TUBE-STYLE TRUCK BODY

• US 20070069569A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Think Rite Intellectual Properties LLC
• Original Assignee: Mine Rite Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: D'Amico, John, Frank, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 298/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/286 Loading buckets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/02 Platforms; Open load compartments flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08

Abstract

An off-highway truck body comprising a plurality of tube-style support members, wherein each tube-style support member comprises one or two pieces of square tubing, wherein the truck body comprises two sidewalls, a floor, a front wall and a canopy, and wherein one side of each tube-style support member is welded to the outside of the sidewall, floor, front wall or canopy. The pieces of square tubing are preferably comprised of steel. The present invention optionally comprises a forward wedged front wall and a side-sloped canopy. The present invention also encompasses a tube-style tailgate and an alternate embodiment in which I-beams are used in lieu of square tubing.

Claims

1. An off-highway truck body comprising a plurality of tube-style support members,

wherein each tube-style support member comprises one or more pieces of square tubing,

wherein the truck body comprises at least one sidewall, a floor, a front wall and a canopy, and

wherein one side of each tube-style support member is welded to the outside of the sidewall, floor, front wall or canopy.

2. The off-highway truck body of claim 1, wherein the pieces of square tubing are comprised of steel.

3. The off-highway truck body of claim 1, wherein each tube-style support member that comprises at least two pieces of square tubing further comprises a cover plate that extends across the top side of the two pieces of square tubing for the length of the square tubing.

4. The off-highway truck body of claim 1, further comprising a forward wedged front wall, wherein the front wall is wedged forward such that the angle between the line formed by the juncture of the sidewall and floor and the line formed by the juncture of the forward wedged front wall and floor is greater than ninety (90) degrees and less than one hundred eighty (180) degrees.

5. The off-highway truck body of claim 1, further comprising a front wall, wherein the entire front wall is tilted forward, and wherein the top approximate one-third (⅓

) of the front wall is tilted forward at a greater angle than the rest of the front wall.

6. The off-highway truck body of claim 1, further comprising a side-sloped canopy, wherein the side-sloped canopy comprises two sides that are angled downward and a center section that is flat.

7. The off-highway truck body of claim 1, further comprising a side-sloped canopy, wherein the side-sloped canopy comprises a peaked center and four sloped sides, wherein two of the sloped sides are on either side of the peaked center, wherein all of the sloped sides are angled downward, and wherein the two sloped sides farthest from the peaked center are sloped at a greater angle than the two sloped sides closest to the peaked center.

8. The off-highway truck body of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, further comprising a tailgate, wherein the tailgate is comprised of one or more tube-style support members, wherein each tube-style support member comprises one or more pieces of square tubing, and wherein the square tubing is comprised of steel.

9. The off-highway truck body of claim 8, wherein the tailgate comprises a rear panel and two side panels, and wherein each of the rear panel and side panels comprises at least one tube-style support member.

10. An off-highway truck body comprising a plurality of I-beam-style support members,

wherein each I-beam-style support member comprises one or more steel I-beams,

wherein each I-beam comprises two flat sides and two open sides,

wherein the truck body comprises at least one sidewall, a floor, a front wall and a canopy, and

wherein one side of each I-beam-style support member is welded to the outside of the sidewall, floor, front wall or canopy.

11. The off-highway truck body of claim 10, wherein the flat side of each I-beam that is not welded to the outside of the sidewall, floor, front wall or canopy is called the top side, and wherein each I-beam-style support member that comprises at least two I-beams further comprises a cover plate that extends across the top sides of the two I-beams.

12. The off-highway truck body of claim 10, further comprising a forward wedged front wall, wherein the front wall is wedged forward such that the angle between the line formed by the juncture of the sidewall and floor and the line formed by the juncture of the forward wedged front wall and floor is greater than ninety (90) degrees and less than one hundred eighty (180) degrees.

13. The off-highway truck body of claim 10, further comprising a front wall, wherein the entire front wall is tilted forward, and wherein the top approximate one-third (⅓

) of the front wall is tilted forward at a greater angle than the rest of the front wall.

14. The off-highway truck body of claim 10, further comprising a side-sloped canopy, wherein the side-sloped canopy comprises two sides that are angled downward and a center section that is flat.

15. The off-highway truck body of claim 10, further comprising a side-sloped canopy, wherein the side-sloped canopy comprises a peaked center and four sloped sides, wherein two of the sloped sides are on either side of the peaked center, wherein all of the sloped sides are angled downward, and wherein the two sloped sides farthest from the peaked center are sloped at a greater angle than the two sloped sides closest to the peaked center.

16. The off-highway truck body of claim 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, further comprising a tailgate, wherein the tailgate is comprised of one or more I-beam-style support members, and wherein each I-beam-style support member comprises one or more steel I-beams.

17. The off-highway truck body of claim 16, wherein the tailgate comprises a rear panel and two side panels, and wherein each of the rear panel and side panels comprises at least one I-beam-style support member.

18. A tailgate comprised of one or more tube-style support members, wherein each tube-style support member comprises one or more pieces of square tubing, and wherein the square tubing is comprised of steel.

19. The tailgate of claim 18, wherein the tailgate comprises a rear panel and two side panels, and wherein each of the rear panel and side panels comprises at least one tube-style support member.

20. A tailgate comprised of one or more I-beam-style support members, wherein each I-beam-style support member comprises one or more steel I-beams.

21. The tailgate of claim 20, wherein the tailgate comprises a rear panel and two side panels, and wherein each of the rear panel and side panels comprises at least one I-beam-style support member.