Tube-style truck body

• US 7,481,483 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Think Rite Intellectual Properties LLC
• Original Assignee: Mine Rite Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Frank, Dennis A., D'Amico, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/277,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 296/183.1, 296/183.2, 296/186.1
• US Class Current: 296/183.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/286 Loading buckets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/02 Platforms; Open load compartments flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08

Abstract

An off-highway truck body comprising a plurality of tube-style support members, wherein each tube-style support member comprises one or two pieces of square tubing, wherein the truck body comprises two sidewalls, a floor, a front wall and a canopy, and wherein one side of each tube-style support member is welded to the outside of the sidewall, floor, front wall or canopy. The pieces of square tubing are preferably comprised of steel. The present invention optionally comprises a forward wedged front wall and a side-sloped canopy. The present invention also encompasses a tube-style tailgate and an alternate embodiment in which I-beams are used in lieu of square tubing.

Claims

1. A tailgate comprising a rear panel and two side panels,

wherein the rear and side panels each comprises a flat sheet of metal,

wherein each flat sheet of metal comprises an inner face and an outer face,

wherein the rear and side panels each comprises one or more support members,

wherein the support member comprises two pieces of square tubing aligned so that they are parallel to one another,

wherein each piece of square tubing comprises an inner side and an outer side,

wherein the inner side of each piece of square tubing is welded to the outer face of the flat sheet of metal that comprises the rear panel or one of the two side panels,

wherein a cover plate is welded to the outer side of two pieces of square tubing, and

wherein the square tubing is comprised of steel.

2. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein the support members that are welded to the rear panel are oriented vertically, and wherein the support members that are welded to the side panels are oriented horizontally.