Patent ID: 7370452

Claim:
A support mat assembly comprising: a) a plurality of structural members, each comprising I-beams having at least three spaced apart parallel flanges connected by a web, when viewed in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said I-beam, each of said flanges having outwardly facing outer edges at a point distal from said web, each of said outwardly facing outer edges comprising tongues and grooves which mesh together with corresponding tongues and grooves in the outwardly facing outer edges of the flanges of an adjacent I-beam and prevent relative vertical movement between adjacent I-beams, said plurality of I-beams disposed adjacent one another so that said tongues and grooves of said outwardly facing outer flange edges of adjacent I-beams mesh together, thereby forming cavities between said webs of said adjacent I-beams; and b) a means for connecting said I-beams together comprising a tension member disposed through holes in said webs, and fasteners on either end of said tension members.