Container Sidewall Connector
AssigneeVanguard National Trailer Corporation
InventorMark Roush
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Presented is an improved panel and connector sidewall construction. While maintaining the benefits of standard structural panel designs, the post connector construction also achieves many benefits of traditional sheet and post designs, including simplified replacement of damaged interior panels. The design also allows for simplified replacement of the outer panels of the container while simultaneously providing an aerodynamic surface without protruding rivets. The sidewall construction also achieves the important objective of providing smooth trailer walls with minimal recesses, protrusions and snag points.
Claims19
A container having an interior for the storage and transport of cargo, the sidewall construction of the container comprising:
- a first and second sheet, each sheet having an inner surface oriented towards the interior of the container, an outer surface exposed to the outside of the container, and a protrusion extending towards the interior of the container from an edge of the inner surface;
- a post having
- a pocket enclosing the protrusions of the first and second sheets,
- a first wall laterally extending from the pocket, adjacent to the inner surface of the first sheet, to a first inward projection, and
- a lateral projection extending laterally from the pocket towards the first inward projection;
- a first liner having
- a first central region extending away from the post parallel to the first sheet,
- an first interior surface contacting the lateral projection, and
- an first exterior surface contacting the first inward projection.
A container having an interior for the storage and transport of cargo, the sidewall construction of the container comprising:
- a first sheet having an inner surface oriented towards the interior of the container, an outer surface exposed to the outside of the container, and a protrusion extending towards the interior of the container from an edge of the inner surface;
- a post having
- a pocket enclosing the protrusion of the first sheets,
- a first wall laterally extending from the pocket, adjacent to the inner surface of the first sheet, to a first inward projection, and
- a lateral projection extending laterally from the pocket towards the first inward projection;
- a first liner having
- an first interior surface contacting the lateral projection, and
- an first exterior surface contacting the first inward projection.
A container having an interior for the storage and transport of cargo, the sidewall construction of the container comprising:
- a first and second sheet, each sheet having an inner surface oriented towards the interior of the container, an outer surface exposed to the outside of the container, and a protrusion extending towards the interior of the container from an edge of the inner surface;
- a post having
- a pocket enclosing the protrusions of the first and second sheets,
- a first wall laterally extending from the pocket, adjacent to the inner surface of the first sheet, to a first inward projection, and
- a second wall laterally extending from the pocket, adjacent to the inner surface of the second sheet, to a second inward projection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.