Flexible truck skirt with floating mount

• US 7,686,385 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: U-Haul International Incorporated (U-Haul Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Dolan, Robert A., Simpson, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US11/347,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20070176466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 296/191, 296/198, 296/183.1, 296/209, 296/901.01, 521/691.2, 52D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 296/191
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/565 on vehicle sides
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Abstract

A vehicle skirt panel assembly includes a skirt panel comprising a thermoplastic material and including a plurality of panel sections each having one or more ribs on its exterior. The skirt panel is mounted to the vehicle so the skirt panel projects below the side of the vehicle and the skirt panel can move relative to the vehicle to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of the skirt panel without deforming the skirt panel. One or more struts are mounted between the vehicle and a lower portion of the skirt panel. The strut is adjustable and is deformable to absorb an impact to the exterior of the skirt panel. The strut is bendable by hand to allow the skirt panel to be returned to the original position.

Claims

1. A vehicle skirt panel assembly comprising:

a flexible skirt panel; and

means for mounting the skirt panel to the vehicle such that when the skirt panel is mounted to the vehicle the skirt panel projects below the side of the vehicle and the skirt panel can move relative to the vehicle to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of the skirt panel without deforming the skirt panel;

wherein the means for mounting the skirt panel to the vehicle includes a fastener and a fastener hole in the skirt panel;

wherein the fastener cooperates with the fastener hole so that the skirt panel is loosely clamped against the side of the vehicle; and

wherein the means for mounting the skirt panel includes a strut mounted between the vehicle and the skirt panel, wherein the strut is deformable to absorb an impact to the exterior of the skirt panel and is reformable by hand to allow the skirt panel to be returned substantially to an original position of the skirt panel before the impact.

2. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the strut includes at least one slot for adjustably mounting the strut.

3. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the skirt panel comprises a thermoplastic material.

4. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the skirt panel comprises at least one rib on the exterior of the skirt panel.

5. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the skirt panel comprises a plurality of panel sections.

6. A vehicle skirt panel assembly comprising:

a flexible skirt panel having means for mounting the skirt panel to the vehicle body so that a lower portion of the skirt panel projects below the side of the vehicle; and

a strut for supporting the lower portion of the skirt panel in position relative to the vehicle body;

wherein the strut is deformable to absorb an impact to the exterior of the skirt panel and is reformable by hand.

7. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 6 wherein the strut comprises a metal.

8. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 6 wherein the strut the metal comprises aluminum.

9. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 6 wherein the strut includes at least one slot for adjustably mounting the strut.

10. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 6 wherein the flexible skirt panel comprises a thermoplastic material.

11. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 6 wherein the skirt panel comprises at least one rib on the exterior of the skirt panel.

12. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 6 wherein the skirt panel comprises a plurality of panel sections.

13. A vehicle skirt panel assembly comprising:

a flexible skirt panel mounted to the vehicle so that the skirt panel projects below the side of the vehicle; and

deformable support means for holding the skirt panel, wherein the deformable support means includes a strut coupled between the skirt panel and the bottom of a truck deck of the vehicle;

wherein the strut can bend upon an impact to the skirt panel and is reformable by hand to allow the skirt panel to be returned substantially to an original position of the skirt panel before the impact.

14. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 13 wherein the strut comprises a metal.

15. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 14 wherein the metal comprises aluminum.

16. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 13 wherein the flexible skirt panel comprises a thermoplastic material.

17. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 13 wherein the skirt panel comprises at least one rib on the exterior of the skirt panel.

18. The vehicle skirt panel assembly of claim 13 wherein the skirt panel comprises a plurality of panel sections.