Rear-mounted retractable aerodynamic structure for cargo bodies

Abstract

An aerodynamic structure attached to the sides and top of a truck cargo body (either a stand-alone trailer or a “straight truck” with the cab and cargo area as a fixed vehicle) at the aftmost region, which rear typically contains a rolling door assembly, which rolls upwardly. An aerodynamic structure is permanently attached to the sides and top of the trailer in a manner that extend past the aftmost plane of the truck cargo body and retract to the aftmost plane of the truck cargo body when subjected to a force, allowing this device to be backed into structures. The retracted orientation allows for the rear of the trailer to be fully accessible for loading and unloading, and does not reduce the size of the opening of the trailer. The various embodiments of the invention allow for automated deployment once the force used to compress the structure is removed.

1 . An aerodynamic structure mounted to the rear of a cargo body comprising:
 a multi-sided aerodynamic panel assembly mounted with respect to the rear of the cargo body constructed and arranged to deploy automatically according to predetermined parameters when the cargo body is located remote from a loading area,   wherein, when deployed the panel assembly defines at least one of an at least partially tapered, tapered and a straight-walled cavity at the rear of the cargo body.