Rear impact guard assembly for trailers

A semi-trailer having a forward end and a rearward end, comprising:

• a cargo compartment comprising two opposed side walls that are spaced apart in a first direction perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the trailer, a floor extending between lower ends of the two side walls, a roof extending between upper ends of the two side walls, a front wall extending between forward ends of the side walls and between forward ends of the roof and the floor, and a rear frame spaced apart from the front wall in a second direction in the longitudinal dimension and attached to rearward ends of the side walls, the roof, and the floor, wherein the floor is configured to connect to a fifth wheel of a tractor;
• a plurality of axles attached beneath the floor at the rearward end of the semi-trailer and a plurality of wheels disposed on the axles;
• a guard member elongated in the first direction and spanning at least a majority of the width of the semi-trailer in the first direction;
• and
• a first vertical support member and a second vertical support member, each attached to and extending below the rear frame and attached to the guard member, thereby attaching the guard member to the rear frame, wherein the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member are spaced apart from each other in the first direction,
• wherein the guard member has a leading edge extending at a forward end of the guard member, a top portion, and a bottom portion, and wherein the guard member defines a surface extending from the leading edge to one of the top portion and the bottom portion rearward from a vertical plane that includes the leading edge,
• wherein the floor comprises
• a deck,
• a plurality of transverse support members beneath the deck, each extending in the first direction across the width of the trailer, wherein the transverse support members are spaced from each other in the second direction
• a first support rail beneath and abutting the transverse support members and being elongated in the second direction, and
• a second support rail beneath and abutting the transverse members and being elongated in the second direction,
• wherein each of the first and second support rails comprises a generally planar, elongated horizontal portion having a top surface that abuts respective bottom surfaces of a plurality of the transverse support members, and a generally planar, elongated vertical portion that extends downward from an edge of the horizontal portion,
• wherein a first strut extends between the first support rail and at least one of a lower end of the first vertical support member and the guard member and attaches to the at least one of a lower end of the first vertical support member and the guard member, and wherein the first strut has a first horizontal, generally planar upper flange at a top edge that abuts a bottom surface of the elongated horizontal portion of the first support rail, and
• wherein a second strut extends between the second support rail and at least one of a lower end of the second vertical support member and the guard member and attaches to the at least one of the lower end of the second vertical support member and the guard member, and wherein the second strut has a first horizontal, generally planar upper flange at a top edge that abuts a bottom surface of the elongated horizontal portion of the second support rail.

A semi-trailer having a forward end and a rearward end,

• comprising:
• a cargo compartment comprising two opposed side walls that are spaced apart in a first direction perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the trailer, a floor extending between lower ends of the two side walls, a roof extending between upper ends of the two side walls, a front wall extending between forward ends of the side walls and between forward ends of the roof and the floor, and a rear frame spaced apart from the front wall in a second direction in the longitudinal dimension and attached to rearward ends of the side walls, the roof, and the floor, wherein the floor is configured to connect to a fifth wheel of a tractor and comprises
• a deck,
• a plurality of transverse support members beneath the deck, each extending in the first direction across the width of the trailer, wherein the transverse support members are spaced from each other in the second direction,
• a first support rail beneath and abutting the transverse support members and being elongated in the second direction, and
• a second support rail beneath and abutting the transverse members and being elongated in the second direction,
• wherein each of the first and second support rails comprises a generally planar, elongated horizontal portion having a top surface that abuts respective bottom surfaces of a plurality of the transverse support members, and a generally planar, elongated vertical portion that extends downward from an edge of the horizontal portion;
• a plurality of axles attached beneath the floor at the rearward end of the semi-trailer and a plurality of wheels disposed on the axles;
• a guard member elongated in the first direction and spanning at least a majority of the width of the semi-trailer in the first direction;
• a first vertical support member and a second vertical support member, each attached to and extending below the rear frame and attached to the guard member, thereby attaching the guard member to the rear frame, wherein the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member are spaced apart from each other in the first direction;
• a first strut that extends between the floor and at least one of lower end of the first vertical support member and the guard member and attaches to the at least one of the lower end of the first vertical support member and the guard member;
• and
• a second strut that extends between the floor and at least one of lower end of the second vertical support member and the guard member and attaches to the at least one of the lower end of the second vertical support member and the guard member,
• wherein each of the first strut and the second strut comprises a first vertically oriented, generally planar portion extending in the second direction and having a lower generally diagonal edge that extends at an acute angle with respect to horizontal, a first generally planar stiffening flange extends perpendicular to the first generally planar portion from the diagonal edge, and a second generally planar stiffening flange extends from an edge of the first stiffening flange opposite the first planar portion in a direction perpendicular to the first stiffening flange, and
• wherein the first strut has a horizontal, generally planar upper flange at a top edge of the first strut that abuts a bottom surface of the elongated horizontal portion of the first support rail, and wherein the second strut has a horizontal, generally planar upper flange at a top edge of the second strut that abuts a bottom surface of the elongated horizontal portion of the second support rail.