# US 11,299,213 B2 · Joining a rail member to a composite trailer structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,213 B2 - Document ID: US11299213B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/729,915 - Filed: 2019-12-30 - Published: 2020-04-30 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-08 - Assignees: Wabash National, L.P. - Applicants: Wabash National, L.P. - Inventors: Travis Smith McCloud - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299213B2 ## CPC - B62D 29/001: {characterised by combining metal and synthetic material} - B62D 21/09: Means for mounting load bearing surfaces - B62D 21/20: trailer type, i.e. a frame specifically constructed for use in a non-powered vehicle - B62D 25/2054: {Load carrying floors for commercial vehicles} - B62D 27/026: {Connections by glue bonding (in general F16B11/00; processes C09J5/00)} - B62D 27/06: readily releasable - B62D 29/043: {Superstructures (B62D25/161 takes precedence)} - B62D 33/046: {built up with flat self-supporting panels; Fixed connections between panels (B62D29/045, B62D33/048 take precedence)} - B62D 65/024: {Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A cargo vehicle configured to support cargo includes a frame assembly with at least one rail member defining a portion of an outer perimeter of the trailer. The cargo vehicle also includes a composite member adjacent to the frame assembly and a mounting member removably coupled to the at least one rail member and permanently coupled to the composite member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cargo vehicle comprising: a composite floor assembly configured to support cargo, the composite floor assembly comprising a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, a longitudinal axis extending between the left and right sides from the front end to the rear end, and a plurality of composite support beams extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of composite support beams being spaced apart to define a plurality of recessed areas between adjacent composite support beams; a rail extending along the left side or the right side of the composite floor assembly; a first mounting plate coupled to a front surface of one of the composite support beams, the first mounting plate comprising at least one protrusion positioned adjacent at least one edge of an inner surface of the mounting plate, the at least one protrusion configured to abut the front surface of the corresponding composite support beam to define a gap therebetween, the first mounting plate further defining a port positioned laterally inward of the protrusion, the port configured to receive an adhesive in the gap between the inner surface of the first mounting plate and the front surface of the corresponding composite support beam to permanently couple the first mounting plate to the front surface of the corresponding composite support beam; a second mounting plate permanently coupled to a rear surface of one of the composite support beams; a third mounting plate positioned against the rail and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first and second mounting plates; and at least one mechanical fastener coupling the third mounting plate to the rail, at least a portion of the at least one mechanical fastener located in one of the recessed areas of the composite floor assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cargo vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the first mounting plate is coupled to the front surface of a rearward composite support beam; the second mounting plate is coupled to the rear surface of a forward composite support beam; and the third mounting plate and the at least one mechanical fastener are located between the first and second mounting plates and in the recessed area between the rearward and forward composite support beams. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cargo vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third mounting plates form a single mounting member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cargo vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting plates are coupled to front and rear surfaces of the same composite support beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cargo vehicle of claim 4, wherein: the first mounting plate and the third mounting plate form a first mounting member located forward of the composite support beam; and the second mounting plate and a fourth mounting plate form a second mounting member located rearward of the composite support beam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cargo vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the first mounting plate is adhered to the front surface of the corresponding composite support beam; and the second mounting plate is adhered to the rear surface of the corresponding composite support beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cargo vehicle of claim 6, wherein: an inner surface of the first mounting plate includes a plurality of protrusions configured to abut the front surface of the corresponding composite support beam; and an inner surface of the second mounting plate includes a plurality of protrusions configured to abut the rear surface of the corresponding composite support beam, the protrusions defining a second gap between the inner surface of the second mounting plate and the rear surface of the corresponding composite support beam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cargo vehicle of claim 7, wherein: the second mounting plate includes a second port configured to receive an adhesive in the second gap between the inner surface of the second mounting plate and the rear surface of the corresponding composite support beam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cargo vehicle of claim 1, wherein each composite support beam includes a foam core surrounded by a fiberglass and polymeric skin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cargo vehicle of claim 1, wherein the composite floor assembly is a flat-bed floor assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cargo vehicle of claim 10, wherein the rail includes at least one channel configured to receive a retaining member for securing cargo to the flat-bed floor assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cargo vehicle of claim 11, wherein the at least one channel is a winch track. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The cargo vehicle of claim 10, wherein the rail is configured to receive a nail strip for securing cargo to the flat-bed floor assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cargo vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the front end of the composite floor assembly is coupled to a front wall; the left side of the composite floor assembly is coupled to a left side wall; and the right side of the composite floor assembly is coupled to a right side wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cargo vehicle of claim 14, wherein the rail couples one of the left and right sides of the composite floor assembly to the corresponding left or right side wall. ### Claim 16 A cargo vehicle comprising: a composite floor assembly configured to support cargo, the composite floor assembly comprising a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, a longitudinal axis extending between the left and right sides from the front end to the rear end, and composite support beam extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the composite support beam having a front surface that faces a front recessed area and a rear surface that faces a rear recessed area; a rail extending along the left side or the right side of the composite floor assembly; a first mounting plate coupled to the front surface of the composite support beam, the first mounting plate comprising at least one protrusion positioned adjacent at least one edge of an inner surface of the first mounting plate, the at least one protrusion configured to abut the front surface of the corresponding composite support beam to define a gap therebetween, the first mounting plate further defining a port positioned laterally inward of the protrusion, the port configured to receive an adhesive in the gap between the inner surface of the first mounting plate and the front surface of the corresponding composite support beam to permanently couple the first mounting plate to the front surface of the corresponding composite support beam; a second mounting plate coupled to the rear surface of the composite support beam, the second mounting plate comprising at least one protrusion positioned adjacent at least one edge of a second inner surface of the second mounting plate, the at least one protrusion configured to abut the rear surface of the corresponding composite support beam to define a second gap therebetween, the second mounting plate further defining a second port positioned laterally inward of the at least one protrusion, the second port configured to receive an adhesive in the second gap between the second inner surface of the second mounting plate and the rear surface of the corresponding composite support beam to permanently couple the second mounting plate to the rear surface of the corresponding composite support beam; a third mounting plate positioned against the rail and extending forwardly from the first mounting plate through the front recessed area; a fourth mounting plate positioned against the rail and extending rearwardly from the second mounting plate through the rear recessed area; at least one front mechanical fastener coupling the third mounting plate to the rail; and at least one rear mechanical fastener coupling the fourth mounting plate to the rail. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cargo vehicle of claim 16, wherein: the first mounting plate and the third mounting plate form a first mounting member located forward of the composite support beam; and the second mounting plate and a fourth mounting plate form a second mounting member located rearward of the composite support beam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The cargo vehicle of claim 16, wherein the third mounting plate and the fourth mounting plate are each removably coupled to the rail. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The cargo vehicle of claim 8, wherein the third mounting plate includes a port to receive a mechanical fastener. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The cargo vehicle of claim 1, wherein the third mounting plate is removably coupled to the rail. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The cargo vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of composite support beams support a platform or panel so that each of the plurality of recessed areas comprise three walls. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The cargo vehicle of claim 21, wherein each of the first mounting plate, the second mounting plate, and the third mounting plate are positioned completely within a corresponding recessed area.