Trailer Side Rail

Abstract

An improved side rail structure is used to form a portion of a flat bed trailer. The side rail structure is integrally formed as one piece. The side rail structure includes an outer side rail wall which is integrally formed as one piece with a rub rail. A flooring section may also be formed as one piece with the outer side rail wall. The one piece side rail structure may be formed of extruded metal.

1 . A one piece, integrally formed, extruded side rail structure for use in forming a portion of a flat bed trailer, said one piece, integrally formed, extruded side rail structure comprising a generally horizontal floor section, an outer side rail wall integrally formed as one piece with said floor section, and a rub rail which extends parallel to and is spaced apart from the outer side rail wall by an upper and a lower connector wall. 
     
     
         2 . The side rail structure of  claim 1 , wherein the rub rail is comprised of a seamless tube with a substantially rectangular cross section comprising the upper connector wall, the outer side rail wall, the lower connector wall and the rub rail. 
     
     
         3 . The side rail structure of  claim 1 , wherein the upper connector wall is disposed below the plane of an upper side surface of the floor section, forming a corner at the intersection of the floor section and the outer side rail wall. 
     
     
         4 . The side rail structure of  claim 1 , wherein the rub rail further comprises an upper series of openings formed in the upper connector wall. 
     
     
         5 . The side rail structure of  claim 4 , wherein the rub rail further comprises a lower series of openings formed in the lower connector wall. 
     
     
         6 . The side rail structure of  claim 5 , wherein the upper series of openings comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular openings and the lower series of openings comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular openings aligned with the upper series of openings. 
     
     
         7 . The side rail structure of  claim 6 , further comprising a securement strap which passes through an opening of the upper series of openings and an opening of the lower series of openings to secure a load. 
     
     
         8 . The side rail structure of  claim 6 , wherein the pluralities of substantially rectangular openings have arcuate ends. 
     
     
         9 . The side rail structure of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one securement stake received by at least one of the openings in the upper series of openings. 
     
     
         10 . The side rail structure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mounting flange protruding downwardly from a lower surface of the floor section for contacting with a frame member of the trailer.