Abstract:
A drag reduction apparatus for mounting at the rear of a trailer. The apparatus includes a first unit which is secured to the first door of the trailer and a second unit which is secured to the second door of the trailer. Each of the units includes an upper panel, an intermediate panel and a lower panel. The units are selectively movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a drag reduction apparatus for a trailer and more particularly relates to a drag reduction device which is mounted on the rear end of the trailer. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a drag reduction apparatus for a trailer which is easily movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Many attempts have been made to provide a drag reduction apparatus for attachment to the rear of a trailer. However, the previous prior art devices have many disadvantages. First, the prior art devices are not durable in use. Second, the prior art devices are not easily attached to the rear of a trailer. Third, the prior art devices are not easily movable between stowed and deployed positions. Fifth, the prior art devices make it difficult to gain access to the interior of the trailer. Lastly, the prior art devices do not satisfactorily reduce the drag on the trailer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A drag reduction apparatus is disclosed for mounting on the rear end of a trailer. The drag reduction apparatus includes a first drag reduction unit mounted on the left rear door of the trailer and a second drag reduction unit mounted on the right rear door of the trailer. The second drag reduction unit is a mirror image of the first drag reduction unit. The first drag reduction unit includes an upper panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first end of the first upper panel being hingedly secured to the left rear door of the trailer adjacent the upper end thereof about a horizontal axis. The first upper panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a rearwardly extending deployed position. The first upper panel extends downwardly from the rear door and the first upper panel is in its stowed position. The first drag reduction unit also includes a first intermediate panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, a first side and a second side with the first end of the first intermediate panel being hingedly secured to the second end of the first upper panel about a horizontal axis. The first intermediate panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first drag reduction unit also includes a first lower panel having an upper end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first end of the first lower panel being hingedly secured to the second end of the first intermediate panel about a horizontal axis. The first lower panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The second end of the first lower panel is hingedly secured to the left rear door of the trailer adjacent the lower end thereof. The first upper panel, the first intermediate panel and the first lower panel have a width which would be substantially equal to the width of the rear door of the trailer. The first drag reduction unit also includes a first locking member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end of the first locking member being pivotally secured to the outer side of the left rear door of the trailer. The first locking member is selectively movable between stowed and deployed positions. The first rearward end of the first locking member engages the inner side of the first upper panel, when the first locking member is in its said deployed position, to selectively maintain the first upper panel, the first intermediate panel and the first lower panel of the first drag reduction unit in their deployed positions. A flexible first sheet member closes the outer end of the first drag reduction unit. 
     The second drag reduction unit includes a second upper panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first end of the second upper panel being hingedly secured to the right rear door of the trainer about a horizontal axis. The second upper panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a rearwardly extending deployed position. The second upper panel extends downwardly from the right rear door of the trailer when the second upper panel is in its stowed position. The second unit also includes a second intermediate panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, a first side and a second side with the first end of the second intermediate panel being hingedly secured to the second end of the second upper panel about a horizontal axis. The second intermediate panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The second drag reduction unit also includes a second lower panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first end of the second lower panel being hingedly secured to the second end of the second intermediate panel about a horizontal axis. A second lower panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The second end of the second lower panel is hingedly secured to the right rear door of the trailer adjacent the lower end thereof about a horizontal axis. The second drag reduction unit also includes a second locking member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end of the second locking member being pivotally secured to the outer side of the right rear door of the trailer. The second locking member is selectively movable between stowed and deployed positions. The rearward end of the second locking member engages the inner side of the second lower panel when the second locking member is in its deployed position to selectively maintain the second upper panel, the second intermediate panel and the second lower panel in their deployed positions. A flexible sheet member closes the outer end of the second drag reduction unit. 
     A drag reduction apparatus is easily moved between a stowed position and its deployed position. In its deployed position, the drag reduction apparatus of this invention reduces the drag on the rear of the trailer. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved drag reduction apparatus for mounting on the rear of a trailer. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which is easily moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a drag reduction apparatus of the type described which is extremely efficient and which is durable in use. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of the drag reduction apparatus of this invention mounted on the rear of a trailer with the drag reduction apparatus of this invention being in its deployed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective and elevational view similar to  FIG. 1  except that the left portion of the drag reduction apparatus and the left door have been pivotally moved to its open non-deployed position; 
         FIG. 3  is an interior side view of the right unit of the drag reduction apparatus of this invention in its deployed position; 
         FIG. 4  is an interior side view of the right unit of the drag reduction apparatus of this invention in its stowed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the drag reduction apparatus of this invention in its folded stowed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear exploded perspective view of the drag reduction apparatus of this invention which illustrates the relationship of the apparatus to the trailer doors; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the left unit of the drag reduction apparatus of this invention in its deployed position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the right unit of the drag reduction apparatus of this invention in its deployed position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to a conventional trailer having a forward end  12 , a rearward end  14 , a first side  16  and a second side  18 . The rearward end  14  of trailer  10  is closed by doors  20  and  22  in conventional fashion. For purposes of description, door  20  will be described as having an upper end  24 , a lower end  26 , an outer end  28 , an inner end  30 , and an outer side  32 . It is to the conventional trailer  10  that Applicant has designed the drag reducing apparatus  34  of this invention to reduce the drag at the rearward end of the trailer. Drag reducing apparatus  34  is comprised of a right unit  34 A and a left unit  34 B which are attached or mounted on the doors  20  and  22  respectively at the outer side of the doors  20  and  22 . 
     Unit  34 A includes an upper panel  36  having a first end  38 , a second end  40 , a first side edge  42 , a second side edge  44 , an outer side  46  and an inner side  48 . The first end  38  of upper panel  36  is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to door  20  by a hinge  50 . 
     The numeral  52  refers to an intermediate panel having a first end  54 , a second end  56 , a first side edge  58 , a second side edge  60 , an inner side  62  and an outer side  64 . The first end  54  of intermediate panel  52  is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to the second end  40  of upper panel  36  by a hinge  66 . 
     The numeral  68  refers to a lower panel having a first end  70 , a second end  72 , a first side edge  74 , a second side  76 , an outer side  78 , and an inner side  80 . The first end  70  of lower panel  68  is hingedly secured to the second end  56  of intermediate panel  52  by a hinge  82 . The second end  72  of lower panel  68  is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to door  20  adjacent the lower end  26  of door  20  by a hinge  84 . 
     The numeral  86  refers to a locking device such as a panel of similar structure which has a forward end  88  and a rearward end  90 . The forward end  88  of locking device  86  is hingedly secured to the outer side of door  20  by a hinge  92  or other means. The locking device  86  is hingedly movable between a vertically disposed stowed position to a locking position as seen in  FIG. 3 . The locking device  86  may be manually moved between its stowed position and locking position or by other means. When in its locking position of  FIG. 3 , the rearward end  90  of locking device  86  engages a stop  93  secured to the inner side of lower panel  68 . When in its locking position, locking device  86  maintains the unit  34 A in its deployed position. 
     A flexible sheet member  94  is secured to the outer side of door  20 , the first side edge  42  of upper panel  36 , the first end edge  58  of intermediate panel  52  and a first side edge  76  of lower panel  68  by any convenient means to close the outer side of unit  34 A when unit  34 A is in its deployed position. 
     Unit  34 B is a mirror image of unit  34 A and will now be described with “′” indicating identical structure on unit  34 B. Unit  34 B includes an upper panel  36 ′ having a first end  38 ′, a second end  40 ′, a first side edge  42 ′, a second side edge  44 ′, an outer side  46 ′ and an inner side  48 ′. The first end  38 ′ of upper panel  36 ′ is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to door  20  by a hinge  50 ′. 
     The numeral  52 ′ refers to an intermediate panel having a first end  54 ′, a second end  56 ′, a first side edge  58 ′, a second side edge  60 ′, an inner side  62 ′ and an outer side  64 ′. The first end  54 ′ of intermediate panel  52 ′ is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to the second end  40 ′ of upper panel  36 ′ by a hinge  66 ′. 
     The numeral  68 ′ refers to a lower panel having a first end  70 ′, a second end  72 ′, a first side edge  74 ′, a second side  76 ′, an outer side  78 ′, and an inner side  80 ′. The first end  70 ′ of lower panel  68 ′ is hingedly secured to the second end  56 ′ of intermediate panel  52 ′ by a hinge  82 ′. The second end  72 ′ of lower panel  68 ′ is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to door  20  adjacent the lower end  26 ′ of door  20  by a hinge  84 ′. 
     The numeral  86 ′ refers to a locking device such as a panel of similar structure which has a forward end  88 ′ and a rearward end  90 ′. The forward end  88 ′ of locking device  86 ′ is hingedly secured to the outer side of door  20  by a hinge  92 ′ or other means. The locking device  86 ′ is hingedly movable between a vertically disposed stowed position to a locking position as seen in  FIG. 3 . The locking device  86 ′ may be manually moved between its stowed position and locking position or by other means. When in its locking position, locking device  86 ′ maintains the unit  34 B in its deployed position. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.