Hinge and support system for an intermediate deck in a trailer

A hinge and support system for pivotally mounting a deck panel to a side wall of a freight compartment, comprising:

• a freight compartment having a floor and at least two spaced apart side walls;
• a support member, extending generally horizontally along one of said side walls, defining one or more pockets therein, said one or more pockets each defining an elongate channel positioned along a pivot axis wherein said elongate channel has a part-circular cross section that extends beyond 180 degrees;
• and
• a hinge member, associated with the deck panel, defining a flexible projection sized and shaped to be snapped into and retained within said pocket so as to allow pivotal movement of said hinge member with respect to said support member about said pivot axis.

A hinge and support system for pivotally mounting a deck panel to a side wall of a freight compartment, comprising:

• a freight compartment having a floor end at least two spaced apart side walls;
• a support member, extending generally horizontally along one of said side walls, defining one or more pockets therein, said one or more pockets each defining an elongate channel positioned along a pivot axis wherein said elongate channel has a part-circular cross section that extends beyond 180 degrees;
• and
• a hinge member, associated with the deck panel, defining a rigid projection sized and shaped to be inserted into and retained within said pocket so as to allow pivotal movement of said hinge member with respect to said support member about said pivot axis.

A deck support system for supporting cargo in a freight compartment having spaced apart side walls, comprising:

• a least a first deck panel and a second deck panel mounted opposite one another on the side walls capable of movement between an upright position and a deployed position, each of the first and second deck panel having,
• an end pivotably mounted to one of the side walls, and
• a free end,
• wherein said first and second deck panels at least partially define a platform when said free ends are adjacent to one another in the deployed position and said first deck panel further comprises a stop affixed to said first deck panel;
• and
• a support bracket removably engaging said first and second deck panels adjacent said free ends when said first and second deck panels are in the deployed position, said support bracket interlocking said first and second deployed deck panels providing a support ledge.