Method for securing slider to trailer
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
InventorsJames Eckelberry, Frank A. Maly, Jr., Steven R. Miller, John K. Ma, Joseph Melekian, Nancy L. Saxon, Rajesh J. Somnay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A number of improved ways of connecting a slider to a trailer frame are disclosed. In one general type of solution, a wedge-shaped locking surface is formed on both the slider and the trailer. The wedged surfaces provide a very secure connection. In another general way of describing the embodiments, several of the embodiments have a plurality of locking surfaces which again provide a more secure connection.
Claims7
A slider for being secured to a trailer comprising:
- a slider frame positioned on each lateral side of a slider body;
- and
- a mechanism for securing said slider body to a trailer frame, said mechanism including a locking member which is driven in a first direction by said mechanism such that a locking member engagement surface engages a complementary frame surface on said trailer frame, and said engagement surface being in contact with said frame surface, over a contact area which increases in a direction opposite to said first direction.
A slider for being secured to a trailer comprising:
- a slider frame positioned on each lateral side of a slider body;
- a mechanism for securing said slider body to a trailer frame, said mechanism including a locking member which is driven in a first direction by said mechanism such that a locking member surface engages a frame surface on said trailer frame, and said locking member surface interacting with said frame surface with an engagement surface which increase in the direction to which said locking member is driven;
- said locking member includes a toothed clutch member having a wedged-shape which is to be driven into a wedged opening in said frame;
- and
- said toothed clutch member includes a plurality of teeth, and said slider mechanism carrying said plurality of teeth on a pivoting lever.
A slider for being secured to a trailer comprising:
- a slider frame positioned on each of two lateral sides of a slider body;
- a mechanism for securing said slider body to a trailer frame, said mechanism including a plurality of surfaces complementary to a plurality of surfaces on each said lateral side of said trailer frame;
- and
- said plurality of surfaces are wedge-shaped teeth which are pivoted to a locking position at which they will be engaged in teeth in said trailer, when said slider is mounted on said trailer.
A trailer and slider combination comprising:
- a trailer having frame rails on each of two opposed lateral sides;
- a slider including frame surfaces associated with each of said lateral sides of said trailer;
- said frame surfaces on said trailer having a plurality of incrementally spaced locking locations, and said slider having a locking mechanism for locking said slider into selected ones of said incrementally spaced locking locations, said locking mechanism on said slider including a surface which is wedge-shaped and complimentary to a wedged surface on said trailer, said wedge-shaped surface being in contact with said wedged surface on said trailer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.