Reinforcing bracket for trailer-frame butt joints
AssigneeNorco Industries, Inc.
InventorJeffrey P. Few
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reinforcing bracket for trailer frame-member butt joints comprises a first flange adapted to be parallel to the face of the frame members, a second flange extending perpendicularly from the first flange, and a third flange extending from the second flange parallel to the first flange. The first flange includes a plurality of dimples that correspond to dimples in the frame members. Each dimple in the first flange has an aperture therein that corresponds to an aperture in the corresponding frame-member dimple. In operation, the bracket is bolted to the frame members forming the joint. The present invention also describes a trailer frame utilizing the reinforcing bracket.
Claims16
A reinforcing bracket for trailer-frame butt joints that is adapted to bolt to adjoining frame members, comprising:
- a first flange parallel to a face of said frame members,
- a second flange extending from the first flange, wherein the second flange is approximately ninety degrees to the first flange, and
- a third flange extending from the second flange, wherein the third flange is parallel to the first flange.
A bolt-together trailer frame comprising:
- at least two longitudinal members on each side of the trailer frame,
- at least two cross-members each attached to longitudinal members by bolts, and
- at least one reinforcing bracket fastening longitudinal members on each side of the trailer frame to each other, the reinforcing bracket comprising:
- a first flange parallel to a face of the longitudinal members;
- a second flange extending from the first flange, wherein the second flange is approximately ninety degrees to the first flange;
- and
- a third flange extending from the second flange, wherein the third flange is parallel to the first flange.
In a bolt-together trailer frame having a plurality of frame members bolted together to form the trailer frame, the improvement comprising:
- at least two frame members, an end of a first one of the frame members abutting an end of a second one of the frame members;
- at least one reinforcing bracket positioned against the first and second frame members, the reinforcing bracket spanning the abutted ends of the first and second frame members, the reinforcing bracket comprising:
- two laterally spaced apart vertical flanges connected by a laterally extending flange;
- and
- a plurality of fasteners connecting the first and second frame members to the at least one reinforcing bracket to one another.
In a bolt-together trailer frame having a plurality of frame members bolted together to form the trailer frame, the improvement comprising:
- at least two frame members, an end of a first one of the frame members abutting an end of a second one of the frame members;
- at least one reinforcing bracket positioned against the first and second frame members, the reinforcing bracket spanning the abutted ends of the first and second frame members, the reinforcing bracket comprising:
- two laterally spaced apart vertical flanges connected by a laterally extending flange;
- and
- a plurality of fasteners connecting the first and second frame members and the at least one reinforcement member to one another,
- the first and second frame members and the at least one reinforcing bracket each having a plurality of dimples therein, the dimples of the first and second frame members and the dimples of the at least one reinforcing bracket being in nested engagement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.