Pultruded and continuous flooring
A flooring system comprising: one or more structural members, each of the one or more structural members having opposing outer portions interconnected by ribs, the opposing outer portions and the ribs forming a plurality of channels within the one or more structural members along a length of each structural member.
1 . A flooring system comprising:
a plurality of structural members, each of the structural members having opposing outer portions with one or more outer walls and one or more ribs extending between the opposing outer portions;
wherein the opposing outer portions, the one or more outer walls, and the one or more ribs form a plurality of channels within the structural members along a length of each structural member;
wherein outer walls of adjacent structural members abut each other at a connecting portion;
wherein the one or more outer walls, the opposing outer portions, or both include a filleted and/or notched edge to form a notch,
wherein the notch is recessed from an outer surface of one of the opposing outer portions, an outer walls of the one or more outer walls, or both, such that the notch in a structural member mirrors the notch of an adjacent structural member about the connecting portion;
wherein when the adjacent structural members are joined at the connecting portion, adjacent notches that are filled with an adhesive, sealant, or both, to connect the structural members;
wherein the one or more outer walls are substantially free of one or more projections extending from a central portion of a length of the one or more outer walls; and
wherein each structural member is an integrally formed pultruded material.
2 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of structural members includes one or more projections that extends generally perpendicularly to the one or more outer walls, wherein the one or more projections rest along one of the outer portions of the adjacent structural member to form a joint at abutting structural members.
3 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the flooring system includes a substrate and the plurality of structural members are disposed along a surface of the substrate.
4 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the integrally formed pultruded material is a polyurethane material.
5 . The flooring system of claim 4 , wherein the integrally formed pultruded material includes a base material and one or more reinforcing additives.
6 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels are parallel and have a uniform height and a uniform width.
7 . The flooring system of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of channels is filled with an insert.
8 . The flooring system of claim 7 , wherein the insert is a structural foam reinforcing material, sealant material, or both.
9 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the flooring system is corrosion resistant, moisture resistant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, or a combination thereof.
10 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the flooring system is a transportation trailer floor.
11 . The flooring system of claim 10 , wherein the flooring system is thermally insulated.
12 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the opposing outer portions includes a plurality of nubs disposed along the outer surface.
13 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outer portions includes a contoured ramp.
14 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein the opposing outer portions of the plurality of structural members are generally parallel.
15 . The flooring system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of structural members are directly adhered to or directly fastened to the substrate.
16 . The flooring system of claim 1 , wherein a channel of the plurality of channels is maintained about the connecting portion.
17 . A flooring system comprising:
a plurality of structural members, each of the structural members having opposing outer portions with one or more outer walls and one or more ribs extending between the opposing outer portions;
wherein the opposing outer portions, the one or more outer walls, and the one or more ribs form a plurality of channels within the plurality of structural members along a length of each structural member;
wherein a first projection projects from at least one of the one or more outer walls in a generally parallel direction to the opposing outer portions and in line with one of the opposing outer portions;
wherein a second projection projects from at least one of the outer walls in a generally parallel direction to the opposing outer portions;
wherein the second projection forms a recess for receiving the first projection; and
wherein adjacent structural members are joined along a connecting portion such that the first projection is positioned within the recess and is in planar contact with the second projection of an adjacent structural member to create a generally continuous surface of at least one of the opposing outer portions between the structural members.
18 . The flooring system of claim 17 , wherein each channel of the plurality of channels is fully enclosed except for terminal ends of the each channel along a longitudinal axis of the each channel.
19 . The flooring system of claim 17 , wherein each structural member is an integrally formed pultruded material.
20 . A flooring system comprising:
a plurality of structural members, each of the structural members having opposing outer portions with one or more outer walls and one or more ribs extending between the opposing outer portions;
wherein the opposing outer portions, the one or more outer walls, and the one or more ribs form a plurality of channels within the plurality of structural members along a length of each structural member;
wherein a first projection projects from at least one of the one or more outer walls in a generally parallel direction to the opposing outer portions and is in line with one of the opposing outer portions;
wherein a recess is formed in a peripheral edge of the outer portion of an adjacent structural member opposite to the structural member having the outer wall from which the first projection projects;
wherein two of the structural members are joined along a connecting portion such that the first projection is received within the recess in the outer portion of the adjacent structural member to create a generally continuous surface of at least one of the opposing outer portions between the structural members; and
wherein the outer walls of adjacent structural members abut each other at the connecting portion.