Stoughton Trailers, Inc.

Gerald A Sill

Gary Lynn Fenton

Robert S Ingram

James G Jimenez

The wall joint of the present invention is configured to reduce or eliminate protrusions into the interior of the trailer or container, but does not require coining or stamping of the edges of consecutive sidewall panels. According to some highly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the wall joint includes two consecutive sidewall panels, each bent to form a main plateau, a spliced plateau and a jogged portion serving as a transition therebetween. In this way, the spliced plateau lies in a plane substantially parallel to, but spaced apart from, the main plateau, with the thickness of the sidewall panel most preferably remaining substantially constant throughout. When two consecutive sidewall panels are positioned next to each other, the spliced plateaus of the two consecutive sidewall panels abut each other and lie in a first plane, while the main plateaus of the two panels preferably lie in another parallel plane. Thus, a region recessed from the main plateaus and surrounding the seam between the two panels is created. The main plateaus preferably comprise the bulk of the interior, generally smooth-walled, surface of the cargo body, interrupted only by periodic recessed regions created by the spliced plateaus at the seams between the sidewall panels. While it is preferable for the main plateaus to lie in a single plane to create a generally flat interior cargo body wall, it is not necessary. In some highly preferred embodiments, adhesive and rivets are employed to further strengthen the sidewall panel joints.

Wall joint configuration

The wall joint of the present invention is configured to reduce or eliminate protrusions into the interior of the trailer or container, but does not require coining or stamping of the edges of consecutive sidewall panels. In some embodiments of the present invention, the wall joint includes two consecutive sidewall panels, each bent to form a main plateau, a spliced plateau and a jogged portion therebetween. In this way, the spliced plateau lies in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the main plateau, with the thickness of the sidewall panel most preferably remaining substantially constant throughout. Also, a recessed region is preferably defined at the seam between the two panels. A splicer plate connecting the adjacent panels can be received into this recessed region. In some preferred embodiments, adhesive and/or rivets are employed to further strengthen the sidewall panel joints.

A joining member for joining an adjacent pair of plates to form a portion of a side wall of a trailer, wherein at least one of the plates includes a series of openings. The joining member includes a strip having an inner surface adjacent the plates and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the strip including a plurality of rows of apertures, wherein each aperture extends between the inner surface and the outer surface and is adapted to receive a fastener for attaching the strip to both plates, the inner surface also including a first channel aligned to overlap both plates and a second channel aligned with the series of openings to define a series of logistics slots, and a sealing strip situated in the first channel.

Plate trailer with logistics slots

An intermodal container having a nonstandard length and a plurality of lock-receiving fittings for interconnecting the container to other intermodal containers or to a support surface. The container also includes stacking points for supporting the weight of one or more other containers stacked thereon. The fittings and the stacking points are laid out on the container so that it is interfaceable with a wide variety of standard length intermodal containers.

Intermodal container

The invention provides an improved chassis for hauling shipping containers over the road. The chassis includes a gooseneck portion having a support surface for engaging the tunnel section of a container. The support surface is manually adjustable and can be raised or lowered to change the effective height of the gooseneck portion so that the chassis is useable with containers having different tunnel depths. In particular, the gooseneck includes a pair of conversion rails that are pivotable to present alternative tunnel support surfaces. Stop members are also provided to secure the conversion rails in desired positions.

Chassis with convertible gooseneck

A container stacking apparatus for use in supporting a pair of cargo containers in stacked relation on at least one first cargo container, the container stacking apparatus comprising an elongated frame adapted to be supported on the at least one first cargo container, the elongated frame including a mechanism for supporting the pair of cargo containers in end-to-end relation thereon, a mechanism for releaseably locking the frame down on the first cargo container, and a mechanism for releaseably locking the pair of cargo containers down on the frame.

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Edgerton, WI, United States of America

Gerald A Sill