Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Body shell
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-02
2004-01-27
Patel, Kiran (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Body shell
C296S183100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06682127
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of trailers are known for carrying cargo. For example, van type trailers typically include a deck assembly supported by a side wall structure, wheels and front legs. The deck assembly may include longitudinal floor boards and transverse cross-members, such as I-beams, extending between opposing bottom rails. The deck transfers its load to the bottom rails, wheels, and, depending upon whether or not the trailer is coupled to a tractor or is free-standing, to a tractor fifth wheel or to retractable front legs on the trailer.
In a monocoque type trailer, individual interior side wall panel members and an outer skin are joined together, often by a post, channel or zee-shaped structural member, and to a subframe to form a self-supporting body construction. The outer skin and inner panel members may carry some of the stresses between the posts, floor and roof of the trailer.
For example, it is known for the interior panels and the outer skin to attach to a plurality of vertical posts spaced apart along the trailer side wall. Referring to the cross-sectional view of a prior art vertical post shown in
FIG. 1
, a vertical post
1
includes a longitudinal central section
2
and a pair of first longitudinal flanges
3
disposed on either side of central section
2
and recessed from central section
2
between the central section and an outer skin
4
. The outer skin is fastened to a pair of second longitudinal flanges
5
by any suitable means, such as rivets (not shown). Side wall liner panels
6
are attached to the posts at first longitudinal flanges
3
by tapit pins
7
.
It is known to include a scuff band along the interior surface of a trailer wall to prevent damage to the wall when cargo is loaded into or removed from the trailer. If provided, the protective scuff band generally protrudes into an otherwise useable storage area within the trailer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing considerations, and others, of prior art construction and methods. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved trailer.
This and other objects are achieved by a trailer having a floor and first side wall that extends vertically upward from a side edge of the floor. The side wall includes a plurality of elongated vertical posts. Each post defines a longitudinal interior surface with a first portion disposed in a generally common plane and a second portion recessed from the plane. A scuff band is received within the recessed portions so that an interior facing surface of the scuff band is generally coplanar with or inward of the side wall's interior surface.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1701714 (1929-02-01), Ballenger
patent: 3141697 (1964-07-01), Tenenbaum et al.
patent: 3393920 (1968-07-01), Ehrlich
patent: 3547483 (1970-12-01), Ehrlich
patent: 3692349 (1972-09-01), Ehrlich
patent: 3711148 (1973-01-01), Hindin
patent: 3815500 (1974-06-01), Glassmeyer
patent: 4046278 (1977-09-01), Chieger et al.
patent: 4065168 (1977-12-01), Gregg
patent: 4212405 (1980-07-01), Schmidt
patent: 4214789 (1980-07-01), Katz et al.
patent: 4252067 (1981-02-01), Stark
patent: 4357047 (1982-11-01), Katz
patent: 4420183 (1983-12-01), Sherman
patent: 4498264 (1985-02-01), McCafferty et al.
patent: 4592585 (1986-06-01), Oren et al.
patent: 4810027 (1989-03-01), Ehrlich
patent: 4904017 (1990-02-01), Ehrlich
patent: 5041318 (1991-08-01), Hulls
patent: 5058756 (1991-10-01), Green
patent: 5112099 (1992-05-01), Yurgevich et al.
patent: 5195800 (1993-03-01), Stafford et al.
patent: 5433501 (1995-07-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5439266 (1995-08-01), Ehrlich
patent: 5507405 (1996-04-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5509714 (1996-04-01), Schmidt
patent: 5584252 (1996-12-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5584527 (1996-12-01), Sitter
patent: 5664826 (1997-09-01), Wilkens
patent: 5690378 (1997-11-01), Romesburg
patent: 5700118 (1997-12-01), Bennett et al.
patent: 5772276 (1998-06-01), Fetz et al.
patent: 5860693 (1999-01-01), Ehrlich
patent: 5876089 (1999-03-01), Ehrlich
patent: 5890757 (1999-04-01), Masterson et al.
patent: 5934742 (1999-08-01), Fenton et al.
patent: 5938274 (1999-08-01), Ehrlich
patent: 5992117 (1999-11-01), Schmidt
patent: 5997076 (1999-12-01), Ehrlich
patent: 6003932 (1999-12-01), Banerjea et al.
patent: 6010020 (2000-01-01), Abal
patent: 6199939 (2001-03-01), Ehrlich
patent: 6220651 (2001-04-01), Ehrlich
patent: 6322127 (2001-11-01), Masterson et al.
Drawing 40907700.
Drawing 11430156.
US2002/0098053A1; Zubko; Ser. No.: 09/767,767; filed: Jan. 23, 2001; Entitled: Composite Sidewall Panels for Cargo Containers.
Atkins William C.
Belew, Jr. Robert H.
D'Angelo Eric C.
Jones John M.
McCormack Daniel J.
Great Dane Limited Partnership
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Patel Kiran
LandOfFree
Trailer having improved side wall does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Trailer having improved side wall, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Trailer having improved side wall will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3235983