APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONNECTING COMPONENTS OF A SUPPORT SURFACE

• US 20170073904A1
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Newpark Mats & Integrated Services LLC (Newpark Resources Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Newpark Mats & Integrated Services LLC (Newpark Resources Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gonsoulin, Ryan Michael, McDowell, James Kerwin, Tilley, David Jon
• Granted Patent: US 10,266,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2201/12 vertically interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/005 Individual couplings or spacer elements for joining the prefabricated units E01C5/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 9/08 Temporary pavings E01C9/008 takes precedence ; steel gratings E01C9/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/02 Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0233 allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/025 specially designed to compensate for misalignement or to eliminate unwanted play
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0642 the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/10 by means of bayonet connections F16B5/0092 takes precedence; fastening devices locking by rotation F16B21/02

Abstract

An adjustable, releasable locking pin for connecting at least first and second adjacent mats of a support surface includes a body and at least one foot operatively connected to the body proximate to the lower end thereof and configured to secure the locking pin to the mats. The foot is selectively movable from an unlocked position to at least one locked position and then, while in a locked position, selectively moveable upwardly relative to the body and the first and second mats.

Claims

1. An adjustable, releasable locking pin for connecting at least first and second adjacent mats of a support surface, the first mat being configured to at least partially overlap the second mat so that a locking pin hole extending through the first mat aligns over a locking pin hole extending through the second mat, the locking pin comprising;

a body having a main bore extending therethrough from an upper end to a lower end thereof, said body being configured to be inserted and extend into the aligned locking pin holes of the first and second mats and non-rotatable therein; and

a foot operatively connected to said body and positioned at least partially below said lower end of said body and the second mat when said body is inserted into the aligned locking pin holes of the first and second mats, said foot being rotatable relative to said body and the first and second mats from at least one unlocked position to at least one locked position after said body is inserted into the aligned locking pin holes of the first and second mats, said foot in said at least one unlocked position being at least partially aligned with said body and movable up and down with said body through the aligned locking pin holes of the first and second mats, said foot in said at least one locked position being positioned at least partially below the second mat, non-aligned with said body and non-movable up through the respective locking pin holes of the first and second mats to secure the locking pin to the mats, further wherein said foot in said locked position is selectively moveable upwardly relative to said body and the first and second mats to move said foot, in said locked position, closer to said lower end of said body.

2. The locking pin of claim 1 wherein said foot includes an elongated neck extending at least partially upwardly into said main bore of said body, further including an elongated retractor extending down into said main bore of said body from said upper end of said body and being rotatably moveable therein and relative to said body, said retractor being engaged with said neck of said foot and configured to assist in selectively moving said foot between said at least one unlocked position and said at least one locked position and, when said foot is in said at least one locked position, selectively moving said foot upwardly relative to said body closer to said lower end of said body.

3. The locking pin of claim 2 wherein said elongated retractor is at least one among a hexagonal head drive bolt and a socket head cap screw.

4. The locking pin of claim 2 wherein said elongated retractor is configured to assist in selectively moving said foot in said at least one locked position upwardly relative to said body closer to said lower end of said body without causing the rotation of said foot relative to said body.

5. The locking pin of claim 2 wherein said body includes a cut-out formed in the upper end thereof and in communication with said main bore, said body further including a seat disposed between said cut-out and said main bore, wherein said elongated retractor has upper and lower ends and a head disposed at said upper end thereof, said head being configured to rest upon or near said seat of said body, further including at least one spring sandwiched between said head of said elongated retractor and said seat and configured to assist in maintaining a tight engagement between said elongated retractor and said body during use of the locking pin.

6. The locking pin of claim 2 wherein said foot includes an at least partially threaded bore extending therethrough from an upper end to a lower end thereof, said bore having at least upper and lower portions, each said upper and lower portion having a width, wherein the width of said lower portion is greater than the width of said upper portion and forms a ledge between said upper and lower portions, said elongated retractor being disposed at least partially within said bore of said foot, wherein said elongated retractor has upper and lower ends, further including at least one stop collar coupled to said lower end of said elongated retractor, moveable with said retractor and configured to move up and down within said lower portion of said bore of said foot and not prevented from moving within said upper portion of said bore of said foot by said at least one stop collar.

7. The locking pin of claim 2 further including at least one retainer extending around said elongated retractor in said main bore of said body and above said foot, said at least one retainer being configured to secure the position of said engaged elongated retractor and foot relative to said body and prevent said engaged elongated retractor and foot relative from substantial sideways movement in said main bore of said body.

8. The locking pin of claim 2 wherein said elongated retractor and said at least one foot are each at least partially threaded and are threadably engaged together, wherein as said elongated retractor is rotated in one direction, said foot moves threadably upwardly on said elongated retractor and when said elongated retractor is rotated in the opposite direction, said foot moves threadably downwardly on said elongated retractor.

9. The locking pin of claim 8 wherein said neck of said foot includes an outer wall and at least one guide groove formed in said outer wall, further including at least one guide pin disposed within said body and extending at least partially into said main bore thereof and at least one said guide groove, wherein as said elongated retractor is rotated, the engagement of said at least one guide grove and said at least one associated guide pin dictates the position of said foot relative to said body as said foot moves threadably up or down said elongated retractor.

10. The locking pin of claim 9 wherein as said elongated retractor is rotated in one direction, said at least one guide groove is shaped to cause said foot to rotate relative to said body from said at least one unlocked position to said at least one locked position and thereafter cause said foot to remain in said at least one locked position and move substantially linearly upwardly relative to said body in the direction of said lower end of said body.

11. The locking pin of claim 10 wherein each said guide groove includes at least a first portion and a second portion, said first portion including a curved section that causes said foot to rotate between at least one said unlocked position and at least one said locked position and said second portion including a substantially linear section that causes said foot in at least one said locked position to move in a substantially linear path relative to said body as said elongated retractor is rotated in one direction.

12. The locking pin of claim 10 wherein as said elongated retractor is rotated in one direction, said at least one guide groove is shaped to cause said foot to rotate relative to said body from said at least one unlocked position to said at least one locked position and thereafter cause said foot to remain in said at least one locked position and move substantially linearly upwardly relative to said body in the direction of said lower end of said body without causing the rotation of said foot relative to said body.

13. The locking pin of claim 9 wherein said main bore of said body extends substantially vertically therethrough, further wherein said body includes at least one substantially horizontally-oriented passageway formed therein and in communication with said main bore, further wherein said at least one guide pin is at least partially disposed and fixed in a stationary position within said at least one substantially horizontally-oriented passageway.

14. The locking pin of claim 13 wherein said body includes first and second opposing sides, at least first and second said substantially horizontally-oriented passageways extending into said body from said first and second opposing sides, respectively, and first and second said guide pins disposed within said first and second said substantially horizontally-oriented passageways, respectively, further wherein said outer wall of said neck includes first and second said guide grooves on opposite sides thereof, whereby said first guide pin engages said first guide groove and said second guide pin engages said second guide groove.

15. A releasably interconnected support surface for use at an outdoor work-site, the support surface comprising:

at least first and second adjacent, reusable, stepped-configuration mats arranged and adapted to support the weight of people, vehicles and equipment thereupon, said first mat being configured to at least partially overlap said second mat so that a locking pin hole extending through said first mat aligns over a locking pin hole extending through said second mat; and

a plurality of adjustable, releasable locking pins, each said locking pin including a body and a foot associated with said body, said body having a main bore extending therethrough from an upper end to a lower end thereof and being configured to be inserted and extend into said aligned locking pin holes of said first and second mats, said foot being positioned at least partially below said lower end of said body and said second mat when said body is inserted into said aligned locking pin holes of said first and second mats, said foot being moveable from at least one unlocked position to at least one locked position relative to said body and said first and second mats and to secure said locking pin to said first and second mats after said body is inserted into said aligned locking pin holes of said first and second mats, further wherein said foot in said at least one locked position is selectively moveable upwardly relative to said body and said first and second mats to move said foot, in said at least one locked position, closer to said lower end of said body.

16. The support surface of claim 15 wherein each said mat is constructed of impermeable plastic, further wherein said foot in said at least one locked position is positioned at least partially below and engaged with said second mat and non-movable up through said respective aligned locking pin holes of said first and second mats.

17. The support surface of claim 15 further including an elongated retractor extending down into said main bore of said body from said upper end of said body and being rotatably moveable therein and relative to said body, said retractor being engaged with said foot and configured to assist in selectively moving said foot between said at least one unlocked position and said at least one locked position and, when said foot is in said at least one locked position, selectively moving said foot upwardly relative to said body closer to said lower end of said body.

18. The support surface of claim 17 wherein said elongated retractor and said at least one foot are each at least partially threaded and are threadably engaged together, wherein as said elongated retractor is rotated in one direction, said foot moves threadably upwardly on said elongated retractor and when said elongated retractor is rotated in the opposite direction, said foot moves threadably downwardly on said elongated retractor.

19. A method of releasably 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 locking pin hole in the first mat aligns over a locking pin hole in the second mat, the adjustable locking pin including a body, at least one foot and at least one elongated retractor, the body having a main bore extending therethrough from an upper end to a lower end thereof, the at least one foot being disposed proximate to the lower end of the body and the retractor extending into the main bore of the body, being rotatable relative to the body and engaging the at least one foot, the method comprising:

inserting the locking pin into the aligned locking pin holes of the first and second mats with the at least one foot in an unlocked position;

the retractor rotating the at least one foot to cause the at least one foot to move into at least one locked position so that the at least one foot is positioned below the second mat and is non-movable up through the respective locking pin holes of the first and second mats, securing the locking pin to the first and second mats; and

the retractor moving the at least one foot, in at least one locked position, upwardly relative to the body and the first and second mats to move the at least one foot closer to the lower end of the body while the at least one foot remains in at least one locked position.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one foot in the at least one locked position engages the second mat, further including at least one retainer disposed around the retractor in the main bore of the body and above the at least one foot substantially centering the retractor and at least one foot relative to the body.