Road Surface Matting

Abstract

The invention relates to road surface matting. It is known to overlay the ground with mats to make a better surface for vehicles to drive on. Known road matting includes beams arranged in parallel, each within its own pocket in a fabric mat. However, inordinate reliance on fabric makes matting vulnerable to wear and tear. The invention aims to go at least some way toward addressing this problem by providing matting having a first mat, a second mat, and a means for pivoting comprising at least two ball joints, each joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the joint. Each mat has a series of substantially parallel beams connected to one another, and the first and second mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.

1 . A road surface matting, comprising:
 a first mat;   a second mat; and   pivoting means comprising at least two ball joints, each joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the joint;   each mat having a series of substantially parallel beams connected to one another; and   the first and second mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.   
     
     
         2 . The road surface matting according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting means comprises four bail joints. 
     
     
         3 . The road surface matting according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a third and a fourth mat associated with the pivoting means in the same manner as the first and second mats. 
     
     
         4 . The road surface matting according to  claim 1 , wherein each mat is connected to the respective ball by a bolt which is in threaded engagement with the ball. 
     
     
         5 . The road surface matting according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting means comprises a plate with alignment ribs, and a corner of each mat sits at or above the plate against a respective one of the ribs. 
     
     
         6 . The road surface matting according to  claim 1 , wherein the beams of each mat are held together by a frame. 
     
     
         7 . The road surface matting according to  claim 1 , wherein reinforcing bars run parallel with the beams and are connected to the frame to provide rigidity to the mat. 
     
     
         8 . The road surface matting according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) there is at least a third and a fourth mat;   b) the pivoting means has four ball joints, each joint comprising a respective ball adapted to pivot within a respective housing;   c) each mat being connected to the respective ball and able to pivot with the ball; and   d) the beams comprise bamboo.   
     
     
         9 . A ground surface overlaid with the road surface matting according to  claim 1  to provide a road for vehicles. 
     
     
         10 . A mat for road surface matting, the mat having:
 a series of substantially parallel beams;   a frame holding together the beams, the frame comprising a first pair of □-channels and a second pair of U-channels;   a pair of reinforcing bars to provide rigidity to the frame; and   corner gusset brackets arranged at each of the four corners of the mat to provide rigidity to the frame;   wherein the mat is such that itis able to be connected to pivoting means comprising a ball joint, which is connected to another mat the same ; to form road surface matting.