US 2018/0009401 A1 · TRAILER WITH REAR IMPACT GUARD

Abstract

A trailer frame includes a rear bolster, cross-members, and corner gussets extending forwardly from ends of the rear bolster. A rear impact guard includes a bumper positioned at the rear end of the trailer and spaced below the rear bolster, pair of outboard posts, and at least one inboard post. The outboard posts extend between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent respective opposed distal ends of the bumper, and the inboard post extends between the bumper and the rear bolster between the outboard posts. Each of the pair of outboard posts has a lower end that overlaps with a respective mounting bracket that protrudes upwardly toward the rear bolster from the bumper such that mounting holes of the outboard posts align with mounting holes of the mounting brackets. A laterally-outboard panel of each mounting bracket extends obliquely from the bumper in a direction with a laterally-outward component.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A rear impact guard for attachment to a rear frame portion of a trailer, the rear impact guard comprising:

a bumper extending along an axis defining a first direction to be oriented transversely to span laterally at a distance below the rear frame portion;
a pair of outboard posts extending from respective opposed distal ends of the bumper in a second direction so that the bumper can be spaced below the rear frame portion by the pair of outboard posts;
and
at least one inboard post extending from the bumper at a location between the pair of outboard posts,
wherein each of the pair of outboard posts has a lower end that overlaps with a respective mounting bracket that protrudes upwardly from the bumper such that mounting holes of the outboard posts align with mounting holes of the mounting brackets, and
wherein each mounting bracket has a laterally-outboard panel that extends obliquely from the bumper in a direction with a laterally-outward component.

3 more elements

A trailer comprising:

a front end provided for attachment to a truck;
a rear end spaced in a longitudinal direction from the front end to define a cargo area between the front and rear ends:
a frame including
a pair of laterally spaced vertical corner posts at the rear end,
a rear bolster extending transversely to the longitudinal direction below a bottom rear edge of the cargo area, between the pair of vertical corner posts, and
a pair of corner gussets extending forwardly from respective bottom portions of the pair of vertical corner posts;
and
a rear impact guard including
a bumper positioned at the rear end of the trailer and spaced below the rear bolster,
a pair of outboard posts, each having a lower end secured to a distal end of the bumper and an upper end secured to a laterally outboard portion of the frame, and
at least one inboard post extending between the bumper and the rear bolster at a location between the pair of outboard posts,
wherein each of the pair of outboard posts includes a plurality of panels extending between the upper and lower ends, and a top gusset extending between and interconnecting the plurality of panels, the top gusset defining a top surface supporting a bottom of each of:
the rear bolster, the respective one of the pair of vertical corner posts, and the respective one of the pair of corner gussets.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Trailer with rear impact guard

Life of this patent

Trailer with rear impact guard

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20