A structural element for forming a ground covering, in particular in an outdoor area, including a rectangular tile. A molded-on portion which is made of a plastic material and runs around the edge of the tile like a frame is preferably injection-molded and/or foamed onto the tile.

A sports court can include a set of modular floor panels or tiles that are interconnected with each other and that have material compositions configured to provide increased friction when a ball or other game piece comes into contact with the top surface of the panels or tiles. The sports court can be used to decrease the speed or otherwise affect bounce behavior of a game ball as compared to a concrete slab or similar underlying surface on which the floor panels are positioned, thereby giving the court performance characteristics more similar to a conventional court used for ball sports such as tennis and pickleball and that are improved as compared to conventional rigid floor tiles. The material compositions can include rubberized or elastomeric materials with coefficients of friction measured using standardized testing procedures.

Foam insulation boards having an improved shiplap edge for interfacing with one another are disclosed.

Mats and methods of making the same are described. The mats include a main body defined by a plurality of sidewalls and two exterior surface walls opposing each other, a lip structure extending outwardly from the plurality of sidewalk around a portion of a periphery of the main body, and at least one fiber-reinforcement layer arranged between the two exterior surface walls of the mat. The methods include depositing a first deposition layer of material within a mold, positioning at least one fiber-reinforcement layer on the first deposition layer, depositing a second deposition layer of material within the mold over the at least one fiber-reinforcement layer and the first deposition layer, and treating the first deposition layer, the at least one fiber-reinforcement layer, and the second deposition layer to form a mat.

A connector pin includes a stem extending between a head and an opposite foot. The stem includes a neck having a plurality of sections which may be planar forming edges. A retention member including a collar and arms extending therefrom is retained around said pin, the inner surface of the collar correspondingly configured to the sections and edges of the neck for a frictional fit. The pin is insertable and retained within a receiver in overlapping mats. Pockets in the receiver hold the retention member arms and prevent rotational motion of the retention member. The pin is selectively movable relative to the retention member by rotational motion by application of force to the pin sufficient to overcome the threshold level of friction holding the sections of the neck at the collar. Locking the pin is achieved when extension members of the pin foot are misaligned with the retention member arms.

An interlocking paving brick assembly comprises a protruding brick (10) and a recessing brick (20). The protruding brick is a block and comprises a first top portion (11) and four first sidewalls (12). Every angle between each of the first sidewall and the first top portions is a right angle, each of the first sidewall comprises a tenon structure (13). The recessing brick is a block, including a second top portion (21) and four second sidewalls (22). Every angle between each of the second sidewall and the second top portions is a right angle, and each of the second sidewall comprises a mortise structure (23). The tenon structure of the protruding brick and the mortise structure of the recessing brick is structurally complementary to each other, so the protruding brick and the recessing brick can be connected by the tenon structure and the mortise structure to form the interlocking paving brick assembly.

Heated surfaces for melting snow and ice are described herein. Some implementations include a highly integrated panel having upper and lower main structures secured to one another by an attachment through openings. Multiple panels can be connected together by means of load transfer devices on the upper and lower main structures. Other implementations include a melting panel with individual tiles, adhesives, structural materials, resistance-heating materials, electrically conductive materials, and thermally conductive materials. Power to the panels in the form of electricity may be provided via electrical wires and connectors, and further transmitted between the various parts of the panels. Still other implementations include embedded heating elements with adhesives, structural materials, resistance-heating materials, electrically conductive materials, and thermally conductive materials.

Mats having a body having a thickness defined between a first side and a second side, a lip extending from the body and having a thickness less than the thickness of the body, the lip having a plurality of ribs and a plurality of channels defined between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs, and a plurality of lip stiffeners arranged within the channels of the lip and defining a transverse rib extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the plurality of ribs.

A flooring element suitable for connection to other elements in a flooring system. The flooring element comprises a body, a female connector and a retainer. The body defines a connector surface that is horizontal when in use. The female connector comprises a connector recess which is suitable for receiving a male connector and also which defines a connector opening in the connector surface. The retainer is connectable to the body such that, while it is connected to the body, the retainer is movable between and open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the retainer is arranged to restrict movement of the male connector to guard against the male connector exiting the connector recess through the connector opening. When in the open position, the retainer does not restrict movement of the male connector thereby permitting the male connector to exit the connector recess through the connector opening.

Apparatus and methods related to mats and connects are described. The apparatus include a mat having a top side, a bottom side, and an interior defined between the top side and the bottom side, and at least one connector post extending within the interior of the mat, wherein the at least one connector post comprises a connector pin cavity extending within the interior of the mat and configured to receive a connector pin and at least one locking structure configured to engage with a portion of the connector pin and secure the connector pin to the at least one connector post.