Retracting system for flexible side walls for cargo vehicles

• US 5,282,663 A
• Filed: 01/10/1992
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Horton, Terry F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORDON, STEPHEN T
• Application Number:
  US07/820,300
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 296/155, 296/181, 296/183, 296/138, 296/99.1, 49/360, 160/150, 160/159, 160/188, 160/201, 160/118, 414/516
• US Class Current: 296/155
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/065 with non-rigid elements, e.g. side curtains B60J7/062, B60J7/068 take precedence

Abstract

A retracting system for flexible side walls utilized for cargo vehicles wherein the flexible side wall is attached at one end to a slidable door used to extend and retract the flexible side wall. This system provides a narrow slidable door connected to a system of pulleys and cables that maintain the slidable door perpendicular to the floor and roof of the vehicle during horizontal movement of the slidable door for closing or opening the open side of a cargo carrying vehicle. The system can incorporate a reversible motor to propel the system and move the slidable door without a pushing or pulling force rom a human operator. The slidable door is suspended from a track at the top edge of the door keeping the slidable door in alignment and decreasing rolling resistance.

Claims

1. A flexible side cargo vehicle having a cargo area with a floor and with at least one open side providing access to said cargo area, said open side being closable by at least one slidable door and a flexible side wall attached to the slidable door, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of pulleys affixed to both said cargo vehicle and said slidable door, a first flexible connecting means having one end secured to said door and initially directed around one of said pulleys on said door and then routed around one or more of said pulleys on said cargo vehicle and said door so that the other end of said first flexible connecting means is also secured to said door and a second flexible connecting means having one end secured to said door and then initially routed around a second one of said pulleys on said door and then directed around one or more of said pulleys on said cargo vehicle and said door so that the other end of said second flexible connecting means is secured to said door adjacent to said other end of said first flexible connecting means to cause controlled movement of said slidable door along the open side so that said slidable door remains perpendicular to the floor during opening and closing of the open side by the slidable door and the flexible side wall.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein a motor is coupled to at least one of said pulleys, said motor capable of actuating said flexible connecting means and pulleys to cause said controlled movement of the slidable door in a direction of opening and closing the open side.

3. The improvement of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said flexible connecting means comprise at least one cable.

4. The improvement of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said flexible connecting means comprise at least one plastic ribbon chain.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said slidable door is attached to a guide, slidably secured by rollers onto a track positioned along the top of said open side.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein two separate plurality of pulleys are provided, and a separate flexible connecting means is provided for each plurality of pulleys.

9. The improvement of claim 1 or claim 8 wherein said slidable door is supported by rollers at the floor of said cargo area.

6. A flexible side cargo vehicle having a cargo area with a floor and with at least one open side providing access to said cargo area, said open side being closable by at least one slidable door and a flexible side wall attached to the slidable door, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of pulleys affixed to both said cargo vehicle and said slidable door, at least one flexible connecting means routed around said pulleys and attached to said slidable door to cause controlled movement of said slidable door along the open side with said slidable door remaining perpendicular to the floor during opening and closing of the open side by the slidable door and the flexible side wall, wherein said slidable door is slidably secured by a guide which extends beyond a width of the door in a direction of movement of said door, with said guide positioned on a track separate from a support for said flexible side wall.

8. A cargo carrying vehicle having an open side with a flexible side wall supported on the vehicle for closing and opening the open side and a slidable door connected to the flexible side wall, the improvement comprising a series of pulleys mounted on the vehicle and the slidable door, cables routed around said pulleys and connected to the slidable door for causing the opening and closing of the open side by moving the slidable door along the open side wherein said slidable door is slidably secured by a guide which extends beyond a width of the door in a direction of movement of the door, with said guide positioned on a track separate from a support for said flexible side wall.

10. The improvement of claim 8 wherein two series of pulleys are provided, and a cable is routed around each series of pulleys.

11. The improvement of claim 10 further comprised of more than one slidable door.

12. A flexible side cargo vehicle comprising an open side providing access to a cargo area, with the open side being closable by an automated closing means with a slidable door and a flexible side wall capable of opening and closing said open side, comprising:

(a) a first series of pulleys and a second series of pulleys attached to said slidable door and said cargo vehicle;

(b) a first flexible connecting means with one end secured to said slidable door and sequentially engaging said first series of pulleys and thereafter attached to the door at the other end of said first flexible connecting means;

(c) a second flexible connecting means, having one end secured to the slidable door and sequentially engaging said second series of pulleys and thereafter attached to the door at the other end of said second flexible connecting means; and

(d) a drive means for causing the automated operation of said pulleys and said first and second connecting means to propel said slidable door in a horizontal direction along the open side to open and close said open side.

13. A flexible side cargo vehicle comprising an open side providing access to a cargo area, with the open side being closable by an automated closing means with a slidable door and a flexible side wall capable of opening and closing said open side, comprising:

(a) a first series of pulleys and a second series of pulleys attached to said slidable door and said cargo vehicle;

(b) a first flexible connecting means with one end secured to said slidable door and sequentially engaging said first series of pulleys and thereafter attached to the door at the other end of said first flexible connecting means;

(c) a second flexible connecting means, having one end secured to the slidable door and sequentially engaging said second series of pulleys and thereafter attached to the door at the other end of said flexible connecting means;

(d) a drive means for causing the automated operation of said pulleys and said first and second connecting means to propel said slidable door in a horizontal direction along the open side to open and close said open side;

(e) wherein said slidable door is slidably secured by a guide which extends beyond a width of said door in a direction of the movement of the door, said guide secured onto a track separate from a support for said flexible side wall.