VEHICLE SIDE FAIRING SYSTEM

• US 20090212595A1
• Filed: 08/04/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerofficient, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aerofficient, LLC
• Inventors: Heppel, Peter, Golding, Herbert, Memering, Doug, Bowman, William, Reiman, James, Peterson, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/180.400
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/168 Mud guards for utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Abstract

A vehicle side fairing having a first fairing panel fixedly secured to the underside of a trailer box, and a second fairing panel slidable mounted to plural cylindrical bars mounted on the underside of the trailer box in a fore and aft orientation. The second fairing panel is secured to the wheel set with a mechanical fastener that selectively joins and releases the second fairing panel and the wheel set.

Claims

1. A side fairing mounted on a trailer, comprising:

a trailer having a trailer box and a fore and aft positionally adjustable wheel set;

a first fairing panel secured to the trailer box at a fixed position proximate to a trailer box side;

a second fairing panel slidably mounted to a plurality of spaced-apart bars or tracks, the bars or tracks mounted to the underside of the trailer box in a fore and aft orientation;

the plurality of bars or tracks positioned on the underside of the trailer box such that the second panel is proximate to the trailer box side, and when the wheel set and rear fairing panel are in their aft-most positions a forward portion of the second fairing panel is proximate to a rear portion of the first fairing panel; and

the second fairing panel being secured to the wheel set so that the the second fairing panel can be moved with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set.

4. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 1, further including an impact amelioration section secured to the lower edge of the second fairing panel.

5. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 4, wherein the impact amelioration section is a flexible bristle material.

2. A side fairing mounted on a trailer, comprising:

a trailer having a trailer box and a fore and aft positionally adjustable wheel set;

a first fairing panel secured to the trailer box at a fixed position proximate to a trailer box side;

a second fairing panel slidably mounted to the underside of the trailer box in a fore and aft orientation so that the second panel is proximate to the trailer box side, and when the wheel set and rear fairing panels are in their aft-most positions a forward portion of the second fairing panel is proximate to a rear portion of the first fairing panel; and

at least one of the second fairing panel and the wheel set includes a mechanical fastener that selectively joins and releases the second fairing panel and the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with or without an adjustment in the position of the wheel set.

6. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 2, further including an impact amelioration section secured to the lower edge of the second fairing panel.

7. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 6, wherein the impact amelioration section is a flexible bristle material.

3. A side fairing mounted on a trailer, comprising:

a trailer having a trailer box and a fore and aft positionally adjustable wheel set;

a first fairing panel, comprising a plurality of panel segments secured to the trailer box, using one or more hand or hand tool releasable fasteners, at a fixed position proximate to a trailer box side;

a second fairing panel, comprising a plurality of panel segments, slidably mounted, using one or more hand or hand tool releasable fasteners, to the underside of the trailer box in a fore and aft orientation so that the second panel is proximate to the trailer box side, and when the wheel set and rear fairing panels are in their aft-most positions a forward portion of the second fairing panel is proximate to a rear portion of the first fairing panel;

the second fairing panel being secured to the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set; and

wherein the panel segments of the first fairing panel are joined together with one or more hand or hand tool releasable fasteners, and the panel segments of the second fairing panel are joined together with one or more hand or hand tool releasable fasteners.

8. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 3, further including an impact amelioration section secured to the lower edge of the second fairing panel.

9. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 8, wherein the impact amelioration section is a flexible bristle material.