Polymer-based structural member

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a polymer-based structural member for constructing floors and walkways. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one surface of the polymer-based structural member includes a number of traction ridges. The traction ridges provide a gripping surface to promote ease of motion when moving across a floor or walkway constructed from one or more polymer-based structural members.

1 . A polymer-based structural member for constructing floors and walkways, the polymer-based structural member comprising: 
 a top containing a number of traction ridges;    a bottom;    a first open end;    a second open end opposite to the first open end;    a first side;    a second side opposite to the first side; and    a number of support walls extending from the top to the bottom.    
   
   
       2 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  wherein the polymer-based structural member is fabricated using one of: 
 an extrusion process; and    a pultrusion process.    
   
   
       3 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  wherein the polymer base includes one or more of the following additives: 
 minerals;    fiber;    anti-fungal treatment;    rice hulls;    wood;    glass; and    nut shells.    
   
   
       4 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  wherein the polymer-based structural member further includes a number of traction ridges on the bottom.  
   
   
       5 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  wherein the traction ridges are roughly linear in shape.  
   
   
       6 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  wherein the traction ridges extend the length of the polymer-based structural member, from the first open end to the second open end.  
   
   
       7 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  wherein the traction ridges are grouped into traction-ridge sets, each traction-ridge set including a number of roughly parallel traction ridges.  
   
   
       8 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  wherein the number of interior walls extend from the first open end to the second open end.  
   
   
       9 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  wherein the number of interior support walls are roughly parallel to the first side.  
   
   
       10 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 1  further including a number of interior mounts for mounting one or more of the following transmission media: 
 pipes;    conduits;    tubes; and    wires.    
   
   
       11 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 10  wherein the interior mount includes an aperture.  
   
   
       12 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 10  wherein the interior mounts are sized and shaped to be fit in a space in the interior of the polymer-based structural member partially created by two or more of: 
 the top;    the bottom;    the first side;    the second side; and    one or more interior support walls.    
   
   
       13 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 10  further including an end cap to cap off one or more of: 
 the first open end; and    the second open end.    
   
   
       14 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 13  wherein the end cap further includes a number of insert tabs that can be inserted into one of: 
 the first open end; and    the second open end.    
   
   
       15 . The polymer-based structural member of  claim 13  wherein the end cap further includes an end aperture for passing enclosed transmission media out of capped polymer-based structural member.  
   
   
       16 . A method for constructing floors and walkways, the method comprising: 
 providing a number of polymer-based structural members, each polymer-based structural member including a top containing a number of traction ridges, a bottom, a first open end, a second open end opposite to the first open end, a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a number of support walls extending from the top to the bottom; and    affixing the polymer-based structural members to a floor or walkway frame.    
   
   
       17 . The method from  claim 16  wherein the polymer-based structural members further include a number of traction ridges on the bottom.  
   
   
       18 . The method from  claim 16  wherein the traction ridges are grouped into traction-ridge sets, each traction-ridge set including a number of roughly parallel traction ridges.  
   
   
       19 . The method from  claim 16  wherein the polymer-based structural members further include an end cap to cap off one or more of: 
 the first open end; and    the second open end.    
   
   
       20 . The method from  claim 16  further including a number of interior mounts for mounting one or more of the following transmission media: 
 pipes;    conduits;    tubes; and    wires.