Patent ID: 7097232

Claim:
A vehicle chassis having a lower level, an intermediate level, and two lateral sides subject to static and dynamic loads, at least one lateral side of said chassis comprising: an upper longitudinal member mounted at said intermediate level; a lower longitudinal member mounted at said lower level, said lower longitudinal member being spaced from and parallel to said upper longitudinal member; at least two vertical members extending perpendicularly between said upper and lower longitudinal members and cooperating with said upper and lower longitudinal members to define the outline of at least one storage compartment; and a reinforcing truss mounted between said lower and intermediate levels, a majority of said static and dynamic loads being supported by said bins, said truss including: an upper longitudinal beam mounted at said intermediate level of said chassis, parallel to said upper longitudinal member; a lower longitudinal beam mounted at said lower level of said chassis, said lower longitudinal beam being spaced from and parallel to said upper longitudinal beam and said upper longitudinal member; and at least two connecting members extending perpendicularly between said upper and lower longitudinal beams, said at least two connecting members cooperating with said upper and lower beams to define at least one bay having an outline substantially in registry with the outline of said at least one storage compartment such as to preserve wide access thereto.