Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090189414 | AERODYNAMIC TRAILER SKIRTS - A resilient skirt assembly is provided, the assembly comprising a skirt panel adapted to connect to a trailer to direct at least a portion of the amount of air on the side of the trailer; and a skirt support adapted to connect the skirt to a trailer, the skirt support having a resilient strut providing lateral support to the skirt panel, the resilient strut allowing substantial lateral pivotal movement of the skirt panel between a skirt panel unloaded position and a skirt panel loaded position. A method of assembling a skirt assembly and a skirt kit are also provided. | 07-30-2009 |
20090218848 | RESILIENT AERODYNAMIC TRAILER SKIRTS - A resilient aerodynamic skirt assembly is provided, the aerodynamic skirt assembly comprising a skirt panel adapted to connect to a trailer to route airflow along the trailer, skirt supports adapted to connect the skirt to a trailer are also provided with a plurality of resilient struts providing lateral support to the skirt panel, the resilient struts allowing substantial lateral deflection of the skirt panel away from an aerodynamic configuration. A method of assembling an aerodynamic skirt assembly and an aerodynamic skirt kit are also provided. | 09-03-2009 |
20100096880 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT PANEL - An aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a surface adapted to direct airflow around the trailer is provided, the skirt panel being made of a single part of sheet material. A method of manufacturing a skirt panel and a kit thereof are also provided. | 04-22-2010 |
20100096881 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT WHEEL INTERFACE - An aerodynamic skirt adapted to be installed on a trailer for managing airflow is provided, the aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a substantially curved shape adapted to be positioned adjacent to a rear wheel of the trailer, the curved shape substantially mirroring the shape of the wheel to reduce the gap between the skirt panel and the wheel. A method of installing an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer to manage airflow around the trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel defining a curved shape adapted to cooperate with an exterior circumference of a wheel of the trailer; and positioning the curved shape of the skirt panel adjacent to the rear wheel of the trailer to reduce the air gap therebetween. An aerodynamic skirt kit comprising a skirt panel having a curved shape adapted to cooperate with an exterior circumference of a wheel of the trailer; and a plurality of struts adapted to secure the skirt panel to a trailer is equally provided. | 04-22-2010 |
20100096882 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT OPENING - A skirt assembly kit comprising a skirt panel adapted to be disposed on a trailer to route air about the road trailer is provided, a plurality of upper supports adapted to secure the skirt panel to the road trailer and a plurality of struts adapted to secure the skirt panel to the road trailer. A method of installing an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel, installing the skirt panel on the trailer; and performing an opening in the skirt panel. An aerodynamic skirt kit adapted to mounted to a trailer is equally provided, the aerodynamic skirt kit comprising a skirt panel adapted to define an opening therein adapted to give access through the skirt panel, and an opening closing element adapted to close the opening. | 04-22-2010 |
20100096883 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT SHAPE - An aerodynamic skirt adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted on a trailer is provided, the resilient aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height. A method of mounting an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height, positioning the forward portion toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion toward a rear portion of the trailer, and securing the skirt panel to the trailer. A kit comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion is equally provided, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being smaller than the rear height; and at least one strut adapted to secure the skirt panel to the trailer. | 04-22-2010 |
20100098481 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT SECURING MECHANISM - A securing mechanism adapted to secure struts to a trailer is provided, the securing mechanism comprising a pair of clamps adapted to be secured to the strut to clamp a frame member of the trailer therebetween. A method of securing a strut to a trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a strut; providing a pair of clamps; positioning an end of the strut adjacent to a side of a frame member of the trailer; positioning the pair of clamps on an opposed side of the frame member; and securing the pair of clamps to the strut to clamp the frame member therebetween. A securing mechanism kit for securing a strut to a frame member of a trailer is equally provided, the kit comprising a pair of clamps; and a strut. | 04-22-2010 |
20100187856 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT SUPPORT MEMBER - A support member adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is provided, the support member comprising a trailer connecting portion; a skirt connecting portion; and an intermediate portion interconnecting the trailer connecting portion to the skirt connecting portion. A kit of resilient struts adapted to resiliently secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is also provided, the kit comprising at least two resilient struts. A method of using a resilient strut to resiliently secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is equally provided, the method comprising providing at least one resilient strut; securing the resilient strut to the trailer; securing the resilient strut to the aerodynamic skirt; and applying a load on the aerodynamic skirt to resiliently bend the at least one resilient strut. | 07-29-2010 |
20110175396 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT - An aerodynamic skirt adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted on a trailer is provided, the resilient aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height. A method of mounting an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height, positioning the forward portion toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion toward a rear portion of the trailer, and securing the skirt panel to the trailer. A kit comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion is equally provided, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being smaller than the rear height; and at least one strut adapted to secure the skirt panel to the trailer. | 07-21-2011 |
20130001980 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT RESILIENT MEMBER - A resilient strut adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is presented, the aerodynamic skirt being adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted to the trailer, the resilient strut being adapted to sustain an elastic deformation when a load is applied to the resilient strut when the skirt panel moves away from the configuration improving air routing about the trailer and to self-recover its original shape when the load is removed, the resilient strut including an uneven longitudinal shape adapted to change a stiffness of the resilient strut. An aerodynamic skirt assembly including resilient struts and a kit thereof are also contemplated in the present invention. | 01-03-2013 |
20140070565 | SELF-REPOSITIONING AERODYNAMIC SKIRT - A resilient strut adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is provided, the aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel including a front portion and a rear portion adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted to the trailer, the skirt panel being adapted to move away from the aerodynamic configuration when contacting a foreign object and to recover its aerodynamic configuration thereafter, the resilient strut includes a shape variation adapted to change the mechanical strength thereof and also adapted to sustain an elastic deformation allowing the resilient strut to bend when a load is applied to the resilient strut when the skirt panel moves away from the aerodynamic configuration and to self-recover its original shape when the load is removed. A kit of resilient struts, a method thereof and a trailer equipped with same are also provided. | 03-13-2014 |