US 11,738,704 B2
Underride guard assembly for trailers
Christian S. Lee, Pooler, GA (US); Younghag Choi, Pooler, GA (US); and SoonDong Jung, Richmond Hill, GA (US)
Assigned to Great Dane LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Great Dane LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/216,002.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/004,387, filed on Apr. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0309176 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. B60R 19/56 (2006.01); B60R 19/02 (2006.01); B62D 53/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 19/565 (2013.01) [B60R 19/023 (2013.01); B62D 53/06 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A semi-trailer, comprising:
a wheeled chassis having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side extending between the forward end and the rearward end, a second side extending between the forward end and the rearward end opposite the first side, at least one wheeled axle at the rearward end, and a retractable support at the forward end, wherein the wheeled chassis is elongated in a longitudinal dimension from the forward end to the rearward end;
a cargo deck supported by the wheeled chassis;
an underride guard assembly attached to the wheeled chassis and comprising at least one first rail disposed below the first side within a first space located forward of wheels of the at least one wheeled axle and rearward of the retractable support,
wherein the at least one first rail extends over at least half of the distance between the wheels and the retractable support in the longitudinal dimension, and
wherein the at least one first rail is pivotably attached to the wheeled chassis so that the at least one first rail is pivotable, from a first position with respect to the wheeled chassis and away from a center of the wheeled chassis between the first side and the second side, upon application of an upward force to the at least one first rail and is pivotable back to the first position in absence of the upward force to the at least one first rail; and
a stop disposed operatively between the at least one first rail and the wheeled chassis so that the stop blocks the at least one first rail from pivoting inward from the first position toward the center in response to application of a force to the at least one first rail that is transverse to the longitudinal dimension and toward the center.