GROUND COVER MAT

RECOUVREMENT

English Abstract

A ground cover mat includes a first end interlock is provided at a first end of the body which is adapted to interlock with a second end interlock at a second end of a like body. A second end interlock is provided at the second end of the body which is adapted to interlock with the first end interlock at a first end of a like body. A first side interlock is provided at a first side of the body which is adapted to interlock with a second side interlock at a second side of an adjacent like body. A second side interlock is provided at the second side of the body which is adapted to interlock with the first side interlock at a second end of an adjacent like body.

French Abstract

Un recouvrement comprend une première extrémité de verrouillage à une première extrémité du corps adaptée pour s'enclencher avec une deuxième extrémité de verrouillage à une seconde extrémité d'un organe similaire. Une deuxième extrémité de verrouillage est fournie à la deuxième extrémité du corps qui est adaptée pour s'enclencher avec la première extrémité de verrouillage à une première extrémité d'un organe similaire. Un premier verrouillage latéral est fourni à un premier côté du corps qui est adapté pour s'enclencher avec un deuxième verrouillage latéral à un second côté d'un organe similaire adjacent. Un deuxième verrouillage latéral de côté est fourni sur le deuxième côté du corps qui est adapté pour s'enclencher avec le premier verrouillage latéral à une deuxième extrémité d'un organe similaire adjacent.

Claims

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THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A ground cover mat, comprising
a rectangular body having a first end, a second end, a
first side and a second side;
a first end interlock at a first end of the body adapted
to interlock with a second end interlock at a second end of a
first identical adjacent body, the first end interlock
including at least one downwardly directed hook extending
from the first end with an integrally formed first vertical
stop;
a second end interlock at the second end of the body
adapted to interlock with the first end interlock at a first
end of a second identical adjacent body, the second end
interlock including at least one upwardly directed hook
extending from the second end with an integrally formed
second vertical stop;
the first end interlock and the second end interlock
accommodating limited relative vertical movement until the
first vertical stop engages the second vertical stop;
a first side interlock at a first side of the body
adapted to interlock with a second side interlock at a second
side of a third identical adjacent body, the first side
interlock includes more than one downwardly directed hook
arranged in spaced relation and extending laterally from the
first side; and
a second side interlock at the second side of the body,
adapted to interlock with the first side interlock at a
second side of a fourth identical adjacent body, the second
side interlock including more than one hook engaging means.
2. The ground cover mat as defined in Claim 1, wherein the
hook engaging means of the second side interlock are
upwardly directed hooks extending laterally from the second
side.

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3. The ground cover mat as defined in Claim 1, wherein the
hook engaging means of the second side interlock are slotted
openings along the second side.
4. A ground cover assembly, comprising:
at least five substantially identical ground cover mats,
each ground cover mat including:
a rectangular body having a first end, a second end, a
first side and a second side;
a first end interlock at a first end of the body end, a
first side and a second side
a first end interlock at a first end of the body in the
form of a downwardly directed hook extending from the first
end with an integrally formed first vertical stop;
a second end interlock at the second end of the body in
the form of an upwardly directed hook extending from the
second end with an integrally formed second vertical stop;
the first end interlock and the second end interlock
accommodating limited relative vertical movement until the
first vertical stop engages the second vertical stop;
a first side interlock at a first side of the body in
the form of more than one downwardly directed hook arranged
in spaced relation and extending laterally from the first
side; and
a second side interlock at the second side of the body
in the form of more than one hook engaging means;
the first end interlock of a first of the ground cover
mats engaging the second end interlock of a second of the
ground cover mats;
the second end interlock of the first of the ground
cover mats engaging the first end interlock of a third of the
ground cover mats;
the first side interlock of the first of the ground
cover mats engaging the second side interlock of a fourth of
the ground cover mats; and
the second side interlock of the first of the ground
cover mats engaging the first side interlock of a fifth of
the ground cover mats.

Description

CA 02364968 2001-12-12
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Ground Cover Mat
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ground cover mat
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Canadian Patent 2,348,328 (Stasiewich 2001) describes a
ground cover mat. There is a danger when these ground cover
mats are used, that injuries may occur as a result of persons
stepping into spaces between adjacent mats.
SU1~IARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a ground cover mat that addresses the
above concern.
According to the present invention there is provided a
ground cover mat which includes a rectangular body having a
first end, a second end, a first side and a second side. A
first end interlock is provided at a first end of the body
which is adapted to interlock with a second end interlock at
a second end of a like body. A second end interlock is
provided at the second end of the body which is adapted to
interlock with the first end interlock at a first end of a like
body. A first side interlock is provided at a first side of
the body which is adapted to interlock with a second side
interlock at a second side of an adjacent like body. A second
side interlock is provided at the second side of the body which
is adapted to interlock with the first side interlock at a
second end of an adjacent like body.
With ground cover mats, as described above, the first side
interlock and the second side interlock prevent adjacent mats
from moving apart. This prevents spaces developing between
adjacent mats which a person might break a leg if one
inadvertently step into one of such spaces. It is preferred
that the first side interlock include at least one downwardly

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directed hook which extends laterally from the first side. It
is preferred that the second side interlock include means for
engaging the at least one downwardly directed hook is
positioned along the second side. The downwardly directed hook
of the body is engaged by the engagement means on an adjacent
body to prevent lateral separation of the body and the adjacent
body.
In a first embodiment of ground cover mat constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention the
means for engaging the at least one downwardly directed hook
is at least one upwardly directed hook extending laterally from
the second side. The downwardly directed hook of the body
engages the upwardly directed hook of the adjacent body to
prevent lateral separation of the body and the adjacent body.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the ground cover mats described above, in remote areas
populated by hooved animals, such as deer; environmentalists
have expressed concerns that injuries may occur as a result of
the animals stepping into spaces between adjacent mats. There
is, therefore, a need in such environments to provide even
closer adjacent spacing.
In a second embodiment of ground cover mat constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the
means for engaging the at least one downwardly directed hook
is at least one slotted opening along the second side. The
downwardly directed hook of the body engages the slotted
opening along the second side of the adjacent body to prevent
lateral separation of the body and the adjacent body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose

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of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit
the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or
embodiments shown, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of
ground cover mat constructed in accordance with the teachings
of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is an end elevation view, in section, of the
ground cover mat illustrated in FIGURE 1, coupled to an
adjacent ground cover mat.
FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second
embodiment of ground cover mat constructed in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention, being coupled to an
adjacent ground cover mat.
FIGURE 4 is an end elevation view, in section, of the
ground cover mat illustrated in FIGURE 3, coupled to an
adjacent ground cover mat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Two preferred embodiments of ground cover mats will now
be described. A first embodiment of ground cover mat,
generally identified by reference numeral 10, will be described
with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2. A second embodiment of
ground cover mat, generally identified by reference numeral
100, will be described with reference to FIGURES 3 and 4.
First Embodiment:
Referring to FIGURE 1, Ground cover mat 10 includes a
rectangular body 12 having a first end 14, a second end 16, a
first side 18 and a second side 20. Means is provided for
interlocking first end 14 of body 12 to second end 16 of a like
body. A first end interlock 200 is positioned at first end 14
of body 12 which is adapted to interlock with second end
interlock 202 at second end 16 of a like body. A second end
interlock 202 is positioned at second end 16 of body 12 which
is adapted to interlock with first end interlock 200 at first
end 14 of a like body. First end interlock 200 and second end
interlock 202 will be hereinafter described in relation to

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FIGURE 3. It will be appreciated, however, that alternative
forms of interlock could be used at first end 14 and second end
16 of body 12. Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a first side
interlock is provided in the form of two downwardly directed
hooks 22 which extend laterally from first side 18. In this
first embodiment, a second side interlock which serves as means
for engaging downwardly directed hooks 22 are upwardly directed
hooks 24 extending laterally from second side 20. Referring
to FIGURE 2, downwardly directed hooks 22 of body 12 engage
upwardly directed hooks 24a of an adjacent body 12a to prevent
lateral separation of body 12 and adjacent body 12a.
Second Embodiment:
Referring to FIGURE 3, ground cover mat 100 includes a
rectangular body 112 having a first end 114, a second end 116,
a first side 118, a second side 120, a first face 121 and a
second face 123. A first end interlock 200 is positioned at
first end 114 of body 112 which is adapted to interlock with
second end interlock 202 at second end 116 of a like body. A
second end interlock 202 is positioned at second end 116 of
body 112 which is adapted to interlock with first end interlock
200 at first end 114 of a like body. First end interlock 200
has an outwardly extending portion 204 that extends outwardly
from first end 114 of body 112 adjacent to second face 123, an
angled portion 206 that extends from a remote end 208 of
outwardly extending portion 204 toward but not past first face
121, and an inwardly extending retaining lip 210 that extends
from a remote end 212 of angled portion 206 back toward first
end 114. Second end interlock 202, similarly, has an outwardly
extending portion 204 that extends outwardly from second end
116 of body 112 adjacent to first face 121, an angled portion
206 that extends from a remote end 208 of outwardly extending
portion 204 toward but not past second face 123, and an
inwardly extending retaining lip 210 that extends from a remote
end 212 of angled portion 206 back toward second end 116.
Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, a first side interlock is

CA 02364968 2001-12-12
provided in the form of two downwardly directed hooks 122 which
extend laterally from first side 118. In this second
embodiment, a second side interlock which serves as means for
engaging downwardly directed hooks 118 are slotted openings 124
5 along second side 120. The downwardly directed hooks 118 of
body 112 engage slotted openings 124a along second side 120a
of an adjacent body 112a to prevent lateral separation of body
112 and adjacent body 112a.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in
its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word
are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article
"a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the
element is present, unless the context clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Representative Drawing