Abstract: Disclosed is a connector between sidewalls, or the top rails of the sidewalls, and roof panels. The connector includes a downwardly oriented pocket adapted to receive a portion of the sidewall and an inwardly oriented pocket adapted to receive a portion of a roof panel. The connector also includes a base flange that is comparatively sized to, and adapted to be supported by, a roof bow support ledge of the sidewall. The inwardly oriented pocket is located directly above, and offset from, the base flange of the connector. Connectors, such as adhesives or rivets, may be utilized to secure the connector to the sidewall and to secure the connector to the roof panel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connector between sidewalls, or the top rails of the sidewalls, and roof panels. The connector includes a downwardly oriented pocket adapted to receive a portion of the sidewall and an inwardly oriented pocket adapted to receive a portion of a roof panel. The connector also includes a base flange that is comparatively sized to, and adapted to be supported by, a roof bow support ledge of the sidewall. The inwardly oriented pocket is located directly above, and offset from, the base flange of the connector. Connectors, such as adhesives or rivets, may be utilized to secure the connector to the sidewall and to secure the connector to the roof panel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connector between sidewalls, or the top rails of the sidewalls, and roof panels. The connector includes a downwardly oriented pocket adapted to receive a portion of the sidewall and an inwardly oriented pocket adapted to receive a portion of a roof panel. The connector also includes a base flange that is comparatively sized to, and adapted to be supported by, a roof bow support ledge of the sidewall. The inwardly oriented pocket is located directly above, and offset from, the base flange of the connector. Connectors, such as adhesives or rivets, may be utilized to secure the connector to the sidewall and to secure the connector to the roof panel.

Abstract: A sensor rod assembly includes a master stick and an extension stick, where the master stick and the at least one extension stick are couplable together via at least one of a physical coupling, an electrical coupling, or a communicative coupling. The sensor rod assembly includes a controller with one or more processors, where the one or more processors are communicatively coupled to at least one set of detection circuitry and a user interface, where the one or more processors are configured to execute a set of program instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to receive one or more detection signals from at least one of the master stick or the extension stick and configured to cause the one or more processors to determine an elevation of a laser light based on the received one or more detection signals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a guard for a trailer that utilizes a strap webbing to prevent a vehicle from underriding the trailer. The guard includes one or more straps that span the length of the trailer and may include additional structures to pre-tension the straps before a crash or supplement the tension of the straps as a vehicle crashes into the guard. When two or more straps are utilized on a single guard, the straps may be aligned parallel to each other or may form a cross shape. Additional structures may be incorporated into the guard to direct an impacting vehicle towards or away from specific features of the trailer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a guard for a trailer that utilizes a strap webbing to prevent a vehicle from underriding the trailer. The guard includes one or more straps that span the length of the trailer and may include additional structures to pre-tension the straps before a crash or supplement the tension of the straps as a vehicle crashes into the guard. When two or more straps are utilized on a single guard, the straps may be aligned parallel to each other or may form a cross shape. Additional structures may be incorporated into the guard to direct an impacting vehicle towards or away from specific features of the trailer.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved lightweight rear fairings that automatically retract when the rear doors of the trailer are opened. The fairings preferably each include rearwardly extending arms that stretch back from the hinged trailer doors to sheet rollers. The sheet rollers apply tension to fairing sheets that are secured to both the rollers and the sides of the trailer. The arms are able to rotate relative to the rear doors of the trailer, however rotation limiters restrict the amount that each of the arms may rotate towards the hinge of their respective door. Rotation of the arms away from the door hinges is not limited such that the arms may be rotated away from the hinges until they are flush with their respective doors. The fairing sheets are secured to the sides of the trailer at positions that are substantially forward of the rear doors such that even when the rear doors have been fully opened the rollers are still located rearward of the forward attachment points of the fairing sheets.

Abstract: A flexible trailer fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag on an over the road trailer is disclosed. A fourfold flexible fairing system may be used to reduce drag from both the trailer landing gear and wheel assembly. Numerous systems for keeping the flexible fairing taught while in continued use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible trailer fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag on an over the road trailer is disclosed. A fourfold flexible fairing system may be used to reduce drag from both the trailer landing gear and wheel assembly. Numerous systems for keeping the flexible fairing taught while in continued use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cargo container is disclosed having removable panels secured between roof bows that extend across the width of the cargo container. The roof bows may be constructed out of a metal or high strength composite material while the panels may be constructed from a similar high strength material or a lightweight plastic depending on the intended use of the trailer. A top sheet over the roof bows maybe required to secure the panels to the bows, or the top sheet may be optional for additional protection from the weather. Insulation may also be placed between the top sheet and panels if the container is to be used to carry refrigerated cargo.

Abstract: A cargo container is disclosed having removable panels secured between roof bows that extend across the width of the cargo container. The roof bows may be constructed out of a metal or high strength composite material while the panels may be constructed from a similar high strength material or a lightweight plastic depending on the intended use of the trailer. A top sheet over the roof bows maybe required to secure the panels to the bows, or the top sheet may be optional for additional protection from the weather. Insulation may also be placed between the top sheet and panels if the container is to be used to carry refrigerated cargo.

Abstract: A connector securing a liner to a scuff in a container sidewall is disclosed. The connector is adapted to receive and secure various thicknesses of liners and scuffs. The connector is made of a light weight, high strength flexible material and well suited to secure non-metallic scuffs and non-metallic linings. The connector includes a transition piece that utilizes clamping force (pre-tightening force) to connect two different thicknesses of panels made of continuous glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. The connector includes a thick lower opening adapted to secure the scuff and a thin upper opening adapted to secure the liner. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the width of the lower opening is between 5.0 mm and 5.5 mm while the width of the upper opening is between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm.

Abstract: A connector securing a liner to a scuff in a container sidewall is disclosed. The connector is adapted to receive and secure various thicknesses of liners and scuffs. The connector is made of a light weight, high strength flexible material and well suited to secure non-metallic scuffs and non-metallic linings. The connector includes a transition piece that utilizes clamping force (pre-tightening force) to connect two different thicknesses of panels made of continuous glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. The connector includes a thick lower opening adapted to secure the scuff and a thin upper opening adapted to secure the liner. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the width of the lower opening is between 5.0 mm and 5.5 mm while the width of the upper opening is between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm.

Abstract: Presented is a composite panel container sidewall construction that provides additional interior logistics slots in the sidewalls of the container for securing cargo loaded into the container. The sidewall is constructed from posts, outer sheets, inner liners, and logistics panels. The outer sheets have inward protrusions that are secured into pockets in the posts. The logistic panels may include logistic slots that may be used to secure cargo or tie downs to the sidewall of the trailer.

Abstract: An improved panel and sidewall construction is presented. The sidewall includes a post with a pocket, and in the pocket external liners of the sidewall are secured. Flexible interior panels are secured in the posts with two protrusions that extend laterally and inwardly from the post. The posts also include slots for logistics panel that serve as a tie-down points for securing cargo.

Abstract: Presented is an improved panel and connector sidewall construction. While maintaining the benefits of standard structural panel designs, the post connector construction also achieves many benefits of traditional sheet and post designs, including simplified replacement of damaged interior panels. The design also allows for simplified replacement of the outer panels of the container while simultaneously providing an aerodynamic surface without protruding rivets. The sidewall construction also achieves the important objective of providing smooth trailer walls with minimal recesses, protrusions and snag points.

Abstract: Presented is an improved panel and connector sidewall construction. While maintaining the benefits of standard structural panel designs, the post connector construction also achieves many benefits of traditional sheet and post designs, including simplified replacement of damaged interior panels. The design also allows for simplified replacement of the outer panels of the container while simultaneously providing an aerodynamic surface without protruding rivets. The sidewall construction also achieves the important objective of providing smooth trailer walls with minimal recesses, protrusions and snag points.

Abstract: An improved structural panel and connector sidewall construction is presented. While maintaining the benefits of standard structural panel designs, a two post connector construction achieves many benefits of traditional sidewall designs, including simplified replacement of damaged panels. The novel sidewall construction also achieves the important objective of providing smooth trailer walls without rivets and minimal recesses, protrusions and snag points. The easy panel replacement of the novel sidewall construction is achieved by utilizing interlocking posts as connectors. An interior post and an exterior post interlock to form a panel connector. Adhesive is also used to secure the posts together, and the strength of the adhesive bond is aided by the posts having a substantial area of contact with each other. The posts of the panel connectors may be designed to be easily separable by bonding the two posts together with a thermally degradable adhesive.

Abstract: A backup device for limiting the rotation of converter dollies about a trailer hitch is presented. A dolly mounted, laterally extending moveable bar is selectively pressed against the vertical members of the trailer's underride guard in order to prevent rotation of the dolly relative to the trailer. The bar is retracted from the trailer to allow significant rotation of the dolly during normal forward operation. The backup device is operable with many makes and models of trailers because the laterally extending bar provides a large area that the trailer underride guard may contact. In addition to being operable with many models of trailers, the present invention does not require specific features to be added onto a trailer pulling the converter dolly. Additionally, the large contact area of the laterally extending bar allows the device to function with dollies that are significantly rotated about a trailer hitch. The backup device is also robust, aerodynamic, and self contained.

Abstract: A tube shaped cargo container and method of manufacture. The cargo container is manufactured by a process that includes pultruding or extruding a seamless container with two sides, a roof, and a floor. Doors, landing gear, structural supports, another side, and a wheel assembly may be added after the pultrusion/extrusion process. The cargo container may include rounded side/floor and side/roof connections. The cargo container may include one or two rounded ends.