Patent ID: 8141928
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: B60R,B61D

Abstract:
1. A hopper of a truck or train car comprising: a floor; a rubber shield plate fixed to the floor, the rubber shield plate including an upper surface; a first plurality of totes formed in the floor and a second plurality of holes formed in the rubber shield plate, the first and second plurality of holes being aligned with each other; bolts extending through the aligned first and second plurality of holes to secure the rubber shield plate to the floor, each of the bolts including a bolt head; rubber covering the bolt heads with the bolt heads being embedded in the rubber; wherein each of the bolt heads is disposed within the respective hole in the rubber shield plate and is disposed below the upper surface of the rubber shield plate, and the rubber fills the respective hole in the rubber shield plate, the rubber being flush with the upper surface of the rubber shield plate; and the holes in the rubber shield plate are tapered outwardly from a juncture with the floor to the upper surface so that the holes are larger in dimension at the upper surface than at the juncture, and wherein the rubber that fills the respective hole in the rubber shield plate is tapered.