Load floor assembly
AssigneeBBI Enterprises, L.P.
InventorsBrett Woodson, Jay Ennis, Brandon Yee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load floor (22) for a motor vehicle (20) has a foamed substrate layer (34) having a peripheral edge (42) and a facing layer (32), formed from hardboard or other sheet material. An adhesive layer (36) adheres the substrate layer (34) to the facing layer (32). Grooves (68, 70) are formed on a top surface (40) of the substrate layer (34) and extend to the peripheral edge (42) to provide an egress for fluids at the peripheral edge (42) during curing of the adhesive layer (36). The grooves (68, 70) are curved to prevent cracking of the substrate layer (34) under an applied load (74).
Claims20
A load floor for a motor vehicle comprising:
- a first facing layer having a first inner surface;
- a substrate layer having a top surface and a peripheral edge;
- a first adhesive layer disposed between said surfaces for bonding said first facing layer to said substrate layer;
- a first set of grooves extending along said top surface to said peripheral edge for providing an egress for fluids at said peripheral edge during curing of said first adhesive layer;
- and
- said grooves being curved.
A motor vehicle comprising:
- a floor panel;
- a tub portion located below said floor panel and presenting a cargo space having an opening in said floor panel;
- a load floor closing said opening for supporting various loads positioned thereon including:
- a facing layer having an inner surface,
- a substrate layer having a top surface and a peripheral edge,
- an adhesive layer disposed between said surfaces for bonding said facing layer to said substrate layer,
- grooves extending along said top surface to said peripheral edge for providing an aggress for fluids at said peripheral edge during curing of said adhesive layer, and
- said grooves being curved.
A method of constructing a load floor for a motor vehicle having a substrate layer, a facing layer and an adhesive layer, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of grooves on said substrate layer;
- applying said adhesive layer onto said facing layer;
- pressing said adhesive layer onto said substrate layer with said grooves disposed therebetween;
- and
- heating said facing layer and the substrate layer to cure said adhesive layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.