Commodity trailer working area lighting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783098-B2
Application number	US-201514613646-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 7, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A commodity trailer for storage and transport of a commodity, and provided with a lighting system. The commodity trailer can include a tub in which the commodity is stored and transported, wherein the tub includes at least one wall that is sloped from a first elevation to an opening beneath the tub at a second elevation lower than the first elevation to funnel the commodity toward the opening, and wherein the opening has a plurality of sides; a frame extending along at least one side of the opening; and a lamp mounted to the frame, wherein the lamp is positioned and oriented to direct light upon an area beneath the opening into which commodity from the tub flows upon exiting the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A commodity trailer for storage and transport of a commodity over ground, the commodity trailer comprising:
a tub in which the commodity is stored and transported, the tub including at least one wall that is sloped from a first elevation to an opening of the tub at a second elevation lower than the first elevation to funnel the commodity toward the opening, the opening having a plurality of sides; and
a lamp secured in place with respect to the opening, the lamp positioned proximate the opening of the tub and oriented with respect to the opening to direct light upon a working area directly beneath the opening, the working area being a space where commodity from the tub flows upon exiting the opening.

2. The commodity trailer of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the ground.

3. The commodity trailer of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is located at a lower elevation than the opening.

4. The commodity trailer of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is located laterally away from the opening.

5. A commodity trailer for storage and transport of a commodity, the commodity trailer comprising:
a tub in which the commodity is stored and transported, the tub including at least one wall that is sloped from a first elevation to an opening of the tub at a second elevation lower than the first elevation to funnel the commodity toward the opening, the opening having a plurality of sides;
a frame extending along at least one side of the opening; and
a lamp mounted to the frame, the lamp positioned proximate the opening of the tub and oriented with respect to the opening to direct light upon a working area directly beneath the opening, the working area being a space where commodity from the tub flows upon exiting the opening.

6. The commodity trailer of claim 5 , wherein the frame comprises an elongated beam.

7. The commodity trailer of claim 6 , wherein the elongated beam extends along an underside of the commodity trailer and laterally with respect to a direction of travel of the commodity trailer.

8. The commodity trailer of claim 5 , wherein the frame at least partially defines an enclosure.

9. The commodity trailer of claim 5 , wherein the lamp is an LED light.

10. The commodity trailer of claim 5 , wherein the frame extends to a lower elevation than the opening.

11. The commodity trailer of claim 5 , wherein the frame is located beneath the at least one wall of the tub.

12. The commodity trailer of claim 5 , wherein the frame is coupled to the tub proximate the opening.

13. The commodity trailer of claim 6 , further comprising electrical wire running within the elongated beam to the lamp.

14. A lighting system for a commodity trailer having a tub in which a commodity is stored and transported over ground, the lighting system comprising:
an elongated beam having a cross sectional shape that includes a mounting flange shaped to secure the elongated beam in a position proximate an opening at the bottom of the tub where commodity from the tub flows out upon exiting the tub, and a body extending away from the mounting flange; and
a light mounted to the body of the elongated beam;
wherein the elongated beam is shaped to position the light proximate the opening of the tub and to orient the light at an oblique angle with respect to the ground when the elongated beam is secured in the position adjacent the tub via the mounting flange, such that the light shines upon a working area directly beneath the opening of the tub.

15. The lighting system of claim 14 , wherein the light is received within an enclosure at least partially defined by the elongated beam.

16. A commodity trailer in which a commodity is stored and transported over ground, the commodity trailer comprising:
a body having a top side, a bottom side, and side walls extending between the top side and the bottom side, wherein the top side, bottom side, and the side walls at least partially define an interior of the body, and wherein at least a portion of the top side of the body defines an opening, such that the interior is exposed to an outside environment at the top side of the body;
a tub forming part of the bottom side of the body, in which the commodity is stored and transported, the tub including at least one wall that is sloped from a first elevation to an opening of the tub at a second elevation lower than the first elevation to funnel the commodity from the interior of the body toward the opening;
a plurality of wheels coupled to the bottom side of the body;
a plurality of top rails that at least partially define a rectangular periphery of the top side; and
a lighting system including a switch and a plurality of discrete light sources coupled to at least one of the top rails in locations spaced along the at least one of the top rails and positioned to direct light downward into the interior to illuminate the tub from within the commodity trailer, wherein the light sources are operated by the switch electrically coupled to the plurality of discrete lights,
wherein the bottom side includes a plurality of lower rails that define a rectangular outer periphery of the bottom side, and wherein the lighting system further includes a second lamp that is coupled to one of the lower rails and is oriented to direct light at an oblique angle with respect to the ground to illuminate an area below the bottom side.

17. The commodity trailer of claim 16 , wherein the top rails include two opposite, parallel rails, and wherein the lighting system includes a plurality of LED lamps coupled to both of the opposite, parallel rails that direct light down into the interior.

18. The commodity trailer of claim 16 , wherein the second lamp is at least partially disposed within the lower rail.

19. The commodity trailer of claim 16 , wherein the second lamp directs light onto the tub.

Assignees

• Sti Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Liebelt Jeffrey Wayne

Classifications

• B60Q1/0035 Primary

  relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60Q1/24 Primary

  for lighting other areas than only the way ahead · CPC title

• B60Q1/247

  for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit (for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323) · CPC title

• B60Q2800/20

  Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work · CPC title