INTERLOCKING JOINT FOR A WALL OR DOOR OF A TRAILER

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.

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 an exploded, cross-sectional view of a portion of a component of a trailer showing a first embodiment of a joint which incorporates the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the component shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a portion of a component of a trailer showing a second embodiment of a joint which incorporates the features of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the component shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a portion of a component of a trailer showing a third embodiment of a joint which incorporates the features of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the component shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a portion of a component of a trailer showing a fourth embodiment of a joint which incorporates the features of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the component shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective plan view of a components used to form a fifth embodiment of a joint which incorporates the features of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the of the components shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a trailer which includes a joint formed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a trailer which incorporates the features of the invention.

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;a cap including a base wall and an interlock provided on said base wall, said base wall abutting said outer surfaces of said first and second panels; anda strip including a base wall and an interlock provided on said base wall, said strip and said cap being separate members, said base wall of said strip abutting said inner surfaces of said first and second panels, said interlock of said strip and said interlock of said cap mating together, at least one of said interlock of said strip and said interlock of said cap extending between said first and second panels.

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 or multiple sheets 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 at least one of said inner surfaces and said base wall of said strip, and a plurality of striations provided on at least one of said outer surfaces and 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 or multiple sheets 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 or multiple sheets 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 at least one of said inner surfaces and said base wall of said strip, and a plurality of striations provided on at least one of said outer surfaces and 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 interlock of said strip are tangs and said interlock of said cap are tangs, said tangs on said strip and said tangs on said cap interengage.

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

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

18. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 15, wherein at least one of said tangs of said cap and strip has a double-sided barb thereon which engages with tangs on the other of said cap and strip.

19. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein said interlock of said strip are apertures and said interlock of said cap are tangs, said apertures and said tangs interengage.

20. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 19, wherein said tangs on said cap are formed as a separate member from said cap, said tangs being secured to said cap.

21. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 20, wherein said separate member which forms said tangs are secured to said cap by adhesive.

22. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 19, wherein said tangs of said cap have a double-sided barb thereon.

23. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 22, wherein said double-sided barb sits within a recess provided in said strip.

24. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 19, wherein predefined ones of said apertures through said strip are not engaged by said tangs.

25. A wall or roof of a trailer as defined in claim 1, wherein said strip has a plurality of apertures provided therethrough.

26. A method of forming a wall or roof of a trailer comprising the steps of: providing a first panel, said first panel having an inner surface and an opposite outer surface;providing 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;providing a cap including a base wall and an interlock provided on said base wall;abutting said base wall of said cap against said outer surfaces of said first and second panels;providing a strip including a base wall and an interlock provided on said base wall, said strip and said cap being separate members;abutting said base wall of said strip against said inner surfaces of said first and second panels;extending at least one of said interlock of said strip and said interlock of said cap between said first and second panels; andmating said interlock of said strip and said interlock of said cap together.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein said panels are formed of first and second skins made of a non-compressible material having a core member sandwiched therebetween, said first and second skins being made of a non-compressible material and said core member being made of a compressible material, and wherein during the step of mating said interlock of said strip and said interlock of said cap together, a load is placed on said cap and on said strip to compress said core members.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, further including the step of removing the load once said interlock of said strip and said interlock of said cap are mated such that said core members expand to ensure a tight fit between said interlocks.