RESILIENT AERODYNAMIC TRAILER SKIRTS
First Claim
1. A resilient aerodynamic skirt adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted to a trailer, the resilient aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer in an aerodynamic configuration, the skirt panel being adapted to bend away from the aerodynamic configuration when contacting a foreign object and to recover its aerodynamic configuration thereafter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A resilient aerodynamic skirt assembly is provided, the aerodynamic skirt assembly comprising a skirt panel adapted to connect to a trailer to route airflow along the trailer, skirt supports adapted to connect the skirt to a trailer are also provided with a plurality of resilient struts providing lateral support to the skirt panel, the resilient struts allowing substantial lateral deflection of the skirt panel away from an aerodynamic configuration. A method of assembling an aerodynamic skirt assembly and an aerodynamic skirt kit are also provided.
82 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A resilient aerodynamic skirt adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted to a trailer, the resilient aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer in an aerodynamic configuration, the skirt panel being adapted to bend away from the aerodynamic configuration when contacting a foreign object and to recover its aerodynamic configuration thereafter.
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15. A method of installing a resilient skirt assembly on a trailer, the method comprising:
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securing a skirt panel to the trailer; and securing at least one resilient strut between the trailer and the skirt panel, the at least one resilient strut maintaining the skirt panel in an aerodynamic configuration, the at least one resilient strut allowing the skirt panel to bend away from the aerodynamic configuration when contacting a foreign object and to recover its aerodynamic configuration thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A resilient skirt assembly kit comprising:
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a skirt panel adapted to be disposed on a trailer to aerodynamically route air along the trailer; and a plurality of resilient struts adapted to secure the skirt panel to the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification