Wood flooring with reinforced thermoplastic underlayer
AssigneeRockland Flooring LLC
InventorsZiqiang Lu, Marc Chorney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example reinforced wood flooring for use in forming a truck trailer or container floor may include a wood member. The wood member may include a plurality of wood strips that are attached together. The wood member may also have a top surface and a bottom surface. An essentially water impermeable fiber-reinforced thermoplastic underlay may be adhered to the bottom surface of the wood member.
Claims17
A reinforced wood flooring for use in a vehicle, trailer, or container, the reinforced wood flooring comprising:
- a floor board having a bottom surface, a width, and a length of at least 16 feet;
- a water impermeable underlay attached to substantially an entirety of the bottom surface of the floor board, the underlay includes a plurality of layers, each of the layers comprising a plurality of fibers disposed within a thermoplastic resin;
- wherein the underlay has a first flexural strength substantially along the length of the floor board and a second flexural strength substantially along the width of the floor board, the first flexural strength being substantially different from the second flexural strength;
- wherein the first flexural strength and the second flexural strength of the underlay are configured to strengthen the floor board while simultaneously having a flexibility that allows the underlay to flex with the floor board substantially without separating from the floor board.
A reinforced wood flooring for use in a vehicle, trailer, or container, the reinforced wood flooring comprising:
- a floor board having a bottom surface and a longitudinal axis;
- a water impermeable underlay attached to the bottom surface of the floor board;
- wherein the underlay includes a plurality of randomly distributed non-woven fiberglass fibers disposed within a thermoplastic resin;
- and
- wherein the underlay has a flexural strength that is configured to strengthen the floor board while simultaneously having a flexibility that allows the underlay to flex with the floor board substantially without separating from the floor board.
A wood floor for use in a vehicle, trailer, or container, the wood floor comprising:
- a plurality of floor boards, wherein each of the floor boards comprises:
- a bottom surface,
- a length,
- a width,
- a longitudinal axis, and
- a water impermeable underlay, the underlay is configured to flex with each of the floor boards substantially without separating from the floor boards;
- wherein the underlay includes a plurality of discrete fibers disposed within a thermoplastic resin;
- wherein a first section of the underlay comprises a first plurality of the fibers substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis;
- wherein a second section of the underlay comprises a second plurality of the fibers oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the underlay has a first flexural strength substantially along the length of each of the floor boards and a second flexural strength substantially along the width of each of the floor boards, the first flexural strength being substantially different from the second flexural strength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.