Curved wall trailer construction

• US 5,782,524 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dale J. Heider, Leon J. Heider
• Original Assignee: Craig J. Heider, Dale J. Heider, Leon J. Heider, Merle J. Heider
• Inventors: Heider, Dale J., Heider, Leon J., Heider, Craig J., Heider, Merle J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Application Number:
  US08/496,896
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 296/181, 298/15, 298/184, 298/24, 298/27, 105/247, 105/254, 73/323
• US Class Current: 296/183.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/56 the load-transporting element having bottom discharging openings

Abstract

A trailer construction includes first and second spaced apart trailer side walls. A bottom wall is provided between the side walls and includes a forward sloping portion, a rear sloping portion and an intermediate portion therebetween. The forward and rear sloping portions of the bottom wall are curved in cross section, and the intermediate portion includes a continuous wall which is curved when viewed in a horizontal cross section and is also curved when viewed in a vertical cross section. A discharge opening is provided in the intermediate portion of the bottom wall.

Claims

1. A trailer construction comprising:

first and second spaced apart trailer side walls, each having a forward end, a rear end, an upper edge, and a lower edge;

an elongated bottom wall having a longitudinal axis, a forward end, a rear end, a front sloping portion, a rear sloping portion, and an intermediate portion, said front and rear sloping portions extending from said forward and rear ends respectively of said bottom wall in a downwardly inclined direction towards said intermediate portion;

said front and rear sloping portions being curved when viewed in cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

said intermediate portion comprising a hopper having an open upper end connected to said front and rear sloping portions of said bottom wall and being shaped to taper downwardly and inwardly to form a reduced cross section lower end, said hopper having a discharge opening therein; and

a door fitted in covering relation over said discharge opening.

2. A trailer construction according to claim 1 wherein said hopper includes a hopper side wall extending therearound, said hopper side wall being continuous and curved when viewed in cross section taken on a horizontal plane.

3. A trailer construction according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said trailer side walls includes a viewing window having an upper end and a lower end adjacent said upper edges and said lower edges respectively of said one side wall.

4. A trailer construction according to claim 1 wherein said discharge opening is at said lower end of said hopper and lies in a horizontal plane.

5. A trailer construction according to claim 1 wherein said hopper includes a hopper side wall and said discharge opening is in said hopper side wall.

6. A trailer construction according to claim 2 wherein said hopper side wall is curved when viewed in cross section taken in a vertical plane.

7. A trailer construction according to claim 1 wherein said open upper end of said hopper is connected to said trailer side walls.

8. A trailer construction according to claim 1 wherein said bottom wall is positioned completely between said side walls.

9. A trailer construction comprising:

first and second spaced apart trailer side walls, each having a forward end, a rear end, an upper edge, and a lower edge;

an elongated bottom wall located completely between said side walls and having a longitudinal axis, a forward end, a rear end, a front sloping portion, a rear sloping portion, and an intermediate portion, said front and rear sloping portions extending from said forward and rear ends respectively of said bottom wall in a downwardly inclined direction towards said intermediate portion;

at least a portion of said bottom wall being curved in cross-section-taken along a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

10. A trailer construction according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said side walls includes a window having a transparent sheet material therein for viewing the interior of said trailer.

11. A trailer construction comprising:

first and second spaced apart trailer side walls, each having a forward end, a rear end, an upper edge, and a lower edge;

an elongated bottom wall having a longitudinal axis, a forward end, a rear end, a front sloping portion, a rear sloping portion, and an intermediate portion, said front and rear sloping portions extending from said forward and rear ends respectively of said bottom wall in a downwardly inclined direction toward said intermediate portion;

said intermediate portion comprising a hopper having an open upper end connected between said front and rear sloping portions of said bottom wall and having a hopper side wall tapering downwardly and inwardly to form a reduced cross section lower end;

said hopper side wall being continuous and curved when viewed in cross section taken on a horizontal plane;

said hopper having a discharge opening therein; and

a door fitted in covering relation over said discharge opening.

12. A trailer construction according to claim 11 wherein said bottom wall is positioned completely between said side walls.