Patent Publication Number: US-2023146047-A1

Title: Mat assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to mats for workspaces. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Workers may perform work at height (that is, not standing on a floor of a structure) such as maintenance and construction work, like planned maintenance items, performing repairs, painting, cleaning, changing a vehicle&#39;s oil and/or oil filter, and the like. Such work at height may be performed while workers stand on various platforms, such as an expanded metal gangway, an expanded metal walkway, an expanded metal scaffold, a steel grating, or the like. Such work may also be performed while workers stand in a basket of an aerial work platform, such as a boom lift or the like. Regardless of specific type of platform, in general such platforms may include an expanded metal floor or other type of flat metal material with holes for expanded visibility. 
     Performing work while standing on hard surfaces, such as expanded metal surfaces or other type of flat metal material with holes for expanded visibility, may contribute to inducing fatigue in workers who perform work while standing on such hard surfaces for periods of time that may be lengthy. 
     In addition, small objects, such as without limitation tools, consumables and/or parts, such as for example and without limitation drill bits, screws, nails, bolts, nuts, washers, pencils, pens, and the like, may be dropped and may fall through interstitial spaces, openings, or holes in expanded metal surfaces or other type of flat metal material with holes for expanded visibility on which workers are working, thereby potentially presenting a safety hazard or a contamination hazard to personnel, equipment, products, or property located therebelow. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed embodiments include mat assemblies and methods of fabricating a mat assembly. 
     In an illustrative embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, a mat assembly includes a first mat defining first openings therein and a mesh member having a size and shape configured to underlie the first openings. 
     In another illustrative embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, a mat assembly includes a first mat subassembly including first mat sections, each first mat section defining first openings therein. A second mat subassembly includes second mat sections, each second mat section defining second openings therein that are alignable with the first openings. A mesh member is interposable between the first mat subassembly and the second mat subassembly and hays a size and shape configured to underlie the first openings. 
     In another illustrative embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, a non-limiting, illustrative method of fabricating a mat assembly includes: applying an adhesive onto first mat sections; disposing the first mat sections in a laterally spaced-apart manner; disposing a mesh member onto the first mat sections; and disposing second mat sections in a laterally spaced-apart manner onto the mesh member such that the second mat sections are aligned with the first mat sections. 
     The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications, generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/or other subject matter described herein will become apparent in the text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawings of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. 
         FIG.  1 A  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative mat assembly. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a top plan view of the mat assembly of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 C  is a bottom plan view of the mat assembly of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 D  is a top plan view of a portion of the mat assembly of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of another illustrative mat assembly. 
         FIG.  3 A  is an exploded perspective view of another illustrative mat assembly. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a perspective view of another illustrative mat assembly disposed in a basket of an aerial work platform. 
         FIG.  3 C  is a top perspective view of the mat assembly of  FIG.  3 B . 
         FIG.  3 D  is a bottom perspective view of the mat assembly of  FIG.  3 B . 
         FIG.  3 E  is a perspective view of an illustrative mesh member of the mat assembly of  FIG.  3 B . 
         FIG.  3 F  is a perspective view of the mesh member of  FIG.  3 E  disposed on mat sections of  FIG.  3 D . 
         FIG.  3 G  is a perspective view of the mat assembly of  FIG.  3 B  disposed in a basket of an aerial work platform with mat sections folded. 
         FIG.  4 A  is a flow chart of an illustrative method of fabricating a mat assembly. 
         FIGS.  4 B- 4 E  are flow charts of illustrative details of the method of  FIG.  4 A . 
     
    
    
     The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicates similar or identical items unless context dictates otherwise. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     Given by way of non-limiting overview, various disclosed embodiments include mat assemblies and methods of fabricating a mat assembly. Still by way of overview and referring to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D , in various embodiments an illustrative mat assembly  10  may be disposed on various platforms, such as an expanded metal gangway, an expanded metal walkway, an expanded metal scaffold, a steel grating, a basket of an aerial work platform, or the like. In various embodiments the mat assembly  10  includes a mat  12  that defines openings  14  therein and a mesh member  16  that has a size and shape configured to underlie the openings  14 . 
     Now that a non-limiting overview has been given, details of various embodiments will be set forth by way of illustration only and not of limitation. 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D  and as mentioned above, in various embodiments the mat assembly  10  includes the mat  12  and the mesh member  16 . 
     In various embodiments the mat  12  may be made of a suitable closed cell foam. In various such embodiments, the closed cell foam may include a suitable plastic rubber material, such as without limitation ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam material, polyethylene foam, neoprene foam, polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/nitrile foam rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) foam rubber, or the like, that is made up of internal pores or cells that sit closely together but are not connected. 
     In such embodiments, a closed cell foam construction of the mat  12  can help contribute to the mat assembly  10  withstanding many forces imparted by a worker or workers standing or stepping on objects  17  ( FIG.  1 D ) caught by the mat assembly  10 . In addition, in such embodiments a closed cell construction can help the mat  12  to help contribute to reducing worker fatigue compared to fatigue experienced by workers performing the same work while standing or kneeling on expanded metal surfaces or other types of flat metal material. Further, in such embodiments a closed cell construction can help the mat  12  to help contribute to providing increased traction to workers compared to traction available to workers performing the same work on expanded metal surfaces or other types of flat metal material. 
     In various embodiments and as shown in  FIG.  1 C , the mesh member  16  has a size and shape configured to underlie the openings  14 . Moreover, in various embodiments the mesh member  16  may define an interlaced weave that has openings smaller than the openings  14  that are defined in the mat  12 . Accordingly, small objects  17 , such as without limitation tools, consumables and/or parts, such as for example and without limitation drill bits, screws, nails, bolts, nuts, washers, pencils, pens, and the like, that may be dropped do not fall through the mesh member  16 . Thus, such items that may be dropped but do not fall through the openings in the mesh member  16  are prevented from falling through interstitial spaces, openings, or holes in expanded metal surfaces or other type of flat metal material with holes for expanded visibility on which workers are working. 
     It will be appreciated that any number of the openings  14  may be defined in the mat  12  as desired for a particular application. In addition, the openings  14  may have any size or shape as desired and may be arranged in any pattern (or arranged randomly) as desired. 
     In addition, in various embodiments a worker or workers can see through the openings  14  defined in the mat  12  and the openings in the interlaced weave of the mesh member  16 . An ability to see through the openings  14  defined in the mat  12  and the openings in the interlaced weave of the mesh member  16  can help provide a worker or workers with an increased situational awareness and/or, if applicable, can help contribute to helping raise or lower an aerial work platform more safely. 
     In various embodiments the mesh member  16  may include a high-strength mesh such as, without limitation, a vinyl-coated polyester mesh. In such embodiments, a vinyl-coated polyester construction of the mesh member  16  can help contribute to the mat assembly  10  withstanding many forces imparted by a worker or workers standing or stepping on objects  17  caught by the mat assembly  10 . 
     In various embodiments, if desired the mesh member  16  may be attachable to the mat  12 . In some such embodiments, the mesh member  16  may be sewn to the mat  12 . However, in some other embodiments the mat  12  and the mesh member  16  may be separate pieces that are not attached to each other. In such embodiments, the mesh member  16  may be disposed, such as by placing, rolling, unfolding, or the like, on a platform, such as an expanded metal gangway, an expanded metal walkway, an expanded metal scaffold, a steel grating, a basket of an aerial work platform, or the like. In such embodiments the mat  12  may be placed on top of the mesh member  16  such that the mesh member  16  underlies the openings  14  in the mat  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C , in some embodiments the mat assembly  10  includes only the mat  12  that is disposable on top of the mesh member  16 . For example, such embodiments may find applicability in work evolutions that entail shorter durations that may impart lower levels of fatigue to workers as a result of shorter durations. 
     However, in some other situations it may be desirable, for example, to provide more cushioning in addition to that provided by just the mat  12 . To that end and referring additionally to  FIG.  2   , in some other embodiments a mat assembly  10 A may include the mat  12  and the mesh member  16  and may also include a mat  18  that defines openings  20  therein that are alignable with the openings  14 . In such embodiments the mat  18  may be configured to underlie the mesh member  16 . 
     It will be appreciated that in such embodiments (in which the mat  18  may be configured to underlie the mesh member  16 ) a user can see through the openings  20  in the mat  18  and the mesh member  16  because the openings  20  in the mat  18  align with the openings  14  in the mat  12 . It will be appreciated that, in such embodiments, a worker or workers can see through the openings  14  defined in the mat  12  and the openings in the interlaced weave of the mesh member  16 . An ability to see through the openings  14  defined in the mat  12  and the openings in the interlaced weave of the mesh member  16  can help provide a worker or workers with an increased situational awareness and/or, if applicable, can help contribute to helping raise or lower an aerial work platform more safely. 
     In some such embodiments, both of the mats  12  and  18  may be made of a closed cell foam such as, without limitation, a suitable plastic rubber material like ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam material, polyethylene foam, neoprene foam, polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/nitrile foam rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) foam rubber, or the like. As mentioned above, in some embodiments the mat  12  may be made of a closed cell foam. In some embodiments, the mat  18  also may be made of a closed cell foam. It will be appreciated that, in such embodiments, making both of the mats  12  and  18  of a closed cell foam can help contribute to withstanding greater forces imparted by a worker or workers standing or stepping on objects  17  caught by the mat assembly  10  than in embodiments in which only the mat  12  is provided (and made of a closed cell foam) because an additional layer of closed cell foam is disposed between the mat  10  and the metal floor or surface on which the mat assembly  10  is disposed. It will also be appreciated that, in such embodiments, making both of the mats  12  and  18  of a closed cell foam provides an additional, closed cell foam cushioning layer over embodiments in which only the mat  12  is provided (and made of a closed cell foam). It will be appreciated that such an additional closed cell foam cushioning layer can help contribute to reducing worker fatigue even more than embodiments in which only the mat  12  is provided (and made of a closed cell foam). 
     In various embodiments the mat  12  and the mat  18  are attachable to each other. Given by way of non-limiting example, the mats  12  and  18  may be attached to each other with an adhesive, such as without limitation a suitable high-strength, all-purpose glue. 
     In such embodiments, the mesh member  16  is configured to permit the mats  12  and  18  to be attached to each other with an adhesive. For example, in some such embodiments the mesh member  16  defines therein openings  22  that are laterally spaced apart from the openings  14  and the openings  20 . The openings  22  permit the adhesive to be disposed therethrough, thereby permitting the adhesive to contact the mats  12  and  18 . It will be appreciated that any number of the openings  22  may be defined in the mesh member  16  as desired for a particular application. In addition, the openings  22  may have any size or shape as desired and may be arranged in any pattern (or arranged randomly) as desired, so long as the openings  22  are laterally spaced apart from the openings  14  and the openings  20 . 
     As another example, in some such embodiments the mesh member  16  is sized and shaped to permit the mats  12  and  18  to be attached to each other with an adhesive. For example, in some such embodiments the mesh member  16  may have dimensions d 1,mm  and d 2,mm  that are shorter than respective dimensions d 1,m  and d 2,m  of the mats  12  and  18 . Peripheries  24  and  26  of the mats  12  and  18 , respectively, extend past edges of the mesh member  16 . In such embodiments, adhesive may be applied to the peripheries  24  and  26  of the mats  12  and  18 , respectively, thereby contacting the mats  12  and  18 . 
     In various embodiments, the mesh member  16  may include a high-strength mesh such as, without limitation, a vinyl-coated polyester mesh. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  3 A , in various embodiments a mat assembly  10 B may include multiple mat subassemblies as opposed to only including one mat  12  ( FIGS.  1 A- 1 C ) or one mat  12  and one mat  18  ( FIG.  2   ). It will be appreciated that including multiple mat subassemblies may help contribute to providing the mat assembly  10 B with additional functionality as discussed below. In the following description, similar or the same reference numbers denote similar or the same items discussed previously. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3 A , in various embodiments a mat assembly  10 B includes a mat subassembly  12 A that includes mat sections  12 B and  18 B. Each mat section  12 B defines openings  14  therein and each mat section  18 B defines openings  20  therein that are alignable with the openings  14 . A mesh member  16  is interposable between the mat subassembly  12 A and the mat subassembly  18 A. The mesh member  16  has a size and shape configured to underlie the openings  14 . Thus, it will be appreciated that, in various embodiments, one mesh member  16  is interposed between all of the mat subassemblies  12 A and  18 A. 
     It will be appreciated that the mat assembly  10 B may include any number of the mat sections  12 B and  18 B as desired for a particular application. While only two mat sections  12 B and  18 B are shown in  FIG.  3 A  for purposes of clarity, it will be appreciated that no such limitation is intended and is not to be inferred. As such, it is emphasized that the mat assembly  10 B may include any number of the mat sections  12 B and  18 B as desired for a particular application. 
     As mentioned above, similar or the same reference numbers denote similar or the same items discussed previously. As an example, in various embodiments the mat sections  12 B and  18 B are similar to the mats  12  and  18 , respectively ( FIG.  2   ). For example, in various embodiments the mat sections  12 B and the mat sections  18 B are made of a closed cell foam such as, without limitation, a suitable plastic rubber material like ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam material, polyethylene foam, neoprene foam, polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/nitrile foam rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) foam rubber, or the like. As another example, any number of the openings  14  and  20  may be defined in the mat sections  12 B and  18 B, respectively, as desired for a particular application. As another example, the openings  14  and  18  may have any size or shape as desired and may be arranged in any pattern (or arranged randomly) as desired—so long as the openings  14  and  18  are alignable with each other (thus permitting a user to see through the openings  20  in the mat sections  18 B, the mesh member  16 , and the openings  14  in the mat sections  12 B because the openings  20  in the mat sections  18 B align with the openings  14  in the mat sections  12 B). 
     As another example, in various embodiments the mesh member  16  defines an interlaced weave having openings smaller than the openings  14  in the mat sections  12 B and the openings  20  in the mat sections  18 B. As another example, in various embodiments the mesh member  16  includes a vinyl-coated polyester mesh. 
     In various embodiments associated ones of the mat sections  12 B and ones of the mat sections  18 B—that is, mat sections  12 B and  18 B that are vertically aligned with each other—are attachable to each other. Given by way of non-limiting example, the mat sections  12 B and  18 B may be attached to each other with an adhesive, such as without limitation a suitable high-strength, all-purpose glue. 
     In such embodiments, the mesh member  16  is configured to permit the associated mat sections  12 B and  18 B to be attached to each other with an adhesive (discussed above). For example, in various embodiments the mesh member  16  defines therein openings  22  that are laterally spaced apart from the openings  14  and the openings  20 . The openings  22  permit the adhesive to be disposed therethrough, thereby permitting the adhesive to contact the mat sections  12 B and  18 B. It will be appreciated that any number of the openings  22  may be defined in the mesh member  16  as desired for a particular application. In addition, the openings  22  may have any size or shape as desired and may be arranged in any pattern (or arranged randomly) as desired, so long as the openings  22  are laterally spaced apart from the openings  14  and the openings  20 . 
     As another example, in some such embodiments the mesh member  16  is sized and shaped to permit the associated mat sections  12 B and  18 B to be attached to each other with an adhesive. For example, in some such embodiments the mesh member  16  may have dimensions d 1,mm  and d 2,mm  that are shorter than respective dimensions d 1,msa  and d 2,msa  of the mat subassemblies  12 A and  18 A. Peripheries  24  and  26  of the mat sections  12 B and  18 B, respectively, extend past edges of the mesh member  16 . In such embodiments, adhesive may be applied to the peripheries  24  and  26  of the mat sections  12 B and  18 B, respectively, thereby contacting the mat sections  12 B and  18 B. 
     In various embodiments, the mesh member  16  may include a high-strength mesh such as, without limitation, a vinyl-coated polyester mesh. 
     In various embodiments, ones of the mat sections  12 B and ones of the mat sections  18 B are laterally spaced apart from adjacent ones of the mat sections  12 B and ones of the mat sections  18 B, respectively, such that associated mat sections  12 B and  18 B are foldable onto adjacent associated mat sections  12 B and  18 B. As will be discussed further below, such embodiments can help permit increased visibility as desired. 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS.  3 B- 3 G , various embodiments may be provided for use in various applications as desired. Given by way of non-limiting example and as shown in  FIG.  3 B , in various embodiments a mat assembly  10 C may be disposed in a basket  28  of an aerial work platform (not shown). However, as discussed above, it will be appreciated that various disclosed mat assemblies may be provided for use in any suitable application as desired, such as without limitation work settings on a platform, such as an expanded metal gangway, an expanded metal walkway, an expanded metal scaffold, a steel grating, a basket of an aerial work platform, or the like. 
     For example and as shown in  FIGS.  3 B,  3 C, and  3 D , in various embodiments a mat assembly  10 C includes multiple mat sections  12 B ( FIGS.  3 B and  3 C ) and  18 B ( FIG.  3 D ). Each mat section  12 B defines openings  14  therein and each mat section  18 B defines openings  20  therein that are alignable with the openings  14 . A mesh member  16  is interposable between the mat subassembly  12 A and the mat subassembly  18 A. The mesh member  16  has a size and shape configured to underlie the openings  14 . Thus, similar to the mat assembly  10 B ( FIG.  3 A ), one mesh member  16  is interposed between all of the mat subassemblies  12 A and  18 A. 
     It will be appreciated that the mat assembly  10 C may include any number of the mat sections  12 B and  18 B as desired for a particular application. It will also be appreciated that the mat sections  12 B and  18 B may be sized and shaped as desired for a particular application. For example, in some embodiments the mat assembly  10 C may include a number of mat sections  12 B and  18 B that are sized and shaped for use in any suitable setting, such as without limitation the aerial basket  28 . For example, in various embodiments a cutout  30  may be defined in one of the mat assemblies  12 B ( FIGS.  3 B and  3 C ) and an associated one of the mat assemblies  18 B ( FIG.  3 D ) to permit the mat assembly  10 C to be fitted about a “dead man&#39;s” switch  32  ( FIG.  3 B ) disposed in the basket  28 . However, it is again emphasized that the mat assembly  10 C may be used in any other suitable application as desired, such as without limitation work settings on an expanded metal gangway, an expanded metal walkway, an expanded metal scaffold, a steel grating, or the like. 
     In various embodiments the mat sections  12 B and  18 B are made of a closed cell foam such as, without limitation, a suitable plastic rubber material like ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam material, polyethylene foam, neoprene foam, polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/nitrile foam rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) foam rubber, or the like. As another example, any number of the openings  14  and  20  may be defined in the mat sections  12 B and  18 B, respectively, as desired for a particular application. As another example, the openings  14  and  18  may have any size or shape as desired and may be arranged in any pattern (or arranged randomly) as desired—so long as the openings  14  and  18  are alignable with each other (thus permitting a user to see through the openings  20  in the mat sections  18 B, the mesh member  16 , and the openings  14  in the mat sections  12 B because the openings  20  in the mat sections  18 B align with the openings  14  in the mat sections  12 B). 
     As another example, in various embodiments the mesh member  16  defines an interlaced weave having openings smaller than the openings  14  in the mat sections  12 B and the openings  20  in the mat sections  18 B. As another example, in various embodiments the mesh member  16  includes a vinyl-coated polyester mesh. 
     In various embodiments associated ones of the mat sections  12 B and ones of the mat sections  18 B—that is, mat sections  12 B and  18 B that are vertically aligned with each other—are attachable to each other. Given by way of non-limiting example, the mat sections  12 B and  18 B may be attached to each other with an adhesive, such as without limitation a suitable high-strength, all-purpose glue. 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS.  3 E and  3 F , in various embodiments the mesh member  16  is configured to permit the associated mat sections  12 B and  18 B to be attached to each other with an adhesive (discussed above). For example, in various embodiments the mesh member  16  defines therein openings  22  that are laterally spaced apart from the openings  14  and the openings  20 . The openings  22  permit the adhesive to be disposed therethrough, thereby permitting the adhesive to contact the mat sections  12 B and  18 B. It will be appreciated that any number of the openings  22  may be defined in the mesh member  16  as desired for a particular application. In addition, the openings  22  may have any size or shape as desired and may be arranged in any pattern (or arranged randomly) as desired, so long as the openings  22  are laterally spaced apart from the openings  14  and the openings  20 . As shown in  FIGS.  3 E and  3 F , the mesh member  16  may define a cutout  34  to permit the mat assembly  10 C to be fitted about the “dead man&#39;s” switch  32  ( FIG.  3 B ) disposed in the basket  28  ( FIG.  3 B ). As shown in  FIG.  3 F , the mesh member  16  has been disposed on the mat sections  18 B (either the mat sections  12 B or the mat sections  18 B) that have been placed on tooling  36  (such as a jig or the like) as part of the process of fabricating the mat assembly  10 C. However, it will be appreciated that the mesh member  16  may be disposed on either the mat sections  12 B or the mat sections  18 B as part of the process of fabricating the mat assembly  10 C. 
     In various embodiments and as shown in  FIG.  3 G , sections of the mat assembly  10 C may be folded as desired, thereby helping to increase visibility. In some such embodiments and as shown in  FIGS.  3 C and  3 D , ones of the mat sections  12 B and ones of the mat sections  18 B are laterally spaced apart from adjacent ones of the mat sections  12 B and adjacent ones of the mat sections  12 B, respectively, such that associated mat sections  12 B and  18 B are foldable onto adjacent associated mat sections  12 B and  18 B. As shown in  FIG.  3 G , in some such embodiments associated mat sections  12 B and  18 B may be folded onto adjacent mat sections  12 B and  18 B — working inwardly from mat sections  12 B and  18 B at ends of the mat assembly  10 C that cover areas of a workspace where coverage by the mat assembly  10 C is not necessary for a particular evolution. The folded mat sections  12 B and  18 B are stacked vertically on adjacent mat sections  12 B and  18 B. Areas of the floor of the basket  28  that were covered with the mat sections  12 B and  18 B that have been folded onto adjacent mat sections  12 B and  18 B are no longer covered by the mat assembly  10 C, thereby permitting a worker to have increased visibility through the floor of the basket  28  in such uncovered areas. 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS.  4 A- 4 E , an illustrative method  400  is provided for fabricating a mat assembly. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 A , the method  400  starts at a block  402 . At a block  404  an adhesive is applied onto a first plurality of mat sections. For example, in some embodiments a glue, such as a high-strength, all-purpose glue, may be sprayed, brushed, poured, or otherwise applied onto the first plurality of mat sections in any suitable manner as desired. 
     At a block  406  the first plurality of mat sections is disposed in a laterally spaced-apart manner It will be appreciated that no order of operations is intended regarding operations at the blocks  404  and  406 . That is, in some embodiments the adhesive may be applied onto the first plurality of mat sections at the block  404  before the first plurality of mat sections is disposed in a laterally spaced-apart manner at the block  406 . In some other embodiments the first plurality of mat sections may be disposed in a laterally spaced-apart manner at the block  406  before the adhesive is applied onto the first plurality of mat sections at the block  404 . 
     At a block  408  a mesh member is disposed onto the first plurality of mat sections. At a block  410  a second plurality of mat sections is disposed in a laterally spaced-apart manner onto the mesh member such that the second plurality of mat sections are aligned with the first plurality of mat sections. The method  400  stops at a block  412 . 
     It will be appreciated that use of the terms “first” and “second” in relation to “plurality of mat sections” is used only to distinguish that the first plurality of mat sections is different from the second plurality of mat sections and that no particular set of mat sections are intended to be included in either the first plurality of mat sections or the second plurality of mat sections. 
     In various embodiments and as shown in  FIG.  4 B , disposing the first plurality of mat sections in a laterally spaced-apart manner at the block  406  may include disposing the first plurality of mat sections on tooling in a laterally spaced-apart manner at a block  414 . For example, the first plurality of mat sections may be placed or otherwise disposed on or in tooling, such as without limitation a jig or the like, such that the plurality of first mat sections are laterally spaced apart from each other. 
     In various embodiments and as shown in  FIG.  4 C , disposing the second plurality of mat sections in a laterally spaced-apart manner onto the mesh member such that the second plurality of mat sections are aligned with the first plurality of mat sections at the block  410  may include disposing the second plurality of mat sections in a laterally spaced-apart manner onto the mesh member such that a plurality of openings defined in the second plurality of mat sections are aligned with a plurality of openings defined in the first plurality of mat sections at a block  416 . 
     In various embodiments and as shown in  FIG.  4 D , at a block  418  the first plurality of mat sections, the adhesive, and the second plurality of mat sections may be urged into tacky contact with each other. In some embodiments and as shown in  FIG.  4 E , urging the first plurality of mat sections, the adhesive, and the second plurality of mat sections into tacky contact with each other at the block  418  may include rolling the second plurality of mat sections with a roller at a block  420 . 
     From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, where an alternative is disclosed for a particular embodiment, this alternative may also apply to other embodiments even if not specifically stated. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken limiting. 
     With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
     The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelessly interacting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logically interactable components. 
     While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “ a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “ a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise. 
     It will also be appreciated that, in the claims, use of the terms “first” and “second” in relation to “mat,” “mat subassembly,” and “plurality of mat sections” is used only to distinguish that the first mat, mat subassembly, or plurality of mat sections is different from the second mat, mat subassembly, or plurality of mat sections and that no particular mat, mat subassembly, or plurality of mat sections are intended to be included in either the first mat, mat subassembly, or plurality of mat sections or the second mat, mat subassembly, or plurality of mat sections. 
     While a number of illustrative embodiments and aspects have been illustrated and discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations thereof It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.