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US 8,006,444 B2Granted
System and method for fastening floor deck to semi-trailer cross members
AssigneePlatform Products, LLP
InventorsMichael T. Perkowski, Michael J. Blakely, Michael J. Comella
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support system includes a plurality of spaced apart cross members, a plurality of decking members supported on the cross members and extending perpendicular to the cross members to form a support surface, and retainers securing the decking members to the cross members. The retainers limit movement of the decking members relative to the cross members in a direction away from the cross members. The cross members, the decking members, and the retainers are formed as separate components. The decking members are secured to the retainers. The retainers are secured to the cross members with a snap fit connection.
Claims38
A support system comprising, in combination:
- a plurality of spaced apart cross members;
- a plurality of decking members supported on the cross members and extending perpendicular to the cross members to form a support surface;
- retainers securing the decking members to the cross members;
- wherein the retainers limit movement of the decking members relative to the cross members in a direction away from the cross members;
- wherein the cross members, the decking members, and the retainers are formed as separate components;
- wherein the decking members are secured to the retainers;
- and
- wherein the retainers directly engage the cross members and are snapped directly onto the cross members with a snap fit connection.
5 more elements
A support system comprising, in combination:
- a plurality of spaced apart cross members;
- a plurality of decking members supported on the cross members and extending perpendicular to the cross members to form a support surface;
- retainers securing the decking members to the cross members;
- wherein the retainers limit movement of the decking members relative to the cross members in a direction away from the cross members;
- wherein the cross members, the decking members, and the retainers are formed as separate components;
- wherein the decking members are secured to the retainers;
- wherein the retainers are secured to the cross members with a snap fit connection;
- wherein said retainers each include separate first and second members, the first member is secured to the decking member, and the second member secures the first member to the cross member;
- and
- wherein said first member is generally inverted-U-shaped in cross-section having a top wall and a pair of side walls downwardly extending from edges of the top wall, and a protrusion outwardly extending from each of the sidewalls and interlocking with flanges of the decking members.
7 more elements
A support system comprising, in combination:
- a plurality of spaced apart cross members;
- a plurality of decking members supported on the cross members and extending perpendicular to the cross members to form a support surface;
- retainers securing the decking members to the cross members;
- wherein the retainers limit movement of the decking members relative to the cross members in a direction away from the cross members;
- wherein the retainers can move relative to the cross members in a longitudinal direction of the cross members and perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the decking members;
- and
- wherein the retainers directly engage the cross members and are snapped directly onto the cross members with a snap fit connection.
4 more elements
A support system comprising, in combination:
- a plurality of spaced apart cross members;
- a plurality of decking members supported on the cross members and extending perpendicular to the cross members to form a support surface;
- retainers securing the decking members to the cross members;
- wherein the retainers limit movement of the decking members relative to the cross members in a direction away from the cross members;
- wherein the decking members are secured to the retainers with a snap fit connection;
- and
- wherein the retainers are sized and shaped to resiliently deflect when the snap fit connection is snapped together to secure the retainers and the decking members to one another and the decking members are sized and shaped to avoid resilient deflection when the snap fit connection is snapped together to secure the retainers and the decking members to one another.
4 more elements
A support system comprising, in combination:
- a plurality of spaced apart cross members;
- a plurality of decking members supported on the cross members and extending perpendicular to the cross members to form a support surface;
- retainers securing the decking members to the cross members;
- wherein the decking members are secured to the retainers with a snap fit connection;
- wherein the retainers snap into downward-facing pockets of the decking members;
- wherein the retainers are secured to the cross members with a snap fit connection;
- and
- wherein the retainers snap over upper flanges of the cross members and around opposed lateral edges of the upper flanges.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.