Claims
- 1. A cargo trailer for use with a motorized vehicle, said trailer comprising:
a wheel assembly; a floor supported by said wheel assembly; and two side walls extending upward from respective longitudinal sides of said floor, at least one of said side walls including
an outer surface, an inner surface, a plurality of elongated vertical posts disposed between said outer surface and said inner surface, and a horizontal longitudinal member, wherein each said vertical post includes a longitudinal interior surface having a first portion that partially defines said inner surface and a second portion recessed from said first portion between said inner surface and said outer surface, and wherein said longitudinal member is received by said second portions of said vertical posts so that at least a portion of said longitudinal member is disposed outward of said inner surface.
- 2. The trailer as in claim 1, wherein an interior facing surface of each said longitudinal member band partially defines said inner surface.
- 3. The trailer as in claim 1, wherein said second portion is defined at a lower end of each said post adjacent said floor, wherein said inner surface defines a generally planar surface, and wherein said at least one side wall includes a plurality of interior side wall liner panels partially defining said inner surface, each said side wall liner panel extending between adjacent pairs of said vertical posts.
- 4. The trailer as in claim 3, wherein each said vertical post includes two first longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first portion between said inner surface and said outer surface, and wherein each said liner panel is attached to adjacent pairs of said posts at a respective said first flange.
- 5. The trailer as in claim 4, wherein each said vertical post includes two second longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first longitudinal flanges between said first longitudinal flanges and said outer surface, wherein said outer surface includes an outer skin, and wherein said outer skin is fastened to each said post at said two second longitudinal flanges.
- 6. The trailer as in claim 5, wherein each said vertical post includes two third longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first longitudinal flanges between said first longitudinal flanges and said second longitudinal flanges and wherein each said liner panel has a corrugated main portion and flanges extending from said corrugated main portion and attached to said first longitudinal flanges of adjacent said posts so that said corrugated main portion engages said third longitudinal flanges of said adjacent posts.
- 7. The trailer as in claim 6, wherein each said third longitudinal flange is attached to and disposed laterally between respective said first and second longitudinal flanges.
- 8. The trailer as in claim 6, wherein each said second longitudinal flange is attached to and disposed laterally between respective said first and third longitudinal flanges.
- 9. A cargo trailer for use with a motorized vehicle, said trailer comprising:
a wheel assembly; a floor supported by said wheel assembly; and two side walls extending upward from respective longitudinal sides of said floor, at least of one of said side walls including
an outer surface, an inner surface, a plurality of elongated posts disposed between said outer surface and said inner surface, and a plurality of interior side wall liner panels, wherein each said liner panel is disposed between respective said posts and partially defines said inner surface and wherein each said liner panel has a corrugated main portion and flanges extending from said corrugated main portion, wherein each said post includes
a longitudinal first portion that partially defines said inner surface, a pair of first longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first portion between said inner surface and said outer surface, and a pair of second longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first longitudinal flanges between said first longitudinal flanges and said outer surface, and wherein said liner panel flanges of each said liner panel are attached to said first longitudinal flanges of adjacent said posts so that said corrugated main portion engages said second longitudinal flanges of said adjacent posts.
- 10. The trailer as in claim 9, including a pair of third longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said second longitudinal flanges between said second longitudinal flanges and said outer surface, wherein said outer surface includes an outer skin, and wherein said outer skin is fastened to each said post at said pair of second longitudinal flanges.
- 11. The trailer as in claim 10, wherein each said third longitudinal flange is attached to and disposed laterally between respective said first and second longitudinal flanges.
- 12. The trailer as in claim 10, wherein each said second longitudinal flange is attached to and disposed laterally between respective said first and second longitudinal flanges.
- 13. The trailer as in claim 9, wherein said plurality of elongated posts are horizontally oriented and parallel to said floor.
- 14. The trailer as in claim 13, including a plurality of elongated vertical posts disposed between said outer surface and said horizontal posts, said horizontal posts being attached to said vertical posts.
- 15. The trailer as in claim 9, wherein said plurality of elongated posts are vertically oriented.
- 16. A cargo trailer for use with a motorized vehicle, said trailer comprising:
a wheel assembly; a floor supported by said wheel assembly; and two side walls extending upward from respective longitudinal sides of said floor, at least one of said side walls including
an outer surface, an inner surface, a plurality of elongated posts disposed between said outer surface and said inner surface, a plurality of interior side wall liner panels, wherein each said liner panel is disposed between respective said posts and partially defines said inner surface, wherein each said post includes
a longitudinal first portion that partially defines said inner surface, a pair of first longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first portion between said inner surface and said outer surface, a pair of second longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said first longitudinal flanges between said first longitudinal flanges and said outer surface, and a pair of third longitudinal flanges generally parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said first portion and recessed from said second longitudinal flanges between said second longitudinal flanges and said outer surface, and wherein each said liner panel is attached to respective said first flanges, and/or respective said second flanges, of adjacent said posts.
- 17. The trailer as in claim 16, wherein said posts are vertically oriented.
- 18. The trailer as in claim 16, wherein said outer surface includes an outer skin, and wherein said outer skin is fastened to each said post at said pair of third longitudinal flanges.
- 19. The trailer as in claim 16, wherein each said liner panel is attached to respective said second flanges of adjacent said posts.
- 20. In construction of a cargo trailer having a wheel assembly, a floor supported by the wheel assembly, and two side walls extending upward from respective longitudinal sides of the floor, wherein at least one of the side walls includes an outer surface, an inner surface and at least one vertical post disposed between and supporting the inner surface, a method of forming the vertical post, said method comprising the steps of:
providing an elongated metal post having a generally planar longitudinal central surface, a pair of stepped accordion flanges respectively disposed on opposite sides of said central surface, and a pair of elongated side edges respectively defined on opposite sides of said post; securing said elongated side edges against lateral deformation; and stamping a predetermined area of said central surface at an end of said post so that said predetermined area is recessed with respect to a remaining portion of said central surface and so that said accordion flanges compress between said central surface and said elongated side edges.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said stamping step includes providing a first die piece and a second die piece, and wherein each said die piece defines opposing accordion shaped surfaces.
- 22. The method of claim 20, wherein said recessed stamped area is defined in a generally common plane with a pair of longitudinal flanges within said stepped accordion flanges offset from said stamped area and parallel to said central surface.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said longitudinal flanges are defined adjacent to said generally planar longitudinal central surface.
- 24. The trailer as in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal member is a scuff band.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/909,065 filed Jul. 19, 2001, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09909065 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
10308611 |
Dec 2002 |
US |