Refrigerated trailer door having an automotive-style handle and locking mechanism

• US 8,556,321 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Truck Bodies LLC (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Truck Bodies LLC (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Peter J., Marino, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US13/397,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20120210743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.41, 296/100.03, 296/100.06, 296/100.07, 296/156, 312/116, 105/377.05, 105/377.11, 495/01, 495/04, 494/781, 702/08, 292/218, 624/41, 622/39, 623/44, 523/099, 52/58
• US Class Current: 296/24.41
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/06 Mounting of handles, e.g. to the wing or to the lock
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/16 operating on locking elements for locking or unlocking action
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/00 Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle locks specially adapted for bicycles E05B71/00; locking arrangements for non-fixed vehicle roofs B60J7/185; latching means for sideboards or tailgates of open load compartments B62D33/037
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/02 Locks for railway freight-cars, freight containers or the like; Locks for the cargo compartments of commercial lorries, trucks or vans
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/103 creating a completely closed wing surface
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/18 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A door for a refrigerated trailer including a door pan formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic, the door pan having an inner surface and an outer surface. A door sheet is formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic and has an inner surface and an outer surface. A foamed plastic core is provided between the inner surfaces of the door pan and the door sheet. A housing is mounted between the inner surfaces of the door pan and the door sheet and is substantially encapsulated within the foamed plastic core. An automotive-style handle and locking mechanism is mounted to the housing.

Claims

1. A door for a refrigerated trailer comprising:

a door pan formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic, the door pan having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a door sheet formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic, the door sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a foamed plastic core provided between the inner surfaces of the door pan and the door sheet;

a housing mounted between the inner surfaces of the door pan and the door sheet and substantially encapsulated within the foamed plastic core; and

an automotive-style handle and locking mechanism mounted to the housing.

2. The door for a refrigerated trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing is formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic.

3. The door for a refrigerated trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a receiver for receiving signals for unlocking and/or locking the automotive-style handle and locking mechanism.

4. The door for a refrigerated trailer as defined in claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism includes a key hole into which a key is inserted for manually locking and/or unlocking the door.

5. The door for a refrigerated trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a key hole into which a key is inserted for manually locking and/or unlocking the door.

6. The door for a refrigerated trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a handle having an outer surface which is substantially flush with the outer surface of the door sheet.