FLOORING APPARATUS

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a flooring apparatus provides improved traction, improved wear resistance and improved structural support. The flooring apparatus may include an elongated member that includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface may include a cutout portion that extends along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the elongated member. One or more inserts are positioned at least partially within the cutout portion. The insert may include a texturized top surface and may be constructed of a polymer material or other material with improved traction and, in certain embodiments, improved wear resistance.

Claims

1. A flooring apparatus comprising: a member having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface includes a cutout portion that extends along at least a portion of the member; a friction-increasing insert, wherein at least a portion of the friction-increasing insert is at least partially coupled to the cutout portion; and wherein the cutout portion includes a floor with a secondary cutout portion, a first sidewall and a second sidewall.

2. The flooring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sidewall of the cutout portion extends from the floor at a first angle that is between at least about 60 degrees and at most about 130 degrees.

3. The flooring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second sidewall of the cutout portion extends from the floor at a second angle that is between at least about 60 degrees and at most about 130 degrees.

4. The flooring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sidewall of the cutout portion extends from the floor at a first angle and the second sidewall of the cutout portion extends from the floor at a second angle, wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle.

5. The flooring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the floor of the cutout portion is located closer to the top surface of the member than the bottom surface of the member.

6. The flooring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism to secure the friction-increasing insert at least partially within the cutout portion.

7. The flooring apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises at least one of an adhesive or a mechanical fastener.

8. The flooring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the secondary cutout portion is an opening.

9. The flooring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the friction-increasing insert is positioned below the top surface of the member and does not protrude beyond the top surface of the member and does not protrude beyond the bottom surface of the member.

10. The flooring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the friction-increasing insert is vertically offset from the top surface of the member.

11. The flooring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the friction-increasing insert that includes an insert top surface having at least a partially protruding convex shape.

12. The flooring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the portion of the friction-increasing insert that is vertically offset from the top surface of the member comprises an insert top surface, and wherein the insert top surface is configured to compress when an object positioned on the flooring apparatus contacts the insert top surface and the top surface of the member.

13. A flooring apparatus comprising: a member that includes a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface includes a cutout portion, wherein the cutout portion includes at least a first depth and a second depth, and the first depth is measured from the top surface of the member to a portion of a floor of the cutout portion, wherein the second depth is measured from the top surface of the member to a second portion of the floor of the cutout portion, and wherein the first depth is not equal to the second depth; wherein the cutout portion is formed along at least a portion of the top surface of the member; and a friction-increasing insert is positioned at least partially within the cutout portion of the member and a portion of the friction-increasing insert is at least partially coupled to the cutout portion.

14. The flooring apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the friction-increasing insert is coupled to the cutout portion by an adhesive positioned between the friction-increasing insert and the floor of the cutout portion.

15. A flooring apparatus, comprising: a member that includes a bottom surface and a top surface with a cutout portion that includes at least one hole; a friction-increasing insert secured adjacent to the cutout portion of the member, wherein at least a portion of the friction-increasing insert is positioned below the top surface of the member.

16. The flooring apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising an attachment mechanism to secure the friction-increasing insert to the member, wherein the attachment mechanism includes an adhesive.

17. The flooring apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the friction-increasing insert does not protrude above the top surface of the member and wherein at least a portion of the friction-increasing insert is level with the top surface of the member.

18. The flooring apparatus according to claim 15, wherein an insert top surface of the friction-increasing insert is provided at a level relative to the member, and wherein the insert top surface is provided at a different level when an object contacts the friction-increasing insert.

19. The flooring apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the friction-increasing insert protrudes above the top surface of the member.

20. The flooring apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a portion of the friction-increasing insert has a convex profile that at least partially protrudes above the top surface of the member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments.

[0055] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a flooring apparatus;

[0056] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an elongated member including holes in a surface of the cutout portion;

[0057] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are cross-section, side views of exemplary embodiments of an elongated member of a flooring apparatus;

[0058] FIG. 4 is a cross-section, side view of an exemplary embodiment of a flooring apparatus that includes a plurality of troughs on a floor of a cutout portion;

[0059] FIG. 5A is a cross-section, side view of an exemplary flooring apparatus that includes an attachment mechanism in a floor of the elongated member;

[0060] FIG. 5B is a cross-section, side view of an exemplary flooring apparatus that includes attachment mechanisms in first and second sidewalls of the elongated member;

[0061] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a flooring apparatus that includes a plurality of cutout portions;

[0062] FIG. 7A is a cross-section, side view of an exemplary flooring apparatus in which a top surface of the insert is located above a top surface of the elongated member;

[0063] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary flooring apparatus in which a top surface of the insert is located below a top surface of the elongated member;

[0064] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a flooring apparatus including a plurality of inserts oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.

[0065] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a flooring apparatus including an insert covering an entire top surface of the elongated member.

[0066] FIG. 10A is a top view of an exemplary trailer that includes a first frame member, a second frame member and a plurality of intermediate frame members;

[0067] FIG. 10B is a top view of an exemplary trailer that includes a plurality of flooring apparatuses supported by the intermediate frame members;

[0068] FIG. 11 is a cross-section side view of two flooring apparatuses coupled to an intermediate frame member;

[0069] FIG. 12A is a cross-section, side view of an embodiment of a first elongated member positioned adjacent to a second elongated member;

[0070] FIG. 12B is a cross-section, side view of an embodiment of a first elongated member with a first cap that is in contact with a second cap of a second elongated member;

[0071] FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a flooring apparatus; and

[0072] FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a trailer using one or more flooring apparatuses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a flooring apparatus 100 that includes an elongated member 102 with a cutout portion 104 and an insert 106 that is located at least partially within the cutout portion 104. As will be described in further detail below, the apparatus 100 may provide improved traction, improved wear resistance, improved structural support and other benefits to a floor. The flooring apparatus may be used as the floor of a cargo trailer, the floor of the deck of a house, the steps of a ladder or staircase or any other application requiring a surface.

[0074] In some embodiments, the elongated member 102 is a rectangular shape and may be, for example, approximately 8 inches by 2 inches by several feet or more. In other embodiments, the elongated member 102 may be larger or smaller than 8 inches by 2 inches. The elongated member 102 may be constructed of any suitable material, for example, wood, metal and/or plastic, or any suitable combination of materials. In some embodiments, for example, the elongated member 102 is made of a treated wood material, such as a treated pine. In some embodiments, the elongated member 102 is made of Treated Southern Yellow Pine. The elongated member 102 may be made of other wood materials in other embodiments. In some embodiments, for example, the elongated member 102 is made of Douglas Fir, Hem Fir or SPF (spruce-pine-fur). In yet other embodiments, the elongated member 102 is made of Canadian SPF.

[0075] In some embodiments, the elongated member 102 may be constructed of a wood material that is specifically chosen for its non-warping characteristics so that it is less prone to warp over time. In some embodiments, for example, the elongated member 102 is chosen such that the growth rings 154 are curved away from the cutout portion 104, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the orientation of the growth rings away from the cutout portion 104 counteracts possible upward curling of the elongated member 102 due to the cutout portion 104.

[0076] In some embodiments, the color of the elongated member 102 can be changed, for example, by staining or painting the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, the elongated member 102 and the insert 106 are both made of materials whose color can be changed so that the color of the elongated member 102 can be matched to the color of the insert 106. In other embodiments, the color of the elongated member 102 and the color of the insert 106 do not match. In some embodiments, a colored pigment or other material, such as an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) material, is added to the material from which the insert 106 is made (such as a rebonded rubber) to give the insert 106 a particular color. For example, in some embodiments a pigment is added to the base polymer from which the insert 106 is made. The insert 106 can be any suitable color based on the pigment, paint or other material that is added to the insert 106 during its formation.

[0077] In some embodiments, the elongated member 102 includes a cutout portion 104 that extends along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis 108 of the elongated member 102. As will be described in more detail below, the cutout portion 104 may be any suitable shape and in some embodiments includes a first sidewall 110, a second sidewall 112 and a floor 114.

[0078] In some embodiments, the cutout portion 104 is sized and shaped to hold at least a portion of the insert 106. The insert 106 may be any suitable size and shape that can be at least partially located in the cutout portion 104. For example, in some embodiments the insert 106 is rectangular in shape. In some embodiments, a top surface 132 of the insert 106 may be substantially flat or may be curved, for example, in a protruding, convex shape. The surfaces of the insert 106 may contact the sidewalls 110 and 112 and floor 114 of the cutout portion or may not contact one or more of the sidewalls 110 and 112 and/or the floor 114. In some embodiments, for example, the insert 106 has a curved bottom surface 156 and only a portion of the bottom surface 156 contacts the floor 114 or the sidewalls 110 and 112.

[0079] In some embodiments, the insert 106 is slightly smaller than the cutout portion 104 to allow for variations in the rate at which the insert 106 and the elongated member 104 expand and contract over time. For example, in some embodiments the elongated member 104 and the insert 106 may expand and contract at different rates as a result of variations in ambient temperature. In some embodiments, the insert 106 is held in a centered orientation in the cutout portion 104 by one or more coupling devices (see e.g., the coupling device 130 of FIG. 5A). In some embodiments, the coupling devices 130 maintain the insert 106 in a central location in the cutout portion 104 while allowing the insert 106 to expand/contract within the cutout portion 104.

[0080] The surfaces of the insert 106 may also include a texture, such as, for example, a series of protrusions and recesses (not shown in FIG. 1), to increase the traction of the surfaces of the insert 106. In some embodiments, the surfaces of the cutout portion 104 may also include a surface texture.

[0081] Referring now to FIG. 2, in some embodiments the cutout portion 104 includes holes 158 in the floor 114 to provide additional surface area to which an adhesive is coupleable to secure the insert 106 (FIG. 1) to the cutout portion 104. For example, in some embodiments an adhesive (see e.g., the adhesive 126 shown in FIG. 4) is used to couple the insert 106 (FIG. 1) to the cutout portion 104 and the adhesive 126 provides the strongest coupling strength at the location of the holes 158 due to the increased depth of the adhesive 126 contained within the holes 158. In some embodiments, the first and second sidewalls 110 and 112 of the cutout portion 104 also include holes 158. In some embodiments, the insert 106 also includes holes (not shown) to allow for the adhesive 126 to enter the holes and further secure the insert 106 to the cutout portion 104.

[0082] Referring again to FIG. 1, the insert 106 may be made of any suitable material. In some embodiments, the insert 106 may be made of a polymer material that has a high frictional coefficient, such as a rubber material. In some embodiments, the insert 106 may be made of a recycled rubber material, such as a material made from recycled tire material. In some embodiments, the insert 106 may include colored pigments and in other embodiments may be made of one or more of a rebonded rubber material, a vulcanized rubber material and/or an extruded rubber material, such as, for example, RUMBER? flooring material manufactured by Rumber Materials, located in Muenster, Texas.

[0083] FIGS. 3A-3D show cross-sectional, side views of exemplary embodiments of the elongated member 102 and the cutout portion 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, for example, the cutout portion 104 is rectangular and includes a first sidewall 110 and a second sidewall 112 that extends from a floor 114 at an angle 160 that is about 90 degrees. In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the first sidewall 110 and the second sidewall 112 extend at an angle 160 that is less than about 90 degrees from the floor 114. In the embodiment of FIG. 3C, the first sidewall 110 and the second sidewall 112 extend at an angle 160 that is more than about 90 degrees from the floor 114. In the embodiment of FIG. 3D, the first sidewall 110 and the second sidewall 112 extend at an angle 160 of about a 90 degrees from the floor 114 and include a plurality of tangs 116, as will be described in more detail below.

[0084] The cutout portion 104 may be symmetric about a centerline 118 of the elongated member 102, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, or may be asymmetric about the centerline 118 (not shown). The cutout portion 104 may have a constant cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal axis 108 of the cutout portion 104 or may have various cross-sectional shapes along the longitudinal axis 108 of the cutout portion 104.

[0085] The cutout portion 104 may also be any suitable size with respect to the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, for example, the cutout portion 104 occupies about 80 percent of the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102. As such, when the insert 106 is placed within the cutout portion 104, the insert 106 may also cover up to about 80 percent of the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, the cutout portion 104 occupies more than about 80 percent of the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102 (or more than about 80 percent of the width of the top surface 120) and, when the insert 106 is placed within the cutout portion 104, the insert 106 may also cover more than about 80 percent of the width or entirety of the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102. In other embodiments, the cutout portion 104 occupies less than about 80 percent of the top surface 120 (or less than about 80 percent of the width of the top surface 120) of the elongated member 102 and, when the insert 106 is placed within the cutout portion 104, the insert 106 may also occupy less than about 80 percent of the width or the entirety of the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102.

[0086] The cutout portion 104 may also have any suitable surface texturing to help secure the insert 106 within the cutout portion 104. For example, referring again to the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the first and second sidewalls 110 and 112 or the floor 114 may include a plurality of protrusions 124 or surface texture to help secure the insert 106 at least partially within the cutout portion 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the angle 160 at which the first and second sidewalls 110 and 112 extend with respect to the floor 114 may help secure the insert 106 at least partially within the cutout portion 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 2D, the first and second sidewalls 110 and 112 may include a plurality of tangs 116 or other protrusions to help secure the insert 106 at least partially within the cutout portion 104.

[0087] Other surface texturing or modifications to the cutout portion 104 and/or the insert 106 may be used to further secure the insert 106 at least partially within the cutout portion 104. For example, in some embodiments, the insert 106 may include protrusions (not shown) that mate with corresponding recesses (not shown) in the cutout portion 104 so that the insert 106 may be snapped into place in the cutout portion 104.

[0088] In some embodiments, additional mechanisms may be coupled to the elongated member 102 and the insert 106 to further secure the insert 106 at least partially within the cutout portion 104. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4 an adhesive 126 is located in the cutout portion 104 to secure the insert 106 (not shown) to the floor 114 of the cutout portion 104. The adhesive 126 may be any suitable adhesive. For example, in some embodiments the adhesive is CHEMREX? CX-948 or CX-941, both made by BASF, located in Shakopee, Minnesota, USA. In some embodiments, the adhesive is one or more of HYBOND? 80 PLUS, made by Hybond located at Longden, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom; LOCTITE? PL? 500 Landscape Block Adhesive, made by Loctite located at Westlake, Ohio; FORTANE LD? Wood Flooring Urethane Adhesive, made by Fortane located at Indianapolis, Indiana; and HENRY? 440 Cove Base Adhesive, made by The W.W. Henry Company located at Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.

[0089] Referring still to FIG. 4, in some embodiments the elongated member 102 includes a plurality of troughs 128 in the floor 114 of the cutout portion 104 to hold an adhesive 126. In some embodiments, the troughs 128 may allow for expansion and contraction of the adhesive 126 according to weather conditions or other factors. In some embodiments, the troughs 128 allow for a greater depth or thickness of adhesive to reside between the insert 106 and the floor 114 of the cutout portion 104 which may increase the strength of the bond between the insert 106 and the floor 114. In addition, the cutout portion 104 may include other features, such as holes 158 of FIG. 2, to increase the effectiveness of the adhesive 126 between the insert 106 and the floor 114.

[0090] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary flooring apparatus 100 that includes an attachment mechanism 130 extending from the bottom surface 122 of the elongated member 102 through the floor 114 of the elongated member 102 to further secure the insert 106 at least partially within the cutout portion 104. The attachment mechanism 130 may be any suitable attachment mechanism, such as, for example, a nail or a screw. While the attachment mechanism 130 in FIG. 5A extends from the bottom surface 122 of the elongated member 102 upward to the insert 106, the attachment mechanism 130 may be located in any suitable position. For example, in some embodiments, the attachment mechanism 130 extends from a top surface 132 of the insert 106 downward through the floor 114 of the elongated member 102. The apparatus 100 may include a plurality of attachment mechanisms 130 spaced periodically throughout the insert 106. As described above, the attachment mechanisms 130 may keep the insert 106 at least partially within the cutout portion 104 in the case of expansion or contractions of one or more of the insert 106 or the elongated member 102.

[0091] The first and second sidewalls 110 and 112 may also be coupled to the insert 106 by attachment mechanisms 130. For example, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary flooring apparatus 100 that includes attachment mechanisms 130 in the first and second sidewalls 110 and 112 of the elongated member 102.

[0092] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a flooring apparatus 100 with an elongated member 102 that includes a plurality of cutout portions 104 extending along the longitudinal axis 108 of the elongated member 102. As shown in FIG. 6, the cutout portions 104 may be spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis 108. Each of the cutout portions 104 may include an insert 106 and, in some embodiments, each of the cutout portions 104 may include a plurality of inserts 106. The inserts 106 may be secured within the cutout portions 104 by an adhesive, one or more attachment mechanisms 130, or some other securing method or combination of methods or mechanisms.

[0093] Referring now to FIG. 7A, in some embodiments the insert 106 may be partially or fully located within the cutout portion 104. In some embodiments, a top surface 132 of the insert 106 is located above the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102, as shown in FIG. 7A. In other embodiments, the top surface 132 of the insert 106 is located below the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102, as shown in FIG. 7B. In some embodiments, the top surface 132 of the insert 106 is coplanar with the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102, as shown in FIG. 1. Although the top surface 132 of the insert 106 is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B as a flat surface, the top surface 132 may have any suitable shape and may be, for example, semi-circular in shape so that portions of the top surface 132 are below the top surface 120 and portions of the top surface 132 are above the top surface 120.

[0094] The insert 106 and the cutout portion 104 may also extend to any suitable depth in the elongated member 102. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A the floor 114 of the cutout portion 104 is located closer to the bottom surface 122 of the elongated member 102 than the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102 and the insert 106 is tall enough to contact the floor 114 and to protrude above the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102. In the embodiment of FIG. 6B, the floor 114 is located closer to the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102 than the bottom surface 122 of the elongated member 102 and the insert 106 does not protrude from the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102 when the insert 106 is in contact with the floor 114. In other embodiments, the floor 114 may be located about half way between the top surface 120 and the bottom surface 122 of the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, the floor 114 may be located about ? inch from the top surface 120. In some embodiments, the floor 114 may be located about ? inch from the top surface 120. In addition, while the insert 106 is shown to contact the floor 114 of the cutout portion 104 in the embodiments of FIGS. 7A and 7B, in some embodiments the insert 106 does not contact the floor 114 and/or one or more of the sidewalls 110 or 112. In other embodiments, the insert 106 may contact only portions of the floor 114 and/or the sidewalls 110 and 112.

[0095] Referring now to FIG. 8, in some embodiments the cutout portions 104 are oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 108 of the elongated member 102 or, in other embodiments not specifically shown, at an angle offset from the longitudinal axis 108 of the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, the elongated member 102 includes a plurality of perpendicularly-situated cutout portions 104 that each include at least one insert 106. In some embodiment, a distance 164 between cutout portions 104 is about twice the width 166 of the cutout portions 104.

[0096] In some embodiments, the cutout portions 104 extend through the sidewalls 168 of the elongated member 102, as shown in FIG. 8. In other embodiments, the cutout portions 104 do not extend through the sidewalls 168 of the elongated member 102.

[0097] Referring now to FIG. 9, in some embodiments the cutout portion 104 extends across the entire top surface of the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, the insert 106 is coupled to the cutout portion 104 and is co-extensive with the elongated member 102, as shown in FIG. 9. The insert 106 may be secured to the elongated member 102 by one or more fastening mechanisms 130, an adhesive 126 (not shown), or a combination of fastening mechanisms 130 and adhesives 126.

[0098] In other embodiments, the elongated member 102 does not include a cutout portion 104 and the insert 106 is coupled directly to the top of the elongated member 102. This embodiment looks similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9 except that the elongated member 102 will be thicker because it has not been cut to form a cutout portion 104. The insert 106 may be secured to the elongated member 102 by one or more fastening mechanisms 130, an adhesive 126, or a combination of fastening mechanisms 130 and adhesives 126

[0099] FIG. 10A is a top view of an exemplary trailer 200. The trailer 200 generally includes a first frame member 202, a second frame member 204, a plurality of intermediate frame members 206 and two wheels 208 that are rotatably secured to or adjacent to the frame members 202, 204 and/or 206. The first frame member 202 is spaced from the second frame member 204 according to the desired width of the trailer 200. The intermediate frame members 206 extend between and are coupled to the first frame member 202 and the second frame member 204. Other frame members may be included in the trailer 200 in other embodiments. In addition, other trailers 200 may include other frame configurations. The trailer 200 is given only by way of example and is not intended to be limiting to this disclosure.

[0100] In some embodiments, the intermediate frame members 206 are spaced apart from each other by a distance of about 12 inches. In other embodiments, the distance between the intermediate frame members 206 is more or less than 12 inches. For example, in some heavy-duty trailers 200 the intermediate frame members 206 are spaced apart from each other by a distance of about 6 inches. In some embodiments, the spacing of the intermediate frame members 206 is determined by the weight requirements of the trailer 200 and the structural strength of the material used to create the trailer floor, as will be described in more detail below.

[0101] While the intermediate frame members 206 are perpendicular to the first and second frame members 202 and 204 in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the intermediate frame members 206 may be positioned at any suitable orientation to the first and second frame members 202 and 204. In addition, while the first and second frame members 202 and 204 are parallel to each other, the first and second frame members 202 and 204 may be orientated at any suitable angle and, in some embodiments, may contact each other. Those of skill in the art will recognize that other trailer frame orientations are within the scope of this disclosure.

[0102] FIG. 10B is a top view of an exemplary trailer 200 that includes a plurality of flooring apparatuses 100 that extend generally from one end to the other end of the trailer 200 to form the floor of the trailer 200 and are supported by intermediate frame members 206. In other embodiments, the flooring apparatuses 100 do not extend the entirety of the length of the trailer 200, and/or the width of the trailer 200. While seven flooring apparatuses 100 are shown in the embodiment of FIG. 10B, the floor of the trailer may be formed by any number of flooring apparatuses 100. In addition, while the flooring apparatuses 100 are oriented, in this embodiment, perpendicularly to the intermediate frame members 206, the flooring apparatuses 100 may be oriented in any suitable angle to the intermediate frame members 206, not expressly shown in FIG. 10B.

[0103] As described above, the flooring apparatuses 100 may be configured to support cargo that is placed on a trailer 200. The flooring apparatus 100 may, in some instances, provide improved traction, improved wear resistance and improved structural support for the trailer floor. In some embodiments, for example, the cutout portion 104 covers a high percentage of the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102 (for example, about 80 percent of the top surface 120). As such as, the insert 106 may also cover a high percentage of the top surface 120 of the trailer floor. As a result, cargo that is placed on the trailer floor contacts mostly the top surface 132 of the inserts 106, which has increased traction and increased wear resistance.

[0104] The top surface 120 of the inserts 106 may also have a high coefficient of friction. Thus, in some embodiments the apparatuses 100 that form the trailer floor provide increased traction for objects placed on the trailer 200. For example, in some embodiments, a user may drive a backhoe or other piece of construction equipment onto the trailer floor when the trailer floor is inclined, such as on a dovetail trailer or a kneeling trailer. The increased traction of the top surface 132 of the inserts 106 provides increased traction to prevent the tires of the backhoe from slipping while driving up an inclined surface of the trailer 200. The increased traction of the top surface 120 of the inserts 106 may also assist in wet conditions, including when the apparatuses 100 are used as the flooring of an outdoor scaffolding.

[0105] In addition, in some embodiments the increased wear resistance of the top surface 132 of the inserts 106 may guard against wear and deterioration if the trailer 200 is left outside for long periods of time. As such, the trailer 200 may remain intact and/or aesthetically pleasing for a longer period of time when compared to trailers made with other flooring materials.

[0106] As described above, in some embodiments at least a portion of the top surface 120 (FIG. 1) of the elongated member 102 is exposed on the trailer floor adjacent to the insert 106. Thus, a portion of the weight of an object that is placed on the trailer 200 is supported by the elongated member 102 rather than being supported directly by the insert 106. In some embodiments, the elongated member 102 has a higher structural strength than the insert 106 and, thus, the flooring apparatus 100 may be able to support heavier objects than would be possible if the entire elongated member 102 were made of a rubber or other wear resistant material.

[0107] In addition, in those embodiments in which the cutout portion 104 does not cover the entire top surface 120 of the elongated member 102, an object on the trailer 200 contacts both the insert 106 and the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102 simultaneously. Thus, forces applied to the apparatus 100 by the object on the trailer are applied simultaneously to the insert 106 and the top surface 102 of the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, this reduces the chance that the insert 106 may be torn from the cutout portion 104.

[0108] In some embodiments, the apparatuses 100 are sufficiently strong that the trailer 200 requires fewer intermediate frame members 206 to support a particular object on the trailer 200. Thus, in some embodiments the cost to build the trailer 200 and the overall weight of the trailer 200 can be reduced when using the apparatus 100.

[0109] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of two flooring apparatuses 100 coupled to an intermediate frame member 206 by attachment mechanisms 130. In some embodiments, the attachment mechanisms 130 secure both the elongated member 102 and the insert 106 to the intermediate frame member 206 by extending at least partway through both the elongated member 102 and the insert 106, as shown in FIG. 11. In some embodiments, the attachment mechanisms 130 secure only the elongated member 102 to the intermediate frame member 206 by extending only partway through the elongated member 102 and not into the insert 106.

[0110] While the attachment mechanism 130 shown in FIG. 11 is a mechanical attachment mechanism, any suitable attachment mechanism or combination of attachment mechanisms may be used to secure the apparatuses 100 to a support structure, such as the frame members 206 of a trailer 200. In other embodiments, for example, the apparatuses 100 are secured to a support structure by one or more adhesives, a welded attachment, screws, nails and/or bolts.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 11, the flooring apparatuses 100 may be spaced from each other when secured to a support structure, such as the intermediate frame member 206. Spacing the flooring apparatuses 100 in this manner may reduce the number of apparatuses 100 required to cover a floor area.

[0112] FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional, side view of a first elongated member 146 positioned adjacent to a second elongated member 148. In some embodiments, multiple elongated members 148 are placed adjacent to each other (i.e., end-to-end) when a single elongated member 102 is not sufficiently long to cover a desired surface, such as a trailer surface. In those embodiments, the elongated members 102 may simply be placed end to end or the elongated members 102 may include a feature to interlock and align the elongated members 102. For example, in some embodiments a first elongated member 146 includes a recess 136 on a first end 138 and a second elongated member 148 includes a protrusion 142 on a second end 140. The protrusion 142 corresponds in shape to the recess 136 so that the protrusion 142 and recess 136 help to align the first and second elongated members 146 and 148. In some embodiments, interlocking engagement of the protrusion 142 and the recess 136 also at least partially seals the intersection of the first and second elongated members 146 and 148 to prevent contaminants from entering between the first and second elongated members 146 and 148.

[0113] FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional, side view of another embodiment of two elongated members 150 and 152 that are aligned end-to-end. The first and second elongated members 150 and 152 each include a cap 144 that protect the ends of the elongated members 150 and 152 and the inserts 106 (not shown) from environmental contaminants. In some embodiments, the caps 144 also include mating recesses and grooves (not shown), similar to the recess 136 and groove 142 described above, to align the elongated members 150 and 152.

[0114] While the above description illustrates the use of the apparatus 100 on a trailer 200, the apparatus 100 can also be used as a flooring element for many other types of floors and support structures. For example, the flooring apparatuses 100 can be used as the flooring for a deck of a home, as a safety flooring material for an industrial application, such as an offshore drilling rig, as a material for steps of a staircase, or as flooring on scaffolding, walkways or other elevated pathways. One of skill in the art will recognize other suitable uses for the apparatus 100.

[0115] Referring now to FIG. 13, an embodiment of a method 300 of manufacturing a flooring apparatus 100 is illustrated. The method 300 includes providing an elongated member 102 that includes a top surface 120 and a bottom surface 122, as provided at block 302. The elongated member 102 may be made of any suitable material, as described above, and may be similar to the elongated member shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the elongated member 102 is made of a wood material, such as pine, and the method 300 includes treating the material of the elongated member 102, as provided at block 304. For example, in some embodiments a wooden elongated member 102 is treated with a chemical, such as, for example, WOLMAN?, made by Lonza, located in Basel, Switzerland. In other embodiments, the elongated member 102 is treated by another suitable treatment chemical or treatment method. For example, in some embodiments, the elongated member 102 is made of wood and is treated with a borate material to form a borate treated wood piece, such as, for example, SILLBORE Borate-Treated Wood made by Lonza, located in Basel, Switzerland. In other embodiments, a wooden elongated member 102 is treated with micronized copper azole (MCA) and/or micronized copper quaternary (MCQ) materials.

[0116] A cutout portion 104 is then created in the top surface 120 of the elongated member 102, as provided at block 306. In some embodiments, the cutout portion 104 is made by milling a portion of a wooden elongated member 102. As described above, the cutout portion 104 may extend the entire length of the elongated member 102 or may extend less than the entire length of the elongated member 102. The elongated member 102 may include any number of cutout portions 104 and the cutout portions 104 may extend perpendicular to, parallel to, or at another angle with respect to the longitudinal axis 108 of the elongated member 102.

[0117] The method 300 may also include securing one or more inserts 106 at least partially within the cutout portion 104, as provided at block 308. The inserts 106 may be created by extruding a rubber material, cutting a material from a large, pre-formed sheet of the material, molding a material, or any other suitable forming process or combination of processes. In some embodiments, for example, the insert 106 is made from rebonded rubber (i.e., rubber that has been recycled using heat, pressure and a urethane bonding agent) which, in some embodiments, includes one or more pigments to produce an insert 106 of a particular color. In some embodiments, the rebonded rubber material is formed into sheets that are then cut into the shape of the insert 106. In some embodiments, surface texture is also added to the surfaces of the insert 106, for example, by stamping a texture onto the surfaces of the insert 106. In some embodiments, a pigment or other coloring agent is applied to the inserts 106, included in the raw materials used to make the inserts 106 or otherwise incorporated into the inserts 106 to give the inserts 106 a desired color. In some embodiments, the color of the inserts 106 matches the color of the elongated member 102, while in other embodiments the color of the inserts 106 does not match the color of the elongated member 102.

[0118] The inserts 106 may be fixed in the cutout portion 104 by inserting an adhesive 126 between the inserts 106 and the cutout portion 104, as provided at block 310. In some embodiments, the inserts 106 may also be secured to the cutout portion 104 by applying one or more mechanical attachment mechanisms to the insert 106 and the elongated member 102, such as, for example, nails, screws or bolts.

[0119] Referring now to FIG. 14, a method 400 of manufacturing a trailer 200 using one or more flooring apparatuses 100 is also described herein. In some embodiments, the method 400 includes providing at least one wheel 208 and securing the wheel 208 to a frame member 202, 204 or 206 or in a position adjacent to a frame member 202, 204 or 206, as provided at blocks 402 and 404, respectively. As described above, the frame may include a first frame member 202, a second frame member 204 spaced from the first frame member 202, and a plurality of intermediate frame members 206 extending between the first frame member 202 and the second frame member 204. The frame members 202 and 204 and the intermediate frame members 206 may be secured to each other by any suitable attachment mechanism or combination of attachment mechanisms, such as, for example, a welded attachment and/or mechanical fasteners. The trailer 200 may include any suitable configuration of frame members 202, 204 and 206. For example, in some embodiments the intermediate frame members 206 extend only partway between the first and second frame members 202 and 204 and the trailer 200 includes sheet metal or other support materials to form part of the floor of the trailer 200.

[0120] The method 400 may also include providing a plurality of elongated members 102 that include a top surface 120 that has a cutout portion 104 and an insert 106, as provided at block 406. The elongated members 102 may be secured to the intermediate frame members 206, the first and/or second frame members 202 and 204, and/or any other portion of the trailer 200 by any suitable attachment mechanisms, such as for example, mechanical fasteners such as bolts, screws or nails, as provided at block 408. Each elongated member 102 may be spaced from the adjacent elongated members 102 or may be placed directly adjacent to other elongated members 102. In some embodiments, an end of the elongated members 102 may be sealed, for example, by securing an end cap 144 on the end of the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, a first elongated member 102 may be aligned with a second elongated member 102 (i.e., an end-to-end alignment) if the elongated members 102 are not long enough to cover the trailer 500. As described above, the first end 138 of the first elongated member 102 may include a recess 136 and the second end 140 of the second elongated member 102 may include a protrusion 142 that is configured to fit within the recess 136.

[0121] In the foregoing description of certain embodiments, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes other technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as left and right, front and rear, above and below and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

[0122] In this specification, the word comprising is to be understood in its open sense, that is, in the sense of including, and thus not limited to its closed sense, that is the sense of consisting only of. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words comprise, comprised and comprises where they appear.

[0123] In addition, the foregoing describes only some embodiments of the invention(s), and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.

[0124] Furthermore, invention(s) have been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the invention(s). Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspects of one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet other embodiments. Further, each independent feature or component of any given assembly may constitute an additional embodiment.