Patent ID: 8403593

Claim:
A rig mat system comprising: a plurality of rectangular panels arranged to be laid side by side and fastened end to end in an array to cover rough ground to form a support surface; each panel having a mounting arrangement defining two ends of the panel for connection to a next adjacent panel having a similar mounting arrangement; a first end of the mounting arrangement having a first connecting member extending along the end which is C-shaped in cross section so as to define a hollow interior with a top flange and a bottom flange, the top flange facing downwardly and the bottom flange facing upwardly so as to define an open mouth therebetween; a second end of the mounting arrangement having a second connecting member extending along the end which is T-shaped in cross section with a generally upstanding flange connected to an end face of the panel by a connecting bar which is generally at right angles to the upstanding flange and connects to the upstanding flange so as to provide an upwardly extending portion above the bar and a downwardly extending portion below the bar; the upstanding flange having a height greater than the height of the open mouth and the bar having a length from the upstanding flange to the end face of the panel such that the upstanding flange is inserted through the mouth by tilting the panel and such that the upstanding flange is prevented from escaping from the mouth by horizontal movement, wherein the mounting arrangement includes two side members each connected to the first and second connecting members and each extending along a respective side of the panel.