Patents Assigned to Wabash National, L.P.
  • Patent number: 8801078
    Abstract: A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: James Bruce Brown, Leonard William Baker
  • Patent number: 8720938
    Abstract: An air suspension system of a tandem axle assembly for a trailer includes a front axle air spring configured to be coupled to a front axle assembly of the tandem axle assembly and a rear axle air spring configured to be coupled to a rear axle assembly of the tandem axle assembly. The air suspension system further includes an air reservoir in fluid communication with the front axle air spring and the rear axle air spring and a ratio valve in fluid communication with the air reservoir, the front axle air spring, and the rear axle air spring. The ratio valve is positioned between the air reservoir and the front axle air spring. Further, the ratio valve is selectively operable to send a lesser amount of air from the air reservoir to the front axle air spring than to the rear axle air spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: Rodney P. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 8720957
    Abstract: A locking assembly for a door of a storage container is provided. The storage container defines a door frame, and the door is movably mounted to the door frame. The locking assembly may include a first keeper secured to the door frame, a first locking cam configured to movably engage the first keeper, and a handle assembly coupled to the first locking cam. The handle assembly may be movable between a first position in which the handle assembly is in contact with the door frame and the first locking cam engages the first keeper to maintain the door in the closed position relative to the door frame and a second position in which the first locking cam disengages the first keeper to allow the door to open. The first and second positions of the handle assembly illustratively define an obtuse angle therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Rodney P Ehrlich, Robert Kleinschnitz, Danny L Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20140117713
    Abstract: A drag reduction system is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear swing door and a rear frame. The drag reduction system includes a main wall panel configured to be coupled to a vertical member of the rear frame to extend generally rearwardly of the trailer at least partially along a height of the trailer. The main wall panel is pivotable relative to the rear frame between a deployed position wherein the inner surface of the wall panel is spaced-apart from the outer surface of the rear swing door, and a stowed position wherein the inner surface of the wall panel is adjacent to and engaged with the outer surface of the rear swing door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: Leonard W. Baker
  • Publication number: 20140110960
    Abstract: An interior deck system of a trailer includes a side rail configured to be coupled to an inner surface of a sidewall of the trailer and a panel coupled to the side rail. The panel is movable between a generally vertical, stowed position and a generally horizontal, use position. The interior deck system further includes a hinge assembly including a hinge butt coupled to the side rail and a hinge strap coupled to the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Danny L. Gilbert, James B. Brown, Todd Blaising
  • Patent number: 8696048
    Abstract: A floor system configured for use with a storage container such as a trailer. The floor system includes an upper floor section including a plurality of upper floor boards made of glass fiber reinforced polymer, and a lower floor section including a plurality of lower floor boards made of glass fiber reinforced polymer. The upper floor boards are configured to extend along a length of the trailer and the lower floor boards are configured to extend across the width of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Griffin, David P. Kunkel
  • Patent number: 8662804
    Abstract: A low profile hold down assembly is mounted to the exterior surface of a sidewall of a trailer. The hold down assembly includes a cover member formed from the same material from which the sidewall of the trailer is formed and therefore is aesthetically desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Thoma, Danny L. Gilbert, Francis Smidler
  • Patent number: 8653957
    Abstract: A visual indicator assembly and adaptor for a trailer includes an control circuit, an input lamp plug electrically coupled to the control circuit, an output lamp plug electrically coupled to the control circuit, and an identification lamp plug electrically coupled to the control circuit. The input lamp plug is connectable to a trailer lamp plug of a lamp wiring harness of the trailer. The output lamp plug is connectable to a stop lamp of the trailer. The identification lamp plug is connectable to a corresponding identification lamp plug of the lamp wiring harness. The control circuit is configured to supply a first voltage signal to a plurality of lamps of the trailer in response to a power signal and supply a second voltage signal to the plurality of lamps in response to a brake signal. The second voltage signal is greater than the first voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Rodney Ehrlich, David Pickup
  • Publication number: 20140035318
    Abstract: A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: James Bruce Brown, Leonard William Baker
  • Patent number: 8579359
    Abstract: A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: James Bruce Brown, Leonard William Baker
  • Patent number: 8528622
    Abstract: An overhead door assembly configured to be coupled to a rear end of a storage container, such as a truck trailer, includes a guide track system and a door assembly. The guide track system is coupled to one of the sidewalls of the storage container and includes a first guide track and a second guide track. The door assembly includes a door and plurality of rollers coupled to the door and extending outwardly from a lateral edge of the door. Each of the plurality of rollers is configured to be received within one of the first and second guide tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: Rodney P. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 8506221
    Abstract: A logistics strip defining at least one opening therethrough may be bonded to an inner surface of a storage container side wall. At least one channel may be formed in the inner surface of the side wall. A bonding medium may be applied to an underside of the logistics strip along opposite sides thereof with the at least one opening positioned therebetween. The at least one opening may then be aligned over the at least one channel. The underside of the logistics strip may then be contacted with the inner surface of the side wall such that the bonding medium contacts and bonds to the inner surface of the side wall on both sides of the at least one channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: David A. Pattison, Zach Millikan
  • Patent number: 8434778
    Abstract: A semi-trailer for transporting circular objects may include a coupler assembly configured to be connected to a towing vehicle, a rear frame member, a pair of side rails joined at rear ends thereof by the rear frame member and at front ends thereof by the coupler assembly, a rear wheel and axle assembly mounted to the side rails between the front and rear ends thereof and at least one transportation well mounted to and between the side rails. The at least one transportation well may extend below the side rails. The at least one transportation well is configured to receive and hold therein while being transported by the semi-trailer at least one circular object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Ehrlich, Andrzej Wylezinski, David P. Kunkel, Michael Lee Brown
  • Patent number: 8398150
    Abstract: A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: James Bruce Brown, Leonard William Baker
  • Patent number: 8375656
    Abstract: A reinforcement sheet is formed from plurality of tape layers. Each tape layer includes unidirectional fibers held together by thermoplastic resin. The layers are fused together to form a reinforcement sheet. Because the sheet is formed without weaving, pinholes in the sheet are eliminated. As no stitching is required, the sheet can be efficiently manufactured. The sheet can be used in a variety of applications including a subpan, roof or side wall of a refrigerated trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: Rodney P. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 8256827
    Abstract: A sidewall of a trailer includes a side panel, an outer member, a base rail. The side panel is positioned within the channel. The outer member has a planar inner surface. The base rail has an upper portion offset from a lower portion. An outer surface of the upper portion of the base rail is generally parallel to and spaced from the inner surface of the outer member. A channel is defined by an outer surface of the upper portion of the base rail and the inner surface of the outer member. The side panel is positioned within the channel. The lower portion of the base rail is positioned beneath the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrzej Wylezinski
  • Patent number: 8231150
    Abstract: A locking assembly for a door of a storage container is provided. The storage container defines a door frame, and the door is movably mounted to the door frame. The locking assembly may include a first keeper secured to the door frame, a first locking cam configured to movably engage the first keeper, and a handle assembly coupled to the first locking cam. The handle assembly may be movable between a first position in which the handle assembly is in contact with the door frame and the first locking cam engages the first keeper to maintain the door in the closed position relative to the door frame and a second position in which the first locking cam disengages the first keeper to allow the door to open. The first and second positions of the handle assembly illustratively define an obtuse angle therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Ehrlich, Robert Kleinschnitz, Danny L. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8220817
    Abstract: A semi-trailer for transporting circular objects may include a coupler assembly configured to be connected to a towing vehicle, a rear frame member, a pair of side rails joined at rear ends thereof by the rear frame member and at front ends thereof by the coupler assembly, a rear wheel and axle assembly mounted to the side rails between the front and rear ends thereof and at least one transportation well mounted to and between the side rails. The at least one transportation well may extend below the side rails. The at least one transportation well is configured to receive and hold therein while being transported by the semi-trailer at least one circular object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Wabash National, L. P.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Ehrlich, Andrzej Wylezinski, David P. Kunkel, Michael Lee Brown
  • Patent number: 8177286
    Abstract: A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: James Bruce Brown, Leonard William Baker
  • Patent number: 8162384
    Abstract: A side underride cable system configured to be coupled to a trailer includes a front mounting bracket assembly configured to be coupled to the trailer, a rear mounting bracket assembly configured to be coupled to the trailer at a location spaced-apart from the front mounting racket assembly, and a plurality of cables configured to extend at least partially along a length of each side of the trailer between the front mounting bracket assembly and the rear mounting bracket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard J. Giromini, Leonard William Baker, Rodney P. Ehrlich, Francis S. Smidler