Equine matting

Abstract

Equine matting for a horse stall made of a composite textile of nonwoven fabric sewn to a plastic grid.

1 . An animal mat covering a surface of an animal stall, comprising a composite textile of fabric affixed to a grid, wherein the animal mat is oriented such that the grid lies adjacent the horse stall surface. 
     
     
         2 . The animal mat of  claim 1 , wherein the grid comprises plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The animal mat of  claim 2 , wherein the plastic grid comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         4 . The animal mat of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         5 . The animal mat of  claim 1 , wherein the weight of the mat is proportionally equal to the weight of a 4-foot by 6-foot mat which weighs about 14 pounds. 
     
     
         6 . The animal mat of  claim 1 , wherein the overall flexural rigidity of the mat is not less than about 1,500,000 mg-cm. 
     
     
         7 . The animal mat of  claim 1 , wherein a grab tensile of the mat is proportionally equal to a grab tensile of no less than about 300×500 pounds for a 4-foot by 6-foot mat when measured by ASTM D-4632. 
     
     
         8 . The animal mat of  claim 1 , wherein the mat may be folded and rolled. 
     
     
         9 . An animal mat covering a surface of a horse stall, comprising a composite textile of hydrophobic fabric affixed to a grid providing structural rigidity to the mat, wherein the mat may be folded and rolled during shipping, and the mat when in use is oriented such that the grid lies adjacent the horse stall surface. 
     
     
         10 . The animal mat of  claim 9 , wherein the weight of the mat is proportionally equal to the weight of a 4-foot by 6-foot mat which weighs about 14 pounds. 
     
     
         11 . The animal mat of  claim 9 , wherein an abrasion resistance of the mat is proportionally equal to the abrasion resistance of about 500×1000 pounds when measured by ASTM D-4886 for a 4-foot by 6-foot mat. 
     
     
         12 . The animal mat of  claim 9 , wherein a grab tensile of the mat is proportionally equal to the grab tensile of no less than about 300×500 pounds for a 4-foot by 6-foot mat when measured by ASTM D-4632. 
     
     
         13 . The animal mat of  claim 9 , wherein the water flow rate of the mat is about 1400 gpm/ft 2  when measured by ASTM D-4491. 
     
     
         14 . The animal mat of  claim 9 , wherein the overall flexural rigidity of the mat is not less than about 1,500,000 mg-cm. 
     
     
         15 . The animal mat of  claim 9 , wherein the mat is hypoallergenic and substantially inert to biological matter. 
     
     
         16 . The animal mat of  claim 9 , wherein the thickness of the mat is about or less than about 360 mils.