Apparatus and methods for connecting mats
First Claim
1. Adjustable locking pin for connecting at least first and second overlapping mats placed upon the ground or another one or more surfaces, the first mat at least partially overlapping the second mat so that a connecting hole in the first mat is aligned over a connecting hole in the second mat, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongated main body having an upper end, a lower end and an at least partially threaded bore extending through said main body, said main body being configured to extend through the connecting hole of the first mat and into the connecting hole of the second mat and configured to prevent its rotation therein, said main body having an enlarged head at said upper end configured to at least partially seat within an indentation formed an the upper surface of the first mat around the connecting hole thereof;
an elastomeric seal extending around the periphery of said enlarged head of said main body, said seal being configured to form a fluid tight seal between said enlarged head and the indentation formed in the first mat; and
an elongated at least partially threaded rotor threadably engaged in said bore of said main body and extending downwardly therefrom, said rotor having an upper end and a lower end and being configured to be rotatable through at least two 360 degree revolutions of rotation relative to said main body,said rotor having a foot disposed at said lower end thereof and being movable therewith relative to said main body, said foot being movable between multiple locking and multiple unlocked positions when said main body is disposed within the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats, said foot in each said unlocked position being movable up through the connecting holes of the first and second mats, said foot in each said locking position being non-movable up through the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats and being engageable with an indentation formed in a lower surface of the second mat around the connecting hole thereof; and
wherein said rotor is configured so that each 360°
revolution of rotation thereof in one direction relative to said main body draws said foot closer to said bottom of said main body and provides at least two different locking positions of said foot, said foot in each successive locking position being configured to form a tighter connection of the first and second mats and increase the compression of said elastomeric seal between said enlarged head of said main body and the indentation formed in the first mat, whereby the rotational adjustability of said rotor allows the first and second mats to be tightly held together.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable locking pin for connecting at least first and second overlapping mats includes an elongated main body, an elastomeric seal extending around the periphery of an enlarged head of the main body and an elongated rotor threadably engaged in a bore of the main body. The rotor is rotatable through at least two 360 degree revolutions of rotation relative to the main body and includes a foot at its bottom end. The rotational adjustability of the rotor allows the first and second mats to be tightly held together.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. Adjustable locking pin for connecting at least first and second overlapping mats placed upon the ground or another one or more surfaces, the first mat at least partially overlapping the second mat so that a connecting hole in the first mat is aligned over a connecting hole in the second mat, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated main body having an upper end, a lower end and an at least partially threaded bore extending through said main body, said main body being configured to extend through the connecting hole of the first mat and into the connecting hole of the second mat and configured to prevent its rotation therein, said main body having an enlarged head at said upper end configured to at least partially seat within an indentation formed an the upper surface of the first mat around the connecting hole thereof; an elastomeric seal extending around the periphery of said enlarged head of said main body, said seal being configured to form a fluid tight seal between said enlarged head and the indentation formed in the first mat; and an elongated at least partially threaded rotor threadably engaged in said bore of said main body and extending downwardly therefrom, said rotor having an upper end and a lower end and being configured to be rotatable through at least two 360 degree revolutions of rotation relative to said main body, said rotor having a foot disposed at said lower end thereof and being movable therewith relative to said main body, said foot being movable between multiple locking and multiple unlocked positions when said main body is disposed within the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats, said foot in each said unlocked position being movable up through the connecting holes of the first and second mats, said foot in each said locking position being non-movable up through the respective connecting holes of the first and second mats and being engageable with an indentation formed in a lower surface of the second mat around the connecting hole thereof; and wherein said rotor is configured so that each 360°
revolution of rotation thereof in one direction relative to said main body draws said foot closer to said bottom of said main body and provides at least two different locking positions of said foot, said foot in each successive locking position being configured to form a tighter connection of the first and second mats and increase the compression of said elastomeric seal between said enlarged head of said main body and the indentation formed in the first mat, whereby the rotational adjustability of said rotor allows the first and second mats to be tightly held together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of connecting at least first and second overlapping mats placed upon the ground or another one or more surfaces with the use of an adjustable locking pin, the first mat at least partially overlapping the second mat so that a connecting hole in the first mat is aligned over a connecting hole in the second mat, the adjustable locking pin having a main body with a threaded bore extending therethrough, a threaded rotor threadably engaged in the bore and extending downwardly therefrom, having a foot at its lower end and being rotatable in each direction through at least two 360 degree revolutions of rotation relative to the main body, the method comprising:
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inserting the main body through the connecting hole of the first mat and into the connecting hole of the second mat until the foot of the rotor is positioned below an indentation formed in the lower mat around the connecting hole thereof; selectively rotating the rotor relative to the main body and the first and second mats in the direction that moves the foot of the rotor closer to the main body until an enlarged head at the upper end of the main body tightly engages an indentation formed in the first mat around the connecting hole thereof and the foot of the rotor tightly engages the indentation formed in the lower mat, preventing vertical movement of either mat relative to the other at the location of the locking pin; and an elastomeric seal extending around the periphery of the enlarged head being compressed and forming a fluid tight seal between the enlarged head and the indentation formed in the first mat, preventing the entry of liquid into the connecting hole of the first mat from above. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification