Rear impact guard
First Claim
1. A trailer comprising:
- a front end provided for attachment to a truck;
a rear end spaced in a longitudinal direction from the front end to define a cargo area between the front and rear ends;
a frame includinga rear bolster extending in a transverse direction across the rear end of the trailer below a bottom rear edge of the cargo area, anda pair of spaced rear frame posts extending upwardly from respective distal ends of the rear bolster; and
a rear impact guard including a bumper extending transversely and spaced below the rear bolster, a pair of outboard posts extending between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent the respective distal ends of the rear bolster, and at least one inboard post extending between the bumper and the rear bolster at a location between the pair of outboard posts,wherein each of the pair of outboard posts has a lower end defining an interface with the bumper and an upper end defining an interface with a bottom portion of the rear bolster,wherein the upper end of each of the pair of outboard posts is provided with a first row of apertures aligned with corresponding apertures provided in the bottom portion of the rear bolster, each of the apertures of the first row accommodating a removable fastener securing the rear impact guard to the rear bolster, andwherein the upper end of each of the pair of outboard posts is provided with a second row of apertures forward of the first row of apertures and aligned with corresponding apertures provided in the bottom portion of the rear bolster, each of the apertures of the second row accommodating a removable fastener securing the rear impact guard to the rear bolster.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer includes front and rear ends spaced in a longitudinal direction to define a cargo area. A frame includes a rear bolster extending in a transverse direction across the rear end below a bottom rear edge of the cargo area. Spaced rear frame posts extend upwardly from respective distal ends of the rear bolster. A rear impact guard includes a bumper extending transversely and spaced below the rear bolster, a pair of outboard posts extending between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent the respective distal ends of the rear bolster, and at least one inboard post. Each of the outboard posts has a rearward-extending horizontal first flange and an upward-extending vertical second flange spaced forwardly of the first flange, these flanges including multiple apertures aligned with apertures in the trailer frame, each of the apertures accommodating a removable fastener securing the rear impact guard to the trailer frame.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A trailer comprising:
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a front end provided for attachment to a truck; a rear end spaced in a longitudinal direction from the front end to define a cargo area between the front and rear ends; a frame including a rear bolster extending in a transverse direction across the rear end of the trailer below a bottom rear edge of the cargo area, and a pair of spaced rear frame posts extending upwardly from respective distal ends of the rear bolster; and a rear impact guard including a bumper extending transversely and spaced below the rear bolster, a pair of outboard posts extending between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent the respective distal ends of the rear bolster, and at least one inboard post extending between the bumper and the rear bolster at a location between the pair of outboard posts, wherein each of the pair of outboard posts has a lower end defining an interface with the bumper and an upper end defining an interface with a bottom portion of the rear bolster, wherein the upper end of each of the pair of outboard posts is provided with a first row of apertures aligned with corresponding apertures provided in the bottom portion of the rear bolster, each of the apertures of the first row accommodating a removable fastener securing the rear impact guard to the rear bolster, and wherein the upper end of each of the pair of outboard posts is provided with a second row of apertures forward of the first row of apertures and aligned with corresponding apertures provided in the bottom portion of the rear bolster, each of the apertures of the second row accommodating a removable fastener securing the rear impact guard to the rear bolster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A trailer comprising:
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a front end provided for attachment to a truck; a rear end spaced in a longitudinal direction from the front end to define a cargo area between the front and rear ends; a frame including a rear bolster extending in a transverse direction across the rear end of the trailer below a bottom rear edge of the cargo area, the rear bolster including at each end a light guard at least partially surrounding at least one tail light aperture formed therein, a pair of spaced rear frame posts extending upwardly from respective distal ends of the rear bolster, a pair of lower rails extending forwardly from respective lower portions of the pair of rear frame posts, and a pair of corner gussets, each of which is secured in position to fortify a joint between one of the pair of rear frame posts and a respective one of the pair of lower rails; and a rear impact guard including a bumper extending transversely and spaced below the rear bolster, a pair of outboard posts extending between the bumper and the rear bolster adjacent the respective distal ends of the rear bolster, and at least one inboard post extending between the bumper and the rear bolster at a location between the pair of outboard posts, wherein each of the pair of outboard posts is secured to the trailer frame with a first row of removable fastener joints along a rearward edge of the outboard post, and a second row of removable fastener joints spaced forwardly of the first row of removable fastener joints, and wherein at least one of the first and second rows of removable fastener joints is positioned directly above the bumper of the rear impact guard. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A rear impact guard kit for converting an existing trailer rear impact guard having a bumper with free distal ends to a rear impact guard in which the distal bumper ends are secured to a rear bolster of the trailer, the kit comprising:
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a pair of outboard posts, each of which includes a lower end adapted for securement with a respective one of the distal bumper ends and an upper end adapted for securement with a respective distal end of the rear bolster; for each of the pair of outboard posts, at least one reinforcement member configured to fortify a joint between a trailer frame rear frame post and a trailer frame lower rail at the distal end of the rear bolster; for each of the pair of outboard posts, a first row of removable fastener joints extending vertically to define a first joint along a rearward edge of the upper end of the outboard post; and for each of the pair of outboard posts, a second row of removable fastener joints provided along the upper end of the outboard post forward of the first row of removable fastener joints.
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Specification