Aerodynamic Fairing Assembly for Tractor-Trailers
AssigneeR-N-R International, Inc.
InventorStewart E. Gardner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The aerodynamic fairing assembly attaches to the existing hardware of the swinging doors of conventional trailers to improve the aerodynamics. The fairing assembly includes left and right folding fairing panels that mount to the existing door hinges and two sets of lock arms that mount to the existing bar lock mechanism of a conventional box style trailer. The folding fairing panels manually fold between stowed and deployed positions.
Claims5
An aerodynamic fairing assembly for a tractor trailer, where the trailer includes a rear trailer door, a door hinge part for allowing the trailer door to pivot between a open position and a closed position, and a lock bar mechanism for securing the door in one of the closed position and having a rotating lock bar part mounted to the rear trailer door, the fairing assembly comprising:
- a folding panel;
- a panel hinge connecting the folding panel to the door hinge part so that the folding panel is movable between a deployed position where the folding panel extends rearward of the trailer door and a stowed position where the folding panel overlies the trailer door;
- and
- a lock arm affixed to the lock bar part for pivotal movement between a locked position where the lock arm engages the folding panel to secure the folding panel in one of the deployed position and stowed position and an unlocked position where the lock arm is spaced from the folding panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.