# US 8,783,758 B2 · Folding side skirt system for a trailer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,758 B2 - Document ID: US8783758B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/847,111 - Filed: 2013-03-19 - Published: 2013-09-26 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-21 - Assignees: Wabash National, L.P. - Applicants: Leonard W. Baker - Inventors: Leonard W. Baker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783758B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/001: {For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. The side skirt wall includes (i) a first wall panel having a first end configured to be pivotably coupled to a rear wheel assembly of the trailer and (ii) a second wall panel having a first end pivotably coupled to a second end of the first wall panel and a second end configured to be pivotably coupled to a rear portion of the trailer. The side skirt wall is movable between a fully-extended position wherein the first and second wall panels cooperate to define a generally planar side skirt wall and a fully-retracted position wherein the first and second wall panels are angled relative to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer, comprising: a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer, the side skirt wall including (i) a first wall panel having a first end configured to be pivotably coupled to a rear wheel assembly of the trailer and (ii) a second wall panel having a first end pivotably coupled to a second end of the first wall panel and a second end configured to be pivotably coupled to a rear portion of the trailer, wherein the side skirt wall is movable between a fully-extended position wherein the first and second wall panels cooperate to define a generally planar side skirt wall and a fully-retracted position wherein the first and second wall panels are angled relative to each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The side skirt system of claim 1, wherein a front end of the front wall panel is spaced a first distance from a rear end of the second wall panel when the side skirt wall is in the fully-extended position, and wherein the front end of the front wall panel is spaced a second, smaller distance away from the rear end of the rear wall panel when the side skirt wall is in the fully-retracted position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The side skirt system of claim 1, wherein the side skirt wall is angled relative to a sidewall of the trailer when the side skirt wall is in the fully-extended position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The side skirt system of claim 3, wherein a rear end of the side skirt wall is positioned inwardly of a front end of the side skirt wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The side skirt system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket configured to be coupled to the rear wheel assembly of the trailer, wherein the first wall panel is pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The side skirt system of claim 5, wherein the mounting bracket includes a horizontal bar and a vertical post coupled to one end of the horizontal bar, and wherein the first end of the first wall panel is pivotably coupled to the vertical post. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The side skirt system of claim 6, wherein the vertical post of the mounting bracket extends downwardly therefrom to define an axis about which the first wall panel pivots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The side skirt system of claim 1, wherein the first and second wall panels are each made of a composite material including an outer skin, an inner skin, and a core positioned between and coupled to the first and second skins. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The side skirt system of claim 8, wherein the inner and outer skins are metal and the core is a polymer. ### Claim 10 A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer, comprising: a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer, wherein the side skirt wall is movable between a fully-extended position wherein the side skirt wall generally defines a straight line, and a fully-retracted position wherein a first distance between a front end and a rear end of the side skirt wall is less than a second distance between the front end and the rear end of the side skirt wall when the side skirt wall is in the fully-extended position, wherein the front end of the side skirt wall is configured to be coupled to a rear wheel assembly of the trailer for back-and-forth movement therewith, and wherein the rear end of the side skirt wall is configured to be coupled to a rear portion of the trailer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The side skirt system of claim 10, wherein the side skirt wall includes a plurality of wall panels, and the wall panels are generally aligned with each other when the side skirt wall is in the fully-extended position, and wherein outer surfaces of two adjacent panels are substantially facing each other when the side skirt wall is in the full-retracted position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The side skirt system of claim 11, wherein the side skirt wall includes a first wall panel and a second wall panel pivotably coupled to the first wall panel for pivoting movement relative thereto about a generally vertical axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The side skirt system of claim 12, wherein the side skirt wall further includes a hinge coupled to and positioned between the first and second wall panels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The side skirt system of claim 12, wherein the vertical axis moves inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the trailer when the side skirt system is moved from the fully-extended position to the fully-retracted position. ### Claim 15 A trailer and side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer, comprising: a trailer having sidewalls, a floor assembly, a rear bumper coupled to and extending downwardly from the floor assembly, and a rear wheel assembly coupled to the floor assembly, wherein the wheel assembly is movable relative to the floor assembly between a first, forward position wherein the rear wheel assembly is spaced a first distance away from the rear bumper and a second, rearward position wherein the rear wheel assembly is spaced a second distance smaller than the first distance away from the rear bumper; and a side skirt system coupled to the trailer and extending downwardly below the floor assembly of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer between the rear wheel assembly and the rear bumper of the trailer, wherein a front end of the side skirt system is configured to move back-and-forth with the rear wheel assembly relative to the floor assembly, and wherein a rear end of the side skirt system is configured to remain generally stationary relative to the floor assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The trailer and side skirt system of claim 15, wherein the side skirt system includes a plurality of wall panels pivotably coupled to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The trailer and side skirt system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of wall panels includes a first wall panel pivotably coupled to the rear wheel assembly and a second wall panel pivotably coupled at a first end to the first wall panel and at a second end to at least one of the rear bumper, a rear end portion of a slide rail, a rear end portion of a rear end wall, and a rear end portion of the sidewall of the trailer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The trailer and side skirt system of claim 15, wherein the side skirt wall defines a plane generally angled relative to a plane defined by the sidewall of the trailer when the side skirt system is in the fully-extended position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The trailer and side skirt system of claim 18, wherein a rear end of the skirt wall is positioned inwardly relative to the trailer from a front end of the skirt wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The trailer and side skirt system of claim 15, further comprising a mounting bracket coupled to the rear wheel assembly, wherein the front wall panel of the side skirt wall is pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The trailer and side skirt system of claim 15, further comprising a rear bumper deflector for reducing drag on the trailer, wherein the rear bumper deflector defines a horizontally planar body coupled to the rear bumper of the trailer at a location spaced apart from the floor assembly of the trailer, and wherein the rear bumper deflector extends forwardly from the rear bumper toward the rear wheel assembly. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The trailer and side skirt system of claim 21, wherein the rear bumper deflector is positioned outwardly from the rear end of the side skirt system.