Floor panel system for vehicles
View Patent ↗A vehicle flooring system for converting regular vehicles into wheelchair accessible vehicles. The flooring system is made up of individual flooring panels connected via a snap fit type tongue and lip connection. Each individual panel contains an integral track. The integral track forms a positive lock with the track channels. The flooring system is able to satisfy government regulations concerning seat and wheelchair location pull testing.
1. A system, comprising:
a plurality of vehicle floor panels with a snap-fit connection between the floor panels;
wherein at least one of the floor panels has a track that defines a channel;
wherein the channel has a positive lock groove defined inside the track;
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 connector protrusion includes a pair of connector tongues oriented in an opposing manner;
wherein the snap-fit connector protrusion defines a guide cavity;
a connector guide received in the guide cavity;
wherein the guide cavity is located between the connector tongues;
wherein the connector tongues are connected with the receptacle arms;
one or more reduced wall thickness portions being located at the connector tongues to facilitate bending of the connector tongues;
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;
wherein the reduced wall thickness portions of the connector tongues are configured to allow the connector tongues to flex inwardly when connecting to the receptacle arms;
wherein 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; and
wherein the receptacle lips of the receptacle arms are interlocked with the connector tongues.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a foot is received in the channel of the track to form a positive lock.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the foot has a lock wing engaged with the lock groove of the channel to form a positive lock connection.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the foot has a crown.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the channel is integral with the floor panel.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the channel has one or more angled edges configured to form one or more positive lock grooves.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a fastener pocket.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle floor panels include, a first floor panel having a connector receptacle side, wherein the first floor panel has the snap-fit connector receptacle on the connector receptacle side, 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 the snap-fit connector protrusion on the connector protrusion side, wherein the connector protrusion side defines the guide cavity, and wherein the guide cavity defines a guide end wall configured to inhibit rotational movement of the connector guide.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the connector protrusion side has opposing guide side walls defining the guide cavity;
the guide side walls are configured to inhibit rotational movement of the connector guide; and
the connector tongues are configured to flex in an inwards direction towards one another during connecting to the receptacle arms.
10. The system of claim 8 , 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.
11. The system of claim 8 , 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.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connector tongues define a tongue flex groove.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle arms define a receptacle flex groove.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle arms extend flush with opposing support surfaces of an adjacent one of the vehicle floor panels.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the floor panels have a general uniform wall thickness with the one or more reduced wall thickness portions at the connector tongues.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the snap-fit connection is configured to connect the floor panels together when the floor panels are pushed together in a linear direction.