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A device for reducing drag experienced at a gap between a trailer coupled to a tractor. The device includes an enclosure having a top portion extending between a first side portion and a second side portion. Forward portions of the first and second side portions of the enclosure are coupled to first

A device for reducing drag experienced at a gap between a trailer coupled to a tractor. The device includes an enclosure having a top portion extending between a first side portion and a second side portion. Forward portions of the first and second side portions of the enclosure are coupled to first and second spool assemblies, respectively, coupled to a rear portion of the tractor and configured to maintain tension in the first and second side portions, respectively, of the enclosure. Rearward portions of the top, first side, and second side portions of the enclosure are coupled to the trailer by a coupling assembly. The first side portion extends from the first spool assembly to the trailer. The second side portion of the enclosure extends from the second spool assembly to the trailer. The top portion covers at least a portion of the gap defined between the tractor and trailer.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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

1. 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; anda 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. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling assembly comprises: a first upright frame assembly configured to be coupled to the trailer adjacent to the first trailer side portion of the trailer, the first upright frame assembly being coupled to the rearward portion of the first side portion of the enclosure; anda second upright frame assembly configured to be coupled to the trailer adjacent to the second trailer side portion of the trailer, the second upright frame assembly being coupled to the rearward portion of the second side portion of the enclosure. 3. The device of claim 2 for use with the trailer further including a top trailer portion extending between the first and second trailer side portions, wherein the coupling assembly further comprises: at least one connector attached to the top portion of the enclosure, the at least one connector being configured to be coupled to the top trailer portion of the trailer, and when coupled thereto to couple the top portion of the enclosure to the top trailer portion of the trailer. 4. The device of claim 1 for use with the trailer further including a top trailer portion extending between the first and second trailer side portions, wherein the coupling assembly comprises a strap having a first end portion coupled to the first trailer side portion of the trailer and a second end portion coupled to the second trailer side portion of the trailer, and a transverse sleeve is formed in the rearward portion of the top portion of the enclosure, the strap extending through the transverse sleeve to draw the rearward portion of the top portion of the enclosure toward the top trailer portion of the trailer. 5. The device of claim 4, further comprising at least one ratchet coupled to the strap and configured to impart tension into the strap to draw the rearward portion of the top portion of the enclosure toward the top trailer portion of the trailer. 6. The device of claim 4, wherein a first upright sleeve is formed in the rearward portion of the first side portion of the enclosure, a second upright sleeve is formed in the rearward portion of the second side portion of the enclosure, andthe strap extends though the first upright sleeve, the transverse sleeve, and the second upright sleeve to at least partially couple to the trailer the 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. 7. The device of claim 1 for use with the trailer further including a top trailer portion extending between the first and second trailer side portions, wherein a transverse sleeve is formed in the rearward portion of the top portion of the enclosure, a first upright sleeve is formed in the rearward portion of the first side portion of the enclosure,a second upright sleeve is formed in the rearward portion of the second side portion of the enclosure, andthe coupling assembly further comprises:a first upright member positioned inside the first upright sleeve, the first upright member comprising a first open ended upright channel;a second upright member positioned inside the second upright sleeve, the second upright member comprising a second open ended upright channel; andan upper strap having a first end portion coupled to the first trailer side portion of the trailer and a second end portion coupled to the second trailer side portion of the trailer, the upper strap extending though the first open ended upright channel of the first upright member, the transverse sleeve, and the second open ended upright channel of the second upright member to at least partially couple to the trailer the 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. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the coupling assembly further comprises: a first ratchet coupled to the first upright member, the first end portion of the upper strap being entwined about the first ratchet, the first ratchet being configured to impart tension into the upper strap;a second ratchet coupled to the second upright member, the second end portion of the upper strap being entwined about the second ratchet, the second ratchet being configured to impart tension into the upper strap;a third upright member positioned inside the first upright sleeve, the third upright member comprising a third open ended upright channel;a fourth upright member positioned inside the second upright sleeve, the fourth upright member comprising a fourth open ended upright channel;a first lower strap having a first end portion opposite a second end portion, the first end portion of the first lower strap being coupled to a lower portion of the first trailer side portion of the trailer, the second end portion of the first lower strap extending upwardly into the third open ended upright channel of the third upright member;a second lower strap having a first end portion opposite a second end portion, the first end portion of the second lower strap being coupled to a lower portion of the second trailer side portion of the trailer, the second end portion of the second lower strap extending upwardly into the fourth open ended upright channel of the fourth upright member;a third ratchet coupled to the third upright member, the second end portion of the first lower strap being entwined about the third ratchet, the third ratchet being configured to impart tension in the first lower strap; anda fourth ratchet coupled to the fourth upright member, the second end portion of the second lower strap being entwined about the fourth ratchet, the fourth ratchet being configured to impart tension in the second lower strap. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein an upper portion of the third upright member is slidably received inside a lower portion of the first upright member, and an upper portion of the fourth upright member is slidably received inside a lower portion of the second upright member. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the upper portion of the third upright member is couplable to the lower portion of the first upright member when received therein, and the upper portion of the fourth upright member is couplable to the lower portion of the second upright member when received therein. 11. The device of claim 8, wherein the first end portion of the first lower strap is coupled to the lower portion of the first trailer side portion of the trailer by a first hook, and the first end portion of the second lower strap is coupled to the lower portion of the second trailer side portion of the trailer by a second hook. 12. The device of claim 1 for use with the trailer including a top trailer portion extending between the first and second trailer side portions of the trailer, wherein the coupling assembly further comprises: a strap having a first end portion coupled to the first trailer side portion of the trailer and a second end portion coupled to the second trailer side portion of the trailer;a first ratchet adjacent the first trailer side portion of the trailer coupled to the first end portion of the strap;a second ratchet adjacent the second trailer side portion of the trailer coupled to the second end portion of the strap, the first and second ratchets each being configured to impart tension into the strap; anda transverse sleeve is formed in the rearward portion of the top portion of the enclosure, the strap extending through the transverse sleeve. 13. The device of claim 1 for use with the trailer including a top trailer portion extending between the first and second trailer side portions, wherein the coupling assembly comprises: a first upright frame assembly configured to be coupled to a lower edge portion of the first trailer side portion of the trailer, the first upright frame assembly being coupled to the rearward portion of the first side portion of the enclosure, the first upright frame assembly comprising an upright member having an upright open-ended internal channel formed therein;a second upright frame assembly configured to be coupled to a lower edge portion of the second trailer side portion of the trailer, the second upright frame assembly being coupled to the rearward portion of the second side portion of the enclosure, the second upright frame assembly comprising an upright member having an upright open-ended internal channel formed therein;a first connector bracket coupled to the rearward portion of the top portion of the enclosure, the first connector bracket having a first through-hole and a first keyway formed therein, the first through-hole being aligned with one of the open ends of the internal channel of the upright member of the first upright frame assembly;a second connector bracket coupled to the rearward portion of the top portion of the enclosure, the second connector bracket having a second through-hole and a second keyway formed therein, the second through-hole being aligned with one of the open ends of the internal channel of the upright member of the second upright frame assembly;a first latch mechanism configured to be coupled to the top trailer portion of the trailer, the first latch mechanism comprising a rotatable key member configured to be selectively rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, when in the unlocked position, the key member being receivable inside the keyway of the first connector bracket, and after being so received, the key member being rotatable to the locked position to couple the first connector bracket to the first latch mechanism;a second latch mechanism configured to be coupled to the top trailer portion of the trailer, the second latch mechanism comprising a rotatable key member configured to be selectively rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, when in the unlocked position, the key member being receivable inside the keyway of the second connector bracket, and after being so received, the key member being rotatable to the locked position to couple the second connector bracket to the second latch mechanism; anda strap having a first end portion coupled to the first upright frame assembly and the second end portion coupled to the second upright frame assembly, the strap extending through the internal channel of the upright member of the first upright frame assembly, through the first through-hole of the first connector bracket, across a portion of the first connector bracket, across a portion of the second connector bracket, through the second through-hole of the second connector bracket, and through the internal channel of the upright member of the second upright frame assembly. 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of stiffeners coupled to the enclosure and configured to at least partially define an outer shape of the enclosure. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of stiffeners are coupled to the first side portion of the enclosure, at least a second portion of the plurality of stiffeners are coupled to the second side portion of the enclosure, and at least a third portion of the plurality of stiffeners are coupled to the top portion of the enclosure, the first portion of the plurality of stiffeners being different from the second and third portions of the plurality of stiffeners, and the second portion of the plurality of stiffeners being different from the third portion of the plurality of stiffeners. 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of sleeves and each of the plurality of stiffeners is positioned inside a different one of the plurality of sleeves. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured to deform when the tractor is pivoted relative to the trailer.