Patent ID: 8808834

Claim:
A sandwich-type, structural, composite, vehicle load floor panel comprising: a first outer layer having a first outer surface; a second outer layer having a second outer surface; a core positioned between the outer layers and having a plurality of cavities wherein the outer layers are bonded to the core by press molding and wherein crushed portions of the panel having a reduced thickness form a pattern of depressions at the second outer surface of the second outer layer; and a plurality of stiffening supports bonded or joined to the second outer layer within the pattern of depressions wherein the stiffening supports are retained in their respective depressions without a need for separate supports in a storage area beneath the load floor panel, the stiffening supports being sized, shaped and arranged within the pattern of depressions to provide the panel with strength to resist deflection from a load at various positions and orientations at the first outer surface.