Vehicle sleeper panel design
AssigneeInternational Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
InventorsAndrew C. Scott, Joel D. Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Plastic-metal hybrid materials are included in the construction of highway tractor sleeper sides and back panel assemblies. Sleeper panels are traditionally constructed of two elements, the panel assemblies and the interior trim. A molded panel becomes both the interior of the structure and the decorative interior surface. This allows interior components to be directly mounted to the integral structural panels. The resulting sleeper will have stronger engagement to the mounted components such as cabinetry as well as part number reduction.
Claims16
A mobile highway tractor, comprising:
- a chassis with a driver's cab engaged;
- a sleeper compartment engaged to said cab and said chassis;
- said sleeper compartment having side walls;
- said sleeper side walls comprised of an exterior side panel;
- said exterior side panel engaged to an integrated reinforcement and interior trim panel;
- and
- said integrated reinforcement and interior trim panel comprised of a plastic-metal hybrid material.
An integrated reinforcement and interior trim panel for a mobile highway tractor, the tractor having a chassis with a driver's cab engaged, a sleeper compartment engaged to the cab and the chassis, the sleeper having an exterior side panel, comprising:
- a metal interior structural panel being pressed into a shape including structural sides;
- a support channel engaged to said interior structural panel;
- and
- plastic injection molded V-shaped reinforcing and support ribs formed into a zigzag pattern about said reinforcement and interior trim panel.
A mobile highway tractor, comprising:
- a chassis with a driver's cab engaged;
- a sleeper compartment engaged to said cab and said chassis;
- said sleeper compartment having side walls;
- said sleeper side walls comprised of an exterior side panel;
- said exterior side panel engaged to an integrated reinforcement and interior trim panel;
- said integrated reinforcement and interior trim panel comprised of a plastic-metal hybrid material;
- said reinforcement and trim panel having an inner trim surface panel and a crosshatched rib matrix of alternate direction ribs;
- said reinforcement and trim panel and alternate direction ribs being comprised of a plastic;
- and
- said reinforcement and trim panel having integrated metal support pieces engaged to said reinforcement and trim panel and said alternate direction ribs.
An integrated reinforcement and interior trim panel for a mobile highway tractor, the tractor having a chassis with a driver's cab engaged, a sleeper compartment engaged to the cab and the chassis, the sleeper having an exterior side panel, comprising:
- said integrated reinforcement and interior trim panel comprised of a plastic-metal hybrid material;
- said reinforcement and trim panel having an inner trim surface panel and a crosshatched rib matrix of alternate direction ribs;
- said reinforcement and trim panel and alternate direction ribs being comprised of a plastic;
- and
- said reinforcement and trim panel having integrated metal support pieces engaged to said reinforcement and trim panel and said alternate direction ribs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.