# US 9,815,501 B2 · Cargo vehicle and molding assembly for a cargo vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,815,501 B2 - Document ID: US9815501B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/520,316 - Filed: 2014-10-21 - Published: 2016-04-21 - Granted: 2017-11-14 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-21 - Assignees: Great Dane LLC - Applicants: Daniel J. McCormack; Timothy P. Meyer - Inventors: Daniel J. McCormack; Timothy P. Meyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9815501B2 ## CPC - B62D 33/04: Enclosed load compartments {; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains (side curtains per se B60J5/065; tarpaulins per se B60J7/00, B60P7/04)} - B60Q 3/30: for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments - B62D 25/06: Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) - B62D 33/046: {built up with flat self-supporting panels; Fixed connections between panels (B62D29/045, B62D33/048 take precedence)} - B62D 33/048: {for refrigerated goods vehicles} - 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) - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract A cargo compartment for use with a motorized vehicle, and a vehicle having a cargo compartment, have a floor, a roof, a first side wall, and a second side wall. Each side wall extends between the floor and the roof, defining intersections therebetween. A molding assembly is disposed in the intersection and has an elongated back portion and an elongated cover portion, so that the cover portion is disposed between the back portion and an interior cargo compartment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cargo compartment for use with a motorized vehicle, comprising: a floor; a roof, a first side wall extending between the floor and the roof, defining a first intersection between the roof and the first side wall; a second side wall extending between the floor and the roof, defining a second intersection between the roof and the second side wall, wherein the floor, the roof, the first side wall and the second side wall define an interior of the cargo compartment; and a first molding assembly disposed at the first intersection and covering the first intersection between the first intersection and the interior comprising a back portion that is elongated in a direction parallel to the first intersection that extends between a surface of the first side wall facing the interior and a surface of the roof facing the interior and that is attached to the surface of the first side wall at a position on the surface of the first side wall offset from the first intersection and to the surface of the roof at a position on the surface of the roof offset from the first intersection and so that the back portion is between the first intersection and the interior, and a cover portion that is elongated in the direction parallel to the first intersection and that is attached to the back portion so that the cover portion is disposed between the interior and a face of the back portion facing toward the interior. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cargo compartment as in claim 1, comprising a first plurality of fasteners extending through the face of the back portion and into the roof at the offset position on the surface of the roof, and a second plurality of fasteners extending through the face of the back portion and into the first side wall at the offset position on the surface of the first side wall, wherein the cover portion covers the first plurality of fasteners and the second plurality of fasteners with respect to the interior. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cargo compartment as in claim 1, wherein the back portion is comprised of a first generally planar web portion disposed opposite the surface of the first side wall and a second generally planar web portion disposed opposite the surface of the roof, wherein the first generally planar web portion and the second generally planar web portion are substantially perpendicular to each other and define the face of the back portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cargo compartment as in claim 1, wherein the cover portion is configured in cooperation with the back portion so that the cover portion is retained by the back portion in a snap fit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cargo compartment as in claim 4, wherein the back portion defines a first groove at a first end of the back portion and a second groove at a second end of the back portion opposite the first end with respect to the first intersection, wherein the first groove and the second groove are generally parallel to each other, and wherein opposing edges of the cover portion are respectively received in the first groove and the second groove in the snap fit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cargo compartment as in claim 4, wherein the back portion defines one or more female grooves with one or more first flanges extending therefrom and wherein the cover portion defines one or more male extensions having one or more second flanges extending therefrom, and wherein the one or more female grooves receive the one or more male extensions so that the one or more first flanges oppose the one or more second flanges in the snap fit to retain the cover portion on the back portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cargo compartment as in claim 1, comprising a second molding assembly disposed at the second intersection comprising a back portion that is elongated in a direction parallel to the second intersection and that extends between, and is attached to each of, a surface of the second side wall facing the interior and a surface of the roof facing the interior so that the back portion of the second molding assembly is between the second intersection and the interior, and a cover portion that is elongated in the direction parallel to the second intersection and that is attached to the back portion of the second molding assembly so that the cover portion of the second molding assembly is disposed between the interior and a face of the back portion of the second molding assembly facing toward the interior. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cargo compartment as in claim 1, wherein one of the back portion and the cover portion defines a first edge in sealing engagement with the surface of the first side wall and a second edge in sealing engagement with the surface of the roof, and wherein one of, or the combination of, the back portion and the cover portion defines a continuous surface between the first edge and the second edge, thereby providing a seal inhibiting an air flow path from the interior between the first molding assembly and the first intersection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cargo compartment as in claim 8, wherein the first edge comprises a first flexible edge adjacent the surface of the first side wall, the second edge comprises a second flexible edge adjacent the surface of the roof, and the one of the back portion and the cover portion defines a body portion extending between the first flexible edge and the second flexible edge, wherein each of the first flexible edge and the second flexible edge respectively engage the surface of the first side wall and the surface of the roof with a bias force toward the respective surface of the first side wall and surface of the roof arising from the configuration of the first flexible edge and the second flexible edge with respect to the body portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The cargo compartment as in claim 8, wherein the one of the back portion and the cover portion is the back portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The cargo compartment as in claim 8, wherein the one of the back portion and the cover portion is the cover portion. ### Claim 12 A cargo compartment for use with a motorized vehicle, comprising: a floor; a roof; a first side wall extending between the floor and the roof; a second side wall extending between the floor and the roof and opposing the first side wall; a front wall extending between the floor and the roof and extending between the first side wall and the second side wall; a rear frame attached at least to the floor and the roof opposite the front wall; wherein the floor, the roof, the first side wall, and the second side wall define an interior of the cargo compartment; at least one intersection between a first surface of one of the floor, the roof, the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the rear frame, and a second surface of one other of the floor, the roof, the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the rear frame; and a first molding assembly disposed at the at least one intersection and covering the at least one intersection between the at least one intersection and the interior, comprising a back portion that is elongated in a direction parallel to the at least one intersection and that extends between, and is attached to at least one of, the first surface and the second surface so that the back portion is between the at least one intersection and the interior, a cover portion that is elongated in the direction parallel to the at least one intersection and that is attached to the back portion so that the cover portion is disposed between the interior and a face of the back portion facing toward the interior, a light source disposed on at least a portion of a face of the cover portion that faces the interior and that is formed integrally with the cover portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cargo compartment as in claim 12, wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The cargo compartment as in claim 12, wherein the face of the cover portion defines a surface that is elongated in the direction parallel to the at least one intersection and wherein the light source is received at the surface of the face of the cover portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cargo compartment as in claim 14, wherein the light source is an elongated substrate on which is disposed a plurality of light emitting diodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cargo compartment as in claim 15, wherein the elongated substrate has adhesive disposed on one side thereof, and wherein the one side of the elongated substrate is attached to the surface of the face of the cover portion by the adhesive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The cargo compartment as in claim 15, wherein the face of the cover portion defines a groove that includes the surface of the face of the cover portion, wherein the elongated substrate is received in a sliding fit within the cover portion groove, and wherein the cover portion groove defines edges that retain the elongated substrate in the cover portion groove in the direction of the interior. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The cargo compartment as in claim 12, comprising electrical wires that provide electric current to the light source, wherein the cover portion defines a hole through which the wires extend from the light source to a gap between the cover portion and the back portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The cargo compartment as in claim 18, wherein the back portion defines a hole through which the wires extend into an electrical conduit disposed in the first side wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The cargo compartment as in claim 12, wherein the light source extends over the entire length of the cover portion in the direction of the at least one intersection. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The cargo compartment as in claim 12, wherein the light source extends over a part of the entire length of the cover portion in the direction parallel to the at least one intersection but does not extend over an other part of the entire length of the cover portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The cargo compartment as in claim 12, wherein the back portion is attached to the first surface and to the second surface. ### Claim 23 A cargo vehicle, comprising: a wheeled chassis; a floor disposed on the chassis; a roof; a first side wall extending between the floor and the roof, defining a first intersection between the roof and the first side wall; a second side wall extending between the floor and the roof, defining a second intersection between the roof and the second side wall, wherein the floor, the roof, the first side wall and the second side wall define an interior; and a first molding assembly disposed at the first intersection and covering the first intersection between the first intersection and the interior, comprising a back portion that is elongated in a direction parallel to the first intersection that extends between a surface of the first side wall facing the interior and a surface of the roof facing the interior and that is attached to the surface of the first side wall at a position on the surface of the first side wall offset from the first intersection and to the surface of the roof at a position on the surface of the roof offset from the first intersection and so that the back portion is between the first intersection and the interior, and a cover portion that is elongated in the direction parallel to the first intersection and that is attached to the back portion so that the cover portion is disposed between the interior and a face of the back portion facing toward the interior. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The cargo vehicle as in claim 23, wherein the cover portion is configured in cooperation with the back portion so that the cover portion is retained by the back portion in a snap fit. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The cargo vehicle as in claim 23, comprising a second molding assembly disposed at the second intersection comprising a back portion that is elongated in a direction parallel to the second intersection and that extends between, and is attached to each of, a surface of the second side wall facing the interior and a surface of the roof facing the interior so that the back portion of the second molding assembly is between the second intersection and the interior, and a cover portion that is elongated in the direction parallel to the second intersection and that is attached to the back portion of the second molding assembly so that the cover portion of the second molding assembly is disposed between the interior and a face of the back portion of the second molding assembly facing toward the interior. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The cargo vehicle as in claim 23, wherein one of the back portion and the cover portion defines a first edge in sealing engagement with the surface of the first side wall and a second edge in sealing engagement with the surface of the roof, and wherein one of, or the combination of, the back portion and the cover portion defines a continuous surface between the first edge and the second edge, thereby providing a seal inhibiting an air flow path from the interior between the first molding assembly and the first intersection. ### Claim 27 A cargo vehicle, comprising: a wheeled chassis; a floor disposed on the chassis; a roof; a first side wall extending between the floor and the roof; a second side wall extending between the floor and the roof and opposing the first side wall; a front wall extending between the floor and the roof and extending between the first side wall and the second side wall; a rear frame attached at least to the floor and the roof opposite the front wall; wherein the floor, the roof, the first side wall, and the second side wall define an interior; at least one intersection between a first surface of one of the floor, the roof, the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the rear frame, and a second surface of one other of the floor, the roof, the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and the rear frame; and a first molding assembly disposed at the at least one intersection and covering the at least one intersection between the at least one intersection and the interior, comprising a back portion that is elongated in a direction parallel to the at least one intersection and that extends between, and is attached to at least one of, the first surface and the second surface so that the back portion is between the at least one intersection and the interior, a cover portion that is elongated in the direction parallel to the at least one intersection and that is attached to the back portion so that the cover portion is disposed between the interior and a face of the back portion facing toward the interior, and a light source disposed on at least a portion of a face of the cover portion that faces the interior and that is formed integrally with the cover portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The cargo vehicle as in claim 27, wherein the face of the cover portion defines a surface that is elongated in the direction parallel to the at least one intersection and wherein the light source is received at the surface of the face of the cover portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The cargo vehicle as in claim 28, wherein the light source is an elongated substrate on which is disposed a plurality of light emitting diodes. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The cargo vehicle as in claim 29, wherein the face of the cover portion defines a groove that includes the surface of the face of the cover portion, wherein the elongated substrate is received in a sliding fit within the cover portion groove, and wherein the cover portion groove defines edges that retain the elongated substrate in the cover portion groove in the direction of the interior. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The cargo vehicle as in claim 27, comprising electrical wires that provide electric current to the light source, wherein the cover portion defines a hole through which the wires extend from the light source to a gap between the cover portion and the back portion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The cargo vehicle as in claim 27, wherein the light source extends over the entire length of the cover portion in the direction parallel to the at least one intersection. ### Claim 33 A cargo compartment for use with a motorized vehicle, the cargo compartment comprising: a floor; a roof that is substantially parallel to the floor; a first side wall and a second side wall extending between the floor and the roof, wherein an intersection of the first side wall and the roof defines a first corner and wherein the roof, the floor, the first side wall, and the second side wall define an interior of the cargo compartment; and a first lighting assembly comprising: a back portion elongated in a direction parallel to the intersection and including an elongated first web having an elongated retention recess and an elongated second web having an elongated retention recess that intersect at a corner, wherein the back portion is fixed at the first corner of the cargo compartment between the first corner and the interior, with the first web in abutment with the first side wall and the second web in abutment with the roof; a first cover portion elongated in the direction and attached to the back portion so that the first cover portion is disposed between the interior and the back portion, the first cover portion including an elongated first web defining a retention flange disposed along a distal edge of the elongated first web, an elongated second web defining a retention flange disposed along a distal edge of the elongated second web, and an elongated light retention track formed integrally within the first cover portion and extending between the first web and the second web of the first cover portion; and a light source on a substrate that is elongated in the direction and that is received within the light retention track of the first cover portion, wherein the retention flange of the first web of the first cover portion is received in the retention recess of the first web of the back portion, and the retention flange of the second web of the first cover portion is received in the retention recess of the second web of the back portion, so that the first cover portion is removably secured to the back portion. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The cargo compartment of claim 33, wherein the first web and the second web of the back portion are substantially perpendicular to each other. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The cargo compartment of claim 34, wherein the first web and the second web of the back portion are formed of a rigid polyvinyl chloride material. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The cargo compartment of claim 35, wherein the first web and the second web of the back portion each further comprise a sealing flange extending along its distal edge, wherein the sealing flanges are comprised of a flexible material. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The cargo compartment of claim 33, wherein the light retention track further comprises a base wall and a pair of opposed radially-inwardly depending flanges that define an elongated recess, and the elongated light source is slidably received within the elongated recess defined by the opposed radially-inwardly depending flanges. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The cargo compartment of claim 37, wherein the elongated light source further comprises a laminated strip including a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed along its length. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The cargo compartment of claim 33, wherein the elongated light source further comprises lead wires that provide power from a power source to the light source, wherein the lead wires are disposed within an elongated recess defined between the back portion and the first cover portion. ### Claim 40 (depends on 33) The cargo compartment of claim 33, wherein the first web and the second web of the back portion are fixed to the side wall and the roof, respectively, by fasteners, each fastener having a head portion adjacent an inner surface of a corresponding one of the first web and the second web, and a shank portion passing through the corresponding one of the first web and the second web, wherein the head portions of the fasteners are disposed in an elongated recess defined between the back portion and the first cover portion. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The cargo compartment of claim 39, further comprising: an elongated second cover portion to which the light source is not attached and that comprises an elongated first web defining a retention flange disposed along a distal edge of the elongated first web of the elongated second cover portion and an elongated second web defining a retention flange disposed along a distal edge of the elongated second web of the elongated second cover portion, wherein the retention flange of the first web of the second cover portion is received in the retention recess of the first web of the back portion, and the retention flange of the second web of the second cover portion is received in the retention recess of the second web of the back portion, so that the second cover portion is removably secured to the back portion adjacent the first cover portion, the second cover portion and the back portion forming an elongated recess therebetween in which the lead wires of the light source are disposed.