Integrated LED Light Bars and Roof Structure for Trailers

Abstract

A roof structure for a trailer includes a roof sheet, a roof bow attached to the roof sheet, and a member attached to one of said roof sheet and said roof bow. The member has a plurality of LED lights attached thereto.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a trailer which incorporates the features of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a base rail, a sidewall and a roof structure of the trailer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of components used to form a LED light bar used in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of components used to form the LED light bar used in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of components used to form the LED light bar used in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of components used to form the LED light bar used in the first embodiment of the present invention and a roof bow;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of components used to form the LED light bar used in the first embodiment of the present invention and the roof bow;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the LED light bar used in the first embodiment of the present invention and the roof bow;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the roof structure which incorporates the features of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the LED light bar used in the first embodiment of the present invention attached to the roof structure;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a trailer which incorporates the features of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a sidewall and a roof structure of the trailer of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the roof structure in the trailer of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of components used to form the LED light bar used in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the LED light bar used in the second embodiment of the present invention and the roof bow;

FIG. 16 is a end plan view of the roof structure used in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of a trailer which incorporates the features of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of a base rail, a sidewall and a roof structure of the trailer of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of the roof structure in the trailer of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of components used to form the LED light bar used in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the LED light bar used in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the LED light bar used in the third embodiment of the present invention and a portion of the roof structure;

FIG. 23 is a rear perspective view of a trailer which incorporates the features of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a portion of the roof structure in the trailer of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of components used to form a LED light bar used in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a perspective of components used to form the LED light bar used in the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the LED light bar used in the third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the LED light bar used in the third embodiment of the present invention and a portion of the roof structure.

Claims

1. A roof structure for a trailer comprising: a roof sheet;a roof bow attached to said roof sheet; anda member attached to one of said roof sheet and said roof bow, said member having a plurality of LED lights attached thereto.

2. A roof structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said roof sheet is attached to an upper end of said roof bow and said member is positioned between said roof sheet and said roof bow.

3. A roof structure as defined in claim 2, wherein member is attached to said roof bow, said LED lights being attached to an interior surface of said member which faces said roof bow, said roof bow including a plurality of apertures with which respective ones of said LED lights align.

4. A roof structure as defined in claim 3, further including adhesive covering an exterior surface of said member.

5. A roof structure as defined in claim 3, further including adhesive for attaching said member to said roof bow, said adhesive being provided between said interior surface of said member and said roof bow.

6. A roof structure as defined in claim 5, further including adhesive covering an exterior surface of said member.

7. A roof structure as defined in claim 2, further including a circuit attached to said plurality of LED lights.

8. A roof structure as defined in claim 7, further including a top rail attached to said roof bow and said roof sheet, said circuit extending through an aperture in said top rail.

9. A roof structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said member is conductive and further including an insulator provided on said member and a circuit provided on said insulator, said LED lights being provided on said insulator and attached to said circuit.

10. A roof structure as defined in claim 9, further including a top rail attached to said roof bow and said roof sheet, said circuit extending through an aperture in said top rail.

11. A roof structure as defined in claim 1, wherein member is attached to an exterior surface of said roof sheet, said LED lights being attached to an interior surface of said member which faces said roof sheet, said roof sheet including a plurality of apertures with which respective ones of said LED lights align.

12. A roof structure as defined in claim 11, further including adhesive covering an exterior surface of said member.

13. A roof structure as defined in claim 11, further including adhesive for attaching said member to said roof sheet, said adhesive being provided between said interior surface of said member and said roof sheet.

14. A roof structure as defined in claim 13, further including adhesive covering an exterior surface of said member.

15. A roof structure as defined in claim 11, further including a circuit attached to said plurality of LED lights.

16. A roof structure as defined in claim 15, further including a top rail attached to said roof bow and said roof sheet, said circuit extending through an aperture in said roof sheet and said top rail.

17. A roof structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said roof sheet is attached to a lower end of said roof bow and said member is positioned between said roof sheet and said roof bow.

18. A roof structure as defined in claim 17, further including a cap provided on ends of the roof bow.

19. A roof structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said member is conductive and further including an insulator provided on said member and a circuit provided on said insulator, said LED lights being provided on said insulator and attached to said circuit.

20. A roof structure as defined in claim 19, further including a top rail attached to said roof bow and said roof sheet, said circuit extending through an aperture in said top rail.

21. A roof structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said roof sheet is an inner roof sheet and further including an outer roof sheet and insulation provided between said inner roof sheet and said outer roof sheet, said roof bow being attached to said outer roof sheet and being attached to said inner roof sheet by said insulation, said roof bow generally being encapsulated by said insulation.

22. A roof structure as defined in claim 21, further including adhesive covering an exterior surface of said member, said insulation generally encapsulating said adhesive.

23. A roof structure as defined in claim 1, wherein member is attached to an interior surface of said roof sheet, said LED lights being attached to an interior surface of said member which faces said roof sheet, said member including a plurality of apertures with which respective ones of said LED lights align.

24. A roof structure as defined in claim 23, further including adhesive for attaching said member to said roof sheet, said adhesive being provided between said interior surface of said member and said roof sheet.

25. A roof structure as defined in claim 23, further including a circuit attached to said plurality of LED lights.

26. A roof structure as defined in claim 23, wherein said member is conductive and further including an insulator provided on said member and a circuit provided on said insulator, said LED lights being provided on said insulator and attached to said circuit.

27. A roof structure as defined in claim 23, wherein said roof sheet is an inner roof sheet and further including an outer roof sheet and insulation provided between said inner roof sheet and said outer roof sheet, said roof bow being attached to said outer roof sheet and being attached to said inner roof sheet by said insulation, said roof bow generally being encapsulated by said insulation.

28. A roof structure as defined in claim 23, further including a recess in said roof sheet in which said member is seated.