Interlocking honeycomb-cored panel system for construction of load supporting surfaces

Abstract

A reusable panel system for the construction of load bearing surfaces, such as temporary or semi-permanent roadways and equipment support and work surfaces laid out over geologically unstable surfaces or over wet-land marshes. The individual panels of the present invention may interlock on one or more sides to form stable and continuous load bearing surfaces.

1 . A load bearing structure comprising: 
 a panel having an upper and a lower surface and at least three sides, at least one of the sides includes a wedgeshaped edge;    a rigid honeycomb core between the upper and lower surface, a continuous layer surrounding the honeycomb core; and    one or more connector means located on at least one side of the panel.    
     
     
         2 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the rigid honeycomb core is substantially hollow.  
     
     
         3 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the rigid honeycomb core is comprised of a substantially plastic composition.  
     
     
         4 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the substantially plastic composition is polypropylene thermoplastic.  
     
     
         5 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the rigid honeycomb core is made from material selected from a group consisting of metal, resin reinforced paper, fiberglass, and wood.  
     
     
         6 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the substantially continuous layer is comprised of reinforcing fibers.  
     
     
         7 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing fibers are selected from a group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least two adjacent sides of the panel each comprise a wedge-shaped edge.  
     
     
         9 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein one wedge-shaped edge descends from the top to the bottom of the panel, and the adjacent wedgeshaped edge ascends from the bottom to the top of the panel.  
     
     
         10 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the connector means are located on each side of the panel that comprises a wedge-shaped edge.  
     
     
         11 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the connector means are selected from a group consisting of apertures, screw fastener, a removable rivet, a clip, a buckle, a clasp, a clamp, a brace, a grip, a bolt, a screw, a lock, a nail, and hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         12 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the connector means are located on the side of the panel with the wedge-shaped edge.  
     
     
         13 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the connector means are selected from a group consisting of an aperture, a screw fastener, a removable rivet, a clip, a buckle, a clasp, a clamp, a brace, a grip, a bolt, a screw, a lock, a nail, and hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         14 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the substantially continuous layer is coated with a coating selected from a group consisting of slip resistant coatings, chemical resistant coatings, fire resistant coatings, color coatings, anti-static coatings, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         15 . A load bearing structure comprising: 
 a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface, and side edges surrounding and extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, at least two adjacent sides of the panel form a wedge-shaped edge;    a substantially hollow honeycomb core between the upper and lower surface formed of a substantially plastic composition;    a continuous surrounding layer including reinforcing fibers selected from a group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and any combination thereof; and    one or more connector means located on each side of the panel on the wedge-shaped edges.    
     
     
         16 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein each side of the panel comprises a wedgeshaped edge and wherein one wedge-shaped edge descends from the top to the bottom of the panel and an adjacent wedge-shaped edge ascends from the bottom to the top of the panel.  
     
     
         17 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 16  wherein at least one stress-strain sensor is coupled to the panel.  
     
     
         18 . A load bearing structure comprising: 
 a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper and lower surfaces are offset relative to one another such that the upper surface forms a lower peripheral extension and the lower surface forms an upper peripheral extension and wherein the panel is surrounded by a substantially continuous layer;    a substantially hollow rigid honeycomb core between the upper and lower surface; and    one or more connector means located on at least one side of the panel.    
     
     
         19 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the substantially hollow rigid honeycomb core is comprised of a substantially plastic composition.  
     
     
         20 . The load bearing structure as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the substantially continuous layer is comprised of reinforcing fibers selected from a group consisting of fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and any combination thereof.