Monolithic hinge for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like

Abstract

 A monolithic hinge (1) for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like, comprising two sections (2,3), the first section (2) being rigidly coupled to one edge of a flap, the second section (3) being rigidly coupled to the side of the corresponding opening of the wall of the dump box, the first and second sections being adapted to rest against each other in the flap closure configuration; the sections comprise respective mirror-symmetrical slots (4,5) having a recess (16) and a plurality of ribs (17) which are adapted to retain the wings (7) of a strip (6) made of flexible material, such as rubber, for the rotation of the flap with respect to the opening of the dump box wall; the strip has a substantially U-shaped cross-section when the flap is closed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a monolithic hinge for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like.

[0002] Conventional monolithic hinges to articulate doors or flaps to the rear end or sides of dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like, have a first portion fixed to a lateral edge of the dump box and a second portion fixed to the corresponding edge of the flap; in some conventional solutions, the monolithic hinges are constituted by sturdy sections made of a flexible material, such as rubber or polyvinyl chloride.

[0003] Said sections are currently coupled to the dump box by means of rivets, screws or the like, but the stresses to which the flap is subjected nonetheless tend to make the hinge escape from its seat, entailing troublesome operations to restore its correct operation.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above drawback of conventional devices, by providing a monolithic hinge for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like which, once fitted, does not escape from its seat, withstanding the considerable traction stresses.

[0005] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to achieve said aim with a structure which is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation and having a relatively low cost.

[0006] These and other objects are achieved by the present monolithic hinge for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like, comprising a first and a second sections, the first section being rigidly coupled to one edge of a flap, the second section being rigidly coupled to side of the corresponding opening of the wall of the dump box, said first and second sections being adapted to rest against each other in the flap closure configuration, characterized in that said first and second sections comprise respective mirror-symmetrical slots having a recess and a plurality of ribs which are adapted to retain the wings of a strip made of flexible material, for the rotation of said flap with respect to said opening of the dump box wall, said strip having a substantially U-shaped cross-section when the flap is closed.

[0007] Further particularities of the present invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a monolithic hinge for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like, according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a monolithic hinge for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like in the closed configuration;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the hinge in a partially open configuration;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the monolithic hinge according to a second embodiment.

[0008] With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a monolithic hinge for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like according to the invention. The hinge 1 comprises a first section 2 and a second section 3 preferably made of extruded aluminum. The first section 2 is rigidly coupled to the edge of a flap, and the second section 3 is rigidly coupled to the side of the corresponding opening of the wall of the dump box. The first section 2 and the second section 3 have respective mirror-symmetrical slots 4 and 5 for the interlocking accommodation of two wings 7 and 8 of a strip 6 made of a flexible material, such as rubber, which has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

[0009] The outer side 9 of the first section 2, which is fixed to the edge of the flap during assembly, is longer than the inner side 10, so as to form the inlet of the slot 4, and has a projection 11, which is directed inwards and is designed to lock the upper edge 12 of the strip 6, and a shaped projection 13, which is directed outwards and is adapted to surmount the outer surface of the flap. The inner side 10 of the first section 2 has, at its ends, two longitudinal ridges 13 and 14 which have a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

[0010] The first section 2 has, on the opposite side with respect to the ridge 14, a recess 16, and a plurality of ribs 17 in a longitudinal direction along the entire length of the slot 4.

[0011] The recess 16 and the plurality of ribs 17 are shaped complementarily, respectively, to a protrusion 19 and to a plurality of grooves 20 formed on the wing 7, so as to form a mated coupling for retaining the strip 6 in the slot 4.

[0012] In the second section 3, the outer side 9, the slot 5, the recess 18 and the plurality of ribs 21 are shaped identically to those of the first section 2. The recess 18 and the plurality of ribs 21 are shaped complementarily to, respectively, a protrusion 22 and a plurality of grooves 23 formed on the wing 7, so as to provide a mated coupling for retaining the strip 6 in the slot 5. Two longitudinal ridges 24 and 25 are arranged on the inner side 10 of the second section 3 and lie closer to each other than the ridges 14 and 15, so as to form two outer seats 26 and 27 for interlocking coupling in the closed position, as shown in Figure 1.

[0013] In order to assemble the hinge 1, it is necessary to arrange the two sections in a slightly diverging position, as shown in Figure 2. Starting from this position, the wings 7 and 8 of the strip 6 are inserted in the slots 4 and 5, mating the protrusions and the grooves with the respective slots and ribs.

[0014] In a second embodiment, illustrated in Figure 3, the plurality of ribs 17, with the respective grooves 20, and of ribs 21, with the respective grooves 23, are replaced by respective plurality of ribs and grooves 17a, 20a, and 21a, 23a which are tooth-shaped, optionally sawtooth-shaped.

[0015] It has thus been shown that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0016] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0017] All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.

[0018] In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the protective scope of the appended claims.

[0019] The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. BO99U000101 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0020] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A monolithic hinge for dump boxes of trucks, trailers and the like, comprising a first and second sections, the first section being rigidly coupled to one edge of a flap, the second section being rigidly coupled to side of the corresponding opening of the wall of the dump box, said first and second sections being adapted to rest against each other in the flap closure configuration, characterized in that said first and second sections comprise respective mirror-symmetrical slots having a recess and a plurality of ribs which are adapted to retain the wings of a strip made of flexible material, for the rotation of said flap with respect to said opening of the dump box wall, said strip having a substantially U-shaped cross-section when the flap is closed.

2. The monolithic hinge for truck dump boxes according to claim 1, characterized in that said strip is made of a material such as polyurethane.

3. The monolithic hinge for truck dump boxes according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one protrusion and a plurality of grooves, which interlock respectively with said recess and said plurality of ribs, are provided on said wings.

4. The monolithic hinge for truck dump boxes according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second sections have respective outer sides which are slightly longer than the respective inner sides and have front projections which are adapted to retain said wings and shaped projections which are directed outwards and are adapted to surmount the exposed surface of said flap and wall of the dump box.

5. The monolithic hinge for truck dump boxes, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the closed configuration said inner sides have longitudinal ridges arranged complementarily so as to form an interlocking coupling.

6. The monolithic hinge for truck dump boxes, according to claim 4, characterized in that said ridges of one of said sections are spaced and form a seat for the ridges of the other section, which are spaced to a lesser extent.

7. The monolithic hinge for truck dump boxes according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ridges have a cross-section which is shaped substantially like a trapezoid with rounded corners.

8. The monolithic hinge for truck dump boxes according to claim 3, characterized in that said plurality of grooves and ribs are tooth-shaped.

Drawing