IP Library Granted Patent US 12,559,182
Granted Patent B2
US 12,559,182 · App. 18/110,982 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Transition door for refuse vehicle

Inventors: Brandon Lemke (Oshkosh, WI); Greg Steffens (Oshkosh, WI); McCall Groen (Oshkosh, WI); Jeff Verhagen (Oshkosh, WI)
Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
B62D33/06B62D25/24B62D35/005B65F3/02B65F2003/0279
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,559,182
App. No.
18/110,982
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis, a body coupled to the chassis and spaced from the cab such that a gap is positioned therebetween, and a transition door assembly positioned across the gap. The transition door assembly includes a support structure, a door panel, a hinge, a latch, and a latch actuator. The support structure is coupled to the body. The support structure includes a cantilevered arm having a latch retainer positioned or defined therealong. The door panel has a rear edge and a front edge. The hinge pivotably couples the rear edge of the door panel to the body. The latch is disposed along the door panel and positioned to engage with the latch retainer to selectively secure the door panel in a closed orientation. The latch actuator is configured to facilitate disengaging the latch from the latch retainer.

Claims (42)

1 . A refuse vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a cab coupled to the chassis;

a body coupled to the chassis and spaced from the cab such that a gap is positioned therebetween; and

a transition door assembly positioned across the gap, the transition door assembly including:

a support structure coupled to the body, the support structure including a cantilevered arm having a latch retainer positioned or defined therealong;

a door panel having a rear edge and a front edge;

a hinge pivotably coupling the rear edge of the door panel to the body;

a latch disposed along the door panel and positioned to engage with the latch retainer to selectively secure the door panel in a closed orientation; and

a latch actuator configured to facilitate disengaging the latch from the latch retainer.

2 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the transition door assembly includes a bracket extending along the rear edge of the door panel, wherein the hinge pivotably couples the rear edge of the door panel to the bracket, and wherein the bracket is directly coupled to the body.

3 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is directly coupled to the body.

4 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the transition door assembly includes an elastic seal positioned along the front edge of the door panel.

5 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cab includes a cab door, wherein a bottom edge of the cab door defines a first portion of a fender, and wherein a bottom edge of the door panel of the transition door assembly defines a second portion of the fender.

6 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a lift assembly coupled to the body, wherein a bottom edge of the door panel defines a cutout positioned to clear a portion of the lift assembly when the door panel is in an open orientation.

7 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the latch actuator includes at least one of a latch cable coupled to the latch or a handle positioned along the door panel and coupled to the latch cable.

8 . The refuse vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the latch actuator includes the latch cable.

9 . The refuse vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the latch actuator includes the handle.

10 . The refuse vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the latch is a plunger latch, and wherein the latch cable extends freely from the latch into a cavity of a wheel well.

11 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a step coupled to the chassis at a position (a) between the cab and the body and (b) behind the transition door assembly.

12 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a drip channel disposed along a rear wall of the cab, wherein the drip channel extends at an angle.

13 . The refuse vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the transition door assembly is configured to move with the body as the body and the cab articulate relative to one another, and wherein the angle of the drip channel provides clearance for the transition door assembly as the transition door assembly articulates relative to the cab.

14 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the transition door assembly includes a door actuator extending between the door panel and the cantilevered arm.

15 . The refuse vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the door actuator is a dual acting actuator configured to bias the door panel both closed and open.

16 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door panel is configured to pivot between the closed orientation and an open orientation, and wherein the open orientation is oriented at an angle greater than 90 degrees from the closed orientation.

17 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door panel has a first panel portion, a second panel portion, and an angled panel portion extending between the first panel portion and the second panel portion at an angle toward a center of the refuse vehicle such that the second panel portion is offset inward relative to the first panel portion defining a door recess.

18 . The refuse vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising a cowl assembly positioned above the cab and the transition door assembly, wherein the cowl assembly defines a cowl recess, and wherein the door panel is aligned with the cowl assembly such that the door recess at least partially corresponds to and aligns with the cowl recess.

19 . A refuse vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a cab coupled to the chassis;

a body coupled to the chassis and spaced from the cab such that a gap is positioned therebetween;

a cowl assembly positioned above the cab and extending toward the body, the cowl assembly defining a cowl recess; and

a transition door coupled to either the body or the cab, the transition door extending across the gap, the transition door including a door panel having a first panel portion, a second panel portion, and a third panel portion extending between the first panel portion and the second panel portion at an angle toward a center of the refuse vehicle such that the second panel portion is offset inward relative to the first panel portion defining a door recess;

wherein the door recess aligns with the cowl recess.

20 . A refuse vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a cab coupled to the chassis;

a body coupled to the chassis and spaced from the cab such that a gap is positioned therebetween;

a drip channel disposed along a rear wall of the cab, the drip channel extending at an angle along a height of the rear wall; and

a transition door coupled to the body and extending across the gap;

wherein the transition door is configured to move with the body as the body and the cab articulate relative to one another; and

wherein the angle of the drip channel provides clearance for the transition door as the transition door articulates relative to the cab.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2026
From: LEMKE, BRANDON; STEFFENS, GREG; GROEN, MCCALL; VERHAGEN, JEFF
To: OSHKOSH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073566/0907 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 63325684 · Mar 31, 2022
Provisional Application 63325810 · Mar 31, 2022
Provisional Application 63325872 · Mar 31, 2022
Related Publication 20230312021A1 · Oct 5, 2023
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