Ground cover mat manufactured from recycled plastic

• US 5,807,021 A
• Filed: 11/29/1995
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ground Protection LLC
• Original Assignee: James F. Aaron
• Inventors: Aaron, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lisehora, James
• Application Number:
  US08/564,590
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 404/19, 404/35, 404/36, 404/44, 428/156, 428/213, D25/163, D25/157, D25/158, D25/159, 238/14, 52/177
• US Class Current: 404/19
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 39/12 the material being sheet-like or web-like

Abstract

The present invention provides a ground cover mat that protects the terrain from a vehicle or the like. The ground cover mat is manufactured by molding recycled polyethylene plastic into a sheet-like mat, which is inexpensive, relatively light in weight, durable in harsh conditions and easy to cut. The ground cover mat includes a pattern of lugs on its upper and lower surfaces to provide a traction surface for the vehicle and to provide friction between the terrain and the ground cover mat.

Claims

1. A ground cover mat to provide traction to vehicles and to protect terrain from damage, the ground cover mat comprising:

a flexible sheet formed from molded plastic and having an upper surface and a lower surface on opposite sides thereof;

a first plurality of elongated lugs and a second plurality of elongated lugs formed substantially over the entire upper surface of the flexible sheet; and

a third plurality of elongated lugs and a forth plurality of elongated lugs formed substantially over the entire lower surface of the flexible sheet, wherein;

each lug has a similar size and has a height that varies between opposite ends thereof in a convex arcuate shape relative to its respective surface of the flexible sheet;

each of the plurality of lugs is disposed in a pattern of parallel columns;

the lugs in each column have their elongated axes aligned;

adjacent lugs in each column are separated by a space;

the columns of the first plurality of lugs and the columns of the third plurality of lugs are positioned in opposition on opposite sides of the flexible sheet;

the lugs of the third plurality of lugs are positioned in opposition with the spaces between adjacent lugs in each column of the first plurality of lugs and vice versa;

the columns of the second plurality of lugs and the columns of the fourth plurality of lugs are positioned in opposition on opposite sides of the flexible sheet and are positioned perpendicular to the columns of the first plurality of lugs and the columns of the second plurality of lugs;

the lugs of the fourth plurality of lugs are positioned in opposition with the spaces between adjacent lugs in each column of the second plurality of lugs and vice versa;

the lugs of the first plurality of lugs have central parts positioned in opposition with central parts of the lugs of the fourth plurality of lugs; and

the lugs of the second plurality of lugs have central parts positioned in opposition with central parts of the lugs of the third plurality of lugs.

2. The ground cover mat as claimed in claim 1, further including a plurality of holes drilled along a perimeter of the molded plastic sheet.

3. The ground cover mat as claimed in claim 1, further including a plurality of paired holes drilled along the perimeter of the molded plastic sheet.

4. A ground cover mat to provide traction to vehicles and to protect terrain from damage, the ground cover mat comprising:

a flexible sheet molded from recycled low-density polyethylene;

a plurality of elongated lugs formed substantially over an entire upper surface of the flexible sheet and defining a first plurality of parallel columns and a second plurality of parallel columns positioned perpendicular to the first plurality of parallel columns; and

a plurality of elongated lugs formed substantially over an entire lower surface of the flexible sheet and defining a third plurality of parallel columns and a fourth plurality of parallel columns positioned perpendicular to the third plurality of parallel columns, wherein;

each lug has a similar size and has a height that varies between opposite ends thereof in a convex arcuate shape relative to its respective surface of the flexible sheet;

each column includes a plurality of lugs having their elongated axes aligned;

adjacent lugs in each column are separated by a space;

the columns of the first plurality of parallel columns and the columns of the third plurality of parallel columns are positioned in opposition on opposite sides of the flexible sheet;

the columns of the second plurality of parallel columns and the columns of the fourth plurality of parallel columns are positioned in opposition on opposite sides of the flexible sheet and are positioned perpendicular to the columns of the first plurality of parallel columns and the columns of the third plurality of parallel columns;

the lugs of the first plurality of columns are positioned in opposition with the spaces between adjacent lugs in each column of the third plurality of columns and vice versa;

the lugs of the second plurality of columns are positioned in opposition with the spaces between adjacent lugs in each column of the fourth plurality of columns and vice versa;

the lugs of the first plurality of columns have central parts positioned in opposition with central parts of the lugs of the fourth plurality of columns; and

the lugs of the second plurality of columns have central parts positioned in opposition with central parts of the lugs of the third plurality of columns.

5. A ground cover mat comprising:

a flexible plastic sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface; and

a plurality of elongated lugs formed substantially over the entire upper and lower surfaces of the sheet, each lug having a similar size and having a height that varies between opposite ends thereof in a convex arcuate shape relative to its respective surface of the sheet, wherein;

the lugs on the upper surface define a first plurality of parallel columns and a second plurality of parallel columns perpendicular to each other;

the lugs on the lower surface define a third plurality of parallel columns and a fourth plurality of parallel columns perpendicular to each other;

the lugs of each column have their elongated axes aligned and adjacent lugs of each column are separated by a space;

the lugs of the first and third plurality of parallel columns and the lugs of the second and fourth plurality of parallel columns are positioned in opposition on opposite sides of the sheet;

the lugs of the third plurality of parallel columns are positioned in opposition with the spaces between adjacent lugs in each column of the first plurality of columns and vice versa;

the lugs of the fourth plurality of parallel columns are positioned in opposition with the spaces between adjacent lugs in each column of the second plurality of columns and vice versa; and

the lugs of the first and fourth plurality of columns and the lugs of the second and third plurality of columns have central parts positioned in opposition on opposite side of the sheet.