Lock rod system for flooring grating and method for assembling same

A method of making a fiber reinforced plastic floor grating assembly comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning elongated flooring members in jig assembly means for holding said elongated flooring members;
• (b) applying adhesive in the notches of elongated spacer elements previously notched at intervals corresponding to the spacing required between the flooring members;
• (c) inserting two of said elongated spacer elements through a set of aligned apertures previously formed in said flooring members such that said spacer elements extend transversely of said flooring members;
• (d) positioning said spacer elements on opposite sides of said apertures such that said notches engage said flooring members at the periphery of said apertures;
• (e) applying adhesive continuously along central core members on diametrically opposed sides thereof;
• and
• (f) sliding one of said central core members between each of said two spacer elements generally the length of said spacer elements such that the diametrically opposed sides having adhesive thereon are adjacent to said spacer elements.

A fiber reinforced plastic grating structure, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of spaced parallel bearing elements, said bearing elements defining a plurality of spaced apertures along the longitudinal extent of said bearing elements;
• (b) interconnecting means for holding said bearing elements in a predetermined space relationship, said interconnecting means extending through respectively aligned apertures in said bearing elements;
• (c) said interconnecting means including a key rod member provided with two diametrically opposed generally U-shaped, longitudinally extending grooves on the outer surface of said key rod member;
• and,
• (d) said interconnecting means further including two lock rod members adapted to slide in said grooves of said key rod member, said lock rod members being securedly connected to said key rod member by a substantially continuous layer of adhesive positioned between said key rod member and said lock rod members generally along the longitudinal extent thereof, said lock rod members defining generally a top surface facing away from said key rod member, two side surfaces, and a bottom surface facing said key rod member, said lock rod members defining notches in said top surface at predetermined intervals corresponding to the spacing between said bearing elements, the notches being adapted to engage the bearing elements, said lock rod members and said key rod member cooperating to increase the rigidity of said interconnecting means.

A method of making a fiber reinforced plastic floor grating assembly comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning elongated flooring members in jig assembly means for holding said elongated flooring members, said elongated flooring members having sets of aligned apertures formed therein;
• (b) inserting through each set of aligned apertures in elongated spacer element previously notched at intervals corresponding to the spacing between adjacent ones of the flooring members such that said spacer elements extend transversely of said flooring members;
• (c) positioning said spacer elements such that said notches engage said flooring members to mechanically lock the flooring members in a predetermined spacial arrangement;
• (d) inserting through each set of aligned apertures through which a spacer element has previously been inserted, an elongated central core member, said spacer element and said core member slidably engaging one another along adjacent, facing surfaces;
• and
• (e) applying adhesive continuously along the adjacent, facing surface of at least one of said central core members and said spacer elements prior to insertion thereof through said sets of aligned apertures.