Portable deck

Sept. 1, 1942. g. g. greulich 2,294,550

PORTABLE DECK * Filed Sept. 24, 1940

FIG. 1.

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Patented Sept. 1». 1942

2,294,550

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,294,550

PORTABLE DECK

Gerald G. Greulich, Mount Lebanon, Pa., assignor to Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey

Application September 24,1940, Serial No. 358,180 (Cl. 94—13) angles thereto is a series of discontinuous transverse grooves 7 which are shown as being substantially elliptical in plan.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, 5 the longitudinal edges 9 of each of the metallic . plates 2 are provided With aligned spaced downwardly-projecting lugs, the lower edges of which terminate at a point which is substantially the same as, or slightly less than a plane across the 10 bottoms of the deformed portions which constitute the longitudinal grooves 5. Each of these downwardly-projecting lugs comprises a shank 11 and a longitudinally-extending elongated prong portion 13. These elongated prong portions 13 are 15 in alignment, and all of them extend in the same direction.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be perceived that the flat surface of each of the metallic plates 2 inwardly of its longitudinal 20 edges 9 and outwardly of its longitudinal grooves 5 is provided with a series of elongated slots 15 which correspond in number, size and shape to receive and have extend through, the aligned spaced longitudinally-extending elongated prorig 25 portions 13 of an adjacently disposed plate 2.

In operation:

A series of metallic plates 2 are laid in the form of a blanket in which alternate rows are reversed so that the longitudinally-extending 30. elongated prong portions 13 in one row point in a direction which is opposite that of the corresponding elements, of the metallic plates of the next adjacent row. This also permits of the placing of the rows one at a time in straight 35 sequence, the longitudinally-extending elongated prong portions 13 of the row being placed so as to be readily entered from the top into the elongated slots 15 on the leading edges of the metallic plates already in position.

Any row of plates, or any individual plate of any given row, may be readily removed from the completed deck by shifting the plates endwise · sufficiently to unlock the elongated prong portions 13 from the elongated slots 15 of the next adjacent plates.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4, the space between the upper edges of the elongated prong portions 13 and the lower edges of the metallic plates is materially greater than the thickness 50 of the said plates, or at least those portions of the latter having formed therein the elongated slots 15. This clearance permits the removal of any plate from its assembled relationship by merely raising its end opposite that toward which 55 the elongated prong portions f 3 extend, and slid4 Claims.

This invention relates to portable decks, and more particularly to those which provide paved areas on unstable soil and the like, for airplane runways, storage and handling of materials and freight, paving for vehicular traffic, etc.

In my patent application Serial No. 345,218, filed July 12, 1940, and entitled, “Portable deck,” I have shown and described a device somewhat similar to that of the present application, which is an improvement thereover. In the co-pending application there is employed pairs of plates forming male and female members, the former being provided on their adjoining edges with downwardly-projecting lugs comprising shank and longitudinally-extending elongated prong portions, the latter providing slots for the reception thereof. Such construction, of course, requires two parts to provide the proper interlocking effect.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a portable deck which may not only be readily fabricated of simple interlocking metallic plates enabling ready erection and dismantling: but one which at the same time is composed of identical members requiring but a single pattern and, therefore, one which may be more readily understood and handled by unskilled labor.

Other objects will be apparent after referring to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the portable deck of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of a portion thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation illustrating the manner of connecting the plates;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation illustrating a form of fastening device which may be used to maintain the plates in interlocking relationship: and .

Figure 6 is a perspective of the said fastening device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 2 designates one of a group of identical metallic plates which, when united in a manner to be later described, form the portable deck of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, each of the plates 2 defines a flat surface from which parallel longitudinal grooves 5 are formed by deforming the material out of the general plane of the fiat surface and into continuous U-shaped troughs. Between the parallel longitudinal grooves 5 and extending at right wardly of a pair of opposite edges thereof, and being provided outwardly of both series of said openings with a series of aligned spaced downwardly-projecting lugs adapted to align with, and extend through, the openings of a similarly formed and adjacently disposed plate, each of said lugs comprising a shank and an enlarged head portion, the openings in said plates being substantially larger than the enlarged head portions of the lugs thereof whereby, upon disposing the said lugs in the said openings and subjecting the plates to relative longitudinal movement, the enlarged head portions of the lugs of one of said plates are disposed beneath the bottoms of the similarly formed and adjacently disposed plate aforesaid to thereby effect an interlock.

3. A plurality of metallic plates adapted for rapid attachment and detachment to form a subsequently horizontal portable deck capable of sustaining superposed loads, each of said plates having a series of aligned spaced elongated openings inwardly of an edge thereof, and being provided outwardly of said openings with a series of aligned spaced downwardly-projecting lugs adapted to align with, and extend through, the elongated openings of a similarly formed and adjacently disposed plate, each of said lugs comprising a shank and an elongated prong portion, all of said elongated prong portions extending in the same direction, the elongated openings in said plates being substantially longer than the elongated prong portions of the lugs thereof, whereby, upon disposing the said lugs in the said elongated openings and subjecting the plates to relative longitudinal movement, the elongated prong portions of the lugs of one of said plates are disposed beneath the bottoms of the similarly formed and adjacently disposed plate aforesaid to thereby effect an interlock.

4. A plurality of metallic plates adapted for rapid attachment and detachment to form a substantially horizontal portable deck capable of sustaining superposed loads, each of said plates _ having a series of aligned spaced elongated openings inwardly of a pair of opposite edges thereof, and being provided outwardly of both series of said openings with a series of aligned spaced downwardly-projecting lugs adapted to align ₅₀ with, and extend through, the elongated openings of a similarly formed and adjacently disposed plate, each of said lugs comprising a shank and an elongated prong portion, all of said elongated prong portions extending in the same ₅g direction, the elongated openings in said plates being substantially longer than the elongated prong portions of the lugs thereof whereby, upon disposing the said lugs in the said elongated openings and subjecting the plates to relative longitudinal movement, the elongated prong por⁰ tions of the lugs of one of said plates are dis posed beneath the bottoms of the similarly formed and adjacently disposed plate aforesaid to thereby effect an interlock.

GERALD G. GREULICH.

2,294, ing the said plate In the direction of its raised end.

An additional advantage is that the metallic plates 2 provide in effect a spare set of bayonet clips II and tongues 13 which are not engaged 5 in the first usage and which are protected from damage by reason of underlying the edges of the next adjacent plates. These units may, therefore, be taken up and re-laid without any necessity of straightening the bayonet clips IL as ¹⁰in the re-laying all interlocking can be done with bayonet clips II which were not previously in use. The same is also true, of course, with respect to the slots 15.

Referring to Figure 5, I have disclosed a form 15 of locking element which may be used to secure the interlocked metallic plates 2 against displacement. According to the form shown, there is provided a wire spring steel clip S6 which fits into one or more of the slots IS adjacent the down- 20 wardly directed edges 8 which carry the integral bayonet clips 11. These wire spring steel clips 16 prevent the relative movement of the bayonet clips 11 with respect to the slots IE sufficiently to permit the bayonet clips to completely align 25 with the slots 15, whereby the metallic plate 2 carrying the same might be displaced. In addition to the form shown, numerous other devices will suffice, including wooden wedges, etc., but these, as such, form no part of the present in- 30 vention.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of the present invention, it will be seen that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made ³³without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.