Patent ID: 6017082
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: B60J,B61D

Abstract:
A highway truck trailer body system with sliding nestable canopies for substantially selectively covering and protecting cargo, comprising:an elongated trailer bed comprised of substantially rigid material and being at least about twenty feet long and at least about six feet wide, and having at least one load-bearing surface for supporting cargo, the trailer bed having a front portion, rear portion, and elongated side portions, with the load-bearing surface located substantially therebetween;an upstanding front bulkhead positioned at the front portion of the trailer bed;an upstanding rear bulkhead positioned at the rear portion of the trailer bed;a first movable canopy, about at least six feet high and about at least six feet wide, comprised of a substantially rigid material and having a roof and a pair of opposed and spaced downwardly depending side walls and being substantially open in the front and rear, the first canopy generally being positioned over at least part of the load-bearing surface of the trailer bed;a plurality of first guide mechanisms for assisting in keeping the first canopy positioned generally above the trailer bed as the first canopy is moved along the trailer bed in between the front and rear bulkheads;a plurality of first moving mechanisms connected to the pair of walls of the first canopy and in selectively movable contact with the first guide mechanisms for facilitating selective movement of the first canopy along the trailer bed in between the front and rear bulkheads;a second movable canopy, about at least five feet high and about at least five feet wide, comprised of a substantially rigid material and having a roof and a pair of opposed and spaced downwardly depending side walls and being substantially open in the front and rear, the second canopy generally being positioned over at least part of the load-bearing surface of the trailer bed;a plurality of second guide mechanisms for assisting in keeping the second canopy positioned generally above the trailer bed as the second canopy is moved along the trailer bed in between the front and rear bulkheads;a plurality of second moving mechanisms connected to the pair of walls of the second canopy and in selectively movable contact with the second guide mechanisms for facilitating selective movement of the second canopy along the trailer bed in between the front and rear bulkheads;a third movable canopy, about at least four feet high and about at least four feet wide, comprised of a substantially rigid material and having a roof and a pair of opposed and spaced downwardly depending side walls, the third canopy generally being positioned over at least part of the load-bearing surface of the trailer bed and being substantially open in the front and rear;a plurality of third guide mechanisms for assisting in keeping the third canopy centrally positioned about the longitudinal axis of the trailer bed as the third canopy is moved along the trailer bed between the front and rear bulkheads; anda plurality of third moving mechanisms connected to the pair of walls of the third canopy and in selectively movable contact with the third guide mechanisms for facilitating selective movement of the third canopy along the trailer bed in between the front and rear bulkheads.