| US 7,500,713 B2 | ||
| Interlocking joint for a wall or door of a trailer | ||
| Kevin Riley, Lafayette, Ind. (US); Francis S. Smidler, Lafayette, Ind. (US); Victor Vargas, Lafayette, Ind. (US); Robert L. Hancock, Lafayette, Ind. (US); and Leonard Baker, Lafayette, Ind. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Wabash National, L.P., Lafayette, Ind. (US) | ||
| Filed on Feb. 07, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/672,240. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/776991, filed on Feb. 27, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0200393 A1, Aug. 30, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. B62D 33/023 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 296—191 [296/186.1; 52/582.2; 52/584.1] | 22 Claims |
| 1. A wall or roof of a trailer comprising:
a first panel, said first panel having an inner surface and an opposite outer surface;
a second panel, said second panel having an inner surface and an opposite outer surface, ends of said first and second panels
being spaced apart from each other to form a gap therebetween;
a cap including a base wall, a first tang provided on said base wall, and second tang provided on said base wall, said base
wall having opposite first and second end portions, each said end portion having a predetermined width, said first end portion
being adjacent to said first panel, said second end portion being adjacent to said second panel, and a center portion being
adjacent to said gap, said first and second end portions abutting against said outer surfaces of said first and second panels
along the entire width of each said end portion; and
a strip including a base wall, first tang provided on said base wall, and second tang provided on said base wall, said strip
and said cap being separate members, said base wall of said strip having opposite first and second end portions, each said
end portion of said strip having a predetermined width, said first end portion of said strip being adjacent to said first
panel, said second end portion of said strip being adjacent to said second panel, and a center portion of said strip being
adjacent to said gap, said first and second end portions of said strip abutting said inner surfaces of said first and second
panels along the entire width of each said end portion of said strip,
said first tang on said strip and said first tang on said cap interengage and are positioned within said gap, said second
tang on said strip and said second tang on said cap interengage and are positioned within said gap, said center portion of
said strip having a plurality of spaced apart apertures provided therethrough which are adjacent to said gap and between the
interengaged first tangs and interengaged second tangs.
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