Load floor assembly

Abstract

A load floor assembly for a motor vehicle includes a core sandwiched between opposing hardboards. The core defines a slot with one of the hard boards that encircles a peripheral surface defined by the core and the opposing hardboards. A first fabric is adhered to the first hardboard and a second fabric is adhered to the second hardboard. The first fabric defines a first peripheral edge and a second fabric defines a second peripheral edge. Each of the first and the second peripheral edges are retained in the slot in an adhesive free manner.

1 . A structural assembly for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a generally planar first sheet of material providing structural properties to said structural assembly;    a generally planar second sheet of material having a first surface matable with said first sheet of material, wherein said first surface defines a stepped perimeter surface spaced from said first surface thereby defining a peripheral slot with said first sheet of material;    a first fabric and a second fabric wrapped around said structural assembly, each of said fabrics including a fabric periphery folded into said peripheral slot, and    wherein said peripheral slot retains said fabric periphery of said first fabric and said second fabric with frictional forces.    
   
   
       2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said slot defines a slot width less than a combination of first thickness defined by said first fabric and a second thickness defined by said second fabric.  
   
   
       3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a generally planar third sheet of material providing structural properties to said assembly and being mated to an opposite side of said second sheet of material from said first sheet of said material.  
   
   
       4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said first sheet of material and said second sheet of material comprise hard board.  
   
   
       5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said first, second, and third sheets of material each define a peripheral surface.  
   
   
       6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said first fabric and said second fabric are adhered to said assembly with an adhesive.  
   
   
       7 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said adhesive is applied to said peripheral surfaces defined by said first, second, and third sheets of material.  
   
   
       8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first fabric comprises a durable material and said second fabric comprises an esthetically pleasing material.  
   
   
       9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said second sheet of material is adhered to said first and said third sheets of material with an adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said peripheral edge of said first fabric and said second fabric are retained in said slot without adhesive.  
   
   
       11 . A load floor assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising; 
 a core sandwiched between opposing hardboards, wherein said core defines a slot with one of said hard boards encircling a peripheral surface defined by said core and said opposing hardboards;    a first fabric adhered to said first hardboard and a second fabric adhered to said second hardboard; and    said first fabric defining a first peripheral edge and a second fabric defining a second peripheral edge, each of said first and said second peripheral edge retained in said slot in an adhesive free manner.    
   
   
       12 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said first fabric includes a first thickness and said second fabric includes a second thickness.  
   
   
       13 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said slot defines a width being thinner than a combination of said first thickness of said first fabric and said second thickness of said second fabric thereby retaining said peripheral edges of said first fabric and said second fabric therein.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein an adhesive is applied to said peripheral surface defined by said core and said opposing hardboards thereby retaining said first fabric and said second fabric to said peripheral surface.  
   
   
       15 . A method of assembling a load floor of a motor vehicle; comprising the steps of: 
 providing a core being generally planar;    providing a mating member being generally planar;    adhering said core to said mating member thereby forming a peripheral surface defined by said mating member and said core;    forming a slot between said mating member and said core;    applying a first fabric and a second fabric to said assembly, each fabric defining a outer edge; and    forcing first outer edge of said first fabric and said second fabric into said slot thereby retaining said first fabric and said second fabric in said slot in an adhesive free manner.    
   
   
       16 . A method as set forth in  claim 15 , further including the step of applying an adhesive to said peripheral surface defined by said core and said mating member.  
   
   
       17 . A method as set forth in  claim 16 , further including the step of forming a notch in said core thereby forming a first side of said slot.  
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 15 , further including the step of providing a wheel for inserting said peripheral edge of said first and said second fabric in said slot.  
   
   
       19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18 , further including the step of rolling said wheel along said slot thereby forcing said peripheral edge of said first and said second fabric in said slot.