Granted Patent B2

US 12,746,993 · App. 19/395,855 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Inventors: James H. Adams (Tega Cay, SC); C J Watson (New Brockton, AL)

Assignee: Dorsey Trailer LLC

B62D63/08B62D21/20B62D33/02B62D53/06

Abstract

Claims (102)

1 . A side rail for a trailer, the side rail comprising:

a side rail body that is, or is at least adapted to be, operably coupled to the trailer, said side rail body comprising:

an elongated side rail wall defining opposing upper and lower portions;

an upper connecting wall extending from the upper portion of the side rail wall; and

a lower connecting wall spaced apart from the upper connecting wall and extending from the lower portion of the side rail wall;

and

a rub rail body that is, or is at least adapted to be, operably coupled to the side rail body, said rub rail body comprising an elongated rub rail wall defining opposing upper and lower portions,

wherein, when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body:

the upper and lower portions of the rub rail body are operably coupled to respective portions of the upper and lower connecting walls of the side rail body; and

the upper and lower connecting walls space apart the rub rail body from the side rail wall of the side rail body.

2 . The side rail of claim 1 , wherein, when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body, a longitudinal passage is defined between, and extends along, the rub rail body and the side rail body, said longitudinal passage being at least partially bounded by the rub rail wall of the rub rail body, the side rail wall of the side rail body, the upper connecting wall of the side rail body, and the lower connecting wall of the side rail body.

3 . The side rail of claim 1 , wherein:

the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along a longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the upper portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented upper connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of upper gaps; and/or

the lower connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along the longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the lower portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented lower connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of lower gaps.

4 . The side rail of claim 1 , wherein:

the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along a longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the upper portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented upper connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of upper gaps;

the lower connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along the longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the lower portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented lower connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of lower gaps;

each segment of the upper connecting wall of the side rail body corresponds to a respective segment of the lower connecting wall of the side rail body; and

each segment of the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is longitudinally aligned with the corresponding segment of the lower connecting wall of the side rail body along the longitudinal length of the side rail body.

5 . The side rail of claim 1 , wherein:

the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along a longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the upper portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented upper connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of upper gaps;

the lower connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along the longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the lower portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented lower connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of lower gaps;

each gap of the plurality of upper gaps of the side rail body corresponds to a respective gap of the plurality of lower gaps of the side rail body; and

each gap of the plurality of upper gaps of the side rail body is longitudinally aligned with the corresponding gap of the plurality of lower gaps of the side rail body along the longitudinal length of the side rail body.

6 . The side rail of claim 1 ,

wherein the side rail body further comprises:

an upper rail wall extending from the upper portion of the side rail wall in a direction opposite a direction in which the upper connecting wall and the lower connecting wall extend from the side rail wall; and

a lower rail wall spaced apart from the upper rail wall and extending from the lower portion of the side rail wall in the direction opposite the direction in which the upper connecting wall and the lower connecting wall extend from the side rail wall;

and

wherein the side rail wall, the upper rail wall, and the lower rail wall of the side rail body together define a channel adapted to receive one or more structural members of the trailer when the side rail body is operably coupled to the trailer.

7 . The side rail of claim 6 , wherein:

the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along a longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the upper portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented upper connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of upper gaps;

the lower connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along the longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the lower portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented lower connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of lower gaps;

the lower rail wall of the side rail body includes a plurality of openings to facilitate attachment of load securing devices and/or assemblies;

each opening of the plurality of openings of the lower rail wall of the side rail body corresponds to:

a respective gap of the plurality of lower gaps of the side rail body; and

a respective gap of the plurality of upper gaps of the side rail body;

and

each opening of the plurality of openings of the lower rail wall of the side rail body is longitudinally aligned with:

the corresponding gap of the plurality of lower gaps of the side rail body along the longitudinal length of the side rail body; and

the corresponding gap of the plurality of upper gaps of the side rail body along the longitudinal length of the side rail body.

8 . The side rail of claim 1 ,

wherein the side rail body is a one-piece extruded body; and

wherein the rub rail body is a one-piece extruded body.

9 . The side rail of claim 1 , wherein the rub rail wall further defines a middle portion extending between the upper portion of the rub rail wall and the lower portion of the rub rail wall, said middle portion of the rub rail wall being thinner than the upper portion of the rub rail wall and the lower portion of the rub rail wall.

10 . The side rail of claim 1 , wherein the rub rail body further comprises:

an upper groove disposed proximate the upper portion of the rub rail wall and adapted to receive a portion of the upper connecting wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body; and

a lower groove spaced apart from the upper groove, disposed proximate the lower portion of the rub rail wall, and adapted to receive a portion of the lower connecting wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body.

11 . A side rail body that is, or is at least adapted to be, operably coupled to a trailer, said side rail body comprising:

an elongated side rail wall defining opposing upper and lower portions;

an upper connecting wall extending from the upper portion of the side rail wall,

wherein a portion of the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is adapted to be operably coupled to an upper portion of a rub rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body;

and

a lower connecting wall spaced apart from the upper connecting wall and extending from the lower portion of the side rail wall,

wherein a portion of the lower connecting wall of the side rail body is adapted to be operably coupled to a lower portion of the rub rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body, and

wherein the upper and lower connecting walls are adapted to space apart the rub rail body from the side rail wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body;

wherein, when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body, a longitudinal passage is defined between, and extends along, the rub rail body and the side rail body, said longitudinal passage being at least partially bounded by the rub rail wall of the rub rail body, the side rail wall of the side rail body, the upper connecting wall of the side rail body, and the lower connecting wall of the side rail body.

12 . The side rail body of claim 11 , wherein the side rail body is a one-piece extruded body.

13 . A side rail body that is, or is at least adapted to be, operably coupled to a trailer, said side rail body comprising:

an elongated side rail wall defining opposing upper and lower portions;

an upper connecting wall extending from the upper portion of the side rail wall,

wherein a portion of the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is adapted to be operably coupled to an upper portion of a rub rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body;

and

a lower connecting wall spaced apart from the upper connecting wall and extending from the lower portion of the side rail wall,

wherein a portion of the lower connecting wall of the side rail body is adapted to be operably coupled to a lower portion of the rub rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body, and

wherein the upper and lower connecting walls are adapted to space apart the rub rail body from the side rail wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body;

wherein:

the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along a longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the upper portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented upper connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of upper gaps; and/or

the lower connecting wall of the side rail body is segmented along the longitudinal length of the side rail body proximate the lower portion of the side rail wall so that the segmented lower connecting wall is interspersed with, and spaced apart by, a plurality of lower gaps.

14 . The side rail body of claim 13 , wherein:

each segment of the upper connecting wall of the side rail body corresponds to a respective segment of the lower connecting wall of the side rail body; and

each segment of the upper connecting wall of the side rail body is longitudinally aligned with the corresponding segment of the lower connecting wall of the side rail body along the longitudinal length of the side rail body.

15 . The side rail body of claim 13 , wherein:

each gap of the plurality of upper gaps of the side rail body corresponds to a respective gap of the plurality of lower gaps of the side rail body; and

each gap of the plurality of upper gaps of the side rail body is longitudinally aligned with the corresponding gap of the plurality of lower gaps of the side rail body along the longitudinal length of the side rail body.

16 . The side rail body of claim 13 ,

wherein the side rail body further comprises:

an upper rail wall extending from the upper portion of the side rail wall in a direction opposite a direction in which the upper connecting wall and the lower connecting wall extend from the side rail wall; and

a lower rail wall spaced apart from the upper rail wall and extending from the lower portion of the side rail wall in the direction opposite the direction in which the upper connecting wall and the lower connecting wall extend from the side rail wall;

wherein the side rail wall, the upper rail wall, and the lower rail wall of the side rail body together define a channel adapted to receive one or more structural members of the trailer when the side rail body is operably coupled to the trailer;

and

wherein:

the lower rail wall of the side rail body includes a plurality of openings to facilitate attachment of load securing devices and/or assemblies;

each opening of the plurality of openings of the lower rail wall of the side rail body corresponds to:

a respective gap of the plurality of lower gaps of the side rail body; and

a respective gap of the plurality of upper gaps of the side rail body;

and

each opening of the plurality of openings of the lower rail wall of the side rail body is longitudinally aligned with:

the corresponding gap of the plurality of lower gaps of the side rail body along the longitudinal length of the side rail body; and

the corresponding gap of the plurality of upper gaps of the side rail body along the longitudinal length of the side rail body.

17 . The side rail body of claim 13 , wherein the side rail body is a one-piece extruded body.

18 . A rub rail body that is, or is at least adapted to be, operably coupled to a side rail body, said side rail body being, or at least being adapted to be, operably coupled to a trailer, the rub rail body comprising:

an elongated rub rail wall defining opposing upper and lower portions,

said upper portion of the rub rail wall being adapted to be operably coupled to a portion of an upper connecting wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body, and

said lower portion of the rub rail wall being adapted to be operably coupled to a portion of a lower connecting wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is connected to the side rail body;

wherein the upper and lower connecting walls space apart the rub rail body from a side rail wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body; and

wherein, when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body, a longitudinal passage is defined between, and extends along, the rub rail body and the side rail body, said longitudinal passage being at least partially bounded by the rub rail wall of the rub rail body, the side rail wall of the side rail body, the upper connecting wall of the side rail body, and the lower connecting wall of the side rail body.

19 . The rub rail body of claim 18 , wherein the rub rail body is a one-piece extruded body.

20 . The rub rail body of claim 18 , wherein the rub rail wall further defines a middle portion extending between the upper portion of the rub rail wall and the lower portion of the rub rail wall, said middle portion of the rub rail wall being thinner than the upper portion of the rub rail wall and the lower portion of the rub rail wall.

21 . The rub rail body of claim 18 , wherein the rub rail body further comprises:

an upper groove disposed proximate the upper portion of the rub rail wall and adapted to receive the portion of the upper connecting wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body; and

a lower groove spaced apart from the upper groove, disposed proximate the lower portion of the rub rail wall, and adapted to receive the portion of the lower connecting wall of the side rail body when the rub rail body is operably coupled to the side rail body.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (21)