FUSED THERMOPLASTIC SCUFF AND WALL PLATE
The scuff and wall plate is formed by fusing a thermoplastic fiberglass-reinforced plastic scuff plate to a thermoplastic fiberglass-reinforced plastic wall liner by glass fiber blooming. The fusion blooming can be accomplished by vibration welding or high frequency welding. Because the scuff plate and wall liner are fused, a small lap area is all that is needed to keep the liner and scuff plate together.
1 . A scuff and wall plate, comprising:
a scuff plate formed of thermoplastic fiberglass-reinforced plastic;
a wall liner formed of thermoplastic fiberglass-reinforced plastic, said scuff plate and said wall liner being fused together.
2 . The scuff plate of claim 1 , wherein said scuff plate is fused to said wall liner by glass fiber blooming.
3 . The scuff plate of claim 2 , wherein said glass fiber blooming comprises at least one of vibration welding and high frequency welding.
4 . The scuff plate of claim 1 , wherein said scuff plate has a predetermined height, and said scuff plate is fused to said wall liner at a lap area which is smaller than the height of said scuff plate.
5 . A trailer comprising:
a floor,
a sidewall extending from said floor,
a thermoplastic fiberglass-reinforced plastic wall liner formed as an interior side of said sidewall,
a thermoplastic fiberglass-reinforced plastic scuff plate fused to said wall liner.
6 . The trailer of claim 5 , wherein said scuff plate is fused to said wall liner by glass fiber blooming.
7 . The trailer of claim 6 , wherein said glass fiber blooming comprises at least one of vibration welding and high frequency welding.
8 . the trailer of claim 5 , wherein said scuff plate has a predetermined height, and said scuff plate is fused to said wall liner at a lap area which is smaller than the height of said scuff plate.
9 . The trailer of claim 8 , wherein said scuff plate has a predetermined height, and said wall liner is mounted a distance above said floor, said distance being less than said scuff plate height.
10 . The trailer of claim 9 , wherein said lap area has a height, and the sum of said height of said lap area plus said distance of said wall liner above said floor is approximately equal to said scuff plate height.
11 . A method of forming a scuff and wall plate, comprising:
providing a scuff plate formed of thermoplastic fiberglass-reinforced plastic;
providing a wall liner formed of thermoplastic fiberglass-reinforced plastic; and
fusing said scuff plate and said wall liner together.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said scuff plate is fused to said wall liner by glass fiber blooming.
13 . The method plate of claim 12 , wherein said glass fiber blooming comprises at least one of vibration welding and high frequency welding.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said scuff plate has a predetermined height, and said scuff plate is fused to said wall liner at a lap area which is smaller than the height of said scuff plate.