MODULAR AERODYNAMIC SKIRT ASSEMBLY

• US 20160096558A1
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transtex LLC (Southwestern Energy Company)
• Original Assignee: Transtex Composite Incorporated
• Inventors: BOIVIN, Mathieu, BASSILY, Georges, KANTHARAJU, Swaroop
• Granted Patent: US 9,669,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/02 Streamlining the undersurfaces B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

This invention relates to packaging of a modular aerodynamic trailer skirts that is adapted to minimize the size of a shipment thereof. The packaging further protects the skirt portions by stacking skirt portions and using interconnecting edges thereof to secure a skirt portion therebetween.

Claims

1. A method of packaging a modular aerodynamic skirt panel, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of skirt portions; and

stacking the plurality of skirt portions, wherein the area covered by the stacked skirt portions is within the area of a larger of the skirt portions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of skirt portions is three skirt portions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a second skirt portion is the larger skirt portions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second skirt portion includes interconnecting edges protruding over a surface of the second skirt portion by about a thickness of a skirt portion and wherein one of the two other skirt portions is sized and designed to fit between the two protruding interconnecting edges.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein one of the two other skirt panels is sized and designed to cover the skirt portion disposed between the interconnecting edges protruding over the surface of the second skirt portion.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising stacking a plurality of connectors configured to interconnect the plurality of skirt portions to a trailer on the plurality of skirt portions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stacked skirt portions are substantially defining a contour of a shipment box.

8. A modular aerodynamic skirt packaging, the packaging comprising:

a plurality of skirt portions staked one on top of the other, wherein the area covered by the stacked skirt portions is within the area of a larger of the skirt portions.

9. The modular aerodynamic skirt packaging of claim 8, wherein the plurality of skirt portions is three skirt portions.

10. The modular aerodynamic skirt packaging of claim 8, wherein a second skirt portion is the larger skirt portions.

11. The modular aerodynamic skirt packaging of claim 10, wherein the second skirt portion includes interconnecting edges protruding over a surface of the second skirt portion by about a thickness of a skirt portion and wherein one of the two other skirt portions is sized and designed to fit between the two protruding interconnecting edges.

12. The modular aerodynamic skirt packaging of claim 11, wherein one of the two other skirt panels is sized and designed to cover the skirt portion disposed between the interconnecting edges protruding over the surface of the second skirt portion.

13. The modular aerodynamic skirt packaging of claim 8, further comprising stacking a plurality of connectors configured to interconnect the plurality of skirt portions to a trailer on the plurality of skirt portions.

14. The modular aerodynamic skirt packaging of claim 8, wherein the plurality of stacked skirt portions is substantially defining a contour of a shipment box.

15. A modular aerodynamic skirt assembly kit comprising:

a plurality of skirt portions staked one on top of the other, wherein the area covered by the stacked skirt portions is within the area of a larger of the skirt portions.

16. The modular aerodynamic skirt kit of claim 15, wherein the plurality of skirt portions is three skirt portions.

17. The modular aerodynamic skirt kit of claim 15, wherein a second skirt portion is the larger skirt portions.

18. The modular aerodynamic skirt kit of claim 17, wherein the second skirt portion includes interconnecting edges protruding over a surface of the second skirt portion by about a thickness of a skirt portion and wherein one of the two other skirt portions is sized and designed to fit between the two protruding interconnecting edges.

19. The modular aerodynamic skirt kit of claim 18, wherein one of the two other skirt panels is sized and designed to cover the skirt portion disposed between the interconnecting edges protruding over the surface of the second skirt portion.

20. The modular aerodynamic skirt kit of claim 15, further comprising stacking a plurality of connectors configured to interconnect the plurality of skirt portions to a trailer on the plurality of skirt portions.