Wood flooring with reinforced thermoplastic underlayer
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.
1. 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.
2. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 1 , wherein the underlay is attached to the floor board with an adhesive.
3. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 1 , wherein the underlay has a thickness of about 0.003 to 0.1 inches.
4. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 1 , wherein the underlay has a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.04 inches.
5. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers in the underlay comprise fiberglass fibers.
6. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 5 , wherein the underlay comprises about 10 to 80% by weight of fiberglass fibers.
7. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of layers in the underlay includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein the plurality of fibers are substantially aligned in a first direction in the first layer, and wherein the plurality of fibers are substantially aligned in a second direction in the second layer.
8. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 7 , wherein the first direction is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the floor board.
9. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of layers in the underlay further comprises a third layer, and wherein the plurality of fibers are substantially aligned in the first direction in the third layer.
10. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 9 , wherein the second layer of the underlay is positioned between the first layer and the third layer.
11. 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.
12. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 11 , wherein the underlay comprises about 10 to 80% by weight of the fiberglass fibers.
13. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 11 , wherein the underlay consists of a single layer.
14. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 11 , wherein the underlay includes a plurality of layers.
15. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 11 , wherein the underlay is adhesively bonded to the bottom surface.
16. The reinforced wood flooring of claim 11 , wherein the underlay has a thickness of about 0.03 to 0.09 inches.
17. 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.