Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Body shell
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-17
2001-09-18
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Body shell
C296S210000, C160S045000, C135S088010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290285
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to trailers and, more particularly, to trailer and top rail components used in the construction of trailers.
BACKGROUND
High strength is a desirable characteristic in trailers, but the desire for strength typically competes with the needs for space and aesthetically pleasing construction. An important area of the trailer is the top perimeter corner which is formed by a top rail. Though successfiily increasing strength, previous endeavors to strengthen top rails have sacrificed space and/or aesthetics.
Another aesthetic and fimctional concern, for trailers and the top rails in particular, is how awnings are mounted on the top rails. Presently, awnings are removably mounted on trailers by mounting strips. The mounting strips are fastened to the exterior surface of the trailers, usually the top rails, with conventional fasteners such as nuts and bolts. Thus, the mounting strips are raised significantly above the exterior surfaces of the traiers and the heads of the fasteners are typically exposed thereby detracting from the aesthetic value of the trailers. Further, the fasteners compromise the integrity of the top rails reducing strength and providing a pathway for water entry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved top rail assembly providing increased strength without unacceptably sacrificing space and aesthetics.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved top rail assembly providing an aesthetically and fimctionally improved awning mount.
In carrying out the foregoing and other objects, the present invention contemplates an improved vehicle top rail assembly having a vehicle shell member with a substantially rigid body. The body defines an outer surface that has a recessed awning groove. The groove includes an open mouth for receiving an awning member.
In a preferred embodiment, the awning mount groove is cylindrical, and the open mouth is positioned above the outer surface and defined between a pair of opposed legs extending outwardly from the outer surface. The open mouth is preferably narrower than the largest dimension of the awning mount groove.
The present invention further contemplates a top rail assembly for joining a side wall and a roof of a vehicle, preferably a trailer. The top rail side wall and roof connections are for connecting to a side wall and a roof, respectively. A transition section extends between and joins the side wall and roof connections, and a support brace extends between a side wall brace tab and a roof brace tab of the side wall and roof connections, respectively.
In a preferred emboddnent, the support brace includes a substantially flat roof foot which is removably attached to the roof brace tab by a fastener, so that the transition section and the support brace define a wire chase opening therebetween. The support brace also includes a side wall foot. The side wall foot defines a recess which receives the side wall brace tab therein.
The present invention also contemplates incorporating the top rail assembly into a vehicle, preferably a trailer having a roof, side walls, and a floor supported on a vehicle frame. The top rail assembly joins the side walls to the roof and provides an aesthetically pleasing awning mount groove, so that awnings can be mounted on the trailer when stationary.
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Gutman Hilary
Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
Pape Joseph D.
Sooner Trailer Manufacturing Co. Inc.
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