Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ ;3f~
SIDE R~II, AND TRAI~ER
WALL CONSTRUCTIO~
Background of -the Invention
-
l. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to over-the-
highway trailers or containers. More speciEically the in~en-
tion relates to a side rail construction which is interchange-
able for supporting outer posts or inner post trailer wall
designs and provides for use of common underframe components~
2. Description of -the Prior Ar~
The pertinent U. S. Patent of the prior art is
3,376~063 patented April 2, 1~68. The aforementioned patent
discloses a side wall construction which is provided at its
lower end with a side rail configuration. The side rail in-
cludes a vertical flat plate which is provided with a ledgeor inwardly extending flange which supports at its innermost
ends a vertical wall panel between which is disposed an inner
vertically e~tendin~ side or vertical post. The sheathing
or outer skin structure is connected to the upper ends of the
side rail and in turn is connected to the vertical post by
conventional fastening means. The present construction which
is an improvement over the aforementioned design is a side
rail which is of vertical T-shaped configuration having a
central vertical web provided at its upper end with outwardly
extending flange portions or projections to provide an upper
flat supporting surface, with the T-shaped configuration pro-
viding for substantially equal flange portions ex-tending
laterally outwardly from the web. The present improvement also
includes an upper support wall which is connected to the upper
flat surface of one of the flanges and which is disposed in
laterally offset relation with respect to the web of the
~31.3~
I'-shaped side rail. The present invention also allows the
use of a common manu~acturing process for either wall con~
struction.
Summary of the Invention
The invention broadly pertains to a vehicle
body having a floor having transverse support members connected
to the floor for supporting the same. The improvement of a
vertical wall structure comprises, a lower side rail having
a vertical web extending longi-tudinally with the body, with
means connecting the transverse support members to the vertical
web. A pair o~ flanges project outwardly from the upper end
of the web in vertical T-shaped configuration to provide a
horizontal supporting surface substantially co-extensive with
the web. ~ vertical support wall is connected to one of the
flanges in offset relation relative to the web substantially
co-extensive with the flanges and projecting upwardly with
respect thereto. ~ertical side posts are connected to the
vertical support wall and project upwardly with respect
thereto, and inner and outer vertical wall panels connected
are to the side parts.
More particularly, as disclosed the side wall
construction o~ a trailer is provided with a lower side rail
design having a T-shaped configuration which includes a verti-
cal web and laterally extending flanges on opposite sides of
the web to provide a substantially flat upper surface. Thus
the side rail web is of T-shaped configuration and includes
in offset relation a vertical supporting wall to which is
connected the sheathing and side posts which in the present
design may be of inner side post construction or outer side
post construction. The support wall is offset laterally with
respect to the vertical web and thus a flat surface is pro-
vided which supports and to which is connected the vertical
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posts. Posi~ionillg ~he oEfset support wall inwarclly provides
for the design wherein -the side posts are disposed outwar~ly
of the skin and support wall of th~ combination. Reversing
the position of the lower side rail the support wall is
disposed outwardly and -the side posts are extending inwardly,
the same having connected thereto a-t its outer ends the
sheathing or skin and at its inner portions the plywood
paneling forming the inner structure of the trailer body.
Thus the present side rail construction is adapted to be used
for either the outer side post or inner side post wall design.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an over-
the-highway trailer having a body which includes an outer
post structure;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along
the lines 2-2 of FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the design
shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along
the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a trailer
similar to that shown in FIG. 1 except that the -trailer wall
construction is of an inner post design;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken
substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the construction
shown in FIG~ 6~ and
FIG. 8 is a cross~sectional vie~ taken alon~
the'line'8-8 o~ FIG. 6, appearing with Figs. 4 and 5.
.. . . ... .... .. ... . ..
'Descri~ti'on of the`Prefe`rr'ed Embo'diment ,
S In FIG. l a trailer 10 generally includes a
body 11 having a lower side rail construction 12 supporting
outer side walls 13. The body 11 is supported on wheel sus-
pension 14 of conventional desi~n including landin~ gear lS
and a kin~ pin structure 16, ~s best shown in FIGS. 2~4 the
floor 17 of the trailer 10 is supported by means of a
plurality of transverse channel support members i8 including
flanges 18' to which the floor 17 is connected'by means o~ ~.
conventional securing ~asteners 19. The support members 18 ,~
also include vertical flan~es 20'which ~y m~ans of rivets 21 ' ~'
lS are secured to the vertical web 22 of a side rail 12. ~
vertical rail 22 as best shown in FI~S. 2 and 6 are provided
at the top with outwardly pro~ecting flanges 23 and 24 ex-
tending substantially the same distance outwardly. The flanges
: 23 and 24 provide an upper flat surface 24'. ~ support wall
25 is supported on the flange 24 and projects vertically with
respect thereto. The support wall 25 includes longitudinal
ribs 26 and vertically spaced longitudinal depressed flats 27.
Thus the vertical support wall 25 has what may be termed a
corrugated type of construction~ The wall 25 is offset with
respect to the vertical web 2~ and thus pro~ides for inter-
changeable use,when the trailer is to be provided with either
an outer post construction or an inner post construction as
shown in F'IGS~ 2 ~nd 6,
~he tr~iler construction includes vertical
posts generally desi~nated at ~8, these being o~ hat-shaped
design. Each vertical post includes a vertical central wall
or web 29 having angle-shaped flanges 30 and 31 as best shown
in FIGS. 3 and 7 and 4 and 8. In the design shown in FIGS.
1-4 sheathin~ or skin forming outer wall panels 32 are riveted
. to the support wall 2S by means of rivets 33. In this design
therefore the posts extend outwardly of the sheathing or skin
structure. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 the floor side edyes
are stepped as indicated at 34 and the flexible seal 35 is dis-
pos~d between the step edges and the flanges of the side rail.
In the design shown in FIGS. 1-4 an inner plywood panel 37 is
connected to the sheathing 32 and projects inwardly with re~pect
l~ thereto.
~he arrangement shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8
utilizes the identical side rail 12, only in this case posi-
tioning the wall 25 outwardly with the f~at surface 24' pro-
jecting inwardly and with the hat section side post 28 al50
projecting inwardly and supporting the plywood panel 37. Thus
în the arrangement of the parts as shown in FIGS., 5-8 the
identical parts are utilized with the exception that the outer
skin 32', which, as shown in FIG. 6 is attached to the flanges
31 of the side post and thus provides for the inwardly extend-
ing side post design. Thus the side posts in the design showni~ FIG. 6 are hidden from view in that they are covered by the
inner wall panel 37 and they are hidden from view on the outer
side by the ~orrugated sheathing 32~. Thus the T-shaped con-
figuration and claimed side rail structure with the offset sup-
port wall provides for interchangeability wherein either of the
3~ l6
types of wall structures ma~ be utilized~
