Granted Patent B2

US 8,172,301 · App. 10/664,806 · Granted May 8, 2012

Abstract

Claims (42)

1. A rail for a top of a wall of a trailer, the rail comprising:

a body adapted to engage the top of the wall, the body having a concave surface adapted to receive a cover reel.

2. The rail of claim 1 wherein the concave surface faces away from the trailer.

3. The rail of claim 1 further comprising at least one leg connected to the body.

4. The rail of claim 3 wherein the at least one leg is adapted to engage the top of the wall.

5. The rail of claim 3 wherein the at least one leg is adapted to be welded to the top of the wall.

6. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a plurality of ribs.

7. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body includes an opening adapted to anchor a cover.

8. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body extends at least a majority of a length of the wall of the trailer.

9. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body comprises aluminum.

10. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a polymer.

11. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body is extruded.

12. An apparatus for extending and retracting a cover over a trailer, the apparatus comprising:

a base pivotably connected to the trailer;

an extension connected to the cover and pivotably connected to the base; and

a rail for a top of a wall of the trailer, the rail including a body adapted to engage the top of the wall, the body having a concave surface adapted to receive a cover reel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the concave surface faces away from the trailer.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising at least one leg connected to the body.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one leg is adapted to engage the top of the wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one leg is adapted to be welded to the top of the wall.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body comprises a plurality of ribs.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body includes an opening adapted to anchor the cover.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body extends at least a majority of a length of the wall of the trailer.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body comprises aluminum.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body comprises a polymer.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body is extruded.

23. An apparatus for extending and retracting a cover over a trailer, the apparatus comprising:

a base pivotably connected to the trailer;

an extension connected to the cover and pivotably connected to the base;

a reel connected to the extension;

a motor mounted on the extension and drivingly engaged with the reel to selectively extend and retract the cover over the trailer; and

a rail for a top of a wall of the trailer, the rail including a body adapted to engage the top of the wall, the body having a concave surface adapted to receive the reel.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the concave surface faces away from the trailer.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising at least one leg connected to the body.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the at least one leg is adapted to engage the top of the wall.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the at least one leg is adapted to be welded to the top of the wall.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body comprises a plurality of ribs.

29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body includes an opening adapted to anchor the cover.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body extends at least a majority of a length of the wall of the trailer.

31. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body comprises aluminum.

32. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body comprises a polymer.

33. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body is extruded.

Assignments (14)