Floor and frame construction for flat trailers

Claim 2

A floor construction for placement on the main frame of a load carrying vehicle, including: A. a plurality of longitudinally extending panel members positioned in side-by-side, spaced apart relationship on said main frame, said panel members each having an upper load bearing surface disposed in parallel spaced relationship to the frame, each of said panel members also having a pair of leg portions downwardly extending on opposed longitudinal sides of the load bearing surface, each of said leg portions terminating in an outwardly extending lateral flange, said flanges having an upper bearing surface formed in parallel spaced relationship to the load bearing surface of the panel members and a lower bearing surface contacting the main frame of the vehicle, said lateral flanges also including an upwardly extending shoulder portion at the outermost edge of the upper bearing surface thereof; B. a plurality of longitudinally extending channel membErs positioned between adjacent pairs of panel members, said channel members each having an upper surface extending between adjacent panel members and forming a portion of the load bearing surface of said floor and each channel member including a pair of locking webs downwardly extending on opposite longitudinal sides of the upper surface seatably engaging the upper bearing surfaces of the lateral flanges of adjacent panel members, whereby, lateral movement between said adjacent panel members is prevented, each of said channel members also includes a pair of support webs, depending downwardly from the upper surface of the channel member in spaced apart relationship intermediate the locking webs of said channel member, and extending a greater length than said locking webs, whereby, said support webs contact the vehicle frame when said locking webs are in bearing contact with the lateral flanges of adjacent panel members; and C. fastening means extending through the upper surface of the panel members and the channel members for securing said members to the vehicle frame whereby longitudinal movement of said members is prevented, wherein the securement means includes a plurality of headed fasteners extending through the upper surface of said panel and channel members and lockably secured to the vehicle frame

Claim 3

The vehicle floor construction of claim 1 wherein the panel members also include a plurality of longitudinally extending support webs, said webs depending downwardly from the load bearing surface intermediate the leg portions in spaced apart relationship, said webs having a length substantially equal to that of the leg portions, whereby, the webs contact the vehicle frame when the panel members are secured thereto.

Claim 4

The vehicle floor construction of claim 1 wherein the load bearing surface of said panel members includes an intermediate surface portion formed along the longitudinal center line of said panel member and extending the entire length thereof, said intermediate surface portion being offset downwardly from and parallel to the load bearing surface, said channel members also having an upper surface which includes an offset surface portion positioned downwardly from and parallel to the load bearing surface of the panel members, said securement means including a plurality of headed fasteners, said intermediate surface portions of the panel members and said offset surfaces of the channel members having a plurality of fastener holes formed therein to receive said headed fasteners therethrough, whereby the head portions of said fasteners are substantially flush with the load bearing surface of the panel members when said fasteners are secured to said vehicle frame.

Claim 5

The vehicle floor assembly of claim 3 wherein the offset surfaces of the channel members also have an alignment groove formed therein, said groove extending the length of said channel member and positioned substantially at the longitudinal center line of said offset surface, substantially midway between the support webs of said channel member, said intermediate surfaces of said panel members also having an alignment groove formed therein, said groove extending the length of said panel members and positioned substantially at the longitudinal center line of said intermediate surfaces.

Claim 6

In combination, a vehicle frame and floor construction, including: A. a pair of main I-beams positioned in parallel spaced apart relationship, said beams having horizontally disposed upper and lower flange portions and a vertically disposed web portion connecting said flanges; B. a plurality of central brace members secured to and between the web portions of the main I-beams in longitudinally spaced apart relationship along said main beams, the upper surfaces of said central brace members positioned below the upper flanges of the main I-beams; C. a plurality of outboard brace members secured to and outwardly extending from opposite side web portions of the main I-beamS in longitudinally spaced apart relationship along said main I-beams, the upper surfaces of said outboard brace members positioned below the upper flanges of the main I-beams; D. a plurality of longitudinally extending panel members, said panel members having a load bearing surface and a pair of leg portions downwardly extending on opposite longitudinal sides of the load bearing surface, said leg portions having a length substantially equal to the spacing between the upper surfaces of the central and outboard brace members and the upper flanges of the I-beams said leg portions contacting the upper surfaces of the central and outboard channel members, the leg portions including an outwardly extending lateral flange formed in parallel spaced relationship to the load bearing surface of said panel members, said lateral flange also including an upwardly extending shoulder portion at the outermost edge of the flange upper bearing surface, said panel members positioned in side by side parallel spaced apart relationship, those panel members abutting the main I-beams having their respective flange portions positioned beneath the upper flanges of said I-beams whereby the load bearing surface of said panel is substantially flush with the upper flanges of said main I-beams; E. a plurality of longitudinally extending channel members having an upper surface and a pair of locking webs downwardly extending on opposite sides of said upper surface, said locking webs positioned upon the lateral flanges of adjacent panel members whereby lateral movement between adjacent panel members is prevented, wherein the channel members include a pair of support webs depending downwardly from the upper surface of the channel member in spaced apart relationship intermediate the locking webs of said channel member, and extending a greater length than said locking webs, whereby, said support webs contact the vehicle frame when said locking webs are in bearing contact with the lateral flanges of adjacent panel members; and F. means for securing the panel members and the channel member to the central channel and outboard brace members wherein the securement means includes a plurality of headed fasteners extending through the upper surface of said panel and channel members and lockably secured to the vehicle frame.

Claim 7

In combination, a vehicle frame and floor construction, including: A. a pair of main I-beams positioned in parallel spaced apart relationship, said beams having horizontally disposed upper and lower flange portions and a vertically disposed web portion connecting said flanges; B. a plurality of central brace members secured to and between the web portions of the main I-beams in longitudinally spaced apart relationship along said main beams, the upper surfaces of said central brace members positioned below the upper flanges of the main I-beams; C. a plurality of outboard brace members secured to and outwardly extending from opposite side web portions of the main I-beamS in longitudinally spaced apart relationship along said main I-beams, the upper surfaces of said outboard brace members positioned below the upper flanges of the main I-beams; D. a plurality of longitudinally extending panel members, said panel members having a load bearing surface and a pair of leg portions downwardly extending on opposite longitudinal sides of the load bearing surface, said leg portions having a length substantially equal to the spacing between the upper surfaces of the central and outboard brace members and the upper flanges of the I-beams said leg portions contacting the upper surfaces of the central and outboard channel members, the leg portions including an outwardly extending lateral flange formed in parallel spaced relationship to the load bearing surface of said panel members, said lateral flange also including an upwardly extending shoulder portion at the outermost edge of the flange upper bearing surface, said panel members positioned in side by side parallel spaced apart relationship, those panel members abutting the main I-beams having their respective flange portions positioned beneath the upper flanges of said I-beams whereby the load bearing surface of said panel is substantially flush with the upper flanges of said main I-beams; E. a plurality of longitudinally extending channel members having an upper surface and a pair of locking webs downwardly extending on opposite sides of said upper surface, said locking webs positioned upon the lateral flanges of adjacent panel members whereby lateral movement between adjacent panel members is prevented, wherein the channel members include a pair of support webs depending downwardly from the upper surface of the channel member in spaced apart relationship intermediate the locking webs of said channel member, and extending a greater length than said locking webs, whereby, said support webs contact the vehicle frame when said locking webs are in bearing contact with the lateral flanges of adjacent panel members; and F. means for securing the panel members and the channel member to the central channel and outboard brace members wherein the securement means includes a plurality of headed fasteners extending through the upper surface of said panel and channel members and lockably secured to the vehicle frame.

Claim 8

The combined vehicle frame and floor construction of claim 5 wherein the main I-beams, the central brace members, the outboard brace members, the panel members and the channel members are constructed of aluminum alloy.

Claim 9

The combined vehicle frame and floor construction of claim 5 wherein the securement means includes a plurality of headed fasteners.

Claim 10

The combined vehicle frame and floor construction of claim 5 including a plurality of longitudinally extending wooden floor planks generally rectangular in cross-section and having a thickness substantially equal to that of the panel members, said plank members also having longitudinally extending, cut-out portions formed on diagonally opposite corners thereof, said cut-out portions having a height substantially equal to that of the flange portions of said panel members, whereby said plank members are adapted to matingly engage adjacent flanges of said panel members and, likewise, adapted to matingly fit beneath the upper flanges of said main I-beams.