Interlockable modular floor tile and method of assembling same

A coupling system for coupling a plurality of modular floor tiles together along side edges thereof, each of such modular floor tiles being of a substantially rigid material and substantially non-deformable so as to resist external forces applied to an individual floor tile that might otherwise cause such individual floor tile to deform, each floor tile comprising:

• (i) a rigid and substantially non-deforming male locking structure having a male locking tongue extending outwardly from a first side of a first modular floor tile of the plurality of modular floor tiles;
• and
• (ii) a rigid and substantially non-deforming female locking structure on a second side thereof, the rigid and substantially-non-deforming female locking structure comprising a locking receptacle, the locking receptacle comprising a horizontal receiving groove, a locking notch therein parallel to and vertically adjacent the horizontal receiving groove and in communication therewith, and a female locking end adjacent the locking notch;
• wherein the male locking tongue of the male locking structure of the first modular floor tile is:
• horizontally insertable into the horizontal receiving groove of the locking receptacle of an adjacent second modular floor tile of the plurality of modular floor tiles;
• and
• vertically movable from the horizontal receiving groove into the locking notch of the locking receptacle of the adjacent second modular floor tile to engage with the female locking end of the locking receptacle of the adjacent second modular floor tile, thereby
• engaging the male locking structure of the first modular floor tile with the female locking structure of the adjacent second modular floor tile;
• and
• (iii) means preventing horizontal withdrawal of the male locking tongue from within said locking notch when said male locking tongue of the first modular floor tile has been inserted into the horizontal receiving groove of the locking receptacle of the adjacent second modular floor tile;
• wherein the female locking structure comprises a first U-shape bracket having two legs and thereof coupled to the second side of the second modular floor tile;
• and
• wherein the locking receptacle of the female locking structure is formed on the first U-shape bracket.