Abstract:
The invention provides a pullout for carrying goods behind a semitrailer, which extends at approximately the same elevation as the cargo floor of the semitrailer. When the improved pullout is in a closed position, it is concealed by a decorative panel that presents an attractive, finished appearance. The rear turn signal lights and brake lights of the semitrailer are mounted in openings in the panel. The panel serves to partially enclose and protect the semitrailer&#39;s lights and associated wiring. The panel also provides a protected storage space for a support chain. A crash guard extends rearward from a housing for the new pullout so as to protect the electrical wiring and structural members of the semitrailer in the event of a collision.

Description:
Applicants claim the benefit under Title 35 U.S.C.§119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 60/363,998 filed Mar. 14, 2002. 
    
    
     TECHINICAL OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to semitrailers suitable for combination in a tractor-trailer assembly used in trucking. More specifically, the invention relates to a pullout accessory for moving goods behind a semi-trailer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Some of the largest tractor-trailer combinations on our nation&#39;s highways are, for example, interstate furniture moving vans. These tractor-trailers are typically capable of moving all of the furniture for an entire family home in a single load. These tractor-trailers include semi-trailers, which are constructed relatively low to the road with a relatively long, flat cargo bed, for accommodating a large volume of cargo. The rear ends of these semi-trailers are commonly no more than 21 inches from the ground. Consequently, they normally require no under-ride protection for the safety of passenger vehicles that may be following the trailer. 
     Despite this large cargo capacity, there are times when it would be convenient if the moving van had an even greater cargo capacity. For example, a load might include more furniture than the semitrailer can safely contain within the conventional storage area. As another example, a load might include furniture that completely fills the semitrailer and, also, a motorcycle. For these situations, “pullouts” have been used in the past. 
     Generally speaking, these previously disclosed pullouts are extendable shelves that ride in a closed position beneath the rear end of a moving van until needed. When extended to an open position, these pullouts are typically capable of supporting several hundred pounds of additional cargo, beyond what is carried inside the semitrailer. Support chains leading to the semitrailer are sometimes used to strengthen the pullouts. 
     These prior art pullouts are usually located at a level substantially below the level of the semitrailer&#39;s cargo floor, often below the tail lights of the semitrailer. As a result, these pullouts are not always satisfactory for supporting cargo that rests mainly on the cargo floor, but extends rearwardly beyond the floor. These pullouts also offer little protection for the semitrailer&#39;s structural members or electrical wiring from road salt and weather conditions and tend to detract from the overall appearance of the semitrailer. 
     A need exists for an improved pullout for moving cargo behind semitrailers, which extends at approximately the same elevation as the cargo floor. Preferably, the improved pullout protects the semitrailer&#39;s tail light wiring from the weather and road salt, and shields its structural members from the effects of a rear-end collision. Preferably, the improved pullout has an attractive appearance and can be stored out of sight when not in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a pullout for carrying goods behind a semitrailer, which extends at approximately the same elevation as the cargo floor of the semitrailer. When the improved pullout is in a closed position, it is concealed by a decorative panel that presents an attractive, finished appearance. The rear turn signal lights and brake lights of the semitrailer are mounted in openings in the panel. The panel serves to partially enclose and protect the semitrailer&#39;s lights and associated wiring. The panel also provides a protected storage space for a support chain. A crash guard extends rearward from a housing for the new pullout so as to protect the electrical wiring and structural members of the semitrailer in the event of a collision. 
     Preferably, the pullout includes a plurality of generally parallel tubes or channels suspended lengthwise beneath the cargo bed of a transport vehicle. The rear ends of the cargo bed tubes are substantially surrounded by a housing, which includes a horizontal rear sill and vertical side pieces that are attached to a structural member in the cargo bed. 
     Tubes or channels of a slightly smaller diameter or width are inserted into the cargo bed tubes to produce a sliding fit. The back ends of the sliding channels are fixed to a generally vertical panel or closeout, which defines openings for mounting the tail lights of the semitrailer. Handles, wiring for the tail lights, a retaining pin and an electrical connection are mounted on the panel. The tail light wiring is connected to the semitrailer&#39;s electrical system by lengths of resilient, flexible wiring. 
     When the pullout is positioned in its “closed” position, it appears to merely decorative. When the pullout is extended four or five feet to the rear, in its “open” position, the pullout provides a useful platform for carrying cargo behind the semitrailer. The pullout may be strengthened by use of support chains running from the panel to support rings on the semitrailer. The housing may be strengthened by the addition of crash guards, which extend rearward from the housing and shield the semitrailer in the event of a collision with another vehicle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pullout in accordance with the invention in closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pullout depicted in FIG. 1 in open position; 
     FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the pullout depicted in FIG. 1 in open position; 
     FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of the pullout depicted in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a pullout in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of a pullout in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the pullout depicted in FIG. 6 in closed position; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the pullout depicted in FIG. 6, illustrating open and closed positions; 
     FIG. 9 is an end view of a semitrailer adapted to accept a pullout in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial side view of the semitrailer depicted in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a close-up partial side view of the semitrailer depicted in FIG. 9, taken along Section A—A of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the semitrailer depicted in FIG. 9 taken along Section B—B of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 13 is a side view depicting a rear sill; and 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the area in Circle C of FIG.  13 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention provides a semitrailer  10  equipped with pullout  100 , as depicted in closed position in FIG.  1 . Pullout  100  includes a vertical member or closeout panel  102 . The tail lights of the semitrailer, including rear turn signal lights  106  and  110  and brake lights  104  and  108 , are mounted on panel  102 . The tail lights are visible through openings located in panel  102 . Handles  118  and  125  for extending and retracting pullout  100  are mounted on the rear face of panel  102 . Wiring connection  122  and security pin  120  are also attached to panel  102 . 
     Semitrailer  10  includes a load bearing cargo bed  143 , which is formed by structural members  145  and  147  (best seen in FIG. 8) and defines bottom face  144 . Side pieces  114  and  116  depend from structural member  145  (best seen in FIG. 12) of cargo bed  143 , and are joined by cross piece  112  to form a housing which surrounds panel  102 . This housing and the rear face of panel  102  cooperate to present a finished and attractive appearance, in keeping with modem semitrailer design. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, which depicts pullout  100  in an open position, it can be seen that panel  102  is a C-shaped channel supported at its upper side by angle iron  126 . Four square movable members or sliding channels  128 ,  130 ,  132 , and  134  extend from semitrailer  10  and are attached to support angle iron  126 . Flexible electrical wiring  150  runs from semitrailer  10  to panel  102 , and delivers electrical current to signal lights  106  and  110  and tail lights  104  and  108 . Sliding channels  128 ,  130 ,  132 ,  134  are located in a position which will not interfere with tail lights  104 ,  108  during normal operation of semi-trailer  10 . Fastening rings  152  and  154 , best seen in FIG. 2, extend from the rear corners of semitrailer  10 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 3, chains, ropes or cables  160  and  161  are each attached at one end to angle iron  126 . This attachment can be permanent. When not in use, the free ends of chain  160  and  161  are suspended from centrally located hook, ring or other suitable attachment member  158 , which is connected to angle iron  126 . Alternatively, in order to carry relatively heavy loads on pullout  100 , the free ends of chains  160  and  161  are disengaged from attachment member  158  and secured to rings, hooks or other suitable attachment members  152  and  154 , as seen in FIG.  2 . With chains  160  and  161  in the carrying position, several hundred pounds of cargo may be carried safely and conveniently on pullout  100 . 
     FIG. 3 also shows the manner in which flexible electrical wiring  150  extends from semitrailer  10 . Flexible wiring  150  receives electrical power and signals from semitrailer  10 , and delivers power and signals, through local wiring  151 , to the tail lights located in front of panel  102 . Wiring  150  is flexible and resilient, so as to extend when pullout  10  is extended and retract when pullout  100  is closed. Panel  102  partially surrounds and protects electrical wiring  150  and  151  from road salt and the weather in both the closed and open positions. 
     Crash guards  146  and  148  are best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. Crash guards  146  and  148  are attached to side pieces  114  and  116 , respectively, and extend rearward. Crash pieces  146  and  148  shield and protect turn signals  106  and  110  and brake lights  104  and  108  in the event of a rear end collision with another vehicle. 
     FIG. 4 is a close-up view of pullout  100  in the closed position. Electrical connection  122  provides access to the wiring system for signal lights  106  and  110  and brake lights  104  and  108 . Retaining pin  124  is attached to a safety spring, which is secured by a flexible cable fixed to electrical connection  122 . FIG. 4 also illustrates the locations of bottom plane  144  of cargo bed  143  and structural member  145 , which is the rearmost structural member of cargo bed  143 . Retaining pin  124  passes through a hole or receptacle (not shown) in structural member  145 , to retain pullout  100  in closed position when semitrailer  100  is moving, for example, on the open road. 
     In order to convert pullout  100  from closed position as depicted in FIG. 4, to open position as depicted in FIG. 2, the operator bends the safety spring of retaining pin  122  and removes retaining pin  124  from the receptacle in structural member  145 . The operator then grasps handles  118  and  125  and draws pullout  100  away from cargo bed  143 . For example, pullout  100  may extend about four to about five feet from cargo bed  143 . Subsequently, the free ends of chains  160  and  161  are disengaged from attachment member  158  and fastened to attachment member  152  and  154 , respectively. A chest of drawers or a motorcycle, for example, may be carried on pullout  100  with chains  160  and  161  in carrying position. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view illustrating the manner in which parallel moveable members or sliding channels  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  mate with parallel fixed members or fixed channels  136 ,  138 ,  140  and  142 , respectively. Structural members  147  (best seen in FIG. 8) of cargo bed  143  are rigidly attached to the upper sides of fixed channels  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  to suspend fixed channels  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  lengthwise beneath the bottom plane  144  of cargo bed  143 . Sliding square shaped channels  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  are slightly narrower than, and nest within, each of the respective fixed channels  136 ,  138 ,  140  and  142  to create a sliding fit. However, when a load is placed upon pullout  100  in open position, significant friction is generated which locks pullout  100  in open position until the load is removed. 
     Sliding channels  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  are rigidly attached to angle iron  126 . Angle iron may be, for example, 2 inches by 3 inches by ¼ inch thick and approximately 8 feet long. Panel  102  is a C-channel having, for example, a depth of 3 inches, a height of 12 inches and a length of 8 feet. Panel  102  is ⅛ of an inch thick and, preferably, composed of stainless steel. 
     FIGS. 6,  7  and  8  depict the manner in which sliding channel  128  is extended from fixed channel  136 , as pullout  100  is converted from closed to open position. FIG. 6 shows an end view of pullout  100 , with fixed channel  136  in hidden view and indicated by dotted lines. FIG. 7 is a partial side view of pullout  100 , as depicted in FIG.  6 . FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of FIG. 7, depicting the relationship of fixed channel  136  to sliding channel  128  and panel  102  in open position, and indicating in phantom lines the closed position of sliding channel  128  and panel  102 . 
     FIGS. 9 through 14 illustrate the manner in which the housing for panel  102  is assembled. FIG. 9 shows structural member  145  of cargo bed  143 , side pieces  114  and  116 , and cross piece  112  cooperating to form a housing or border. FIG. 10 is a side elevation view illustrating the relationship of side piece  114  and cross piece  112  to semitrailer  10 . 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along plane A—A in FIG.  9 . FIGS. 11 through 14 reveal that rear sill  156  wraps around and is supported from above by structural member  145 , and wraps around and is supported from below by cross piece  112 . In the closed position, panel  102  of pullout  100  slides into the cavity defined by rear sill  156 . FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view, taken along plane B—B in FIG.  9 . FIGS. 13 and 14 are close-up side views of rear sill  156 , showing structural member  145  in cross-section. 
     As described above, the invention provides a pullout for carrying additional cargo on approximately the same level as the associated semitrailer&#39;s cargo bed. This pullout provides useful support for articles that are placed on the floor of the cargo bed and extend beyond the normally closed position of the semitrailer doors. 
     Pullouts in accordance with the invention may be installed in new semitrailers, or added as an after-market accessory to existing semitrailers. Once installed, they tend to protect and prolong the useful life of the semitrailer. These pullouts are also convenient to use and attractive. 
     While fixed and sliding channels of square cross-sections are disclosed above, other cooperating members can be used to form the pullout. These include tubes, rails, bearings, wheels and channels with other cross-sections, and any other structures that would provide the same functional features of the disclosed channels. 
     While only a few embodiments of the invention have been described above, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these embodiments may be modified and altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.