Wall Construction For A Trailer

Abstract

A sidewall of a trailer includes a first panel having inner and outer skins and a plurality of metal posts sandwiched between the skins such that voids are formed between adjacent posts, and a second panel having inner and outer skins and a plurality of metal posts sandwiched between the skins such that voids are formed between adjacent posts. A joint is provided for joining the first panel and the second panel together.

1 . A sidewall of a trailer comprising:
 a first panel having inner and outer skins and a plurality of metal posts sandwiched between said skins such that voids are formed between adjacent posts;   a second panel having inner and outer skins and a plurality of metal posts sandwiched between said skins such that voids are formed between adjacent posts; and   a joint for joining said first panel and said second panel together.   
     
     
         2 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein in each said panel, each said post is attached to said inner skin by at least one of an adhesive and a fastener. 
     
     
         3 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein in each said panel, each said post is attached to said outer skin by at least one of an adhesive and a fastener. 
     
     
         4 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein in each said panel, each said post is attached to said inner and outer skins by at least one of an adhesive and a fastener. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each said post is rectangular in cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 7  wherein each said post has a width which is defined as a distance between the outer and inner skins which is less than a transverse dimension. 
     
     
         9 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each said panel has a predetermined height and each said post extends generally along the entire height of the respective panel. 
     
     
         10 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein in each said panel said outer skin is spaced apart from said inner skin by a predetermined width; and further comprising:
 a bottom rail having a bottom rail portion extending between said inner and outer skins, said bottom rail portion generally spanning the width between said inner and outer skins; and   a top rail having a top rail portion extending between said inner and outer skins, said top rail portion generally spanning the width between said inner and outer skins.   
     
     
         11 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 10 , wherein in each said panel, each said post extends between said bottom rail portion and said top rail portion. 
     
     
         12 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each said panel is approximately four feet in length, and said posts are spaced from each other at approximately one foot intervals along said length. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said joint includes at least one post. 
     
     
         20 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said joint is formed by said inner skins having overlapping end portions which are secured to one another and said outer skins having overlapping end portions which are secured to one another, said overlapping end portions of said outer skins being separated from said overlapping end portions of said inner skins, and a post provided between said overlapping end portions of said inner skins and said overlapping end portions of said outer skins, said post being secured to at least one of said overlapping end portions of said inner and outer skins. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said post is secured to at least one of said overlapping end portions of said inner and outer skins by at least one of a fastener and an adhesive. 
     
     
         24 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said joint is formed by said inner skins having end portions, said end portions of said inner skins having ends which face one another, said outer skins having end portions, said end portions of said outer skins having ends which face one another, said end portions of said outer skins being separated from said end portions of said inner skins, and a post provided between said end portions of said inner skins and said end portions of said outer skins, said post being secured to at least one of said end portions of said inner and outer skins of said panels. 
     
     
         25 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said post is secured to said at least one of said end portions of said inner and outer skins of said panels by at least one of a fastener and an adhesive. 
     
     
         26 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said joint is formed by said inner skins having end portions, said end portions of said inner skins having ends which face one another, said outer skins having end portions, said end portions of said outer skins having ends which face one another, said end portions of said outer skins being separated from said end portions of said inner skins, and a first post provided between said end portions of said inner and outer skins of said first panel, said first post being secured to at least one of said end portions of said inner and outer skins of said first panel, a second post provided between said end portions of said inner and outer skins of said second panel, said second post being secured to at least one of said end portions of said inner and outer skins of said second panel, and means for joining at least one of said inner skins together and said outer skins together. 
     
     
         27 . The joint as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said joining means includes a plate member which joins said inner skins together. 
     
     
         28 . The joint as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said plate member has first and second opposite end sections and an intermediate section, said first end section being secured to said end portion of said inner skin of said first panel, said second end section being secured to said end portion of said inner skin of said second panel, said intermediate section generally spanning a distance between said ends of said inner skins. 
     
     
         29 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The joint as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said joining means includes a plate member which joins said outer skins together. 
     
     
         35 . The joint as defined in  claim 34 , wherein said plate member has first and second opposite end sections and an intermediate section, said first end section being secured to said end portion of said outer skin of said first panel, said second end section being secured to said end portion of said outer skin of said second panel, said intermediate section generally spanning a distance between said ends of said outer skins. 
     
     
         36 . The joint as defined in  claim 35 , wherein said first and second end sections of said plate member are secured to said end portions of said outer skins by at least one of a fastener and an adhesive. 
     
     
         37 . The joint as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said first post is secured to at least one of said end portions of said inner and outer skins of said first panel by at least one of a fastener and an adhesive, and wherein said second post is secured to at least one of said end portions of said inner and outer skins of said second panel by at least one of a fastener and an adhesive. 
     
     
         38 . A sidewall of a trailer comprising:
 a first panel having inner and outer skins, said inner skin having an end portion, said outer skin having an end portion;   a second panel having inner and outer skins, said inner skin of said second panel having an end portion, said outer skin of said second panel having an end portion;   said end portions of said inner skins having ends which face one another, said end portions of said outer skins having ends which face one another, said end portions of said outer skins being separated from said end portions of said inner skins,   a post provided between said end portions of said inner skins and said end portions of said outer skins, said post being secured to at least one of said end portions of said first and second inner and outer skins.   
     
     
         39 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 38 , wherein said post is secured to said at least one of said end portions by at least one of a fastener and an adhesive. 
     
     
         40 . A sidewall as defined in  claim 38 , wherein said first panel includes a plurality of metal posts sandwiched between said inner and outer skins of said first panel such that voids are formed between adjacent posts, and said second panel includes a plurality of metal posts sandwiched between said inner and outer skins of said second panel such that voids are formed between adjacent post.