SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modular system for forming a floor or platform is disclosed. The modular system may have vertical dividers for forming divided areas. Multiple horizontal sections are positioned in a side by side arrangement and connected with connectors to form the platform or floor in a desired shape and coverage. Vertical dividers inserted into the horizontal sections and retained in the horizontal sections provide separation of the modular system to form compartments.
BRIEF DRAWING DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single unit of a horizontal floor section according to an embodiment of the platform system.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a single unit of a horizontal floor section according to an embodiment of the platform system.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a single unit of a horizontal floor section according to an embodiment of the platform system.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a connector for joining sections of interlocking floor sections.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 of a connector for joining sections of interlocking floor sections.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 4 of a connector for joining sections of interlocking floor sections.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a connector for joining sections of interlocking floor sections.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 of a connector for joining sections of interlocking floor sections.
FIG. 9 is an elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 7 of a connector for joining sections of interlocking floor sections.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vertical divider that joins with the interlocking floor sections according to the invention.
FIG. 11 is an elevation of an embodiment of a vertical divider that joins with the interlocking floor sections.
FIG. 12 demonstrates in perspective an application of the platform system formed of horizontal interlocking floor sections according to the invention, and positioned in a truck bed.
FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial view of the horizontal interlocking floor section system of FIG. 12 demonstrating positioning of connectors to join units of interlocking floor sections using the connectors of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7.
FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the platform system formed of horizontal interlocking floor sections according to the invention, and positioned in a truck bed.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the vertical dividers of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 joined to the horizontal interlocking floor section system according to the invention to form sections within a bed of a truck.
FIG. 16 is a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 15 demonstrating insertion of the vertical dividers into the horizontal floor system according to the invention.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of four (4) vertical dividers.
FIG. 18 is an isolation taken from Detail A of FIG. 17.
FIG. 19 is a partial view of two (2) vertical dividers.
FIG. 20 demonstrates connection of the two (2) vertical dividers of FIG. 19.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 show an embodiment of a unit of a horizontal floor section 2 according to the invention. The horizontal floor section as shown has a plurality of receiving apertures 12 formed therein for receiving and holding vertical dividers as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The receiving apertures are spaced apart and may be elongated like slots.
A receiving aperture is formed between adjoining horizontal floor sections in this embodiment with each adjoining section contributing a semi-aperture 14 (that is, half of the aperture). The side by side and connected floor sections form a receiving aperture between them for receiving dividers.
Each unit of horizontal floor section 2 also comprises receptacles 16 for receiving connectors 4,6. In this embodiment, a receptacle is formed on each of the four (4) corners of a floor section. A pair of receptacles (two receptacles positioned side by side) is formed about the perimeter of the floor section along each side of the floor section so as to be between each floor section when floor sections are connected. The pair of receptacles are recessed and positioned between areas of the floor section. A portion of the floor section 2 that comprises the receptacles is recessed below the adjoining top surface of the floor section, so that the connectors do not extend above the horizontal plane of the sections of the horizontal floor section. The receptacles may be cylindrical voids or apertures formed in the floor sections and located as shown in the drawings.
The horizontal floor section as shown in FIG. 2 has seven (7) receiving apertures 12 and a length that exceeds its width so as to be generally rectangular in shape. The horizontal floor section may be formed to other dimensions.
An embodiment of a connector 4 is shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. In this embodiment, a connector comprises four vertical protrusions 20 that extend downwardly from the top member 22 of the connector. The top member joins the four protrusions. The protrusions may be spaced apart, and have a reduced dimension from a top portion and/or mid-portion which progresses toward the bottom of each protrusion. FIG. 6. The split configuration and reduction in dimension aids in inserting the protrusions into the receptacles 16 of the horizontal floor section and retaining the connectors within the receptacle, as each side of the protrusion is pushed toward the other side during insertion, with shape memory characteristics applying a retaining force as the sides of each protrusion then push in opposite directions.
In some applications, it is not desirable to use a connector having four protrusions. For example, at the borders of the system formed by a plurality of horizontal floor sections, only two (2) receptacles are available for joinder, and a connector 6 that only has two (2) protrusions 20 is useful. Otherwise, the connector 4 with four protrusions will extend beyond the edge of the horizontal floor system in an undesired manner. There may be other applications where connection by four protrusions is either unnecessary or undesired, and the connector 6 is preferable. The connectors may be formed with raised cross-members on a surface that is opposite the protrusions to increase structural integrity of the connectors 4, 6.
A particular application for the invention has a divider 30, 40 that can be used in a vehicle, such as a bed of a truck 50, a trailer, or a cargo area of an automobile, SUV or station wagon. FIGS. 12 through 16 demonstrate the device being used to selectively form divided sections in a bed of a pick-up truck. A similar application may be used in other vehicles, such as in trains, buses, and airplanes, or in and around buildings, such for decks, floors, and mezzanines, by way of examples and not limitation.
The units of horizontal floor sections 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 are joined together with the connectors shown in FIGS. 4 through 6 and/or FIGS. 7 through 9. The individual units of floor sections may be of larger or smaller length and width, and have more or fewer sections, so as to allow a user to configure a horizontal floor system formed of the floor sections 2 to the required size and shape. For example, while the section 2 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 has six squares that form the unitary section 2, the section could have as few as one or two such squares or similar areas as long as receptacles 16 are provided about the perimeter for connection of the floor section to other floor sections. Elongated receiving apertures 16 may be formed generally beside each square area/and on an interior of the floor sections, and generally parallel to each side and each end of the floor sections. FIG. 2.
By way of example, and not limitation, the unit of floor section 2 shown in FIG. 1 may have a length of 18 inches and width of 12 inches, meaning that each of the six (6) areas that make up the unit of floor section is about six inches by about six inches, minus the receiving apertures 12. The dimensions of the areas that comprise the unit of floor section sections may be increased or decreased as desired, and the number of areas may also be greater or fewer.
In many applications, individual floor sections 2 will be joined at their corners, with each corner having a receptacle 16. The connector 4 as shown in FIG. 4 may be used to join four (4) sections 2 at their corners by inserting the protrusions 20 of the connector 4 into the four available receptacles 16. Similarly, through the use of two receptacles 16 on the sides of floor sections, where a section 2 joins another unit of floor section along its side, four receptacles will be available, and the connector shown in FIG. 4 may be used to join these floor sections. See reference number 4 of FIG. 15. In some applications, connector 6 is sufficient for joining at the sides of the sections, or two connectors 6 may be used in place of one connector 4.
If the two floor sections 2 that are joined side by side are not joined to another floor section at the ends thereof, the connector 6 shown in FIG. 7 may be used at the ends, since each floor section at its corner lends a single receptacle 16, and four receptacles are not available due to the absence of additional floor sections at the ends.
Excepting at the ends where no floor section 2 adjoins another floor section, elongated receiving apertures 12 or slots are formed between the floor sections as shown in FIGS. 12 and 16. The vertical dividers 30, 40 have at least one blade 32 extending from the bottom of the divider that engages a receiving aperture. The dividers may be formed in a unit with two or more sections 34 as shown in FIG. 11, with a blade extending from each section. However, it may be desirable in some cases for the divider to have only one section that is half as long as the divider having two sections.
Similarly, the divider may have three or more sections. FIG. 10. The width of each section 34 is preferred to be substantially equal to the width of a section of the horizontal floor section 2, with the blade 32 having a width that allows it to fit within and be retained by the receiving aperture 12 formed in the horizontal floor section 2.
It is preferred that the vertical dividers can be joined to other vertical dividers to provide strength for the wall formed by the dividers. FIG. 20. In one embodiment, the dividers may be joined at right angles. FIG. 17. In another embodiment, the dividers may be joined side by side. FIG. 20.
FIG. 18 shows a connector of a divider joining another divider at a right angle, and joining still another divider at a right angle. The connectors are configured to permit joinder in this manner.
FIG. 19 shows connectors for dividers joined side by side to yield the connection shown in FIG. 20. A hook 42 is formed at or near the top of divider 44 and on an end of the divider. A hook 46 is formed lower on divider 48. Staggered guides 52, 54 receive and guide hook 42 to engage hook 46, and also engage the end of divider 44 to aid in holding the dividers in place. Guides 56 may also be formed on divider 44 to guide the engagement of hook 46, and also engage the end of divider 48 to aid in holding the dividers in place.
FIG. 20 shows the connectors engaging each other to connect the dividers. Hook 42 slides through guides 52,54 and is inserted into aperture 60 Additional guides 52,54, 56, 58 may be formed on each end of the dividers, FIG. 17, to assist in providing a secure connection. In a preferred embodiment, each divider has at least two (2) connector structures as described, with one of the connector structures formed on one end, and the other complimentary connector structure formed on the opposite end.
In a preferred embodiment, a hand hold 36 is associated with each section of the vertical divider. The vertical dividers 30,40 are retained within the receiving apertures 12 without additional fasteners by engagement with the blades. In this manner, the dividers may be quickly and easily pulled away from the horizontal floor sections using the handholds, and repositioned in other parts of the interlocking floor system. The divider configuration can be selected by the user, and easily rearranged as needed depending upon the load requirements or storage requirements of the application of the system.
The invention has particular utility for use with vehicles, such as providing a way to separate cargo in a bed or cargo section of a vehicle. The invention may also be used to separate materials and/or inventory in storage or on display. The size of the compartments formed by the dividers may be changed as needs change due to the type or quantity of inventory or material that is stored, retained or separated.
Patent Grant
10557275
