System for construction

Abstract

A modular plank is provided. The modular plank includes a body portion extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from a first end of the body portion in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of protrusions each include a cross-section that changes size as the cross-section extends outwardly from the body portion in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the cross-section includes an upper end that is sized differently than a lower end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular plank comprising:
 a body portion extending in a longitudinal direction;   a plurality of protrusions extending outward from a first end of the body portion in the longitudinal direction;   wherein the plurality of protrusions each include a cross-section that changes size as the cross-section extends outwardly from the body portion in the longitudinal direction; and   wherein the cross-section includes an upper end that is sized differently than a lower end.   
     
     
         2 . The modular plank of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of each protrusion is trapezoidal-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The modular plank of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of each protrusion increases in size as the protrusion extends away from the body portion in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The modular plank of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end and the lower end of the cross-section increase in length as the protrusion extends away from the body portion in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         5 . The modular plank of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are integrally formed with the body portion of the modular plank. 
     
     
         6 . The modular plank of  claim 1  further including a second plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from a second end of the modular plank. 
     
     
         7 . The modular plank of  claim 1  further including a plurality of gaps positioned and located between the plurality of protrusions, wherein each gap is sized and shaped to receive an extension sized and shaped similarly to protrusions from the plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         8 . A joint for coupling a first plank to a second plank, the joint comprising:
 a first plurality of protrusions extending outward from a first end of the first plank;   a second plurality of protrusions extending outward from a second end of the second plank;   wherein when the joint is assembled, each protrusion from the first plurality of protrusions is positioned and located adjacent to a protrusion from the second plurality of protrusions; and   wherein each protrusion includes a trapezoidal-shaped cross-section extending outward from the first plank or the second plank.   
     
     
         9 . The joint of  claim 8 , wherein when the first plank and the second plank are coupled together using the joint, the first plank and the second plank are oriented parallel to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The joint of  claim 8 , wherein when the first plank and the second plank are coupled together using the joint, the first plank and the second plank form a flat and continuous surface. 
     
     
         11 . The joint of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusions from the first plurality of protrusions and the second plurality of protrusions are further shaped such that each protrusion increases in size with respect to at least dimension as the protrusions extend away from the planks. 
     
     
         12 . The joint of  claim 8 , wherein each protrusion from the first plurality of protrusions and the second plurality of protrusions is bell-shaped or trapezoidal-shaped when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the trapezoidal-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . The joint of  claim 8 , wherein each protrusion from the first plurality of protrusions includes a wider end that is configured to abut a narrower end of a protrusion from the second plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         14 . A floor assembly comprising:
 a plurality of columns oriented vertically upright;   a plurality of planks oriented perpendicular to the plurality of columns, the plurality of planks including a first group of planks and a second group of planks;   a plurality of protrusions extending outward from ends of the planks; and   wherein the protrusions extending outward from the first group of planks are configured to be received between the protrusions extending outward from the second group of planks.   
     
     
         15 . The floor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first group of planks and the second group of planks are coupled together to form a plurality of flat surfaces, each surface extending between a portion of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         16 . The floor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of planks are configured to support a plurality of upper flooring boards to form a continuous, planar surface extending between the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         17 . The floor assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of upper flooring boards are coupled to the plurality of planks using at least one of nails, woodscrews, or an adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The floor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the orientation of the planks in the first group of planks is mirrored compared to the orientation of the planks in the second group of planks. 
     
     
         19 . The floor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the planks from the first group of planks are oriented such that a wider end of each protrusion is positioned and located proximate to a lower end of the floor assembly and such that a narrower end of each protrusion is positioned and located proximate to an upper end of the floor assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The floor assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the planks from the second group of planks are oriented such that a wider end of each protrusion is positioned and located proximate to the upper end of the floor assembly and such that a narrower end of each protrusion is positioned and located proximate to the lower end of the floor assembly. 
     
     
         21 . A method for coupling planks, the method comprising:
 providing a first plank extending horizontally between a plurality of columns;   providing a first plurality of protrusions extending outward from a first end of the first plank, the first plurality of protrusions oriented such that a narrower end of each protrusion is positioned and located proximate to an upper end of the first plank and such that a wider end of each protrusion is positioned and located proximate to a lower end of the first plank;   providing a second plank with a second plurality of protrusions extending outward from a second end of the second plank;   inserting the second plurality of protrusions between the first plurality of protrusions;   wherein the step of inserting the second plurality of protrusions between the first plurality of protrusions includes:
 positioning the second end of the second plank adjacent to the first end of the first plank; and 
 moving the second plank toward the lower end of the first plank such that narrower ends of the second plurality of protrusions move past the narrower ends of the first plurality of protrusions and such that wider ends of the second plurality of protrusions are placed into contact with the wider ends of the first plurality of protrusions.