Patent ID: 8419109

Claim:
A device for use with a trailer coupled to a tractor, the trailer comprising a forward trailer portion, a first trailer side portion extending away from the forward trailer portion, and a second trailer side portion extending away from the forward trailer portion, the second trailer side portion being opposite the first trailer side portion, the tractor comprising a rear portion, a gap being defined between the rear portion of the tractor and the forward trailer portion, the device comprising: an enclosure having a first side portion, a second side portion opposite the first side portion, and a top portion extending between the first and second side portions, the top portion extending from a rearward portion of each of the first and second side portions toward a forward portion of each of the first and second side portions; a first recoiling spool assembly configured to be coupled to the rear portion of the tractor, the first recoiling spool assembly comprising a rotatable spool, the forward portion of the first side portion of the enclosure being wound around the spool of the first recoiling spool assembly, the first recoiling spool assembly being configured to wind the forward portion of the first side portion of the enclosure about the spool to thereby maintain tension in the first side portion of the enclosure; a second recoiling spool assembly configured to be coupled to the rear portion of the tractor, the second recoiling spool assembly comprising a rotatable spool, the forward portion of the second side portion of the enclosure being wound around the spool of the second recoiling spool assembly, the second recoiling spool assembly being configured to wind the forward portion of the second side portion of the enclosure about the spool to thereby maintain tension in the second side portion of the enclosure; and a coupling assembly configured to couple a rearward portion of the top portion of the enclosure, the rearward portion of the first side portion of the enclosure, and the rearward portion of the second side portion of the enclosure to the trailer, the first side portion of the enclosure extending from the first recoiling spool assembly across the gap toward the first trailer side portion of the trailer, the second side portion of the enclosure extending from the second recoiling spool assembly across the gap toward the second trailer side portion of the trailer, and the top portion of the enclosure covering at least a portion of the gap defined between the tractor and the trailer.