US 12,337,903 B2
Reinforced preforms for optimized composite structures
Travis S. McCloud, Malabar, FL (US); Scott M. Lewit, Indialantic, FL (US); and Josh Hagan, Indialantic, FL (US)
Assigned to Wabash National, L.P., Lafayette, IN (US)
Filed by Wabash National, L.P., Lafayette, IN (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/691,387.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/160,070, filed on Mar. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0289307 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. B62B 1/00 (2006.01); B29C 70/30 (2006.01); B29C 70/68 (2006.01); B62D 25/20 (2006.01); B62D 29/00 (2006.01); B62D 29/04 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 25/2054 (2013.01) [B29C 70/30 (2013.01); B29C 70/68 (2013.01); B62D 29/001 (2013.01); B62D 29/043 (2013.01); B29L 2031/30 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A composite floor of a cargo body, the composite floor having a front end and a rear end and a longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the rear end, the composite floor comprising:
an outer skin layer that faces downwardly from the cargo body;
in inner skin layer that faces upwardly into the cargo body; and
a plurality of transverse beams sandwiched between the outer skin layer and the inner skin layer and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each of the transverse beams comprising:
an inner core;
an outer layer surrounding the inner core; and
at least one reinforcing structure extending through the inner core and penetrating at least a portion of the outer layer on either side of the inner core.