Trailer Flooring System

Abstract

A trailer includes a floor engageable with a load and a longitudinally extending support member. The support member has an upper portion connected to the floor, a lower portion connectable to a suspension system, and a web extending between the upper and lower portions and transverse to the floor. The lower portion has a lower flange extending transverse to the web and connectable to the suspension system. The lower flange has a first portion extending from a first side of the web a first distance and a second portion extending from a second opposite side of the web a second distance larger than the first distance.

1 . A trailer comprising:
 a floor engageable with a load, the floor comprising:
 a plurality of extruded floor sections, each floor section comprising 
 an upper wall with two side edges, a front edge, and a rear edge; 
 a lower wall substantially parallel to the upper wall; 
 two side walls coextensive with the side edges and lower wall and extending substantially perpendicularly to the upper and lower walls; 
 a plurality of partitioning walls extending substantially perpendicularly to the upper and lower walls and substantially parallel to the side walls, wherein the partitioning walls, the upper wall, the lower wall, and the side walls define a plurality of tubular portions; 
 a first longitudinally extending support member, said first support member having an upper portion connected to a bottom of the lower wall, a lower portion connectable to a suspension system, and a web extending between said upper and lower portions and transverse to said floor, said lower portion having a lower flange extending transverse to said web and connectable to the suspension system; and 
 at least one pair of support brackets for securing said load; 
 wherein said upper wall comprises at least one pair of recesses for receiving said at least one pair of support brackets. 
   
   
   
       2 . The trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall and the lower wall are substantially rectangular. 
   
   
       3 . The trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the lower wall extends to the side edges, front edge, and rear edge of the upper wall. 
   
   
       4 . A trailer as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a second longitudinally extending support member for said floor, said second support member extending generally parallel to said first support member, said second support member having an upper portion connected to said floor, a lower portion connectable to a suspension system, and a web extending between said upper and lower portions and transverse to said floor, and said lower portion of said second support member having a lower flange extending transverse to said web and connectable to the suspension system. 
   
   
       5 . The trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pair of recesses extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the floor sections. 
   
   
       6 . The trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pair of recesses extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first support member. 
   
   
       7 . The trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the support bracket comprises a bottom wall with a hook portion engageable with a hook portion of the at least one pair of recesses. 
   
   
       8 . The trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pair of recesses further comprises a forward-facing hook portion and a rearward-facing hook portion, wherein the forward-facing hook portion faces the rearward-facing hook portion, and wherein the hook portions are engageable with the support brackets. 
   
   
       9 . The trailer of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one locking mechanism engageable with the support brackets. 
   
   
       10 . The trailer of  claim 1 , wherein each floor section comprises a notch on one longitudinal side and a tab on the other longitudinal side whereby adjacent floor sections interconnect. 
   
   
       11 . A trailer comprising:
 a floor engageable with a load;   a first longitudinally extending support member, the first support member having an upper portion connected to the floor, a lower portion connectable to a suspension system, and a web extending between the upper and lower portions and transverse to the floor, the upper portion being substantially free of a flange extending transverse to the web, the lower portion having a lower flange extending transverse to the web and connectable to the suspension system;   a second longitudinally extending support member, the second support member extending generally parallel to the first support member, the second support member having an upper portion connected to the floor, a lower portion connectable to a suspension system, and a web extending between the upper and lower portions and transverse to the floor, the upper portion of the second support member being substantially free of a flange extending transverse to the web of the second support member, and the lower portion of the second support member having a lower flange extending transverse to the web and connectable to the suspension system; wherein the floor has a lower surface engaging an upper surface of the support members, the floor having a plurality of tubular portions extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first support member, and   wherein the tubular portions comprise at least one pair of recesses for receiving at least one pair of support brackets for securing the load.