Load-supporting surface with actively connected gap seals and related apparatus and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9637871-B2
Application number	US-201514730938-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Jun 18, 2014
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus for forming a liquid-tight seal across gaps formed between adjacent components of a load-supporting surface useful at an outdoor worksite includes a liquid-impermeable, elongated, seal member configured to be sealing coupled to first and second mats in the load-supporting surface and extend across the gap formed therebetween.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming a liquid-tight seal across gaps formed between adjacent components of a load-supporting surface useful at an outdoor worksite, the load-supporting surface being designed to support the weight of people, vehicles and equipment thereupon, the apparatus comprising:
at least first and second mats arranged and adapted to be positioned adjacent to one another and releasably interconnected in the load-supporting surface, each said mat being configured to support the weight of people, vehicles and equipment thereupon and undergo movement relative to one or more other said mats without disengaging from the load-supporting surface, each said mat having an upper surface, at least a first side and an outer edge extending along said first side, each said mat further including an elongated channel formed in said upper surface thereof and disposed proximate to and extending at least partially along said outer edge thereof, wherein when said first side of said first mat is positioned adjacent to said first side of said second mat in the load-supporting surface, a gap is formed between said adjacent outer edges of said respective first sides of said first and second mats; and
a liquid-impermeable, elongated seal member arranged and adapted to form a seal between said first and second mats across said gap to prevent the entry of liquid into said gap from said upper surfaces of said first and second mats, said elongated seal member being configured to be coupled to said respective elongated channels of said first and second mats, sealingly engage each of said first and second mats at one or more locations on each said respective mat other than said outer edge thereof and extend across said gap, said seal member being configured to move within said gap in response to movement of at least one of said mats without said seal member losing its sealing engagement with said first and second mats or disengaging from said elongated channels thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated seal member extends across said gap proximate to said respective upper surfaces of said first and second mats and further wherein said elongated seal member does not entirely fill said gap.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated seal member includes an elongated central body and first and second elongated legs extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof, said central body being configured to extend at least partially into and be configured to bend and flex within said gap.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each said mat includes at least one elongated recess formed in said upper surface thereof around said elongated channel, each said recess being configured to receive and sealing engage one of said legs of said seal member and position said associated leg flush with or below said upper surface of said respective mat, further wherein said central body of said elongated seal member extends downwardly relative to said legs and into said gap.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further including at least one elongated retainer secured within each said elongated channel and configured to receive and engage a portion of one of said legs of said seal member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said retainer has a width that is larger than the width of said associated channel and configured to be friction fit therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first and second legs of said elongated seal member each include at least one elongated dart extending downwardly therefrom, said dart of said first leg being configured to engage said retainer disposed within said elongated channel of said first mat and said dart of said second leg being configured to engage said retainer disposed within said elongated channel of said second mat.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each said elongated dart of each said leg includes an elongated, downwardly-extending neck, said neck including at least one elongated protrusion extending outwardly therefrom, said at least one protrusion being spaced downwardly from said associated leg and configured to engage said retainer disposed in said elongated channel of one of said mats.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each said retainer includes first and second opposing elongated interior side walls surrounding a cavity therebetween and at last one lip extending from one of said side walls into said cavity, said lip being configured to engage at least one of said protrusions of said neck of at least one said dart of one of said legs of said elongated seal member.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one protrusion is arrow-shaped.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one protrusion includes first and second elongated, spaced-apart fingers extending outwardly from opposing sides of said neck.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each said interior side wall of said retainer includes first and second lips, each said lip configured to engage one of said fingers of one of said protrusions.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said central body of said elongated seal member has an accordion shape.

14. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said central body of said elongated seal member has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape.

15. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said central body of said elongated seal member includes one or more cut-out portions.

16. Apparatus for forming a liquid-tight seal across gaps formed between adjacent components of a load-supporting surface useful at an outdoor worksite, the load-supporting surface being designed to withstand outdoor environmental conditions at the worksite and support the weight of people, vehicles and equipment thereupon during normal operating conditions, the apparatus comprising:
at least first and second thermoplastic mats arranged and adapted to be positioned adjacent to one another and releasably interconnected in the load-supporting surface, each said mat being configured to withstand outdoor environmental conditions at the worksite, support the weight of people, vehicles and equipment thereupon and move relative to one or more other said mats in the load-supporting surface during normal operating conditions, each said mat having an upper surface, at least a first side and an outer edge extending along said first side, wherein when said first side of said first mat is positioned adjacent to said first side of said second mat in the load-supporting surface, a gap is formed between said adjacent outer edges of said respective first sides of said first and second mats; and
a liquid-impermeable, elongated seal member constructed at least partially of rubber and arranged and adapted to form a seal between said first and second mats across said gap to prevent the entry of liquid into said gap from said upper surfaces of said first and second mats, said elongated seal member having an elongated central body and first and second elongated legs extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof, said first leg being configured to be sealingly coupled to said first mat at one or more locations on said mat other than said outer edge thereof and said second opposing leg being configured to be sealingly coupled to said second mat at one or more locations on said mat other than said outer edge thereof, said central body being configured to extend across said gap and move relative to said gap in response to movement of at least one of said mats in the load-supporting surface without said seal member losing its sealing engagement with said first and second mats.

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Assignees

• Newpark Mats & Integrated Services Llc

Inventors

• Bordelon Randy Paul
• Edwards Jr Richard Lamar
• Mcdowell James Kerwin

Classifications

• B29K2901/12

  Thermoplastic materials · CPC title

• B29C65/70

  by moulding (using a particular moulding technique, see the relevant technique {, e.g. by injection B29C45/14467}) · CPC title

• E01C5/005

  Individual couplings or spacer elements for joining the prefabricated units (E01C5/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E01C9/08 Primary

  Temporary pavings ({E01C9/008 takes precedence } ; steel gratings E01C9/10) · CPC title

• B29K2401/00

  Use of cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives, e.g. viscose, as filler · CPC title