Patent ID: 8485754

Claim:
A winching end for a rig mat, the rig mat having a rectangular frame having a planer working surface, a bottom surface, a mat width between parallel sides and parallel mat ends, the bottom surface supportable upon a resting surface, the sides being inset from the sides adjacent each mat end to form a recess and a mat end having a width less than that between the sides, the winching end abutting to the winching end of at least one additional rig mats, the winching end comprising: rectangular hollow tubing having a length between tips being substantially that of the mat width, adjacent top and side surfaces forming a co-planar surface and a depending member respectively; the co-planar surface secured along the width of the mat end, the coplanar surface also extending outwardly from the working surface and coplanar therewith and having a distal end spaced from the mat end; the depending member extending downwardly and perpendicularly from the distal end of the co-planar surface, a bottom end of the depending member being spaced from the bottom surface of the mat for forming a clearance; a strengthening member extending between the bottom end of the depending member and the bottom surface at the mat end and extending along the mat end, wherein the depending member abuts a corresponding depending member of the at least one additional rig mat and the co-planar surface of the rig mat forms a substantially continuous planar surface with the co-planar surface of the at least one additional rig mat.