Trailer fender with positively restrained steps and method of mounting
First Claim
1. A one-piece trailer fender comprising:
- a. an arcuate section having a predetermined diameter to suit a selected trailer wheel and being continuous between front and back ends, the arcuate section defining a recessed pad; and
b. a front step integral with the front end of the arcuate section and a back step integral with the back end of the arcuate section, each step comprising a top wall having top and bottom surfaces.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fender having an arcuate section and integral steps is mounted to a trailer frame. The fender arcuate section has a recessed pad. The steps are reinforced with ribs. A pair of fender brackets each having a horizontal center plate are secured to the trailer frame using bolts. The fender step ribs are placed on the fender bracket center plates and fastened thereto from under the fender brackets in a manner that hides the fasteners from normal view. The fender steps have cutouts that receive the bolts. The trailer spring hangers are sandwiched between the trailer frame and the fender brackets in a manner that enables the spring hangers and the fender brackets to be adjustably positioned on the trailer frame independently of each other.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A one-piece trailer fender comprising:
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a. an arcuate section having a predetermined diameter to suit a selected trailer wheel and being continuous between front and back ends, the arcuate section defining a recessed pad; and b. a front step integral with the front end of the arcuate section and a back step integral with the back end of the arcuate section, each step comprising a top wall having top and bottom surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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2. A trailer fender comprising:
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a. an arcuate section having a predetermined diameter to suit a selected trailer wheel and front and back ends, the arcuate section defining a recessed pad; and b. a front step integral with the front end of the arcuate section and a back step integral with the back end of the arcuate section, each step comprising a top wall having top and bottom surfaces, wherein each step further comprises a plurality of ribs of one-piece with and located on the bottom surface of the top wall, the ribs having coplanar bottom surfaces and defining a plurality of blind holes. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A trailer comprising:
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a. a frame having two parallel side tubes; b. wheel means for supporting the frame on the ground and comprising a spring hanger associated with each frame side tube; c. a front and a back fender bracket secured to each side tube, each fender bracket having a center plate, wherein each spring hanger is sandwiched between the associated side tube and the front and back fender brackets secured to the side tube; d. a fender having an arcuate section and front and back steps that are placed on the center plates of the respective fender brackets; and e. fastener means for attaching the fender steps to the center plate of the respective fender brackets. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A trailer comprising:
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a. a frame having two parallel side tubes; b. wheel means for supporting the frame on the ground; C. a front and a back fender bracket secured to each side tube, each fender bracket having a center plate; d. a fender having an arcuate section and front and back steps that are placed on the center plates of the respective fender brackets; and e. fastener means for attaching the fender steps to the center plate of the respective fender brackets, wherein; each fender step is comprised of a plurality of ribs of one-piece with the fender step that are placed on the center plate of the associated fender bracket, the ribs defining a plurality of blind holes; and the fastener means pass through the fender bracket center plate and into the blind holes in the fender step ribs.
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11. A trailer comprising:
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a. a frame having two parallel side tubes; b. wheel means for supporting the frame on the ground; c. a front and a back fender bracket secured to each side tube, each fender bracket having a center plate; d. a fender having an arcuate section and front and back steps that are placed on the center plates of the respective fender brackets, wherein; i. each step of the fender comprises a top wall having top and bottom surfaces; ii. the top wall of each step is reinforced with a plurality of ribs of one-piece with the step, the ribs having respective bottom surfaces that are coplanar, the ribs defining a plurality of blind holes; and iii. the bottom surfaces of the ribs are placed on the center plate of the associated fender bracket; and e. fastener means for attaching the fender steps to the center plate of the respective fender brackets, wherein the fastener means pass through the center plates of the fender brackets and into the blind holes in the fender step ribs to attach the fender steps to the fender brackets. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A trailer comprising:
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a. a frame having two parallel side tubes; b. wheel means for supporting the frame on the ground; c. a front and a back fender bracket secured to each side tube, each fender bracket having a center plate; d. a fender having an arcuate section and front and back steps that are placed on the center plates of the respective fender brackets, wherein; i. each fender step is comprised of a top wall, an end wall, and an inside wall; and ii. each fender step is further comprised of a ridge that upstands from the top wall along the end wall and along at least a portion of the inside wall, the ridge having sufficient height to impede a person'"'"'s foot from slipping off the step top surface, and e. fastener means for attaching the fender steps to the center plate of the respective fender brackets.
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15. In combination with a trailer frame having two parallel side tubes and wheels that support the trailer frame for rolling along the ground, means for overlying each wheel comprising:
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a. a one piece fender comprising an arcuate section overlying the wheel and a front step and a back step integral with the arcuate section, the fender arcuate section defining a recessed pad bounded by vertical walls having a height adequate to impede a person'"'"'s foot from slipping off the pad and onto the arcuate section; and b. bracket means secured to an associated side tube for attaching to the fender front and back steps to thereby mount the fender to the trailer frame.
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16. In combination with a trailer frame having two parallel side tubes and wheels that support the trailer frame for rolling along the ground, means for overlying each wheel comprising:
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a. a fender comprising an arcuate section overlying the wheel and a front step and a back step integral with the arcuate section, the fender arcuate section defining a recessed pad bounded by vertical walls having a height adequate to impede a person'"'"'s foot from slipping off the pad and onto the arcuate section, wherein the fender further comprises rib means for reinforcing each step; and b. bracket means secured to an associated side tube for attaching to the fender front and back steps to thereby mount the fender to the trailer frame, wherein the bracket means is attached to the fender rib means. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. In combination with a trailer frame having two parallel side tubes and wheels that support the trailer frame for rolling along the ground, means for overlying each wheel comprising:
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a. a fender comprising an arcuate section overlying the wheel and a front step and a back step integral with the arcuate section, the fender arcuate section defining a recessed pad bounded by vertical walls having a height adequate to impede a person'"'"'s foot from slipping off the pad and onto the arcuate section, wherein each fender step comprises a top wall and rib means for reinforcing the top wall; and b. bracket means secured to an associated side tube for attaching to the fender front and back steps to thereby mount the fender to the trailer frame, wherein the rib means is placed on the bracket means when the fender steps are attached to the bracket means. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of mounting a fender to a trailer with wheels comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a fender having an arcuate section with a recessed pad therein and front and back steps that are integral with the arcuate section; b. securing front and back fender brackets to a frame of the trailer; c. placing the fender steps on the corresponding fender brackets with the fender arcuate section over a trailer wheel; and d. attaching and positively restraining the fender steps in six directions to the corresponding fender bracket. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification