CN107925201B

CN107925201B - Apparatus and method for electrically grounding at least one mat in a load-supporting surface

Info

Publication number: CN107925201B
Application number: CN201680047497.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·K·麦克道尔; K·E·杜里奥
Original assignee: Newpark Mats and Integrated Services LLC
Current assignee: Newpark Mats and Integrated Services LLC
Priority date: 2015-08-27
Filing date: 2016-06-10
Publication date: 2020-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-10
Also published as: ZA201800289B; MX2018002122A; PE20180846A1; WO2017034648A1; BR112018000570A2; BR112018000570B1; CA3005530A1; CN107925201A; CA3005530C; AU2016313174C1; CA2954523C; AU2016313174B2; EP3342007A4; AU2016313174A1; EP3342007B1; CA2954523A1; EP3342007A1; BR112018003520A2

Abstract

A system for electrically grounding a reusable load-supporting surface includes at least two mats and a plurality of substantially planar removable conductive covers. Each cover extends at least partially across the top surface of one of the mats without extending beyond any of its edges, and is flexibly coupled to the mat sufficient to allow the mat to flex, expand and contract relative to the cover due to environmental factors and movement of persons, vehicles and/or clothing across the load-supporting surface during normal, typical or expected use conditions.

Description

Apparatus and method for electrically grounding at least one mat in a load-supporting surface

The present application is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application serial No. 14/838064 entitled "Apparatus and Methods for Electrically connecting a Load-Supporting Surface" filed on 27.8.2015, U.S. patent application serial No. 14/838064 is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application serial No. 14/496105 entitled "Apparatus and Methods for Electrically connecting a Load-Supporting Surface" filed on 25.9.2014, U.S. patent application serial No. 14/496105 claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 61/888580 entitled "Apparatus and Methods for Electrically connecting a Load-Supporting Surface" filed on 9.10.2013, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to load-supporting surface technology, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for electrically grounding at least one mat in a load-supporting surface.

Background

Temporary or semi-permanent bearing surfaces have been employed for roadways, remote workplaces, industrial framework areas, and the like in an ever-increasing number of industries, such as the construction, military, oilfield, transportation, disaster response, utility, and entertainment industries. These load-bearing surfaces are typically made of heavy duty mats that are reusable and sometimes interlocked together to form the load-bearing surface. In certain instances, it is necessary or desirable to provide apparatus and methods for electrically grounding at least portions of the bearing surface.

For example, it may be necessary or desirable to use a temporary or semi-permanent electrically grounded load-bearing surface as part of an equipotential zone (EPZ). EPZ is a device that is typically designed so that no dangerous potential differences occur across the body of a person working on or near a ground machine. EPZ is often used during projects that include work in close proximity to a power line. For example, in performing an overhead power line (OHL) project, the EPZ may protect the installer from electrical shock caused by, for example, a circuit flash from a live line to a working conductor. In EPZ, equipment and personnel are typically located on a work surface that is electrically conductive and should be grounded to provide a natural path for large voltage flows.

Currently known solutions for temporary or semi-permanent electrically grounded bearing surfaces include the use of aluminum access panels bolted together at each corner. These panels are believed to have one or more disadvantages. For example, the plates may not overlap each other and therefore require a flat underlying mat surface. In addition, the edges of one or more panels may protrude above the underlying mat surface and create a tripping hazard. As another example, aluminum panels can have a significant residual value and thus require 24 hour security to prevent theft. As another example, when electrical grounding is not required or desired, these plates may not be used or suitable for use as a bearing surface otherwise.

It should be understood that the above-described features, capabilities, and disadvantages are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the subject matter or scope of the appended claims or any related patent application or patent. Thus, none of the appended claims, or claims of any related application or patent, should be limited by the above description, or interpreted merely as an recitation of any one or any of the above-described features, capabilities, or disadvantages as referred to herein.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems, articles, and methods for providing an electrically grounded load-bearing surface having one or more of the attributes or capabilities described or illustrated in the various sections of this patent application or as may be apparent therefrom.

Disclosure of Invention

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a system for electrically grounding a reusable bearing surface deployed on or near the earth's surface. The system includes at least two mats at least partially forming a load-supporting surface. Each mat has respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces and at least one edge extending around each side surface. The cushion is configured to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment. The plurality of removable conductive covers are constructed at least partially of a conductive material and are constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles, and equipment thereon. Each cover extends at least partially across the top surface of one of the mats without extending beyond any edge thereof and is flexibly coupled to the mats to allow the mats to flex, expand and contract relative to the covers due to one or more environmental factors and movement of persons, vehicles and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface under normal, typical or expected use conditions without separating or undesirably damaging or deforming the covers or mats with the mats, while allowing the covers and mats to support the weight and movement of the persons, vehicles and equipment. Each cover includes at least one conductive interface configured to electrically couple the cover to another cover in the load-supporting surface. At least one cover is configured to be electrically coupled to ground.

In many embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for electrically grounding at least two mats of a load-supporting surface disposed on or near the earth's surface. Each mat includes respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each side thereof. The cushion is constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon. The apparatus includes a plurality of removable conductive covers constructed at least partially of a conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon. Each cover member extends at least partially across the top surface of one of the mats without extending beyond any of its edges. Each cover includes at least one conductive interface configured to electrically connect the cover to another cover in the load-supporting surface. At least one cover is configured to be electrically coupled to ground. A plurality of adjustable releasable couplers are configured to releasably couple each cover to its associated mat. At least some of the couplers are loosely engaged between the cover and the mat, rather than being rigidly coupled to the cover and the mat to allow acceptable relative movement therebetween, so that each cover and its associated mat can flex, expand and contract relative to the other covers under normal, typical or expected use conditions of the load-supporting surface without separating the cover from its associated mat or undesirably damaging or deforming the cover or mat.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of electrically grounding a reusable bearing surface deployed on or near the earth's surface. The load-supporting surface includes at least two mats each having respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each side surface. The cushion is configured to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon. The method includes positioning one of a plurality of removable conductive covers at least partially across a top surface of each mat without extending beyond any edges thereof. Each cover is constructed at least in part from an electrically conductive material and is configured to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles, and equipment thereon. A plurality of selectively adjustable releasable couplers are loosely releasably engaged between each cover and its associated mat so that each cover remains positioned at least partially across the top surface of its associated mat during use of the load-supporting surface, and to allow the cover and mat to be moved relative to each other due to one or more environmental factors during normal, typical or expected use of the load-supporting surface without separating the cover from its associated mat and without undesirably damaging or deforming the cover or mat, while allowing the cover and mat to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment thereon. At least one conductive interface of each cover is electrically coupled to at least one conductive interface of at least one other mat in the load-supporting surface. At least one of the mats is grounded.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an electrically conductive load-bearing surface comprising: at least two mats at least partially forming the load-supporting surface, each of the mats having respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each of the side surfaces, the mats configured to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles, and equipment thereon; and a plurality of removable electrically conductive covers constructed at least in part of an electrically conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon, each said cover extending at least partially across the top surface of one said mat without extending beyond any of the edges thereof and being flexibly coupled to an associated mat to allow the mat to flex, expand and contract relative to the cover due to one or more environmental factors and movement of persons, vehicles and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface under normal, typical or expected conditions of use without separating the cover from the associated mat and without undesirably damaging or deforming the cover or the mat while allowing the cover and the mat to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon, each of the covers has at least one conductive interface configured to electrically couple the cover to another of the covers of the load-supporting surface.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for electrically coupling at least two mats of a load-supporting surface configured for deployment on or near the ground, each mat having respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each side thereof, the mats being constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles, and equipment thereon, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of removable electrically conductive covers constructed at least in part of an electrically conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon, each said cover extending at least partially across the top surface of one of said mats without extending beyond any edge thereof, each said cover including at least one electrically conductive interface configured to electrically couple said cover to another said cover in the load-supporting surface; and a plurality of adjustable releasable couplers configured to releasably couple each said cover to its associated mat, at least some of said couplers being loosely engaged between said cover and its associated mat without rigidly coupling said cover and its associated mat to allow acceptable relative movement therebetween such that each said cover and its associated mat may move relative to the other during normal, typical or expected use of the load-supporting surface without separating said cover from its associated mat and without undesirably damaging or deforming said cover or its associated mat while allowing the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment supported thereon by said cover and said mat.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of assembling an electrically conductive load-supporting surface deployed on or near the ground, the load-supporting surface comprising at least two mats, each mat having respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each side surface, the mats being configured to support the weight and movement of people, vehicles, and equipment thereon, the method comprising: positioning one of a plurality of removable conductive covers at least partially across the top surface of each mat without extending beyond any edge thereof, each cover constructed at least partially of a conductive material and configured to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon; selectively loosely releasably engaging a plurality of selectively adjustable releasable couplings between each cover and its associated mat so that each cover remains at least partially positioned across the top surface of its associated mat during use of the load-supporting surface and allows at least one of the cover and mat to be movable relative to the other due to one or more environmental factors during normal, typical or expected use conditions of the load-supporting surface without separating the cover from its associated mat and without undesirably damaging or deforming the cover or mat, while allowing the cover and mat to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment thereon; and electrically coupling at least one conductive interface of each cover to at least one conductive interface of at least one other cover in the load-supporting surface.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for electrically connecting a first mat and a second mat, each mat having a top and a bottom and being configured to be deployed on or near the ground, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive covers, each at least partially constructed of an electrically conductive material, at least one electrically conductive cover associated with each mat to extend at least partially across a top thereof, the electrically conductive covers configured to be electrically interconnected; at least one electrically conductive cover associated with each mat including at least one electrically conductive electrical connection port configured to receive at least one electrically conductive electrical connector and maintain the electrical connector at a low profile above the top surface of the mat; and at least one electrically conductive electrical connector releasably engageable with and extendable between at least one electrical connection port of at least one of the electrically conductive covers associated with the first mat and at least one electrical connection port of at least one of the electrically conductive covers associated with the second mat to electrically couple the first and second mats together.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for electrically connecting first and second mats, each mat having a top and a bottom and being configured to be deployed on or near the ground, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of conductive covers, each at least partially constructed of a conductive material and including at least one upwardly facing corner, at least one conductive cover associated with each of the first and second mats, respectively, and extending at least partially across a top thereof, the plurality of conductive covers configured to be electrically interconnected; at least one electrically conductive corner plate coupled to at least one corner of each respective electrically conductive cover and comprising at least one electrical connection port; and at least one electrical connector releasably engageable with at least one electrical connection port of the at least one conductive cover associated with the first mat and at least one electrical connection port of the at least one conductive cover associated with the second mat to electrically couple the first and second mats together.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for electrically connecting a first mat and a second mat, each mat having at least one corner and being configured to be deployed on or near a ground surface, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of conductive covers, each conductive cover having a top and a bottom and including an outer frame and an inner mesh portion, the outer frame and inner mesh portion being constructed at least partially of an electrically conductive material, each outer frame including at least one corner at least partially aligned at one corner of an associated mat and a threaded aperture formed at the at least one corner, at least one conductive cover being associated with each mat and extending at least partially across the top thereof, the plurality of conductive covers being electrically coupled to one another; and at least one flexible electrical connector releasably engageable with at least one threaded aperture of at least one conductive cover associated with a first mat and releasably engageable with at least one threaded aperture of at least one conductive cover associated with a second mat to electrically couple the first and second mats together.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a method of electrically connecting and grounding a first mat and a second mat deployed on or near the ground, each mat having a top and a bottom, the method comprising: extending a first conductive cover at least partially across a top of the first mat; extending a second electrically conductive cover at least partially across a top of the second mat, the first and second electrically conductive covers each including at least one electrically conductive electrical connection port configured to receive at least one electrically conductive electrical connector and maintain a low profile of the electrical connector above a top surface of the respective mat; coupling one end of an electrical connector to the at least one electrical connection port of the first conductive cover and coupling the other end of the electrical connector to the at least one electrical connection port of the second conductive cover; maintaining a low profile of electrical connectors above a top surface of the first mat and above a top surface of a second mat; and electrically grounding the at least one conductive cover.

Thus, the present invention includes features and advantages that are believed to enable it to advance the bearing surface technology. The above features and advantages and additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the various embodiments and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to demonstrate certain aspects of various embodiments of the present disclosure and are incorporated in the detailed description herein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary load-supporting surface having a single exemplary mat equipped with an exemplary conductive cover to form an exemplary EPZ mat, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary load-supporting surface having a plurality of mechanically interconnected mats in accordance with the present invention, some of which are equipped with embodiments of electrically conductive covers and are electrically coupled together;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary mat useful in a load-supporting surface according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a portion of a useful exemplary bearing surface according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an exemplary mat equipped with an embodiment of a conductive cover according to the present disclosure;

fig. 6A is a top view of an exemplary cut-out frame that may be used as part of a conductive cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6B is a side view of the exemplary cut-out frame of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the exemplary cut-out frame of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a top view of an exemplary load-supporting surface having two mats equipped with conductive covers according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B is a side view of the bearing surface of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the carrying surface of FIGS. 7A and 7B;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a portion of the carrying surface of FIG. 8;

fig. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of an outer frame that may be used as part of a conductive cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 10B is a cross-sectional view of another portion of an embodiment of an outer frame that can be used as part of a conductive cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is an assembly view of an exemplary bolting mat that may use a conductive cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12A is a top view of an exemplary load-supporting surface having a single mat equipped with an embodiment of the conductive cover according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 12B is an exploded view of a portion of the carrying surface of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13 is an exploded assembly view of an exemplary EPZ mat according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the exemplary EPZ mat of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the exemplary EPZ cushion of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a top view of a first exemplary grid panel that may be used as part of an embodiment of a conductive cover according to the present disclosure;

fig. 17 is a top view of a second exemplary grid panel that can be used as part of an embodiment of a conductive cover according to the present disclosure;

fig. 18 is a top view of a third example grid panel that can be used as part of an embodiment of a conductive cover according to this disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a top view of an exemplary corner insert that may be used as part of an embodiment of a conductive cover according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an exemplary carrying surface with an exemplary EPZ mat having an exemplary lip cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the exemplary bearing surface of FIG. 20;

fig. 22 is a perspective view of an exemplary short lip cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another exemplary short lip cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an exemplary corner short lip cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 25 is a perspective view of an exemplary long lip cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 26 is a perspective view of another exemplary long lip cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an exemplary carrying surface with an exemplary EPZ mat having an exemplary lip cover and an exemplary safety barrier system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing an exemplary electrical connection strip for use with an exemplary EPZ mat, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the exemplary electrical connection strip of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a top perspective view of the exemplary electrical connection strip of FIG. 29 shown in use at a first position on an embodiment of an EPZ mat according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 31 is an exploded assembly view of the exemplary electrical connection strip and EPZ cushion of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a bottom perspective view of the exemplary electrical connection strip and EPZ cushion of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a top perspective view of the example electrical connection strip of FIG. 29 shown in use at a second position on the example EPZ mat shown in FIG. 30, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 34 is an exploded assembly view of the exemplary electrical connection strip and EPZ cushion of FIG. 30;

FIG. 35 is a bottom perspective view of the exemplary electrical connection strip and EPZ cushion of FIG. 30;

FIG. 36 is a top view showing an exemplary conductive corner plate for use with an embodiment of an EPZ mat according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 37 is an exploded perspective view showing two exemplary electrically conductive corner plates of FIG. 36 mounted on adjacent exemplary EPZ mats and used to electrically connect them, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 38A is a top view of an exemplary load-supporting surface with a plurality of exemplary EPZ mats, each having the exemplary conductive corner plate of FIG. 36 mounted at each corner thereof, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 38B is an exploded view of a portion of the exemplary load-supporting surface of FIG. 38A showing four adjacent exemplary electrically conductive corner plates;

FIG. 39 is a top view of two exemplary electrically conductive corner plates of FIG. 36 shown mounted on adjacent exemplary EPZ mats and used to electrically connect them to an exemplary test cell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the exemplary electrically conductive corner panel of FIG. 36;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a conductive cover coupled to an exemplary mat to form an exemplary EPZ mat, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 42A is a top view of the exemplary EPZ mat of FIG. 41;

FIG. 42B is a side view of the exemplary EPZ cushion of FIG. 41;

FIG. 42C is a cross-sectional view of the one example EPZ mat of FIG. 42A showing example couplers;

FIG. 43A is a top view of an exemplary load-supporting surface having a plurality of the exemplary EPZ mats of FIG. 41 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 43B is an exploded view of a portion of one exemplary EPZ mat of FIG. 43A showing exemplary connection ports formed therein; and

fig. 43C is an exploded view of a portion of the carrying surface of fig. 43A showing four electrically interconnected exemplary EPZ mats.

Detailed Description

Features and advantages, as well as other features and benefits of the present disclosure, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and by reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the description and drawings herein, given as exemplary embodiments, are not intended to limit the rights of this patent application or any patent or patent application claiming priority thereto. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure or any appended claims. Many changes may be made in the specific embodiments and details disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

In the preferred embodiments shown and described in the drawings, common or similar elements are designated by the same or similar reference numerals or are otherwise apparent from the drawings and/or the description herein. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated or schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

As used herein and throughout the various portions (and headings) of this patent application, the terms "invention," "invention," and variations thereof are not intended to imply every possible embodiment encompassed by the disclosure or any one or more of the specific claims. Thus, the subject matter of each such citation is provided solely for that citation and should not be construed as being essential to each embodiment thereof or to any one or more of the claims or portions thereof. The terms "coupled," "connected," "engaged," and the like, as used herein and in the appended claims, and variations thereof, are used to indicate an indirect or direct connection or engagement. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that coupling may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections.

Certain terms are used herein, as well as in the appended claims, to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to a component by different names. The use of specific or known technical terms herein as names for components is not intended to limit the components to only the known or defined meaning of such terms (e.g., bars, connectors, bars, covers, panels, bolts). Furthermore, this document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Also, the terms "include" and "comprise" are used herein and in the appended claims in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to … …". Furthermore, references herein and in the appended claims to components and aspects in the singular do not necessarily limit the present disclosure or the appended claims to only one such component or aspect, but should generally be construed to mean one or more, as may be suitable and desirable in each particular case.

Referring initially to fig. 1, an exemplary mat 26 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure including a conductive cover 110 for allowing the mat 26 to be electrically grounded. In this illustration, the mat 26 serves as a load-bearing surface 16 for deployment on a ground or other surface. In other embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 2, a larger load-supporting surface 16 is shown, the larger load-supporting surface 16 including a plurality of interconnected mats 26. In this example, the load-supporting surface 16 includes some of the mats 26 with the conductive cover 110 and other mats 26 without a conductive cover. As used herein, the term "EPZ mat" 112 and variants thereof refer to a mat 26 having a conductive cover 110. Thus, in this embodiment, when a plurality of interconnected EPZ mats 112 are used, each conductive cover 110 serves to allow the load-supporting surface 16 to be electrically grounded. In the present embodiment, the load-bearing surface 16 (e.g., fig. 1 and 2) is reusable and capable of supporting the weight of persons, vehicles, and/or equipment thereon and moving thereacross.

Referring to FIG. 3, mats 26 may have any suitable form, Construction and configuration certain examples of mats 26 that may be used in embodiments of the present disclosure are described and illustrated in U.S. patent No. 5,653,551 entitled "Mat System for Structure of Roadways and Support Surfaces," filed by Seaux at 8/5 1997, and U.S. patent No.6,511,237 entitled "Interlocking Mat System for Construction of load Supporting Surfaces," filed by Seaux et al at 28/2003, having an assignee common to the present patent and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, for example, each exemplary Mat 26 may weigh about 1,000 pounds, be designed to withstand a pure compressive pressure of up to 600psi placed thereon, reduce a ground pressure on ground 20 that may be caused by wheeled and/or tracked vehicles or combinations thereof on Mat 26, or combinations thereof, in some embodiments, Mat 26 may be sold by applicant's current patent application 638 inch name for mats 26

A cushion.

If desired, the Mat 26 may be associated With U.S. patent No.9,132,996 entitled "Crane-Mounted Grab Head" issued to Robertson on 15.9.2015, U.S. patent No.9,297,124 entitled "Methods of Moving at Least One Material With a Crane-Mounted Grab Head" issued to Rogers on 29.3.2016, U.S. patent No. 7,370,452 entitled "Mat Assembly for heavy Equipment Transit and Support" issued on 13.5.2008, U.S. patent application No.9,039,325 entitled "Liquid control System for Use With Surfaces and Support" issued on 26.5.2015, U.S. patent application No. 201554 entitled "Liquid control System for heavy Equipment Transmission and Support" issued on 24.5.24.2015, U.S. patent application No.9,039,325 entitled "Liquid control System for Use With Surface" issued on 2015, U.S. patent application No. 14/720,799 filed on 24.5.5.5.s.s.s.s. application No. 14/720,799, and U.S. application No. 3614 filed on 3.s.s.3.s.s.s.3.s.s.3,2014, any of the components described and illustrated in U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 62/322,458, for Providing access on a Support Surface, "are used in combination, each of which has a common assignee with the present patent and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Still referring to fig. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, each mat 26 is flat or planar and is constructed of an impermeable material such as a thermoplastic. Other exemplary mats 26 may be constructed, in whole or in part, from wood, steel frame wood, aluminum, rubber, plastic, fiberglass, fiber reinforced plastic, reclaimed rubber or material, or any other desired material or combination thereof.

The exemplary mat 26 has a rectangular shape with an opposing pair of

short sides

28, 30, an opposing pair of

long sides

37, 38, and an edge 44 extending along each

side

28, 30, 37, and 38. In this particular example, the first short side 28 and the first long side 37 each have an upper lip 46 extending horizontally outwardly therefrom, the upper lip 46 forming the edge 44 and being spaced above the earth's surface or ground 20 or other surface. The second short side 30 and the second long side 38 each have a lower lip 54 extending horizontally outwardly therefrom below the edge 44 thereof, and the lower lip 54 will rest on or near the earth's surface or ground 20 or other surface. In this embodiment, the first corner 40 of the mat 26 is formed by the adjacent upper lip 46 and the second corner 42 is formed by the adjacent lower lip 54.

The upper lip 46 and the lower lip 54 may have any suitable size, shape, configuration, and length. However, it should be understood that the conductive cover 110 of the present disclosure is not limited to use with the embodiments of the mat 26 having the upper lip 46 and/or the lower lip 54 described above. For example, other embodiments of the cover 110 may be used in conjunction with a mat 26 without the upper lip 46 and/or the lower lip 54.

Still referring to the embodiment of fig. 3, the respective upper and

lower lips

46, 54 of the different mats 26 may be interconnected with locking pins 34 (e.g., fig. 4 and 5), which locking pins 34 are releasably securable through corresponding locking pin holes 32 formed therein. The locking pin bore 32 and the locking pin 34 may have any suitable form, configuration and configuration. In this embodiment, the illustrated mat 26 includes a plurality of locking pin holes 32, each of the locking pin holes 32 being configured to receive a releasable locking pin 34 (e.g., fig. 4) through the locking pin hole 32. Each illustrated mat 26 may include a total of sixteen locking pin holes 32, with eight locking pin holes 32 formed in each of the upper and

lower lips

46, 54.

Certain examples of locking pins 34 that may be used in various embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described in the following patent documents: U.S. patent No.6,722,831 entitled "Fastening Device" issued to Rogers et al on 20.4.2004, U.S. patent No. 8,388,291 entitled "Mat Lock Pin" issued to Rogers on 3.5.2013, McDown et al on 30.6.2015, U.S. patent No.9,068,584 entitled "Apparatus and Methods for Connecting materials", U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 62/216,542 entitled "Apparatus for Connecting materials and/or Other compositions and Methods of Assembly and UseThereof" filed on 10.9.2015, all of which have common assignee with the present patent application and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In some embodiments, the locking pins 34 may form a fluid-tight seal around or in the locking pin bore 32 into which they are engaged, for example, such exemplary locking pins 34 are the locking pins in the following patent documents: U.S. patent No.9,068,584, entitled "Apparatus for Connecting materials and/or thermal Components and Methods of Assembly and Use Thereof, filed on 10.9.2015 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/216,542, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/752,067, entitled" Adjustable Mat packing Pin and Methods of Use Thereof, filed on 26.6.2015, all of which have common assignee with the present patent application and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In the example shown, the locking pin holes 32 of the cushion 26 have an oval shape to accept oval-shaped enlarged heads 36 of the locking pins 34 shown (e.g., fig. 4 and 5). It should be noted, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to use with or to the disclosures of the above-referenced patents and patent applications, of the type and configuration of load-supporting surface 16, cushion 26, locking pins 34 and locking pin holes 32 described or referenced above. Any suitable load-supporting surface 16 and mat 26 may be used, whether or not it has suitable locking pins 34 and locking pin holes 32.

Referring now to fig. 4, in certain embodiments, a void 22 may be formed between adjacent edges 44 of adjacent interconnected mats 26 in the load-supporting surface 16, and one or more sealing members 10 may be contained in the void 22. For example, one or more sealing members 10 may provide a fluid-tight seal in the voids 22 between adjacent mats 26 to prevent liquids introduced onto the load-supporting surface 16 from leaking or flowing between or under the load-supporting surface 16.

Certain embodiments of the seal member 10 that may be used in the void 22 are disclosed in the following patent documents: US patent application No.9,212,746 entitled "application and Methods for Sealing Surface Components of Load-Supporting Surface" filed on 15.12.2015, US patent application No. 14/948,340 entitled "Method of Sealing Surface Adjacent Components of Load-Supporting Surface With line Closed-Cell compatible rubber" filed on 22.11.2015, US patent application No. 14/730,938 entitled "Load-Supporting Surface With active connecting Surface and Related applications and Methods" filed on 4.6.6.2015, and US patent application No. 14/733,324 entitled "Load-Supporting Surface connecting Surface Components and Related applications and Methods" filed on 6.8.3.3, these patent documents all have the common assignee as the present patent and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The load-supporting surface 16 may include or be associated with other components, and the seal member 10 may also or alternatively be used between any combination of the mats 26 and other components associated with the supporting surface 16. Some examples of such additional components that may be used in conjunction with the support surface 16 (e.g., berm members, spacers, push-over barriers, liquid discharge assemblies, etc.) are shown and disclosed in the following patent documents: U.S. patent No.9,039,325 and U.S. patent application No. 13/790,916, while borehole edge sealing systems are shown and described in, for example, these patent documents as follows: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/497,429 entitled "Apparatus and Methods for Sealing Around the Opening to the unreacted bound body" filed on 26.9.2014 and U.S. patent application No. 14/666,584 entitled "Apparatus and Methods for mechanical Coupling a Sealing System Around the Opening to the unreacted bound body" filed on 24.2015.3, both of which have common assignee with the present patent application and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring back to fig. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure, the conductive cover 110 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation such that the conductive cover 110 may be used to allow the load-supporting surface 16 to be effectively and successfully grounded to ground or other suitable structure. In the present embodiment, the conductive cover 110 includes an outer frame 120 (see also fig. 6A to 6C) and an inner mesh portion 126. Frame 120 and mesh portion 126 may be constructed of any suitable material and have any suitable configuration that allows load-bearing surface 16 to be effectively and successfully grounded to the ground or other suitable structure. For example, the frame 120 and mesh portion 126 may be constructed at least partially from aluminum, stainless steel, or other conductive material, or a combination thereof. The illustrated frame 120 is a welded rectangular steel frame that provides rigidity for the cover 110 and maintains its integrity during use, for example, when the mat 112 is pressed by vehicles and machinery. In this embodiment, the illustrated frame 120 is shown as extending around substantially the entire mesh portion 126, but may not extend around the entire mesh portion 126 in other embodiments. The mesh portion 126 may be constructed of any suitable, at least partially metallic mesh or grid, for example, an aluminum mesh configuration, which is sufficiently conductive and strong and durable enough to withstand being used as part of the load-bearing surface 16.

In this example, the frame 120 and the mesh portion 126 are welded together. For example, as shown in fig. 5, the peripheral edge 128 of the mesh portion 126 may be welded to the top 122 of the frame 120. However, the frame 120 and the mesh portion 126 may be coupled together or interconnected in any other suitable manner.

Referring again to fig. 1, the illustrated cover 110 also includes at least one conductive interface 138 for electrically connecting the EPZ mat 112 with one or more adjacent EPZ mats 112. The one or more conductive interfaces 138 may have any suitable form, configuration, and operation. In this embodiment, the cover 110 has an interface 138 that extends over each

side

28, 30, 37, and 38 of the mat 26 to electrically connect the mat 26 with a corresponding respective adjacent interconnected mat 26 (see, e.g., fig. 2, 7-9). For example, the frame 120 may be used to form an interface 138 on each

side

28, 30, 37, and 38 of the mat 26, which interface 138 will abut and thus electrically contact the interface 138 on the respective adjacent interconnected mat 26. In this embodiment, on each

side

28, 37 of the mat 26 having the upper lip 46, the frame 120 extends at least partially around the edge 44 thereof to form an underside 156 (fig. 9), which underside 156 serves as the conductive interface 138 along that respective side of the mat 26 (see also fig. 8 and 9). On each

side

30, 38 of the mat 26 having the lower lip 54, the example frame 120 extends at least partially across the top 142 of the lower lip 54 to form an upper face 160, which upper face 160 serves as the conductive interface 138 along that respective side of the mat 26. As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the respective interfaces 138 of adjacent interconnected EPZ mats 112 in this embodiment contact each other to form a conductive path therebetween. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above types and arrangements of interfaces 138. For example, there may be interfaces on less than all

sides

28, 30, 37, and 38 of the mat 26. As yet another example, one or more interfaces 138 may be disposed at particular locations on one or more of the

sides

28, 30, 37, and 38 of the mat 26 and/or at disparate locations on the cover 110.

Referring to fig. 5, if desired, a conductive booster 188 may be used in conjunction with one or more of the interfaces 138 of each of the pads 112, for example to help ensure a better electrical connection between adjacent interconnected pads 112. The conductivity enhancer 188 may have any suitable form, configuration, and operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the enhancer 188 is a metal braid 190 that is inserted between the corresponding lower 156 (see, e.g., fig. 9) and upper 160 faces of the frame 120 on a pair of adjacent interconnected EPZ mats 112. For example, the band 190 may have copper, aluminum, or steel woven and extending between some or all of the length of the adjacent faces 156, 160. In this embodiment, the straps 190 are copper braided straps that are coupled to each upper face 160 of the frame 120 along their length, such as by rivets 198, screws, or other connectors. In other embodiments, multiple or several shorter segments of metal braid 190 may be used.

Referring to fig. 12A-12B, if desired, the mesh portion 126 may include a cut-out 178 formed therein across each locking pin hole 32. For example, the cut-out 178 may serve to electrically isolate the locking pin 34 (e.g., fig. 4 and 5) placed in the locking pin bore 32 and prevent electrical conduction between the cover 110 and the locking pin 34. The incision 178 may have any suitable form, configuration, and operation. In this example, each cutout 178 is spaced from its corresponding lock pin hole 32 to ensure adequate electrical isolation. A notched frame 180 (see also fig. 6 and 8) constructed of any suitable material, such as one or more compatible conductive metal materials (e.g., aluminum, steel, etc.), is shown connected to and covering the edges of the mesh portion 126 forming the notch 178, such as by welding. The cut-out frame 180 may, for example, provide stability around the cut-out 178 and/or protect the exposed mesh portion 126 on the edges of the cut-out 178. However, if included, the cut-out frame 180 may be constructed of any other suitable material and connected with the mesh portion 126 or the cushion 26 in any other suitable manner.

The at least one interconnected EPZ mat 112 of the load-supporting surface 16 may be grounded to the ground or other structure in any suitable manner. For example, referring back to fig. 1, the metal plate 166 may be electrically connected to the cover 110, such as by welding. In this embodiment, the plate 166 is welded on top of the grid portion 126 and the frame 120 in one corner of the cover 110. The ground cable 170 is shown electrically connected between the plate 166 and a ground rod 174, which rod 174 may be driven into the ground for electrically grounding the entire load-bearing surface 16. For example, any suitable commercially available grounding cable 170 and rod 174 and its associated components may be used, such as grounding rods currently having product catalog No.4370, the tandem currently having product catalog No.9738, and the hanger pins currently having product catalog Nos. 13190-1 and 13210, currently sold by Hastings Hot Line Tools and Equipment.

The example EPZ mat 112 may be assembled in any suitable manner depending on the embodiment of the method of assembly and use. For example, referring to FIG. 1, the frame 120 and mesh portion 126 are shown connected, such as by welding. If desired, the frame 120 and mesh portion 126 may be painted with a zinc paint, such as to enhance their electrical conductivity and reduce or prevent corrosion. The exemplary cover 110 is positioned on a generally flat top surface or surface 132 of the mat 26. As used herein, the terms "substantially", "approximately" and variations thereof refer to and include: (i) 100% of the full or mentioned parameters, variables or values; and (ii) a value within a range of less than 100%, such as 90-100%, 95-100%, or 98-100%, based on the noted parameter, variable, or value, for example, typical, normal, or expected variation or degree of error in the context of a particular embodiment or its use. Thus, as mentioned herein, the top surface 132 of the exemplary mat 26 does not include its lower lip 54 because the lower lip 54 is in a substantially different plane. Similarly, as mentioned herein, the generally flat bottom surface or surface 134 (see e.g., fig. 31, 42B) of the mat 26 does not include its lower lip 54 because the lower lip 54 is in a substantially different plane.

In this embodiment, the

edges

148, 150 of the illustrated frame 120 that are aligned with the

respective sides

28, 37 of the mat 26 may be at least partially curved about the edges 44 thereof. The

edges

152, 154 of the illustrated frame 120 aligned with the

respective sides

30, 38 of the mat 26 may be bent at least partially downward and outward across a portion of the top 142 of the respective lower lip 54 (see also fig. 10A-10B). In other embodiments, one or more of the

edges

148, 150, 152, 154 of the frame 120 may be at least partially pre-formed or bent to its desired shape prior to placement of the cover 110 onto the mat 26 (see also fig. 10A-10B).

It should be noted that in other embodiments, the cover 110 may also or instead extend at least partially across a generally flat bottom surface or surface 134 of the mat 26 (e.g., as shown in fig. 31, 42B) or may extend across only a portion of the top surface 132 of the mat 26. Likewise, the frame 120 may extend across different portions or all of the lower lip 54 of the

sides

30, 38 of the mat 26, and may extend around the edges 44 thereof, if desired. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited to a cover 110 having a grid portion 126 and a frame 120, the grid portion 126 extending across the entire top surface 132 of the mat 26, the frame 120 extending at least partially around the edges 44 of the

sides

28, 37 and across at least portions of the lower lips 54 of the

sides

30, 38 of the mat 26. Any other suitable configuration may be used.

If desired, the frame 120 and/or the mesh portion 126 may be further coupled to the cushion 26, such as by one or more connectors. For example, referring to fig. 11, the mesh portion 126 (e.g., fig. 1) may be connected, such as by spot welding, to a plurality of bolt heads 70 accessible at a top surface 132 of the "bolted" mat 26. The bolted Mat 26 may be formed, for example, by bolting the two

Mat sections

21a, 21b together with bolts 69 extending through aligned holes 29 formed in the

sections

21a, 21b and secured with nuts 71, such as shown and described in U.S. patent No.6,511,257 entitled "Interlocking Mat system for Construction of Load Supporting Surfaces" (e.g., fig. 6 thereof), filed on 28.1.2003 by Seaux et al.

Referring again to fig. 1, if included on that particular mat 112, one or more enhancers 188 and metallic ground plate 166 may be coupled to the cover 110, for example, as described above, in advance or at any desired time after the cover 110 is coupled to the mat 26. If the load-supporting surface 16 includes a plurality of exemplary EPZ mats 112 (e.g., FIGS. 2 and 7), the overlapping

lips

46, 54 of adjacent mats 26 are interconnected as described above and using the locking pins 34 in one or more of the patents and patent applications previously incorporated by reference herein in their entirety (e.g., FIGS. 4 and 5). In the referenced embodiment, the example locking pins 34 accurately position adjacent mats 26 relative to each other and securely interconnect them, avoiding unnecessary raising and lowering and helping to make a strong electrical connection between them.

As shown in fig. 7-9, when the depicted mats 112 are interconnected, the interfaces 138 of adjacent mats 112 will contact each other to electrically connect them together. The grounding of at least one of the mats 112 will electrically ground a series of interconnected mats 112 in the load-supporting surface 16. A low resistivity path is formed between each mat 112 allowing charge flow and limiting ground potential rise across the load-supporting surface 16. Electrical tests for the exemplary load-supporting surface 16 have confirmed their success in passing electrical current from one mat 112 to the next without substantial loss of current or substantial heat build-up.

After use, the mats 112 of the multi-mat load-supporting surface 16 may be disconnected from one another. In this embodiment, the exemplary cover 110 of each EPZ mat 112 may be removed from its corresponding mat 26 and replaced on the same or other mats 26. For example, if the cover 110 suffers significant damage during use, the cover 110 may be removed, repaired, and/or replaced. The mat 26 may be reused with or without the cover 110.

Referring now to fig. 13, in another independent aspect of the present disclosure, the mesh portion 126 of the conductive cover 110 may include a plurality of grid panels 200 for any desired purpose, such as to facilitate manufacturing, handling, assembly, disassembly, and/or maintenance, to help maintain the integrity of the cover 110 during use, or a combination thereof. The grille panel 200 can have any suitable form, configuration, construction and components. Further, any desired number of grid panels 200 may be used to form the grid portion 126. In the example shown, three

grid panels

200a, 200b, 200c are interconnected to form the grid portion 126 (see also fig. 14-15). In other embodiments, only two, four, five, or more grille panels 200 may be used.

The grid panel 200 may be constructed of any suitable material that is sufficiently conductive and durable to withstand use as part of the load-bearing surface 16. For example, the grid panel 200 may be at least partially a metal mesh or grid, such as an aluminum mesh configuration.

Still referring to the embodiment of fig. 13, the grille panel 200 can be formed with a cutout 178 if desired. For example, the grille panel 200 may have a cutout 178 extending to an edge thereof, and the cutout 178 is configured to at least partially surround the latch hole 32 formed in the upper lip 46 of the associated cushion 26 (see, e.g., fig. 14-15). In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 16, the first grid panel 200a includes two short side cutouts 178a, one long side cutout 178b, and one full corner cutout 178 c. A second exemplary grille panel 200b (see, e.g., fig. 17) includes two long side cutouts 178b and one partial corner cutout 178 d. A third illustrated grille panel 200c (see, e.g., fig. 18) includes one long side cutout 178b and one partial corner cutout 178 d.

Referring to fig. 13-15, one or more cut-out frames 180 may be used with a grill panel 200. For example, the cut-out frame 180 may be coupled to and cover the edges of the grille panel 200 that form the cut-out 178. In this example, except that the full corner cut-out 178c of the first grid panel 200a (at the first corner 40 of the mat 26) is shown as having a U-shaped cut-out frame 180b (see also fig. 14-15), the rectangular cut-out frame 180a is shown as being welded to the grid panel 200 over all of the shown cut-outs 178.

In some embodiments, the grid panels 200 may be interconnected, while in other embodiments they may not be interconnected. When interconnected, the grid panels 200 may be interconnected in any suitable manner. For example, the grille panels 200 may be welded together at their adjacent edges, clamped together, or coupled using any other suitable coupling mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 110 includes one or more internal frame members 206 for interconnecting adjacent grid panels 200. For example, a first illustrated inner frame member 206a may be welded atop adjacent edges of the first and

second grid panels

200a, 200b, while a second inner frame member 206 is welded atop adjacent edges of the second and third grid panels 200b, 200c (see also fig. 14-15). In other embodiments, the internal frame members 206 may be welded under adjacent panels 200, or connected to the panels 200 in any other suitable manner. If desired, the inner frame member 206 may have additional purposes, such as increasing the strength and/or rigidity of the cover 110 and helping to maintain its integrity during use.

The internal frame member 206 may have any suitable form, configuration, and components. In this example, the inner frame member 206 is elongated. As used herein, the term "elongated" and variations thereof refer to an article having an overall length that is greater than its average width. The illustrated first internal frame member 206a is longer than the illustrated second internal frame member 206b, which exemplary second internal frame member 206b intersects the illustrated adjacent partial corner cuts 178d of the grill panels 200b, 200 c.

The inner frame member 206 may have any suitable configuration. For example, the inner frame member 206 may be constructed at least partially from aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or other sufficiently conductive material, or combinations thereof, to provide the cover 110 with the desired strength, durability, rigidity, and flexibility to maintain its integrity during use (e.g., when the EPZ mat 112 is driven by vehicles and machinery, or other suitable purposes).

If desired, one or more ends 207 of the inner frame member 206 may be interconnected with the outer frame 120 or one or more cut-out frames 180, such as by welding, clamps, or other mechanisms. In the embodiment of fig. 14, both end portions 207 of the inner frame member 206a are welded to the adjacent portions of the outer frames 120, while one end of the inner frame member 206b is welded to the adjacent outer frame 120 and the other end thereof is welded to the adjacent cutout frame 180.

Still referring to fig. 13-15, in another independent aspect of the present disclosure, the mesh portion 126 (e.g., the grille panel 200) may be connected to the cushion 26 with one or more couplers 62. The coupler 62 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction, components and operation. In this embodiment, for example, the coupler 62 includes a bolt 69 that extends into but not through the mat 26. Also, the mesh portion 126 of the exemplary cover 110 of the present embodiment is not welded to the bolt 69. Washer ring 73 may be clamped between each exemplary bolt head 70 and the upper surface of exemplary mesh portion 126. In other embodiments, the coupler 62 may extend through the mat 26 and may be releasably secured to the mat 26 (see, e.g., fig. 42C) or other connector, for example, with one or more nuts 302. Any desired number of couplers 62 may be included. In this example, fifteen bolts 69 are shown extending into the mat 26 at predetermined locations; however, more or fewer couplers 62 may be used.

Referring to fig. 13, in some embodiments, a space 208 is formed between adjacent upper faces 160 of the frame 120 adjacent the second corner 42 of the mat 26. In such a case, if desired, corner inserts 210 may be secured to frame 120 and/or cushion 26 in spaces 208. The corner insert 210 may have any suitable form, shape, configuration and operation. In this example, the corner insert 210 is triangular or star-shaped (see, e.g., fig. 19), and fills the space 208. If desired, corner inserts 210 may engage frame 120 and/or mat 26 to assist in securing frame 120 to mat 26. In this example, the corner inserts 120 may be welded to adjacent edges of the frame 120 to help maintain the integrity of the frame 120 at this location. Also, if desired, one point 212 of the corner insert 210 may be configured to penetrate the mat 26 to assist in securing the frame 120 to the mat 26.

Referring now to fig. 20, in another independent aspect of the present disclosure, in some cases it may be desirable to coat substantially all of the upwardly facing surface of the EPZ mat 112 in the load-supporting surface 16 with an electrically conductive material. This may be desirable, for example, when a user of the load-supporting surface 16 having the EPZ mat 112 desires to minimize the exposed surface (e.g., exposed thermoplastic or other material) of the mat 26 in the load-supporting surface 16. For example, the conductive cover 110 on a mat 112 having an exposed lower lip 54 (e.g., disposed on the perimeter 18 of the load-supporting surface 16) may extend across the lower lip 54 to completely cover the mat 112. As another example, in the illustrated embodiment, one or more conductive lip covers 220 are used on one or more lower lips 54 of one or more mats 26. For example, a mat 112 having a lower lip 54 disposed on the perimeter 18 of the load-supporting surface 16 may be provided with a lip cover 220.

The lip cover 220 can have any suitable form, configuration, construction, component, location, and operation. For example, referring to fig. 22, the lip cover 220 may include a lip cover frame 224 and a lip cover grid portion 230. The lip cover frame 224 may have any or all of the features, characteristics, and details of the outer frame 120 as described above and shown in the drawings, and the lip cover mesh portion 230 may have any or all of the features, characteristics, and details of the mesh portion 126 as described above and shown in the drawings. For example, the lip cover frame 224 and the lip cover grid portion 230 may be constructed at least partially of aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or other sufficiently conductive material, or combinations thereof, that allows the associated lower lip 54 to be effectively grounded or otherwise suitably structured to provide sufficient strength, durability, rigidity, and flexibility to maintain the integrity of the lip cover 220 during use as part of the load-bearing surface 16 or other suitable purpose. In some embodiments, the lip cover mesh portion 230 may be at least partially constructed of a metal mesh or mesh grid (such as an aluminum mesh configuration), and the lip cover frame 224 may be a welded rectangular steel frame.

Still referring to fig. 22, in this embodiment, the lip cover frame 224 includes (i) a generally flat elongated inner frame member or portion 226, (ii) a generally flat end frame member or portion 225 on each end of the lip cover 220, and (iii) an elongated L-shaped outer frame member or portion 227, all rigidly coupled together. The outer portion 227 of the illustrated lip cover frame 224 is designed to extend at least partially beyond a corresponding edge 234 of the lower lip 54 of the corresponding cushion 112 when the lip cover 220 is coupled to the cushion 112 (see, e.g., fig. 21).

In some embodiments, the lip cover frame 224 may be coupled to the lip cover mesh portion 230, and in other embodiments may not be coupled. When connected together, any suitable coupling mechanism or technique may be used. In the example shown, the lip cover frame 224 and the lip cover mesh portion 230 are welded together. For example, the lip cover frame 224 may be welded on top of the edge of the lip cover grid portion 230. In other embodiments, the lip cover grid portion 230 may be welded on top of the lip cover frame 224 or coupled in any other suitable manner.

Referring now to fig. 21, if desired, the lip cover 220 may include at least one lip cover conductive interface 238 for electrically connecting the lip cover 220 to one or more other components, such as the cover 110 of the same mat 26, the cover 110 of one or more other mats 26, another one or more lip covers 220 of the same mat 26, and/or one or more other mats 26, any other desired component, or combinations thereof. The lip cover conductive interface 238 can have any suitable form, configuration, and operation. For example, the lip conductive interface 238 can include a connector for electrically coupling the lip cover 220 to another component. In this embodiment, at least one lip cover conductive interface 238 is configured to electrically connect the lip cover 220 to the cover 110 of the same mat 26. The illustrated lip conductive interface 238 extends at least partially along the inner portion 226 of the lip cover frame 224 and contacts the cover 110 to allow electrical conductivity therebetween. For example, the bottom surface 228 of the inner portion 226 of the lip cover frame 224 is shown covering and contacting the upward facing surface 160 of the frame 120 (and the conductive interface 138) to form a conductive path therebetween. However, the lip cover conductive interface 238 may have any other desired form.

Referring back to fig. 20, in the illustrated embodiment, a different lip cover 220 may be positioned on each lower lip 54 of the mat 26. For example, the short lip cover 250 may be configured to extend substantially across the length of the lower lip 54 at the second short side 30 of the cover 26, and the long lip cover 260 may be configured to extend substantially across the length of the lower lip 54 extending from the second long side 38 of the mat 26. For any exemplary mat 26 whose corners 42 (formed between adjacent lower lips 54) are exposed, the short lip cover 250 or the long lip cover 260 may be shorter than the other

respective covers

250, 260. In this embodiment, the corner short lip cover 254 (see, e.g., fig. 24) is shorter than the other short lip cover 250 (see, e.g., fig. 22-23).

If desired, the lip cover 220 may be formed with one or more cutouts 178 to allow access to one or more locking pin holes 32 on the lower lip 54 of the mat 26, or for any other purpose. Also, if desired, one or more cut-out frames 180 may be used with the lip cover 220. For example, the cut-out frame 180 may be coupled to and cover the edges of the lip cover 220 that form the cut-out 178.

Any desired number of cutouts 178 and cutout frames 180 may be included. In this embodiment, since the exemplary mat 26 (see, e.g., fig. 3) has three locking pin holes 32 on the lower lip 54 at the second short side 30 of the mat 26, the short lip cover 250 (see, e.g., fig. 22) may be configured to include three cutouts 178 to allow access to all of the locking pin holes 32. As another example, in fig. 23, the short lip cover 250 includes only two cutouts 178 to allow access to two locking pin holes 32 (see also fig. 20). Similarly, since the example mat 26 (see, e.g., fig. 3) has six lock pin holes 32 on the lower lip 54 at the second long side 38 of the mat 26, the long lip cover 260 (see, e.g., fig. 25) may be configured to include six cutouts 178 to allow access to all of the lock pin holes 32. As another example, in fig. 26, the long lip cover 260 includes only three cutouts 178 to allow access to the three locking pin holes 32 (see also fig. 20).

Other embodiments may include fewer cutouts 178 on the lip cover 220. Depending on the intended use of the locking pin holes 32, it may be necessary or desirable to allow access through the lip cover 220 to only some of the locking pin holes 32 in the respective lower lip 54. For example, when all of the dowel holes 32 of the lower lip 54 are not required, few cuts 178 may be desired in order to maintain the integrity, strength, and rigidity of the lip cover 220. As another example, in embodiments where the lip cover 220 is secured to the cushion 26 by one or more locking pin holes 32, only those locking pin holes 32 that are needed to adequately secure the lip cover 220 to the cushion 26 may pass through the cutout 178. As another example, in some embodiments, such as a load-bearing surface 16 having a mat 26 without locking pin holes 32, the lip cover 220 may not include any cutouts 178.

Referring now to fig. 27, the lip cover 220 may be coupled to the cushion 26 in any suitable manner. For example, the lip cover mesh portion 230 may be secured with a coupler 62 (e.g., bolt 69) similar to that described above with respect to the mesh portion 126 and the mesh grille panel 200. As another example, the lip cover frame 224 may engage or wrap around one or more edges of the associated lower lip 54. As another example, the lip cover 220 may be coupled to the cover 110 disposed on the same mat 26. In the present embodiment, the lip cover 220 is shown coupled to the illustrated mat 26 by one or more upright members 310, each upright member 310 releasably engaging a lock pin hole 32 in one respective lower lip 54 of the associated mat 26. Upright member 310 may have any desired components, configuration, operation, and use. For example, upright member 310 may be or include a bar, post, frame, or the like. In this embodiment, upright member 310 is a pole 312 for supporting one or more signs, rails, or safety barriers, and may be constructed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, steel, or fiberglass. Upright member 310 may be releasably engaged with lock pin hole 32 in any suitable manner. For example, an Upright member Support System 320 such as the System 300 disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/132,410 entitled "Apparatus, System and Methods for Supporting One or More Upper items from a Support Surface," filed on Applet.4/19/2016, may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of upright member support systems 320 are shown supporting a plurality of rods 312 as part of a safety barrier system 420. U.S. patent application serial No. 15/132,410 has a common assignee with this patent, and the entire contents of serial No. 15/132,410 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring now to fig. 28, in another independent aspect of the present disclosure, electrical connection strips 270 may be used with one or more EPZ mats 112 in the load-supporting surface 16. The electrical connection strip 270 may be used for any suitable purpose, such as grounding the EPZ mat 112 or the load-supporting surface 16, electrically connecting the EPZ mat 112 or the load-supporting surface 16 to testing, monitoring, measuring or other equipment, electrically interconnecting a plurality of EPZ mats 112, or a combination thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the grounding bar 174 for grounding the load-bearing surface 16 is shown releasably electrically coupled to the electrical connection strip 270 via the grounding cable 170 and the electrical connector 288. In some embodiments, an electrical connection strip 270 may be used as part of the conductive interface 138, which may be used to releasably electrically connect the EPZ mat 112 with one or more other EPZ mats 112, for example, using an electrical connector 288 or other conductive wires, cables, strips, or other electrically connected components.

The electrical connection strip 270 may be releasably coupled to one or more electrical connection components (e.g., electrical connectors 288, wires, cables, pins, testing, monitoring, measuring, or other equipment, etc.) in any suitable manner. For example, electrical connection strip 270 may include one or more connection ports 278. The connection port 278 may have any suitable form and configuration. In this embodiment, the connection port 278 is an aperture 280 formed into the strip 270. The illustrated connection ports 278 face generally horizontally toward the connector bar 270, such as to facilitate electrical connection therewith, maintain a low profile of electrical connection components (e.g., electrical connectors 288, ground cables 170, etc.) above the top surface 132 of the mat 112, minimize the risk of undesired or accidental disengagement of the electrical connection components, or other desired purposes. If desired, multiple connection ports 278 (see, e.g., fig. 29) may be included, allowing flexibility and multiple options or other desired purposes in the location and number of electrical connections that may be made to the EPZ mat 112.

Referring to fig. 28-29, the electrical connection strip 270 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, other electrically conductive material, or combinations thereof, and have any suitable form, configuration, and operation. In this embodiment, the electrical connection strip 270 is a length of rigid angle iron 271 that is sufficiently strong and durable to withstand use as part of the load-bearing surface 16. The example strip 270 is elongated to provide space for a plurality of connection ports 278, maintain a low profile above the top surface 132 of the mat 112, be sufficiently secured to the mat 112 to maintain electrical contact therewith during use of the support surface 16, or other desired purpose. As another example, the electrical connection strip 270 may be configured and positioned to allow cables (e.g., ground cables 170), electrical wires, etc. to be coupled to the EPZ mat 112 or the load-supporting surface 16 without substantial risk of undesirably wrapping around or undesirably covering or spanning a substantial portion of the one or more conductive covers 110 in the load-supporting surface 16.

Referring now to fig. 30-32, electrical connection strips 270 may be connected to EPZ mat 112 in any suitable manner. For example, the strips 270 may be welded to the frame 120, the mesh portion 126, the one or more cut-out frames 180, or a combination thereof of the example cover 110. As yet another example, the electrical connection strip 270 may be releasably coupled to one or more of the locking pin holes 32 of the mat 26, such as to allow for desired positioning of electrically connected components at one side or corner of the mat 26 or load-supporting surface 16 or electrical connection with adjacent mats 112 or other components. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical connection strip 270 is configured to releasably connect and electrically couple to the EPZ mat 112 proximate the first corner 40 thereof, thereby allowing for the desired positioning of electrical connection components or electrical connection with adjacent mats 112 at one side or corner of the mat 26 or load-supporting surface 16. The example electrical connection strip 270 is configured such that when it is coupled to the EPZ mat 112, one leg of the angle iron 271 is oriented substantially vertically, and the connection port 278 formed therein is oriented substantially horizontally. The other illustrated leg of the angle iron 271 is oriented substantially horizontally adjacent to and in electrical contact with the conductive cover 110 and aligns at least one anchor hole 272 formed therein over the lock pin hole 32 of the mat 26 (see, e.g., fig. 31).

In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical connection strip 270 is shown releasably coupled to two locking pin holes 32 of the EPZ mat 112. For example, as shown in fig. 31, at each such locking pin hole 32, a bolt 282 (or other connector, such as a pin, screw, etc.) may extend through the anchoring hole 272 in the connecting bar 270 and then through the locking pin hole 32. An exemplary bolt 282 (or other connector) may be releasably secured, for example, to a threaded anchor mount 284 below the cushion 112 and below the lock pin hole 32. If desired, the bolts 282 may threadably engage nuts 286, which nuts 286 are welded to or otherwise extend from the upper surface of the anchor base 284. As shown in fig. 32, under the mat 26, an exemplary anchoring base 284 releasably secures the electrical connection strip 270 to the mat 26 at least partially around the lock pin holes 32. However, any other method and mechanism for coupling the strips 270 to one or more mats 26 may be used.

If desired, the electrical connection strips 270 may be used at different locations on the mat 112 to provide flexibility in the location of the electrical connection components or other desired purposes. In this example, the electrical connection strip 270 may be coupled to the two locking pin holes 32 closest to the first corner 40 of the mat 26 on either the first long side 37 (fig. 30-32) or the first short side 28 (fig. 33-35) of the mat 26. However, in other embodiments, the electrical connection strip 270 may be coupled to a different locking pin hole 32 or any other desired portion or component of the mat 112 or load-supporting surface 16.

Referring again to fig. 28, electrical connection strip 270 may be electrically coupled to EPZ mat 112 in any desired manner. In this example, the strip 270 abuts and electrically contacts the conductive cut-out frame 180 of the cover 110. The strip 270 may also or alternatively abut and electrically contact the mesh portion 126 of the cover 110 and/or the frame 120. In other embodiments, the strips 270 may be electrically coupled to different portions or components of the mat 112 or load-supporting surface 16.

When included, the electrical connector 288 for electrically coupling the electrical connection strip 270 (or other component of the mat 112) to one or more other components or the mat 112 may have any suitable form, configuration and construction. In this embodiment, the electrical connector 288 is a rigid bolt 289 coupled to the strip 270. If desired, the electrical connectors 288 may be flexible, such as to allow relative movement between the respective mat 112 (or cover 110) and other components without disconnecting therefrom. Other examples of the electrical connector 288 can include one or more pins, compliant members, copper wires, jumper cables 292 (see, e.g., fig. 37), braided steel strips 298 (see, e.g., fig. 43C), and the like. If desired, the electrical connector 288 may be loosely coupled (see, e.g., fig. 37), such as to allow relative movement between the mat 112 (or cover 110) and other components without disconnecting therefrom. In some embodiments, electrical connectors 288 may be used as part of the conductive interface 138 between the pads 112.

Referring now to fig. 36-37, in another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a conductive corner plate 290 may be used with one or more EPZ mats 112 in the load-supporting surface 16. The corner plate 290 may be used for any suitable purpose, such as releasably electrically interconnecting a plurality of EPZ mats 112, grounding the EPZ mat 112 or the load-supporting surface 16, electrically connecting the EPZ mat 112 or the load-supporting surface 16 to testing, monitoring, measuring or other equipment, or combinations thereof. For example, the corner plate 290 may be used to electrically connect the EPZ pad 112 to one or more other EPZ pads 112, the EPZ pad 112 serving as part of the conductive interface 138 (see, e.g., fig. 37). In some embodiments, corner plates 290 may also or alternatively be used in addition to one or more other engaged conductive interfaces 138 (see, e.g., fig. 9) of two or more electrically coupled mats 112 to ensure effective electrical interconnection and/or grounding of mats 112 and/or other components in load bearing system 16. As another example, in fig. 39, corner plates 290 on adjacent mats 112 are shown releasably electrically coupled to a test unit 294, such as a four wire kelvin resistance measurement device.

The corner plates 290 may be constructed of any suitable material (e.g., aluminum, steel, stainless steel, other materials, or combinations thereof) so long as the material is sufficiently electrically conductive and, if desired, sufficiently robust for the load-supporting surface 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 39-40, the corner panel 290 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. For example, the corner plates 290 may be configured to allow for ease of electrical connection therewith, low profile retention of electrical connection components (e.g., electrical connectors 288, cables, etc.) above the top surface 132 of the mat 112, minimization of risk of undesired or accidental disengagement of the electrical connection components, or other desired purpose. In this embodiment, corner plate 290 is generally flat L-shaped and is configured to be physically and electrically coupled to a corner of EPZ mat 112, such as by welding, for example, to allow for desired positioning of electrical connection components or electrical connection with adjacent mats 112 or other components at one side or corner of mat 26 or load bearing surface 16. For example, as shown in fig. 38A-B, corner plates 290 may be welded to the corners of the frame 120 of the conductive cover 110. Corner plate 290 may be coupled to each corner of frame 120, if desired. In other embodiments, corner plates 290 may be coupled to only selected corners of frame 120 or frame 120 of cover 110 or EPZ mat 112, grid portion 126, one or more cut-out frames 180, or other components, or any other desired location, such as by welding, electrically conductive mechanical connectors (e.g., pins, bolts, screws), or other methods.

Referring back to fig. 36-37, the example corner plate 290 may be releasably coupled to one or more electrical connection components (e.g., electrical connectors 188, wires, cables, ground wires, testing, monitoring, measuring, or other equipment, etc.) in any suitable manner. For example, the corner plate 290 may include one or more connection ports 278. The connection port 278 may have any suitable form and configuration. In this embodiment, the connection port 278 is a threaded aperture 280 formed in the corner plate 290 and is configured to receive any suitable electrical connector 288 or other connection component, such as a bolt, pin, screw, strap, wire, or the like. For example, in fig. 39, the test unit 294 is releasably secured in electrical contact with the corner plates 290 of the adjacent mat 112 by electrical connectors 288 (e.g., bolts 296) threadably engaged with the apertures 280 of the respective corner plates 290.

If desired, multiple connection ports 278 may be included, such as to allow flexibility and multiple options in the location and number of electrical connections that may be made to the EPZ mat 112 or other desired purposes. In this embodiment, the corner plate 290 includes four connection ports 278, but other embodiments may include fewer (one, two, or three) or more (five, six, etc.) connection ports 278.

As discussed above, one or more electrical connectors 288 may be used to secure the exemplary corner plate 290 to another component, if desired. For example, in fig. 37, the electrical connector 288 includes a jumper cable 292 and two bolts 296 that are releasably electrically coupled to the apertures 280 of respective corner plates 290 of adjacent mats 112 to electrically couple the mats 112 together. In this example, the electrical connector 288 functions as part of the conductive interface 138 between the pads 112. If desired, the jumper cable 292 or other electrical connector 288 may be loosely coupled to the corner plate 290, such as to allow relative movement between the respective mats 112 (or covers 110) without disconnection therefrom or other desired purpose.

Referring now to fig. 41, in another independent aspect of the present disclosure, the EPZ mat 112 may be constructed and arranged to allow some relative movement between the mat 26 and the cover 110 while at least substantially maintaining the integrity and desired functionality of the mat 26 and the cover 110. For example, the cover 110 may be constructed and configured to be sufficiently rigid as part of the EPZ mat 112 and the load-supporting surface 16 (e.g., as described above), and sufficiently flexible to flex, bend, expand, contract, or combinations thereof, relative to the mat 26, such as due to one or more environmental factors (e.g., temperature changes), movement of persons, vehicles, and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface 16, or other factors during normal, typical, or expected use conditions of the load-supporting surface 16, without separating them or undesirably damaging or deforming the cover 110 or the mat 26. The term "flexible construction" and variations thereof as used herein with respect to the cover 110 or any component thereof refers to the cover 110 (or one or more components thereof) being constructed and configured to be sufficiently rigid to be part of the EPZ mat 112 and the load-supporting surface 16 (e.g., as described above), and sufficiently flexible to flex, bend, expand, contract, or combinations thereof relative to the mat 26, such as due to one or more environmental factors (e.g., temperature changes), movement of persons, vehicles, and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface 16, or other factors during normal, typical, or expected conditions of use of the load-supporting surface 16, without separating or undesirably damaging or deforming the cover 110 or the mat 26.

As yet another example, the cover 110 may be coupled to the mat 26 sufficiently rigidly to perform as part of the EPZ mat 112 and the load-supporting surface 16 (e.g., as described above), and yet sufficiently flexible to allow the mat 26 to flex, bend, expand, contract, or combinations thereof relative to the cover 110, such as due to one or more environmental factors (e.g., temperature changes), movement of persons, vehicles, and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface 16, or other factors during normal, typical, or expected use conditions of the load-supporting surface 16, without separating them or undesirably damaging or deforming the cover 110 or the mat 26. The term "flexibly coupled" and variations thereof as used herein with respect to the cover 110 or any component thereof refers to the cover 110 (or one or more components thereof) being coupled to the mat 26 sufficiently rigidly to perform as part of the EPZ mat 112 and the load-supporting surface 16 (e.g., as described above) and sufficiently flexible to allow the mat 26 to flex, bend, expand, contract, or combinations thereof relative to the cover 110, without separating them or undesirably damaging or deforming the cover 110 or mat 26, such as due to one or more environmental factors, movement of persons, vehicles, and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface 16, or other factors, during normal, typical, or expected conditions of use of the load-supporting surface 16. As used herein with respect to the cover 110 (or any component thereof) and the mat 26 (or any component thereof), the term "acceptable relative movement" and variations thereof refers to movement of one or both of the cover 110 and the mat 26 (or the referenced component) relative to the other, such as due to one or more environmental factors (e.g., temperature changes), movement of persons, vehicles, and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface 16, or other factors, during normal, typical, or expected conditions of use of the load-supporting surface 16, without separating them, undesirably damaging or deforming the cover 110 or the mat 26, or substantially reducing the desired function of the mat 112 in the load-supporting surface 16 (e.g., as described above).

Still referring to fig. 41, the cover 110 may be configured to allow acceptable relative movement between the cover 110 and the mat 26 in any suitable manner. For example, the cover 110 may not extend around any edge 44 of the mat 26 (see also fig. 42A-B). In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 110 is generally flat and extends at least partially over only the top surface 132 of the mat 26. Unlike the exemplary frame 120 shown in fig. 8-9, the frame 120 in this embodiment does not extend around the edges 44 of the exemplary mat 26 on each

side

28, 37 having an upper lip 46, nor extends across any portion of the top 142 of the lower lip 54 of the exemplary mat 26. Moreover, the frame 110 of this embodiment does not have any underside 156 (see, e.g., fig. 9) or upperside 160 that serves as a conductive interface 138 in the manner described with respect to the embodiment of fig. 8-9.

Referring now to fig. 42A-C, if desired, the cover 110 may be flexibly coupled to the mat 26 to allow for relative movement that is acceptable in any suitable manner. In this embodiment, a plurality of couplers 62 releasably secure the cover 110 to the mat 26. The illustrated coupling 62 includes a bolt 69, but may include any other form of coupling (e.g., a clip, pin, rod, screw, etc.). Referring to fig. 42C, at least some of the example couplers 62 (i) extend over the cover 110 and through the cover 110 (e.g., over the frame 120 and/or the mesh portion 126), (ii) include an elongated body that extends through an aperture 300 formed in the mat 26, and (iii) are releasably secured to the bottom surface 134 of the mat 26 with at least one nut 302 or other suitable releasable, adjustable anchor. In some embodiments, the coupler 62 may be the only interconnection of the cover 110 and the associated cushion 26. If desired, to allow for some acceptable relative movement, at least some of the couplers 62 may be loosely engaged between the cover 110 or the mat 26, rather than rigidly coupled (e.g., by welding) to the cover 110 or the mat 26. As shown in fig. 42C, for example, the inner diameter 304 of the example aperture 300 may be larger than the outer diameter 306 of the elongated body of the coupler 62, thereby allowing some lateral relative movement between the mat 26, the coupler 62, and the cover 110. As another example, the nut 302 (or other suitable anchor) may not abut completely against the bottom surface 134 of the mat 26 to allow some relative up and down movement between the mat 26, the coupler 62, and the cover 110. However, the cover 110 and/or the mat 26 may be configured to allow acceptable relative movement therebetween in any other suitable manner.

Referring now to fig. 43A-C, in another independent aspect of the present disclosure, the conductive cover 110 may be formed with one or more connection ports 278 to releasably electrically interconnect a plurality of EPZ mats 112, ground the EPZ mat 112 or the load-supporting surface 16, electrically connect the EPZ mat 112 or the load-supporting surface 16 to testing, monitoring, measuring or other equipment, other desired purposes, or combinations thereof. For example, in this embodiment, as shown in fig. 43C, the illustrated connection ports 278 formed in adjacent mats 112 are used to electrically interconnect adjacent EPZ mats 112 and thus serve as part of the conductive interface 138 of the mats 112. In other embodiments, one or more connector strips 270 (see, e.g., fig. 28), corner plates 290 (see, e.g., fig. 36), other forms of conductive interfaces 138, or combinations thereof may be used.

The connection port 278 formed in this embodiment of the cover 110 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and operation. For example, the connection ports 278 may be configured to facilitate electrical connection therewith, maintain a low profile of electrical connection components (e.g., the woven steel band 298) above the top surface 132 of the mat 112, minimize the risk of undesired or accidental separation of electrical connection components, or other desired purposes. In this embodiment, the connection ports 278 are threaded apertures 280 formed in the corners of the EPZ mat 112, such as to allow for the desired positioning of electrically connected components at one side or corner of the mat 26 or load-supporting surface 16 or electrical connection with an adjacent mat 112 or other component. For example, the connection port 278 may be formed in a corner of the frame 120 of the conductive cover 110. If desired, connection ports 278 may be formed in each corner of the frame 120. In other embodiments, the one or more connection ports 278 may be formed only in selected corners of the frame 120 or at any other desired location on the frame 120, the mesh portion 126, the one or more cut-out frames 180, or other components of the EPZ mat 112, or a combination thereof.

Still referring to fig. 43A-C, the example connection port 278 may receive any desired electrical connection components (e.g., electrical connectors 288, ground, test, monitoring or other equipment, wires, cables, connector pins, etc.). If desired, multiple connection ports 278 may be included at each location, such as to allow flexibility and multiple options or other desired purposes in the location and number of electrical connections that may be made to the EPZ mat 112. In this embodiment, three connection ports 278 are shown at each location, but other embodiments may include fewer (one or two) or more (four, five, six, etc.) connection ports 278.

In some embodiments, one or more electrical connectors 288 may be coupled to one or more connection ports 278 of the example mat 112. In fig. 43C, for example, an electrical connector 288 is shown releasably electrically coupled to the connection ports 278 on each of the four adjacent mats 112 to electrically couple the mats 112 together. The illustrated electrical connector 288 and connection port 278 thus serve as the conductive interface 138 between the mats 112. In this embodiment, electrical connector 288 includes a flexible braided steel band 298 and bolts 296. If desired, similar to as described above, the electrical connectors 288 (e.g., straps 298) may be flexible and/or loosely coupled to one or more of the connection ports 278, such as to allow relative movement between the respective mats 112 (cover 110, connected electrical components, etc.) without disconnecting therefrom.

It should be noted that the corner plates 290, electrical connection strips 270, and connection ports 278 formed in the mat 112 may be used alone, in combination with one another, and with one or more of the conductive interfaces 138 of one or more of the mats 112 to achieve a desired goal.

Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure provide many advantages over the prior art, and are well adapted to carry out one or more of the objects of the present disclosure. However, the present invention does not require each of the above components and actions, and is by no means limited to the above embodiments or operation methods. Any one or more of the above components, features and processes may be used in any suitable configuration without the inclusion of other such components, features and processes. Furthermore, the invention includes additional features, capabilities, functions, methods, uses, and applications not specifically set forth herein but otherwise apparent or will become apparent from the description, drawings, and claims herein.

The methods described above or claimed herein, and any other methods that may fall within the scope of the appended claims, may be performed in any desired suitable order, and are not necessarily limited to any order described herein or listed in the appended claims. In addition, the method of the present invention need not utilize the specific embodiments shown and described herein, but may be equally applicable in the construction, form and configuration of any other suitable components.

While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, numerous variations, modifications, and/or changes in the system, apparatus, and method of the present invention, for example, in the components, structural and operational details, arrangement of parts, and/or method of use, can be envisioned by one or more patent applicants within the scope of any appended claims, and may be made and used by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or teachings of the present invention and the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims. Accordingly, all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative, and the scope of the present disclosure and any appended claims should not be limited to the embodiments described and shown herein.

Claims

1. A system for electrically grounding a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on or near the ground, the system comprising:

at least two mats at least partially forming the load-supporting surface, each of the mats having substantially flat respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each of the side surfaces, the mats configured to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles, and equipment thereon; and

a plurality of substantially planar removable electrically conductive covers constructed at least in part of an electrically conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon, each said cover extending at least partially across the top surface of one said mat without extending beyond any of the edges thereof and being flexibly coupled to an associated mat to allow the mat to flex, expand and contract relative to the cover due to one or more environmental factors and movement of persons, vehicles and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface under normal, typical or expected conditions of use without separating the cover from the associated mat and without causing undesirable damage or deformation to the cover or the mat while allowing the cover and the mat to support persons, vehicles and equipment thereon, Weight and movement of vehicles and equipment, each of said covers having at least one conductive interface configured to electrically couple said cover to another of said covers of said load-supporting surface, and at least one of said covers being configured to be electrically coupled to ground.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to the associated mat with a plurality of releasable couplers, at least some of said couplers being loosely engaged between said cover and said mat to allow acceptable relative movement therebetween.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to its associated said mat only by said coupler.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein each coupler includes an elongated body having an outer diameter and configured to extend through an aperture formed in the associated mat to secure the associated cover to the mat, wherein at least some of the apertures formed in each mat have an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the elongated body of the associated coupler to allow relative lateral movement between the coupler, the mat, and the cover.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein each said coupler is secured to the associated mat below the bottom surface of the mat with at least one adjustable releasable anchor, wherein the at least one anchor associated with at least some of the couplers on each said mat is selectively positioned on the couplers spaced below the bottom surface of the associated mat to allow relative up and down movement between the couplers, the mat and the cover.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the covers includes at least one upwardly facing corner, and wherein the at least one conductive interface includes at least one conductive corner plate welded to one of the corners, each of the conductive corner plates including at least one connection port.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one electrically conductive corner plate welded to each corner of each of the covers.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising at least one electrical connector releasably coupled to at least one of said connection ports of one of said electrically conductive corner plates and at least one of said connection ports of at least one other of said covers to electrically couple the associated cover in the load-supporting surface.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein each said cover includes an outer frame and an inner mesh portion connected to said outer frame, said outer frame and inner mesh portion being constructed at least partially of an electrically conductive material, and wherein said outer frame includes said at least one conductive interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the outer frames is flat.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein each said mat includes at least one corner and each said outer frame includes at least one corner aligned at least partially over an associated one said corner of said mat, and further wherein said at least one conductive interface includes at least one threaded aperture formed in at least one said corner of said outer frame.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one conductive interface includes three threaded apertures formed in each said corner of each said outer frame.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one electrical connector releasably coupled to at least one of said threaded apertures of said outer frame of one of said covers and at least one of said threaded apertures of said outer frame of another of said covers to electrically couple said covers in the load-supporting surface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one electrical connector is flexible to allow relative movement between the electrically coupled covers.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one electrical connector is loosely coupled between the electrically coupled covers to allow relative movement between the covers.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the inner mesh portion connected to each outer frame comprises at least two grid panels, wherein adjacent ones of the at least two grid panels are electrically coupled to each other by at least one conductive inner frame member welded to the adjacent grid panels, wherein the conductive inner frame member is between the adjacent grid panels.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the internal mesh portions comprises a first, second, and third grid panel, wherein a first internal frame member is welded between and electrically couples the first and second grid panels, and a second internal frame member is welded between and electrically couples the second and third grid panels.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein each of the first and second inner frame members has first and second ends, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of each inner frame member is welded to the outer frame of the associated cover.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the mats each include at least one upper lip and at least one lower lip, each upper lip configured to mechanically interconnect with one or more of the lower lips of another one or more of the mats in the load-supporting surface, and each lower lip configured to mechanically interconnect with one or more of the upper lips of another one or more of the mats in the load-supporting surface.

20. The system of claim 9 wherein each mat includes a plurality of locking pin holes extending therethrough, each locking pin hole configured to receive a locking pin for mechanically interconnecting its associated mat with an adjacent mat in the load-supporting surface, and wherein the inner grid portion of each cover includes a plurality of cut-out portions, each cut-out portion formed in the inner grid portion around one of the respective locking pin holes of the associated mat.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein each of the cut-out portions is sized and configured to electrically isolate locking pins placed in corresponding locking pin holes.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a cut-out frame engaged with each of the cut-out portions of the inner mesh portion and extending around the associated locking pin hole, the cut-out frame welded to the inner mesh portion.

23. An apparatus for electrically grounding at least two mats of a load-supporting surface deployed on or near the ground, each mat having substantially flat respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each side surface thereof, the mats constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles, and equipment thereon, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of substantially planar removable electrically conductive covers constructed at least in part of an electrically conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon, each said cover extending at least partially across the top face of one of said mats without extending beyond any edge thereof, each said cover including at least one electrically conductive interface configured to electrically couple said cover to another said cover in the load-supporting surface, at least one said cover configured to be electrically coupled to ground; and

a plurality of adjustable releasable couplers configured to releasably couple each said cover to its associated mat, at least some of said couplers being loosely engaged between said cover and its associated mat without rigidly coupling said cover and its associated mat to allow acceptable relative movement therebetween so that each said cover and its associated mat can move relative to the other during normal, typical or expected use of the load-supporting surface without separating said cover from its associated mat and without causing undesirable damage or deformation to said cover or its associated mat while allowing weight and movement of said cover and said mat upon which it supports personnel, vehicles and equipment.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to its associated mat only by said coupler.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein each coupler includes an elongated body having an outer diameter and configured to extend through apertures formed in an associated mat to secure the associated cover to the mat, wherein at least some of the apertures formed in each mat have an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the elongated body of the associated coupler to permit relative lateral movement between the coupler, mat and cover.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein each said coupler comprises a bolt secured with at least one nut to its associated mat below the bottom surface of the mat, wherein the nuts associated with at least some of the bolts on each mat are selectively coupled to the bolts spaced from the bottom surface of the associated mat to allow relative up and down movement between the coupler, mat and cover.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein each mat includes a plurality of locking pin holes extending therethrough, each locking pin hole being configured to receive a locking pin for mechanically interconnecting its associated mat with an adjacent mat in the load-supporting surface, and wherein each cover includes an outer frame and an inner mesh portion connected to the outer frame, the inner mesh portion of each cover including a plurality of cut-out portions, each cut-out portion being formed in the inner mesh portion about one of the respective locking pin holes of the associated mat.

28. A method for electrically grounding a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on or near the ground, the load-supporting surface comprising at least two mats, each mat having respective top and bottom surfaces that are substantially flat, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each side surface, the mats being configured to support the weight and movement of people, vehicles, and equipment thereon, the method comprising:

positioning one of a plurality of substantially planar removable electrically conductive covers at least partially across the top surface of each mat without extending beyond any edge thereof, each cover constructed at least partially of an electrically conductive material and configured to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon;

selectively loosely releasably engaging a plurality of selectively adjustable releasable couplings between each cover and its associated mat so that each cover remains at least partially positioned across the top surface of its associated mat during use of the load-supporting surface and allows at least one of the cover and mat to be movable relative to the other due to one or more environmental factors during normal, typical or expected use of the load-supporting surface without separating the cover from its associated mat and without causing undesirable damage or deformation to the cover or mat, while allowing the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment supported thereon by the cover and mat;

electrically coupling at least one conductive interface of each cover to at least one conductive interface of at least one other cover in the load-supporting surface; and

grounding at least one of the mats.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein each coupler includes an elongated body having an outer diameter and configured to extend through holes formed in the associated mat to secure the associated cover to the mat, wherein at least some of the holes formed in each mat have an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the elongated body of the associated coupler, the method further comprising inserting each coupler into the hole in its associated mat, and at least some of the couplers are laterally movable relative to the mat.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising at least one adjustable releasable anchor securing each coupler to an associated mat below the bottom surface of the mat and at least some of the anchors associated with each mat engaging their associated couplers spaced below the bottom surface of the mat to selectively releasably loosely secure each cover to its associated mat and permit relative movement therebetween.

31. A conductive load-bearing surface, comprising:

at least two mats at least partially forming the load-supporting surface, each of the mats having respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each of the side surfaces, the mats configured to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles, and equipment thereon; and

a plurality of removable electrically conductive covers constructed at least in part of an electrically conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon, each said cover extending at least partially across said top surface of one said mat without extending beyond any of said edges thereof and being flexibly coupled to an associated mat to allow said mat to flex, expand and contract relative to said cover due to one or more environmental factors and movement of persons, vehicles and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface under normal, typical or expected conditions of use without separating said cover from the associated said mat and without causing undesirable damage or deformation to said cover or said mat while allowing the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment supported thereon by said cover and said mat, each of the covers has at least one conductive interface configured to electrically couple the cover to another of the covers of the load-supporting surface.

32. The conductive load-supporting surface of claim 31 wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to the associated mat with a plurality of releasable couplers, at least some of said couplers being loosely engaged between said cover and said mat to permit acceptable relative movement therebetween.

33. The conductive load-supporting surface of claim 32 wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to its associated mat only by said couplers.

34. The electrically-conductive load-supporting surface of claim 32 wherein each of said couplers includes an elongated body having an outer diameter and configured to extend through apertures formed in the associated mats to secure the associated covers to the mats, wherein at least some of said apertures formed in each of said mats have an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the elongated body of the associated coupler to permit relative lateral movement between the coupler, the mats and the covers.

35. The electrically conductive load-supporting surface of claim 32 wherein each said coupler is secured to the associated mat below the bottom surface of the mat with at least one adjustable releasable anchor, wherein the at least one anchor associated with at least some of the couplers on each said mat is selectively positioned on the couplers spaced below the bottom surface of the associated mat to allow relative up and down movement between the couplers, the mat and the cover.

36. The conductive load-bearing surface of claim 31 wherein each said cover includes at least one upwardly facing corner, and wherein said at least one conductive interface includes at least one conductive corner plate welded to one of said corners, each said conductive corner plate including at least one connection port.

37. The conductive load-bearing surface of claim 36 further comprising at least one conductive corner plate welded to each conductive corner of each said cover.

38. The conductive load-supporting surface of claim 36 further including at least one electrical connector releasably coupled to at least one of said connection ports of one said conductive corner plate and at least one of said connection ports of at least one other said cover to electrically couple the associated said cover in the load-supporting surface.

39. The conductive load bearing surface of claim 31 wherein each said cover includes an outer frame and an inner mesh portion connected to said outer frame, said outer frame and said inner mesh portion being constructed at least partially of conductive material, and wherein said outer frame includes said at least one conductive interface.

40. The conductive load bearing surface of claim 39 wherein each said outer frame is flat.

41. The conductive load-bearing surface of claim 39 wherein each said mat includes at least one corner and each said outer frame includes at least one corner at least partially aligned over an associated one of said corners of said mat, and wherein said at least one conductive interface includes at least one threaded aperture formed in at least one of said corners of said outer frame.

42. The conductive load-bearing surface of claim 41 wherein said at least one conductive interface includes three threaded apertures formed in each said corner of each said outer frame.

43. The conductive load-bearing surface of claim 41 further including at least one electrical connector releasably coupled to at least one of said threaded apertures of said outer frame of one of said covers and at least one of said threaded apertures of said outer frame of another of said covers to electrically couple said covers in the load-bearing surface.

44. The conductive load-bearing surface of claim 43 wherein said at least one electrical connector is flexible to allow relative movement between the electrically coupled covers.

45. The conductive load-bearing surface of claim 43 wherein said at least one electrical connector is loosely coupled between the electrically coupled covers to allow relative movement between the covers.

46. An apparatus for electrically coupling at least two mats of load-supporting surfaces configured for deployment on or near the ground, each mat having respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each side thereof, the mats constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles, and equipment thereon, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of removable electrically conductive covers constructed at least in part of an electrically conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon, each said cover extending at least partially across the top surface of one of said mats without extending beyond any edge thereof, each said cover including at least one electrically conductive interface configured to electrically couple said cover to another said cover in the load-supporting surface; and

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to its associated mat only by said coupler.

48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each coupler includes an elongated body having an outer diameter and configured to extend through apertures formed in an associated mat to secure the associated cover to the mat, wherein at least some of the apertures formed in each mat have an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the elongated body of the associated coupler to allow relative lateral movement between the coupler, mat and cover.

49. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each said coupler comprises a bolt secured with at least one nut to its associated mat below the bottom surface of the mat, wherein the nuts associated with at least some of the bolts on each mat are selectively coupled to the bolts spaced from the bottom surface of the associated mat to allow relative up and down movement between the coupler, mat and cover.

50. A method of assembling an electrically conductive load-supporting surface deployed on or near the ground, the load-supporting surface comprising at least two mats, each mat having respective top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least one edge extending around each side surface, the mats configured to support the weight and movement of people, vehicles, and equipment thereon, the method comprising:

positioning one of a plurality of removable conductive covers at least partially across the top surface of each mat without extending beyond any edge thereof, each cover constructed at least partially of a conductive material and configured to support the weight and movement of persons, vehicles and equipment thereon;

selectively loosely releasably engaging a plurality of selectively adjustable releasable couplings between each cover and its associated mat so that each cover remains at least partially positioned across the top surface of its associated mat during use of the load-supporting surface and allows at least one of the cover and mat to be movable relative to the other due to one or more environmental factors during normal, typical or expected use of the load-supporting surface without separating the cover from its associated mat and without causing undesirable damage or deformation to the cover or mat, while allowing the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment supported thereon by the cover and mat; and

electrically coupling at least one conductive interface of each cover to at least one conductive interface of at least one other cover in the load-supporting surface.