US 2014/0110654 A1Published application

Yoke assembly for use in a collapsible handrail assembly and a handrail assembly incorporating the same

AssigneeMac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.

InventorsMichael A. Conny, Scott A. Kibler

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Abstract

A handrail assembly for a tank trailer and a yoke assembly forming a part thereof. Handrail assembly provides a safety device for an operator walking along a top wall of the tank trailer. The handrail assembly includes a top rail, a plurality of vertical members, a safety wire and, in most instances, a bottom rail. Each yoke assembly secures one of the top and bottom ends of the vertical members to either of the top and bottom rails or to a mounting bracket on the tank. Each yoke assembly includes a base member engaged partially in a bore of the vertical member, and a cradle member engaged with an exterior all of the top or bottom rails or mounting bracket. Base and cradle members are secured together by a pivot pin. Fluid-actuated cylinders extending between the vertical members and the tank move the handrail assembly between collapsed and expanded positions.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A yoke assembly for securing a vertical rail to a horizontal rail in a collapsible handrail assembly, said yoke assembly comprising:

a base member having a first end, a second end and a peripheral wall extending therebetween, said base member having a longitudinal axis extending between said first and second ends,
a first aperture defined in the peripheral wall and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the base member;
and wherein said base member is adapted to be at least partially received within a bore of the vertical rail;
a cradle member having a first end, a second end and sidewall extending therebetween;
said cradle member further having a longitudinal axis that extends between the first and second ends thereof;
and wherein the second end of the cradle member is adapted to engage an exterior region of a sidewall of the horizontal rail;
a hole defined in the cradle member and being disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, said cradle member being selectively engageable with the base member such that the hole and the first aperture are aligned;
and
a pivot pin extending through the aligned first aperture and hole;
said pivot pin securing the base and cradle members together and permitting them to pivot relative to each other about an axis disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the base and cradle members.

7 more elements

A collapsible handrail assembly for use on a top region of a tank trailer, said handrail assembly comprising:

a first horizontal rail having a first end, a second end and a first exterior wall therein between, said first horizontal rail having a first longitudinal axis that extends between the first and second ends thereof;
a second horizontal rail having a first end, a second end and a second exterior wall thereinbetween, said second horizontal rail having a second longitudinal axis that extends between the first and second ends thereof;
a vertical rail having a first end, a second end and a sidewall extending therebetween, said vertical rail having a third longitudinal axis that extends between the first and second ends thereof, and wherein a longitudinal bore is defined in the vertical rail;
a first yoke assembly engaged with the first end of the vertical rail and a portion of the first exterior wall of the first horizontal rail such that the vertical rail is able to pivot relative to the first horizontal rail about a first axis disposed at right angles to the third longitudinal axis;
and
a second yoke assembly engaged with the second end of the vertical rail and a portion of the second exterior wall of the second horizontal rail such that the vertical rail is able to pivot relative to the second horizontal rail and about a second axis disposed at right angles to the third longitudinal axis.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/142,128Filed 27 Dec 2013
Priority: 14 Nov 2011
Published: 24 Apr 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

B60R 21/02
Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic…
B60R 3/005
Arrangements of steps or ladders facilitating access to or on the vehicle, e.g. running-boards: catwalks, running boards for vehicle tops, access…
B60R
Vehicle fittings and parts

Family

Application13/295,694Division · filed 14 Nov 2011
Application14/142,128Division
US 2013/0119651 A1Published application
US 8,632,099 B2Related patent
US 2014/0110654 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.