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Support system for aerodynamic skirt assembly and method of installation thereof

  • US 10,414,448 B2
  • Filed: 09/06/2016
  • Issued: 09/17/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A skirt securing connector securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer, the skirt securing connector comprising:

  • an upper portion adapted to fixedly secure the skirt securing connector to the trailer and adapted to secure an upper portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel;

    a lower portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel; and

    a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing the rigidity of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt in an aerodynamic configuration and allowing the strut member to deform to buckle and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to momentarily move the aerodynamic skirt from the aerodynamic configuration to an object avoidance configuration and returning back by itself to the aerodynamic configuration when the force exceeding the buckling threshold is not applied on the aerodynamic skirt.

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