Tile assemblies for vehicle support

Abstract

A tile assembly for supporting vehicles can include a base and a frame attachable to the base and surrounding a portion of the base. A support mat system for supporting vehicles can include a first tile assembly, the first tile assembly comprising a base and a frame attachable to the base and surrounding a portion of the base; and a second tile assembly, a portion of an outer perimeter of the first tile assembly attached to a portion of an outer perimeter of the second tile assembly.

1 . A tile assembly for supporting vehicles, the tile assembly comprising:
 a base; and   a frame attachable to the base and surrounding a portion of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The tile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tile assembly defines an outer perimeter defining a plurality of keys and a plurality of keyholes. 
     
     
         3 . The tile assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each key and each keyhole are defined by both the base and the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The tile assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of keys and the plurality of keyholes are arranged in an alternating pattern around the outer perimeter of the tile assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The tile assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each key defines a pair of wings extending from lateral sides of each key. 
     
     
         6 . The tile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame defines a hexagonal inner perimeter defining straight edges. 
     
     
         7 . The tile assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the base defines a top surface defining a hexagonal outer edge that is complementary to the hexagonal inner perimeter of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The tile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame defines a plurality of pins extending downward, and wherein the base defines a plurality of pinholes sized to receive the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         9 . The tile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base defines a plurality of alternating tabs and grooves along an outer bottom perimeter of the base, and wherein each tab is configured to engage a respective groove of an adjacent base of a tile assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The tile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base defines a plurality of straight support ribs and a plurality of cylindrical supports, the cylindrical supports arranged between ends of the straight ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The tile assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the base defines a base top surface defining a plurality of grooves  226  vertically aligned with the plurality of straight support ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The tile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base defines a base top surface and the frame defines a frame top surface, and wherein the base top surface and the frame top surface are coplanar. 
     
     
         13 . The tile assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises an outer attachment portion defining a smaller height than the base top surface, and wherein the frame is positioned on the outer attachment portion. 
     
     
         14 . A support mat system for supporting vehicles, the support mat system comprising:
 a first tile assembly, the first tile assembly comprising a base and a frame attachable to the base and surrounding a portion of the base; and   a second tile assembly, a portion of an outer perimeter of the first tile assembly attached to a portion of an outer perimeter of the second tile assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The support mat system of  claim 14 , wherein the outer perimeter of the first tile assembly comprises a key and the outer perimeter of the second tile assembly comprises a keyhole, and wherein the key of the first tile assembly engages the keyhole of the second tile assembly to attach the first tile assembly to the second tile assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The support mat system of  claim 15 , wherein the outer perimeter of the second tile assembly comprises a key and the outer perimeter of the first tile assembly comprises a keyhole, and wherein the key of the second tile assembly engages the keyhole of the first tile assembly to attach the first tile assembly to the second tile assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The support mat system of  claim 14 , further comprising a third tile assembly, a portion of an outer perimeter of the third tile assembly attached to a portion of the outer perimeter of the first tile assembly and a portion of the outer perimeter of the second tile assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The support mat system of  claim 14 , wherein the first tile assembly and the second tile assembly each define a substantially hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a support mat system, the method comprising:
 attaching a first frame to a first base to form a first tile assembly, the first frame surrounding a portion of the first base, the first tile assembly defining a key;   attaching a second frame to a second base to form a second tile assembly, the second frame surrounding a portion of the second base, the second tile assembly defining a keyhole; and   inserting the key into the keyhole to attach the first tile assembly to the second tile assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the key is a first key, the keyhole is a first keyhole, the first tile assembly defines a second keyhole, and the second tile assembly defines a second key, the method further comprising:
 attaching a third frame to a third base to form a third tile assembly, the third frame surrounding a portion of the third base, the third tile assembly defining a third key and a third keyhole; and   inserting the third key into the second keyhole and inserting the second key into the third keyhole to attach the third tile assembly to the first tile assembly and the second tile assembly.