Abstract:
A top rail assembly ( 20 ) utilizes a support brace ( 22 ) and an awning mount groove ( 26 ) recessed in a rail body ( 24 ) to provide a strong top rail assembly ( 20 ) without using undue space or degrading aesthetics. The brace ( 22 ) extends between a side wall brace tab ( 72 ) and a roof brace tab ( 64 ) to reinforce the top rail body ( 24 ) and define a wire chase opening ( 76 ) between the brace ( 22 ) and a tansition section ( 74 ) of the body ( 24 ). The groove ( 26 ) is recessed into the rail body ( 24 ) and is defined by two opposed legs ( 80, 82 ) and a bottom segment ( 84 ) which are integral to the rail body ( 24 ).

Description:
This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 09/337,923, filed Jun. 22, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,125. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to trailers and, more particularly, to trailer and top rail components used in the construction of trailers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     High strength is a desirable characteristic in trailers, but the desire for strength typically competes with the needs for space and aesthetically pleasing construction. An important area of the trailer is the top perimeter corner which is formed by a top rail. Though successfiily increasing strength, previous endeavors to strengthen top rails have sacrificed space and/or aesthetics. 
     Another aesthetic and fimctional concern, for trailers and the top rails in particular, is how awnings are mounted on the top rails. Presently, awnings are removably mounted on trailers by mounting strips. The mounting strips are fastened to the exterior surface of the trailers, usually the top rails, with conventional fasteners such as nuts and bolts. Thus, the mounting strips are raised significantly above the exterior surfaces of the traiers and the heads of the fasteners are typically exposed thereby detracting from the aesthetic value of the trailers. Further, the fasteners compromise the integrity of the top rails reducing strength and providing a pathway for water entry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved top rail assembly providing increased strength without unacceptably sacrificing space and aesthetics. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved top rail assembly providing an aesthetically and fimctionally improved awning mount. 
     In carrying out the foregoing and other objects, the present invention contemplates an improved vehicle top rail assembly having a vehicle shell member with a substantially rigid body. The body defines an outer surface that has a recessed awning groove. The groove includes an open mouth for receiving an awning member. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the awning mount groove is cylindrical, and the open mouth is positioned above the outer surface and defined between a pair of opposed legs extending outwardly from the outer surface. The open mouth is preferably narrower than the largest dimension of the awning mount groove. 
     The present invention further contemplates a top rail assembly for joining a side wall and a roof of a vehicle, preferably a trailer. The top rail side wall and roof connections are for connecting to a side wall and a roof, respectively. A transition section extends between and joins the side wall and roof connections, and a support brace extends between a side wall brace tab and a roof brace tab of the side wall and roof connections, respectively. 
     In a preferred emboddnent, the support brace includes a substantially flat roof foot which is removably attached to the roof brace tab by a fastener, so that the transition section and the support brace define a wire chase opening therebetween. The support brace also includes a side wall foot. The side wall foot defines a recess which receives the side wall brace tab therein. 
     The present invention also contemplates incorporating the top rail assembly into a vehicle, preferably a trailer having a roof, side walls, and a floor supported on a vehicle frame. The top rail assembly joins the side walls to the roof and provides an aesthetically pleasing awning mount groove, so that awnings can be mounted on the trailer when stationary. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a trailer including a top rail according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the top rail taken along line  2 — 2  in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the top rail assembly  20  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a support brace  22  and a rail body  24  defining an awning mount groove  26 . The top rail assembly  20  is incorporated into a vehicle  28 , preferably a trailer, to join a roof  30  with side walls  32  of the trailer  28 . 
     The trailer  28  includes a floor  34 ;. which along with the roof  30  and side walls  32 , are supported on a trailer frame  36 . The trailer also includes many conventional features such as a hitching mechanism  38  and a plurality of ground-engaging wheels  40 . The wheels  40  are rotatably mounted on and support the trailer frame  36 , and the hitching mechanism  38  is connected to the front of the trailer frame for coupling the trailer  28  with a towing vehicle (not shown). These conventional features and others of the trailer  28  are described to the extent necessary for an understanding of the invention. 
     The support brace  22  is a substantially rigid and elongated interior structural member used to support and strengthen the rail body  24 . The support brace has a substantially flat middle section  42 , a roof foot  44 , and a side wall foot  46 . The roof foot  44  is substantially flat and extends from the middle section  42  at an angle of approximately 45°. The roof foot  44  is substantially parallel to a roof member  48  connected to the rail body  24 . The side wall foot  46  extends from the middle section  42  at an angle of approximately 45° and defines a recess  50  opening toward a side wall member  52  connected to the rail body  24 . The recess  50  is defined between an upper tang  54  and a lower tang  56  which extend toward the side wall member. The side wall foot is substantially parallel to the side wall member  52 . 
     The rail body  24  is a unitary, substantially rigid, and elongated exterior shell member used to connect the roof members  48  to the side wall members  52 . To that end, the body includes a roof connection  58  and a side wall connection  60 . The roof connection  58  includes a roof end wall  62  and a roof brace tab  64 . The roof members  48  nest in the roof connection  58  against the end wall  62  and on top of the roofbrace tab  64 . The roofbrace tab  64  is preferably attached to the roof foot  44  ofthe support brace  22  by a weld. Alternatively as shown, fasteners  66  are used to removably connect the roof foot  44  to the roof brace tab  64 . If desired, a portion of the fastener  66 , such as the nut or head of the bolt, is welded to the top of the roof brace tab  64  to fix its location and permit easy removal and replacement of the support brace  22 . 
     The side wall connection  60  includes an upper end wall  68 , an outer retaining wall  70 , and a side wall brace tab  72 , which is shorter than the roof brace tab  64 . The side walls member  52  are held between the outer retaining wall  70  and the side wall brace tab  72 , and the ends of the side walls abut against the upper end wall  68  of the side wall connection  60 . The side wall brace tab  72  is received in the recess  50  of the side wall foot  46 , so that the upper tang  54  rests on top of the upper end wall  68  to secure the support brace  22  in place as it extends between the side wall tab and the roof tab. Though the support brace  22  can be attached to both tabs  64 ,  72  or a selected one of the tabs, it is preferably connected to the side wall brace tab  64 . 
     The side wall connection  60  and the roof connection  58  are preferably joined by a transition section  74  extending therebetween. The transition section  74  is preferably arcuate and defines the awning groove  26  therein. A wire chase opening  76  is defined between the transition section  74  and the middle section  42  of the brace  22 . Wires and other components (not shown) are passed through the opening  76  thereby conserving space and achieving an aesthetically pleasing trailer interior. Because the brace  22  is removable, additional components can, from time to time, be easily run through the wire chase opening  76 , and the components in the opening  76  are easily accessible for maintenance. Transition section  74  includes a generally upwardly extending side marginal portion  74   a  adjacent sidewall  32 , a generally horizontally extending top marginal portion  74   b  adjacent roof  30 , and an out-wardly arched intermediate portion  74   c  between side marginal portion  74   a  and top marginal portion  74   b.    
     The awning mount groove  26  is defined in the top marginal portion  74   b  of transition section  74  of the body  24  and is substantially continuous extending through the length of the body. The groove  26  is preferably recessed into the body  24  and is substantially cylindrical having an upper open mouth  78 . The mouth  78  is positioned above the outer surface  24   a  of the body and is defined between a pair of opposed legs  80 ,  82  extending outwardly from the body  24 , while groove  26  is desposed below outer surface  24   a . The inner leg  82  is longer than the outer leg  80 , so that the mouth  78  opens toward the side wall  32  of the trailer  28 . Both of the legs are arcuate to make the groove cylindrical. The ends of the legs  80 ,  82  are spaced apart, so that the mouth is narrower than the largest dimension of the groove, that is, a diameter line. The base of the groove is defined by an inwardly extending bottom segment  84 . The segment  84  is arcuate and extends into the wire chase opening  76 . The legs  80 ,  82  and the bottom segment  84  are integrally formed with the body  24  eliminating the need for additional fasteners. 
     Because it is integral and recessed, the awning mount groove  26  is aerodynamic, aesthetically pleasing, and inconspicuous. Further, the integral feature of the groove does not provide a path for water entry into the trailer. The awning mount groove  26  allows an operator to removably attach an awning  86 , over a door  88  for example, by inserting an awning member in the groove  26  when the trailer  28  is stationary. 
     Thus, a top rail assembly  20  is disclosed which utilizes a support brace  22  and an integrally provided awning mount groove  26  to provide a strengthened trailer structure with enhanced aesthetics and space utilization. Further, the top rail is not susceptible to water penetration 
     Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as herein above set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the appended claims. 
     The inventor hereby states the intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his invention as pertains to any apparatus or method not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.