first elongated side edge of the second outboard wall defines a second support mat engagement surface. 
     
     
         5 . The protective edge member according to  claim 4 , wherein a wide face of the central wall defines a third support mat engagement surface. 
     
     
         6 . The protective edge member according to  claim 2 , further including:
 a first intermediate wall between the first outboard wall and the first inboard wall; and   a second intermediate wall between the second outboard wall and the second inboard wall, wherein the first and second intermediate walls are substantially parallel to the central wall.   
     
     
         7 . The protective edge member according to  claim 5 , further including:
 a first intermediate wall between the first outboard wall and the first inboard wall; and   a second intermediate wall between the second outboard wall and the second inboard wall, wherein the first and second intermediate walls are substantially parallel to the central wall.   
     
     
         8 . The protective edge member according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second outboard walls extend a first distance from their respective first and second mat engagement surfaces to an outside surface of the each of the first and second intermediate walls; and
 wherein the first and second inboard walls extend a second distance, shorter than the first distance and measured along a line that extends substantially perpendicularly from the third support mat engagement surface of the central wall to the respective outside surfaces of the each of the first and second intermediate walls.   
     
     
         9 . The protective edge member according to  claim 8 , wherein a difference between the first distance and the second distance is a third distance, and wherein the third distance is about 25 percent of the first distance. 
     
     
         10 . The protective edge member according to  claim 9 , wherein the third distance is about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         11 . A support mat comprising:
 a plurality of vertically oriented individual wood members adhesively bonded to each other, each of the individual wood members having wide faces oriented parallel to a direction of a load applied to the support mat, the support mat having outboard wood members, the outwardly facing wide faces of the outboard wood members defining an outboard wide face of the support mat;   a protective edge member attached to at least one of the outboard wide faces of the support mat, each protective edge member comprising an elongated substantially corrugated body defining two elongated ridges separated by an elongated groove; and   a substantially rigid fastener extending through and connecting the protective edge member to the support mat.   
     
     
         12 . The support mat according to  claim 11 , wherein the elongated substantially corrugated body of the protective edge member includes:
 first and second elongated outboard walls;   first and second elongated inboard walls, wherein the first and second elongated outboard walls are connected to the first and second elongated inboard walls, respectively; and   a central wall that connects the first and second elongated inboard walls.   
     
     
         13 . The support mat according to  claim 12 , wherein the first elongated inboard wall and the first elongated outboard wall define a first elongated ridge, wherein the second elongated inboard wall and the second elongated outboard wall define a second elongated ridge, and wherein the first elongated inboard wall, the second elongated inboard wall, and the central wall connected therebetween define the elongated groove. 
     
     
         14 . The support mat according to  claim 13 , wherein a first elongated side edge of the first outboard wall defines a first support mat engagement surface, and a first elongated side edge of the second outboard wall defines a second support mat engagement surface. 
     
     
         15 . The support mat according to  claim 14 , wherein a wide face of the central wall defines a third support mat engagement surface. 
     
     
         16 . The support mat according to  claim 15 , further including:
 a first intermediate wall between the first outboard wall and the first inboard wall; and   a second intermediate wall between the second outboard wall and the second inboard wall, wherein the first and second intermediate walls are substantially parallel to the central wall.   
     
     
         17 . The support mat according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second outboard walls extend a first distance from their respective first and second mat engagement surfaces to an outside surface of the each of the first and second intermediate walls; and
 wherein the first and second inboard walls extend a second distance, shorter than the first distance and measured along a line that extends substantially perpendicularly from the third support mat engagement surface of the central wall to the respective outside surfaces of the each of the first and second intermediate walls.   
     
     
         18 . The support mat according to  claim 17 , wherein a difference between the first distance and the second distance is a third distance, and wherein the third distance is about 25 percent of the first distance. 
     
     
         19 . The support mat according to  claim 18 , wherein the third distance is about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The support mat according to  claim 15 , wherein the protective edge member is configured such that when attached to the support mat with the rigid fastener, the third support mat engagement surface is urged into contact with the outboard wide face of the support mat, and the first and second mat engagement surfaces one of engage with and penetrate into the outboard wide face of the support mat.