Raceway for commercial cargo body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12195093-B2
Application number	US-202318530587-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2023
Priority date	May 25, 2021
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A utility raceway for a commercial cargo body. The utility raceway includes an interior defined between a first side, a second side, a third side opposite the first side, and a fourth side opposite the second side. The utility raceway also includes a first living hinge formed between the first side and the second side and a second living hinge formed between the second side and the third side. The second side is pivotable relative to the first side about the first living hinge and the third side is pivotable relative to the second side about the second living hinge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A utility raceway for a commercial cargo body, the utility raceway comprising:
an interior defined between a first side, a second side, a third side opposite the first side, and a fourth side opposite the second side;
a first living hinge formed between the first side and the second side; and
a second living hinge formed between the second side and the third side;
wherein the second side is pivotable relative to the first side about the first living hinge and the third side is pivotable relative to the second side about the second living hinge.

2. The utility raceway of claim 1 , wherein the second side and the third side are pivotable relative to the first side about the respective first living hinge or second living hinge from a closed configuration, in which access to the interior is inhibited, and an open configuration, in which access to the interior is permitted.

3. The utility raceway of claim 2 , wherein the fourth side includes a recess and the first side includes a bead received in the recess to secure the utility raceway in the closed configuration.

4. The utility raceway of claim 1 , wherein the first and second living hinges include a first hardness on the durometer scale and the first, second, third, and fourth sides include a second hardness on the durometer scale that is greater than the first hardness.

5. The utility raceway of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sides and the first and second living hinges are formed as a single, multi-material extrusion.

6. The utility raceway of claim 1 , wherein the first and third sides are generally orthogonal to the second and fourth sides when in a closed configuration.

7. The utility raceway of claim 1 , wherein the fourth side includes an elastic member disposed on an exterior of the utility raceway.

8. The utility raceway of claim 1 , further comprising an overhang extending from the third side past the fourth side.

9. A floor assembly for a commercial cargo body, the floor assembly comprising:
a set of floor planks configured to span between first and second walls of the commercial cargo body, the set of floor planks defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and
a utility raceway positioned in either a first space defined between the first wall of the commercial cargo body and the first end of the set of floor planks or a second space defined between the second wall of the commercial cargo body and the second end of the set of floor planks, the utility raceway defining an interior utility cavity with a top side;
wherein, when the floor assembly is in the fully constructed state with the set of floor planks in place, the top side of the utility raceway is operable to open to provide access to the interior utility cavity and close to seal the interior utility cavity from the environment outside the interior utility cavity.

10. The floor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the set of floor planks consists entirely of interchangeable planks.

11. The floor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the utility raceway is a first utility raceway and the floor assembly further comprises a second utility raceway positioned in the other of the first and second spaces that the first utility raceway is not positioned in.

12. The floor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the utility raceway is interchangeably positionable between the first and second spaces.

13. The floor assembly of claim 9 , wherein each plank of the set of floor planks includes a first shelf defined on a first lateral outer edge and a second shelf defined on a second lateral outer edge opposite the first lateral outer edge and wherein the first shelf of a first plank of the set of floor planks mates with the second shelf of a second plank of the set of floor planks.

14. The floor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the top side of the utility raceway includes a door that is pivotable to allow access to the interior utility cavity of the utility raceway.

15. The floor assembly of claim 14 , wherein the door extends parallel to a plane defined by a top surface of the set of floor planks.

16. A floor assembly for a commercial cargo body, the floor assembly comprising:
a set of floor planks configured to span between first and second walls of the commercial cargo body, the set of floor planks defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and
a utility raceway positioned in either a first space defined between the first wall of the commercial cargo body and the first end of the set of floor planks or a second space defined between the second wall of the commercial cargo body and the second end of the set of floor planks, the utility raceway defining an interior utility cavity with a top side;
wherein, when the floor assembly is in the fully constructed state with the set of floor planks in place, the top side of the utility raceway is moveable between an open configuration, in which access to the interior utility cavity is permitted, and a closed configuration, in which the top side prevents water intrusion into the interior utility cavity.

Assignees

• Sti Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Bykovskyi Denys
• Fenton Gary L

Classifications

• B62D33/046 Primary

  built up with flat self-supporting panels; Fixed connections between panels (B62D29/045, B62D33/048 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62D21/17

  forming fluid or electrical conduit means or having other means to accommodate the transmission of a force or signal · CPC title

• H02G3/0437

  Channels · CPC title

• B62D25/2054 Primary

  Load carrying floors for commercial vehicles · CPC title

• H02G3/0418

  Covers or lids; Their fastenings · CPC title