Abstract: A lightweight universal panel mat made of plastic or elastomeric material and having a first section that provides a relatively flat, textured or structured top surface to facilitate movement over the upper surface and a second section having geometry that includes a plurality of cells having top surfaces that support the first section. The mats also include first, second, third and fourth sides forming a perimeter of the mat, wherein the first and second sides include upper structures having a sloped lower surface and the third and fourth sides include lower structures having sloped upper surfaces. The sloped surfaces are configured to allow for overlapping with sloped surfaces other like mats for interlocking therewith while forming a generally flat continuous top and bottom surface of the overlapped mats. The mats may be interlocked by a fastening member which fits in aligned openings of the adjacent mats for connection therewith.

Abstract: An industrial mat having a supporting structure; an upper layer provided above the supporting structure for forming an upper surface of the mat, a lower layer provided below the supporting structure for providing a lower surface of the mat; and lifting elements attached to the upper layer, the lower layer or the supporting structure. The lifting elements include D-shaped members, O-shaped members, U-shaped members, eyelets, hooks, circular or polygonal rings, chains, or cables that are configured and dimensioned for attachment to attached to the supporting structure or the upper or lower layer with sufficient strength to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: A crane mat having first and second side beams or boards; a core structure made of pine or other softwoods, eucalyptus, solid plastic or elastomeric members, or hollow thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic or elastomeric members that optionally include a filler or internal reinforcing structure; external components including an upper and/or lower layers of one or more elongated members to protect the core structure, and a plurality of joining members that attach the outer side members to the core structure. Another crane mat can be made of just the solid plastic or elastomeric members, or hollow thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic or elastomeric members that each include a plurality of spaced lateral apertures passing therethrough; and joining members that include a rod that passes through the aligned lateral apertures to hold the members together in the mat. These crane mats may also include lifting elements of the types described herein.

Abstract: An industrial mat that has a support core configured and arranged to support other components of the mat; and upper and lower layers that provide upper and lower surfaces of the mat and that protect the support core. The support core includes a frame of longitudinal side members, end members and cross members each of which is made of steel or a thermosetting plastic material. The frame can include wood, plastic or elastomeric internal members or materials to fill internal open areas of the frame, with the upper and lower layers and the sides and ends of the frame retaining the internal members or materials therein. The mat preferably includes lifting elements of D-shaped rings, O-shaped rings, chains, or cables attached to the upper or lower layer or the support core to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: A crane mat having first and second side beams or boards; a core structure made of pine or other softwoods, eucalyptus, solid plastic or elastomeric members, or hollow thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic or elastomeric members that optionally include a filler or internal reinforcing structure; external components including an upper and/or lower layers of one or more elongated members to protect the core structure, and a plurality of joining members that attach the outer side members to the core structure. Another crane mat can be made of just the solid plastic or elastomeric members, or hollow thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic or elastomeric members that each include a plurality of spaced lateral apertures passing therethrough; and joining members that include a rod that passes through the aligned lateral apertures to hold the members together in the mat. These crane mats may also include lifting elements of the types described herein.

Abstract: An industrial mat having a supporting structure; an upper layer provided above the supporting structure for forming an upper surface of the mat, a lower layer provided below the supporting structure for providing a lower surface of the mat; and lifting elements attached to the upper layer, the lower layer or the supporting structure. The lifting elements include D-shaped members, O-shaped members, U-shaped members, eyelets, hooks, circular or polygonal rings, chains, or cables that are configured and dimensioned for attachment to attached to the supporting structure or the upper or lower layer with sufficient strength to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: A mat that includes first and second side beams, a core structure located between and connected to the side beams, with the support structure including longitudinal members and having a height that is less than that of the side beams, a plurality of joining rods that attach the side beams to the support structure, with the joining rods passing through the sides of the side beams and the sides of the longitudinal members of the support structure; one or more elongated members attached to the upper portion of the support structure to form with the beams the top surface of the mat, and one or more elongated members attached to the lower portion of the support structure to form with the beams the bottom surface of the mat. If desired, steel plates can be provided between the beams and longitudinal members to increase the strength and ruggedness of the mat.

Abstract: An industrial mat that includes a core construction that provides strength and rigidity to the mat, with the core construction including various layers or plies of components at least some of which are typically made of wood or engineered wood; and a durable skin that surrounds and encapsulates at least the wood components of the mat or the entire core construction. The skin has a thickness sufficient to provide environmental resistance to the wood components or to the core construction to which it is applied. The skin also provides abrasion resistance to the boards and mat.

Abstract: An industrial mat having a supporting structure; an upper layer provided above the supporting structure for forming an upper surface of the mat, a lower layer provided below the supporting structure for providing a lower surface of the mat; and lifting elements attached to the upper layer, the lower layer or the supporting structure. The lifting elements include D-shaped members, O-shaped members, U-shaped members, eyelets, hooks, circular or polygonal rings, chains, or cables that are configured and dimensioned for attachment to attached to the supporting structure or the upper or lower layer with sufficient strength to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: An industrial mat having a supporting structure; an upper layer provided above the supporting structure for forming an upper surface of the mat, a lower layer provided below the supporting structure for providing a lower surface of the mat; and lifting elements attached to the upper layer, the lower layer or the supporting structure. The lifting elements include D-shaped members, O-shaped members, U-shaped members, eyelets, hooks, circular or polygonal rings, chains, or cables that are configured and dimensioned for attachment to attached to the supporting structure or the upper or lower layer with sufficient strength to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: An industrial mat having a supporting structure; an upper layer provided above the supporting structure for forming an upper surface of the mat, a lower layer provided below the supporting structure for providing a lower surface of the mat; and lifting elements attached to the upper layer, the lower layer or the supporting structure. The lifting elements include D-shaped members, O-shaped members, U-shaped members, eyelets, hooks, circular or polygonal rings, chains, or cables that are configured and dimensioned for attachment to attached to the supporting structure or the upper or lower layer with sufficient strength to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: A mat that includes first and second side beams, a core support structure located between and connected to the side beams, with the core support structure including longitudinal members and having a height that is less than that of the side beams; one or more elongated members attached to the upper portion of the core support structure to form with the beams the top surface of the mat, and one or more elongated members attached to the lower portion of the support structure to form with the beams the bottom surface of the mat. Preferably, a plurality of joining rods attach the side beams to the support structure, with the joining rods passing through the sides of the side beams and the sides of the longitudinal members. Also, steel plates can be provided between the beams and longitudinal members to increase the strength and ruggedness of the mat.

Abstract: A mat that includes first and second side beams, a core support structure located between and connected to the side beams, with the core support structure including longitudinal members and having a height that is less than that of the side beams; one or more elongated members attached to the upper portion of the core support structure to form with the beams the top surface of the mat, and one or more elongated members attached to the lower portion of the support structure to form with the beams the bottom surface of the mat. Preferably, a plurality of joining rods attach the side beams to the support structure, with the joining rods passing through the sides of the side beams and the sides of the longitudinal members. Also, steel plates can be provided between the beams and longitudinal members to increase the strength and ruggedness of the mat.

Abstract: An industrial mat having a supporting structure; an upper layer provided above the supporting structure for forming an upper surface of the mat, a lower layer provided below the supporting structure for providing a lower surface of the mat; and lifting elements attached to the upper layer, the lower layer or the supporting structure. The lifting elements include D-shaped members, O-shaped members, U-shaped members, eyelets, hooks, circular or polygonal rings, chains, or cables that are configured and dimensioned for attachment to attached to the supporting structure or the upper or lower layer with sufficient strength to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: An industrial mat that has a support core configured and arranged to support other components of the mat; and upper and lower layers that provide upper and lower surfaces of the mat and that protect the support core. The support core includes a frame of longitudinal side members, end members and cross members each of which is made of steel or a thermosetting plastic material. The frame can include wood, plastic or elastomeric internal members or materials to fill internal open areas of the frame, with the upper and lower layers and the sides and ends of the frame retaining the internal members or materials therein. The mat preferably includes lifting elements of D-shaped rings, O-shaped rings, chains, or cables attached to the upper or lower layer or the support core to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: An industrial mat that has a core construction that provides strength and rigidity to the mat, with the core construction being formed of a support structure that includes one or more elongated components or a plurality of elongated members of wood, engineered wood, a thermosetting plastic material or a metal. The mat includes an encapsulation of a durable skin that includes crumb rubber particles embedded in a polyurethane matrix that surrounds and encapsulates the entire core construction. The skin has a thickness sufficient to provide environmental resistance to the core construction to which it is applied while also providing abrasion resistance to the mat.

Abstract: An industrial mat that has a support core configured and arranged to support other components of the mat; and upper and lower layers that provide upper and lower surfaces of the mat, with the layers protecting the support core. Bumpers are provided upon the longitudinal sides of the core, the front and rear end sides of the core, or upon all sides to protect the core from damage due to transport or installation of the mat. The bumpers are typically made of wood, or of a plastic or elastomeric material and have a shape that absorbs impact and shock forces. The mat also includes lifting elements of D-shaped rings, O-shaped rings, chains, or cables attached to the upper or lower layer or the support core, with the lifting elements configured and dimensioned to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.

Abstract: A mat that includes first and second side beams, a core structure located between and connected to the side beams, with the support structure including longitudinal members and having a height that is less than that of the side beams, a plurality of joining rods that attach the side beams to the support structure, with the joining rods passing through the sides of the side beams and the sides of the longitudinal members of the support structure; one or more elongated members attached to the upper portion of the support structure to form with the beams the top surface of the mat, and one or more elongated members attached to the lower portion of the support structure to form with the beams the bottom surface of the mat. If desired, steel plates can be provided between the beams and longitudinal members to increase the strength and ruggedness of the mat.

Abstract: An industrial mat having a core construction that provides strength and rigidity to the mat, an encapsulation of a durable skin of a thermoplastic, thermosetting or elastomeric material that surrounds the core construction, and upper and/or lower surfaces formed by a plurality of elongated members. The elongated members of the upper and/or lower surfaces are advantageously arranged in spaced relation in at least one layer and are attached together or to the core construction for protecting the durable skin from abrasion and impact during transport, installation and use of the industrial mat. The resulting industrial mat has a load bearing capacity that is able to withstand a load of at least 600 to 1000 psi without permanent deformation. The mats of the invention typically have a width of 2 to 12 feet, a length of 2 to 40 feet and an overall thickness of 2 to 18 inches.

Abstract: A mat having a non-wood core that provides strength and rigidity to the mat, and including a structure of a sheet, elongated members, a frame, compartments, or combinations thereof; and at least one outer layer associated with the core and made of a sheet, elongated members or combinations thereof, and typically wood. The core and outer layer(s) are integral or are joined together, and the structure of the core is made of one or more environmentally resistant materials to provide an extended service life when encountering rain, snow or other weather conditions that would eventually degrade wood. The mat has a load bearing capacity that is able to withstand a load of at least 500 to 800 psi or even 1000 psi without permanently deforming the core. Bumpers are preferably provided upon sides of the mat to protect them from damage due to transport or installation of the mat.