Traction mat system and a method of manufacturing thereof

Abstract

A traction mat system and a method of manufacturing comprising a mat having a grip layer adhered to or mate integral to the surface of the mat. The grip layer can be a textured material foil sheet combined to a top surface and/or a bottom surface of the mat system. The texture of the grip layer is retained when the mat is contoured with a raised pattern to give the entire surface of the mat a texture to improve traction and grip. A method of manufacturing comprises a traction mat system wherein the traction mat can comprise of manufacturing step for placing a grip layer on the mat surfaces, for placing the foil sheet and/or aggregate on the mat. Each operation can be performed for both surfaces simultaneously or can be its own operation such as one surface at a time, or both surfaces at once.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A traction mat system comprising:
 a mat contoured with at least one raised pattern on at least one surface of the mat and a grip layer on at least one of the at least one surface.   
     
     
         2 . The traction mat system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface is a bottom surface or a top surface. 
     
     
         3 . The traction mat system of  claim 1 , wherein the grip layer is a textured material foil sheet or an aggregate material wherein the aggregate material is pressed into at least one surface of the mat. 
     
     
         4 . The traction mat system of  claim 1 , wherein the mat has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are mirror copies of each other. 
     
     
         5 . The traction mat system of  claim 1 , wherein the grip layer is the same material as the mat. 
     
     
         6 . The traction mat system of  claim 3 , wherein the mat is composed of a mat material and wherein the aggregate material is at least one of the same as the mat material, or a high strength plastic particles or metal particles. 
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing a traction mat system comprising:
 providing a stand connected to a press by at least one support and moving a trolley that supports at least one mold having a raised pattern between the stand and beneath the press;   placing a mat material in the mold;   placing a grip layer composed of at least one of a foil sheet and an aggregate layer over the mat; and   heating and pressing the press to the mold forming the foil sheet or aggregate material onto the mat material.   
     
     
         8 . The traction mat system of  claim 7 , comprising a second mold attached to the press. 
     
     
         9 . The traction mat system of  claim 7 , wherein the grip layer is placed over a surface of the mat and a second grip layer is placed over a second surface of the mat. 
     
     
         10 . The traction mat system of  claim 9 , wherein the grip layer is pressed into or integrated in the surface of the mat and the second surface of the mat.