US Patent 10160499 Rocker assembly with a pultruded load distribution insert

A rocker assembly includes a rocker reinforcement panel attached to a side inner panel to define a cavity and an elongated bar disposed within the cavity. The elongated bar is formed of a polymer resin that includes reinforcement strands of continuous fiber roving that are embedded in the polymer resin and extend along a full length of the bar. The elongated bar has a constant cross-section perpendicular to the length of the bar that may define at least one elongated opening. A method of making a rocker assembly includes pultruding a polymer resin and a continuous fiber roving to form a reinforced elongated bar that is assembled into a cavity defined between the rocker reinforcement panel and the side inner panel.