Trailer frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783238-B2
Application number	US-201615230712-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2016
Priority date	Nov 11, 2011
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A trailer frame including an axle section having two spaced longitudinal frame members connected by at least one cross member, the longitudinal frame members each having a first end and a second end; a rear section attachable to the axle section; and a dimple assemble joining the axle section to the rear section, the dimple assembly including a dimple pattern formed on each frame member of the axle assembly, the dimple pattern on the axle assembly defining a first dimple axis, and a dimple pattern formed on one end of the rear section and nestable within the dimple pattern formed on the axle section, the dimple pattern on the rear section defining a second dimple axis offset relative to the first dimple axis to create a camber between the axle section and the rear section when the first dimple is nested within the second dimple pattern.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trailer frame comprising:
a first frame section having at least one frame member, wherein the at least one frame member of the first frame section includes an upstanding sidewall and a top wall extending laterally outward from the sidewall, the top wall terminating in a downward extending flange that extends substantially parallel to the sidewall to define a first channel therebetween;
a second frame section having at least one frame member, wherein the at least one frame member of the second frame section includes an upstanding sidewall and a top wall extending laterally outward from the sidewall, the top wall terminating in a downward extending flange that extends substantially parallel to the sidewall to define a second channel therebetween;
wherein the first channel lies beneath the top wall of the first frame section and the second channel lies beneath the top wall of the second frame section;
wherein the first frame section is attachable to the second frame section with a portion of the second frame section overlapping a portion of the first frame section at a joint;
wherein the top wall of the first frame section terminates before the joint to form an exposed segment of the sidewall of the first frame section at the joint, the exposed segment of the first frame section sidewall having no first frame section top wall;
a reinforcing assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion,
the first portion being attached to the first frame section top wall within the first channel, and
the second portion extending outward from the first channel adjacent to the first frame section sidewall exposed segment at the joint, wherein the second portion is received at the second frame section top wall within the second channel;
wherein the first portion of the reinforcing assembly is attached to the top wall of the first frame section by a first fastener and the second section of the reinforcing assembly is attached to the top wall of the second frame section by a second fastener;

wherein upon attachment of the respective first and second frame sections to form the joint, the top wall of the second frame section extends over the exposed segment of the sidewall of the first frame section and is attached to the second portion of the reinforcing assembly.

2. The trailer frame of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing assembly includes a plate having a thickness at least twice as thick as the top wall of at least one of the first and second frame sections.

3. The trailer frame of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the reinforcing assembly includes at least one receiver formed therein, and wherein a fastener extends through the at least one receiver to attach the second portion to the second frame section.

4. The trailer frame of claim 1 further comprising a third frame section having at least one frame member,
wherein the at least one frame member of the third frame section includes an upstanding sidewall and a top wall extending laterally outward from the sidewall, the top wall terminating in a downward extending flange that extends substantially parallel to the sidewall to define a third channel therebetween;
wherein the third channel lies beneath the top wall of the third frame section;
wherein the first frame section is attachable to the third frame section with a portion of the third frame section overlapping a portion of the first frame section at a second joint; and
wherein the top wall of the first frame section terminates before the second joint to form a second exposed segment of the sidewall of the first frame section at the second joint, the second exposed segment of the first frame section sidewall having no first frame section top wall.

5. The trailer frame of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener is a weld and the second fastener is at least one mechanical fastener.

6. The trailer frame of claim 5 , wherein the weld is a tack weld.

7. The trailer frame of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the second frame section overlapping the portion of the first frame section comprises at least one dimple, and wherein the portion of the first frame section overlapping the section frame section comprises at least one dimple.

8. The trailer frame of claim 7 , wherein the at least one dimple of the first frame section is stamped into the sidewall of the first frame section, and wherein the at least one dimple of the second frame section is stamped into the sidewall of the second frame section.

9. The trailer frame of claim 7 , wherein each of the at least one dimple of the first frame section comprises an outwardly extending frusto-conical cross section, and wherein each of the at least one dimple of the second frame section comprises an outwardly extending frusto-conical cross section.

10. The trailer frame of claim 7 , wherein each of the at least one dimple of the first frame section comprises a central opening, and wherein each of the at least one dimple of the second frame section comprises a central opening, the central openings of the first frame section dimples overlapping the central openings of the second frame member.

11. The trailer frame of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the overlapping central openings receive a fastener such that the first frame member and the second frame members are secured with respect to each other.

12. The trailer frame of claim 7 , wherein the at least one dimple on the first frame section comprises a first plurality of dimples arranged in a first dimple pattern, and wherein the at least one dimple on the second frame section comprises a second plurality of dimples arranged in a second dimple pattern.

13. The trailer frame of claim 12 , wherein the first dimple pattern and the second dimple pattern are both rectangular patterns.

14. The trailer frame of claim 12 , wherein the first dimple pattern defines a first axis and the second dimple pattern defines a second axis.

15. The trailer frame of claim 14 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel.

16. The trailer frame of claim 14 , wherein the second axis is offset from the first axis by an angle.

17. The trailer frame of claim 16 . wherein the angle is less than or equal to 2 degrees.

18. The trailer frame of claim 14 , wherein each of the first dimple pattern and the second dimple pattern have at least two rows of dimples, the first axis bisecting the at least two rows of dimples of the first dimple pattern.

19. The trailer frame of claim 18 , wherein the second axis of the second dimple pattern is offset relative to the first axis of the first dimple pattern such that the second axis extends at an angle relative to a horizontal axis.

20. The trailer frame of claim 19 , wherein the angle is less than or equal to 2 degrees.

21. A trailer frame comprising:
a first frame member having two opposing ends, the first frame member comprising an upstanding sidewall and a top wall extending laterally outward from the upstanding sidewall, the top wall terminating in a downward extending flange that extends substantially parallel to the upstanding sidewall to define a first channel therebetween, the top wall extending a length of the first frame member and terminating before at least one of the two opposing ends to define at least one exposed sidewall portion of the first frame member;
a second frame member having two opposing ends, the second frame member comprising an upstanding sidewall and a top wall extending laterally outward from the upstanding sidewall, the top wall termi

Assignees

• Norco Ind Inc

Inventors

• Garceau Bernard F

Classifications

• B60G11/22

  having rubber springs only {(B60G11/006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B62D27/023

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B62D21/02

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B62D63/061

  Foldable, extensible or yielding trailers (foldable caravans B60P3/34; adjustable chassis frames B62D21/14) · CPC title

• B60G3/145

  the arm forming the axle housing · CPC title