Coining offset into edge of composite plate members for forming trailer doors and walls
AssigneeWabash National, L.P.
InventorRodney P. Ehrlich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trailer wall or door is formed from a plurality of first and second composite plate members, each having a novel joint therebetween. Each composite plate member is formed from first and second metal skins having a compressible plastic core sandwiched therebetween. A first overlapping skin member of the first composite plate member overlaps a portion of the second composite plate member. A second overlapping skin member of the second composite plate member overlaps a portion of the first composite plate member. A portion of the second skin of the second composite plate member is stepped and the first overlapping skin member is seated thereagainst. Rivets are provided for joining the plate members together.
Claims18
A joint for joining plate members together for use in forming a trailer wall or trailer door, said joint comprising:
- a first composite plate member having first and second opposite ends and including first and second metal skins with a plastic core sandwiched therebetween;
- a second composite plate member having first and second opposite ends and including first and second metal skins with a plastic core sandwiched therebetween, at least one of said inner and outer skins of said second composite plate having an end portion which is stepped so as to compress said plastic core between said inner and outer skins and to define a stepped end portion;
- a first overlapping skin member associated with said second skin of said first composite plate member for overlapping a portion of said second skin of said second composite plate member;
- a second overlapping skin member associated with said first skin of said second composite plate member for overlapping a portion of said first skin of said first composite plate member;
- and joining means for joining said first composite plate member and said second composite plate member together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.