Interlocking joint for a wall or door of a trailer

• US 7,500,713 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabash National LP (Wabash National Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wabash National LP (Wabash National Corporation)
• Inventors: Baker, Leonard, Hancock, Robert L., Riley, Kevin, Smidler, Francis S., Vargas, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US11/672,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 296/184.1, 296/182.1, 296/186.1, 296/191, 525/78, 525/821, 525/822, 525/841
• US Class Current: 296/191
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/046 built up with flat self-supporting panels; Fixed connections between panels B62D29/045, B62D33/048 take precedence

Abstract

A wall or roof of a trailer are formed from a first panel and a second panel which are joined together by a cap and a strip which interengage. The cap includes a base wall and an interlock provided thereon. The base wall abuts the outer surfaces of the panels. The strip includes a base wall and an interlock provided thereon. The strip and cap are separate members. The base wall of the strip abuts the inner surfaces of the panels. The interlock of the strip and the interlock of the cap mate together to form a joint. At least one of the interlocks extend between the panels. The panels may be composite panels or may be from a single sheet or multiple sheets of metal. An adhesive may be provided between the base wall of the cap and the outer surfaces, and an adhesive may be provided between the base wall of the strip and the inner surfaces.

Claims

1. A wall or roof of a trailer comprising:

a first panel, said first panel having an inner surface and an opposite outer surface;

a second panel, said second panel having an inner surface and an opposite outer surface, ends of said first and second panels being spaced apart from each other to form a gap therebetween;

a cap including a base wall, a first tang provided on said base wall, and second tang provided on said base wall, said base wall having opposite first and second end portions, each said end portion having a predetermined width, said first end portion being adjacent to said first panel, said second end portion being adjacent to said second panel, and a center portion being adjacent to said gap, said first and second end portions abutting against said outer surfaces of said first and second panels along the entire width of each said end portion; and

a strip including a base wall, first tang provided on said base wall, and second tang provided on said base wall, said strip and said cap being separate members, said base wall of said strip having opposite first and second end portions, each said end portion of said strip having a predetermined width, said first end portion of said strip being adjacent to said first panel, said second end portion of said strip being adjacent to said second panel, and a center portion of said strip being adjacent to said gap, said first and second end portions of said strip abutting said inner surfaces of said first and second panels along the entire width of each said end portion of said strip,

said first tang on said strip and said first tang on said cap interengage and are positioned within said gap, said second tang on said strip and said second tang on said cap interengage and are positioned within said gap, said center portion of said strip having a plurality of spaced apart apertures provided therethrough which are adjacent to said gap and between the interengaged first tangs and interengaged second tangs.

2. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second panels are composite panels.

3. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second panels are from a single sheet of metal.

4. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, further including an adhesive provided between said base wall of said cap and said outer surfaces, and an adhesive provided between said base wall of said strip and said inner surfaces.

5. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 4, further including a plurality of striations provided on said base wall of said strip, and a plurality of striations provided on said base wall of said cap.

6. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of said cap and said strip has ends which are angled.

7. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second panels are composite panels.

8. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second panels are from a single sheet of metal.

9. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of at least one of said first and second panels has a reduced thickness from a remainder of said first and second panels, portions of at least one of said base wall of said cap and said base wall of said strip abutting said reduced thickness portions.

10. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second panels are composite panels.

11. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second panels are from a single sheet of metal.

12. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 9, further including an adhesive provided between said base wall of said cap and said outer surfaces, and an adhesive provided between said base wall of said strip and said inner surfaces.

13. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 12, further including a plurality of striations provided on said base wall of said strip, and a plurality of striations provided on said base wall of said cap.

14. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 12, wherein at least one of said cap and said strip has ends which are angled.

15. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein said tangs on said strip have one-sided barbs thereon and said tangs on said cap have one-sided barbs thereon.

16. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 15, wherein said one-sided barbs have beveled ends.

17. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second panels are from multiple sheets of metal.

18. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second panels are from multiple sheets of metal.

19. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second panels are from multiple sheets of metal.

20. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first tangs of said cap and strip has a double-sided barb thereon which engages with the first tangs on the other of said cap and strip.

21. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first tangs on said strip and cap has a double-sided barb thereon which engages with the first tang on the other of said cap and strip.

22. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 21, wherein at least one of said second tangs on said strip and cap has a double-sided barb thereon which engages with the second tang on the other of said cap and strip.