Stamped rear frame bolster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12291284-B2
Application number	US-202418627990-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2024
Priority date	Aug 7, 2018
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

A cargo transport rear frame includes a par of posts spaced apart in a width direction, an upper cross member extending along the width direction between respective upper ends of the pair of posts, and a rear bolster extending along the width direction between respective lower ends of the pair of posts. The rear bolster has a first side facing in a forward direction that is perpendicular to both the width and height directions, and the rear bolster has a second side facing in a rearward direction to be exposed to a rear side of the cargo transport rear frame. The rear bolster comprises a sheet metal stamping including a base surface and a relief embossed in the rearward direction from the base surface to form a loading dock engagement feature configured to withstand repeated loading dock impacts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cargo transport rear frame defining a rear cargo opening, the cargo transport rear frame comprising:
a pair of posts spaced apart in a width direction, each of the pair of posts extending in a height direction;
an upper cross member extending along the width direction between respective upper ends of the pair of posts; and
a rear bolster extending along the width direction between respective lower ends of the pair of posts such that the rear bolster is spaced below the upper cross member in the height direction, wherein the pair of posts, the upper cross member, and the rear bolster bound the rear cargo opening,
wherein the rear bolster has a first side facing in a forward direction that is perpendicular to both the width and height directions, and the rear bolster has a second side facing in a rearward direction to be exposed to a rear side of the cargo transport rear frame,
wherein the rear bolster comprises a sheet metal stamping including a base surface and a relief embossed in the rearward direction from the base surface to form a loading dock engagement feature configured to withstand repeated loading dock impacts.

2. The cargo transport rear frame of claim 1 , wherein the relief includes a central portion extending laterally along the rear bolster.

3. The cargo transport rear frame of claim 2 , wherein a rear end of the central portion includes a vertically oriented flat land surface.

4. The cargo transport rear frame of claim 3 , wherein the central portion is trapezoidal in cross-section taken perpendicular to a length direction of the central portion.

5. The cargo transport of claim 1 , wherein the loading dock engagement feature includes taillight surround portions extending at least partially around taillight mounts at outboard ends of the rear bolster in the width direction.

6. The cargo transport of claim 5 , wherein a rear end of the taillight surround portions is rounded and configured to contact a loading dock.

7. The cargo transport rear frame of claim 1 , wherein the stamping is from a single monolithic sheet of metal.

8. A rear bolster for a cargo transport rear frame, the rear bolster comprising:
a sheet metal stamping including:
a base surface having lateral outboard ends spaced in a width direction and having a top edge and a bottom edge spaced in a height direction;
a first side facing in a forward direction that is perpendicular to both the width and height directions;
a second side facing in a rearward direction to be exposed to a rear side of the cargo transport rear frame having the rear bolster; and
a relief embossed in the rearward direction from the base surface to form a loading dock engagement feature configured to withstand repeated loading dock impacts.

9. The rear bolster of claim 8 , wherein the relief includes a central portion extending laterally along the rear bolster.

10. The rear bolster of claim 9 , wherein the relief further includes a pair of outboard portions formed continuously with the central portion, each of the pair of outboard portions extending above or below a taillight mount.

11. The rear bolster of claim 10 , wherein a rear end of the central portion includes a vertically oriented flat land surface.

12. The rear bolster of claim 11 , wherein a rear end of the outboard portions is rounded and configured to contact the loading dock.

13. The rear bolster of claim 12 , wherein the flat land surface extends further in the rearward direction than the curved surfaces of the outboard portions.

14. The rear bolster of claim 8 , wherein the stamping is from a single monolithic sheet of metal.

15. A rear bolster for a cargo transport rear frame, the rear bolster comprising:
a sheet metal stamping including:
a base surface having lateral outboard ends spaced in a width direction and having a top edge and a bottom edge spaced in a height direction;
a first side facing in a forward direction that is perpendicular to both the width and height directions;
a second side facing in a rearward direction to be exposed to a rear side of the cargo transport rear frame having the rear bolster; and
a relief embossed in the rearward direction from the base surface to form a loading dock engagement feature configured to withstand repeated loading dock impacts, wherein the relief includes a central portion extending a first distance from the base surface in the rearward direction, and an outboard portion extending a second distance from the base surface in the rearward direction.

16. The rear bolster of claim 15 , wherein the central portion extends further in the rearward direction such that the first distance exceeds the second distance by at least 0.4 inches.

17. The rear bolster of claim 16 , wherein the central potion extends further in the rearward direction such that the first distance exceeds the second distance by at least 0.8 inches.

18. The rear bolster of claim 15 , wherein the central portion extends further in the rearward direction such that the first distance exceeds the second distance by less than 2 inches.

19. The rear bolster of claim 18 , wherein the central portion includes a vertically oriented flat land surface, and a rear end of the outboard portion of the relief is rounded.

20. The rear bolster of claim 19 , wherein the central portion is trapezoidal in cross-section taken perpendicular to a length direction of the central portion.

Assignees

• Sti Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Fenton Gary L

Classifications

• B60Q1/2619

  built in the vehicle body · CPC title

• B60Y2200/148

  Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles · CPC title

• B60Y2200/147

  Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans · CPC title

• B21D22/02

  Stamping using rigid devices or tools · CPC title

• B60Q1/30

  for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces · CPC title