Floor panel system for vehicles

1. A vehicle flooring system, comprising:

a first floor panel having a connector receptacle side;

wherein the first floor panel has a snap-fit connector receptacle on the connector receptacle side;

wherein the snap-fit connector receptacle has a connector guide;

wherein the snap-fit connector receptacle includes a pair of receptacle arms oriented in an opposing manner;

wherein the receptacle arms and the connector guide define a pair of receptacle channels;

a second floor panel having a connector protrusion side;

wherein the second floor panel has a snap-fit connector protrusion on the connector protrusion side;

wherein the snap-fit connector protrusion has a pair of connector tongues oriented in an opposing manner;

wherein the connector tongues are connected with the receptacle arms of the snap-fit connector receptacle;

wherein the connector protrusion side defines a guide cavity;

wherein the connector guide is received in the guide cavity;

wherein, the connector protrusion side has opposing guide side walls defining the guide cavity;

wherein the guide side walls are configured to inhibit rotational movement of the connector guide;

wherein the connector tongues are configured to flex in an inwards direction towards one another during connecting to the receptacle arms; and

wherein the connector tongues are spaced away from contact with the connector guide when the connector tongues are connected with the receptable arms of the snap-fit connector receptacle.

2. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the floor panels have a general uniform wall thickness with one or more reduced wall thickness portions at the connector tongues.

3. The vehicle flooring system of claim 2 , wherein the floor panels are extruded.

4. The vehicle flooring system of claim 3 , wherein the floor panels are made of aluminum.

5. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein each of the connector tongues defines a tongue flex groove.

6. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein each of the receptacle arms defines a receptacle flex groove.

7. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle arms extend flush with opposing support surfaces of the first floor panel.

8. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the first floor panel has a track that defines a channel.

9. The vehicle flooring system of claim 8 , wherein the channel of the track has a positive lock groove defined inside the track.

10. The vehicle flooring system of claim 9 , further comprising:

a foot received in the channel of the track to form a positive lock.

11. The vehicle flooring system of claim 10 , wherein the foot has a lock wing engaged with the lock groove of the channel to form a positive lock connection.

12. The vehicle flooring system of claim 10 , wherein the foot has a crown.

13. The vehicle flooring system of claim 8 , wherein the channel of the track is integral with the first floor panel.

14. The vehicle flooring system of claim 13 , wherein the channel of the track has one or more angled edges configured to form one or more positive lock grooves.

15. The vehicle flooring system of claim 8 , wherein the channel of the track has a fastener pocket.

16. A system, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle floor panels with a snap-fit connection between the floor panels;

wherein the floor panels have a general uniform wall thickness with one or more reduced wall thickness portions at the snap fit connection;

wherein the snap-fit connection includes a snap-fit connector receptacle and a snap-fit connector protrusion;

wherein the snap-fit connector receptacle includes a pair of receptacle arms oriented in an opposing manner;

wherein the snap-fit receptacle has a connector guide disposed between the receptacle arms;

wherein the snap-fit connector protrusion includes a pair of connector tongues oriented in an opposing manner;

wherein the snap-fit connector protrusion defines a guide cavity;

wherein the guide cavity is located between the connector tongues;

wherein the connector tongues are connected with the receptacle arms;

wherein the connector guide is received in the guide cavity;

wherein the reduced wall thickness portions are located at the connector tongues to facilitate bending of the connector tongues;

wherein the reduced well thickness portions of the connector tongues are configured to allow the connector tongues to flex inwardly when connecting to the receptacle arms;

wherein each of the receptacle arms define snap-fit notches;

wherein the receptacle arms have receptacle lips at the snap-fit notches;

wherein the snap-fit notches face the connector tongues;

wherein the receptacle lips of the receptacle arms are interlocked with the connector tongues; and

wherein the connector tongues are spaced away from contact with the connector guide when the connector tongues are connected with the receptacle arms of the snap-fit connector receptacle.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the snap-fit connection includes a cantilever connection between the floor panels.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the floor panels are extruded.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the floor panels are made of aluminum.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein each of the connector tongues defines a tongue flex groove.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein each of the receptacle arms defines a receptacle flex groove.

22. The system of claim 16 , wherein the receptacle arms extend flush with opposing support surfaces of an adjacent one of the vehicle floor panels.

23. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the snap-fit connector receptacle and the snap-fit connector protrusion are configured to connect the first floor panel and the second floor panel together when pushed together in a linear direction.

24. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein:

the snap-fit connector receptacle extends for the full length of the first floor panel; and

the snap-fit connector protrusion extends for the full length of the second floor panel.

25. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the connector tongues extend within the receptacle channels.

26. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the receptacle arms define a snap-fit notch; and

each of the connector tongues has a tongue head that is configured to engage the snap-fit notch of one of the receptacle arms.

27. The system of claim 16 , wherein the snap-fit connection is configured to connect the floor panels together when the floor panels are pushed together in a linear direction.

28. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first floor panel has one or more ribs defining one or more panel cavities; and

the connector guide defines a connector guide space.

29. The vehicle flooring system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a vehicle floor;

the first floor panel having an end; and

a bolt securing the end of the first floor panel to the vehicle floor.