The present invention relates to a floor mat comprising a substrate layer, a gel layer and a cover layer, wherein said substrate layer, said gel layer and said cover layer have a substantially planar shape, and wherein said gel layer is coupled in between said substrate layer and said cover layer, and wherein the cover layer comprises a plurality of deformations, which deformations protrude at least partly towards the center of the gel layer. In further aspects, the invention relates to a floor mat wherein the thickness of the gel layer and the thickness of the substrate layer are related according to a ratio of between 1:20 and 20:20, as well as to methods for manufacturing a floor mat.

A method for making a slip resistant mat can include assembling parts with predetermined geometries to form a mold that can be used for making slip resistant mats that have channels to account for moisture between the mat and the floor. The unique geometries of the parts which form the mold can be manufactured efficiently and with reduced costs. The mold of this invention can be used to make slip resistant mats with channels that can both dissipate water and offer a high degree of mat to floor surface contact.

Apparatus for forming a liquid-tight seal across gaps formed between adjacent components of a load-supporting surface useful at an outdoor worksite includes a liquid-impermeable, elongated, seal member configured to be sealing coupled to first and second mats in the load-supporting surface and extend across the gap formed therebetween.

Foam edge waste may be shredded or ground into foam particles rather than discarding them. The particles may be mixed with an adhesive and subject to high temperature and high pressure to form into new foam bodies with configurable densities. Utilizing discarded foam sections this way reduces the waste of foam, reduces environmental pollution caused by foam waste combustion, offers more environmental protection and saves resources. The resulting foam articles have reduced water retention and provide superior comfort by making a foam with consistent properties from inconsistent materials.

A composite product is made by forming an object body comprising a mixture of rubber crumb and binder having a first temperature-dependent cure rate. A surface layer of a vulcanizable rubber compound having a second temperature-dependent cure rate is brought into contact with the object body, and the surface layer and the object body are simultaneously cured at different temperatures so as to match said first and second cure rates such that the surface layer adheres to the object body.

An array of resilient floor tiles is assembled into a continuous sheet after being laid down. An array of included, sacrificial resistive wires is buried along the edges of the tiles and is controllably heated in order to cause welding of the edges of tiles across the paths of the wires to neighboring tiles. Subsequently the wires may be used to give the array integral tensile strength. The welded array is provided with greater strength for resisting use, expansive and contractile forces caused by environmental heat and cold and also long-term tile contraction owing to loss of plasticizer as may be seen with PVC-based tiles.

The present invention provides a flexible mat with fluid conduit, methods of manufacture thereof and apparatus for the manufacture thereof. In an embodiment, the mat comprises a base layer, one or more fluid conduits and a thermoplastic bonding tape that attaches the fluid conduits to the base layer. The base layer can be a textile fabric, mesh or netting, or a flat flexible sheet. The base layer is preferably also formed of a thermoplastic layer. The fluid conduits can carry heated or cooled fluid, such as water, that can be used for heating or cooling an environment in which the device is deployed. For example, the device can be used for heating or cooling in a greenhouse environment. The fluid conduits can additionally or alternatively carry irrigation fluids, such as water or treated water, for irrigating plants and crops. The fluid conduits can additionally or alternatively carry gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) or carbon dioxide mixed with other gasses, for treating plants and crops.

A mat of one or more tiles of desired shape is provided. The mat is produced from a production mat manufactured as an integral unit with multiple tiles connected together according to various embodiments of this invention. The production mat may be divided into one or more mats of desired shape and size by severing the production mat between adjacent tiles. As such, the production mat may be cut into discrete mats, each having one or more tiles according to this invention. The entirety of the production mat is used as one or more mats according to aspects of this invention thereby avoiding waste and/or recycling of any portion of the production mat while utilizing each of the tiles in the production mat as part of the resulting mat(s). This avoids the need for any supplemental or auxiliary connecting means for joining two adjacent tiles to form a mat.

Disclosed is a method for embedding an electronic device, for instance an RFID tag, into a mat, the mat having a bottom support intended to contact a floor, in use, and including a first material, a walkable layer arranged on top of the bottom support, including a second material. The electronic device is supported by a solid carrier. The bottom support and the walkable layer of the mat are fully assembled, so as the mat is already available for use to walk on, before embedding the electronic device; a material of the solid carrier and the first material of the bottom support of the mat are suitable to join if contacted each other and subject to a temperature and/or a pressure above predetermined thresholds, the pressure pushing the electronic device against the bottom support. Embedding the electronic device to the mat includes placing the solid carrier on a flat portion of the bottom support of the mat; applying the pressure and/or temperature to the solid carrier; ending application of pressure and/or temperature. The step of applying pressure and/or temperature is ended after the solid carrier is melted in the solid carrier and/or dissolved, and the electronic device remains embedded in the bottom support. Embedding is not reversible and the solid carrier is no longer detachable from the bottom substrate.

The mat of the present invention includes a main body integrally formed by a plastic material. The main body at least has a first surface and a second surface adjacent to the first face. The first face and the second face have different surface physical characteristics. The first surface and the second surface are shaped into a third surface and a fourth surface respectively. The third surface and the fourth surface have a substantially same surface physical characteristic. An angle between the third surface and the fourth surface outside the main body is a specific value.