Trailer having improved side wall
AssigneeGreat Dane Limited Partnership
InventorsJohn M. Jones, Robert H. Belew JR., Eric C. D'Angelo, Daniel J. McCormack, William C. Atkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cargo trailer includes a floor and a side wall extending vertically upward from a side edge of the floor. The side wall includes a plurality of generally vertical posts. Each post defines an interior surface disposed in a generally common plane and a recessed portion. A scuff band is received within the recessed portions so that at least a portion of the scuff band is outward of the common plane.
Claims24
A cargo trailer for use with a motorized vehicle, said trailer comprising:
- a wheel assembly;
- a floor supported by said wheel assembly;
- and
- two side walls extending upward from respective longitudinal sides of said floor, at least one of said side walls including
- an outer surface,
- an inner surface,
- a plurality of elongated vertical posts disposed between said outer surface and said inner surface, and
- a horizontal longitudinal member,
- wherein each said vertical post includes a longitudinal interior surface having a first portion that partially defines said inner surface and a second portion recessed from said first portion between said inner surface and said outer surface, and
- wherein said longitudinal member is received by said second portions of said vertical posts so that at least a portion of said longitudinal member is disposed outward of said inner surface.
A cargo trailer for use with a motorized vehicle, said trailer comprising:
- a wheel assembly;
- a floor supported by said wheel assembly;
- and
- two side walls extending upward from respective longitudinal sides of said floor, at least of one of said side walls including
- an outer surface,
- an inner surface,
- a plurality of elongated posts disposed between said outer surface and said inner surface, and
- a plurality of interior side wall liner panels, wherein each said liner panel is disposed between respective said posts and partially defines said inner surface and wherein each said liner panel has a corrugated main portion and flanges extending from said corrugated main portion,
- wherein each said post includes
- a longitudinal first portion that partially defines said inner surface,
- a pair of first longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first portion between said inner surface and said outer surface, and
- a pair of second longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first longitudinal flanges between said first longitudinal flanges and said outer surface, and
- wherein said liner panel flanges of each said liner panel are attached to said first longitudinal flanges of adjacent said posts so that said corrugated main portion engages said second longitudinal flanges of said adjacent posts.
A cargo trailer for use with a motorized vehicle, said trailer comprising:
- a wheel assembly;
- a floor supported by said wheel assembly;
- and
- two side walls extending upward from respective longitudinal sides of said floor, at least one of said side walls including
- an outer surface,
- an inner surface,
- a plurality of elongated posts disposed between said outer surface and said inner surface,
- a plurality of interior side wall liner panels, wherein each said liner panel is disposed between respective said posts and partially defines said inner surface,
- wherein each said post includes
- a longitudinal first portion that partially defines said inner surface,
- a pair of first longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first portion between said inner surface and said outer surface,
- a pair of second longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first longitudinal flanges between said first longitudinal flanges and said outer surface, and
- a pair of third longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said second longitudinal flanges between said second longitudinal flanges and said outer surface, and
- wherein each said liner panel is attached to respective said first flanges, and/or respective said second flanges, of adjacent said posts.
In construction of a cargo trailer having a wheel assembly, a floor supported by the wheel assembly, and two side walls extending upward from respective longitudinal sides of the floor, wherein at least one of the side walls includes an outer surface, an inner surface and at least one vertical post disposed between and supporting the inner surface, a method of forming the vertical post, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated metal post having a generally planar longitudinal central surface, a pair of stepped accordion flanges respectively disposed on opposite sides of said central surface, and a pair of elongated side edges respectively defined on opposite sides of said post;
- securing said elongated side edges against lateral deformation;
- and
- stamping a predetermined area of said central surface at an end of said post so that said predetermined area is recessed with respect to a remaining portion of said central surface and so that said accordion flanges compress between said central surface and said elongated side edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.