Retractable sideboards

Claim 2

In combination with a truck body having a boxlike load accommodating assembly, having a front and a backwall and two sidewalls of a given height with respect to a reference point comprising therewith: a. a first member of a length substantially equal to the length of one of said sidewalls, said member rigidly secured near the top surface of said sidewall, and having an internal cavity contiguous with an opening in a top surface of said first member; b. a second member of a length substantially equal to said length of said first member and dimensioned to cover said first member, said second member being slideably mounted with respect to said first member while covering said first member, c. a cylinder Having a piston accommodating recess contiguous with a first opening in a surface thereof, said cylinder being rigidly fixed with respect to said first member and located within said cavity, said cylinder having a second opening contiguous with said recess and a second surface of said cylinder; d. a piston slideably mounted and positioned in said cylinder recess for sliding within said recess and through and protruding from said first opening; e. first means including a selectively operated valve coupled to said second opening of said cylinder and adapted to accommodate a source of pressurized fluid, said valve having a first position for allowing pressurized fluid to enter said opening and preventing the entrance of said fluid in a second position; and f. means coupled to said valve for selectively operating the same in said first or second positions, for forcing said piston to slide through said first opening and said opening in said first member to coact with and slide said second member with respect to said first member, whereby the resultant movement and position of said second member effectively increases the height of said truck sidewall with respect to said reference point.

Claim 3

In combination with a truck body having a boxlike load accommodating assembly, having a front and a backwall and two sidewalls of a given height with respect to a reference point comprising therewith: a. a first member of a length substantially equal to the length of one of said sidewalls, said member rigidly secured near the top surface of said sidewall, and having an internal cavity contiguous with an opening in a top surface of said first member; b. a cylinder having a piston accommodating recess contiguous with a first opening in a surface thereof, said cylinder being rigidly fixed with respect to said first member, said cylinder having a second opening contiguous with said recess and a second surface of said cylinder; c. a cylindrical housing having a piston accommodating recess contiguous with a first opening in a surface thereof, said housing being rigidly fixed with respect to said first member, said housing having a second smaller opening contiguous with said recess and a second different surface of said housing; d. a piston slideably mounted and positioned in said recess for sliding within said recess through said first opening; e. a source of pressurized fluid coupled to said smaller opening; f. a selectively operated valve coupled between said source and said smaller opening, for allowing said fluid to enter said opening in a first position, and preventing said entrance in a second position; and g. means coupled to said valve for selectively operating said valve in said first or second positions, whereby when said valve is operated in said first position said piston slides through said first opening and said opening in said first member and coacts with and raises said second member in a relatively vertical direction, whereby said resultant movement and position of said second member effectively increases the height of said truck sidewall with respect to said reference point.

Claim 4

In combination with a truck body having a boxlike load accommodating assembly, having a front and a backwall and two sidewalls of a given height with respect to a reference point comprising therewith: a. a first member of a length substantially equal to the length of one of said sidewalls, said member rigidly secured near the top surface of said sidewall, and having an internal cavity contiguous with an opening in a top surface of said first member; b. a cylinder having a piston accommodating recess contiguous with a first opening in a surface thereof, said cylinder being rigidly fixed with respect to said first member, said cylinder having a second opening contiguous with said recess and a second surface of said cylinder; c. a cylindrical housing having a piston accommodating recess contiguous with a first opening in a surface thereof, said housing being rigidly fixed with respect to said first member, said housing having a second smaller opening contiguous with said recess and a second different surface of said housing; d. a piston slideably mounted and positioned in said recess for sliding within said recess through said first opening; e. a source of pressurized fluid coupled to said smaller opening; f. a selectively operated valve coupled between said source and said smaller opening, for allowing said fluid to enter said opening in a first position, and preventing said entrance in a second position; and g. means coupled to said valve for selectively operating said valve in said first or second positions, whereby when said valve is operated in said first position said piston slides through said first opening and said opening in said first member and coacts with and raises said second member in a relatively vertical direction, whereby said resultant movement and position of said second member effectively increases the height of said truck sidewall with respect to said reference point.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first and second members are fabricated from steel.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said means coupled to said valve for selectively operating said valve comprise a switch coupled to the ignition switch of said truck whereby said valve operates in said first position wen said ignition switch is operated and in said second position when said ignition switch is turned off.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said source of pressurized fluid is a pressurized air source.

Claim 8

In combination: a. a load accommodating assembly, having a backwall, a front wall, first and second sidewalls, and a bottom wall all contiguous to form a boxlike container having an opening; b. a first member of a length substantially equal to the length of one of said sidewalls and fixedly moUnted on the top of said sidewall near said opening, said member having at least one internal cavity contiguous with an opening on a top surface thereof; c. force exerting means, including a moveable piston; mounted in said cavity and positioned to permit said piston to move through said opening in said top surface of said first member; d. a second member of a length substantially equal to the length of said first member and having a U-shaped cross section positioned over said first member and slideably mounted with respect to said fist member and having at least a section thereof covering said opening; and e. selectively operated pressure means coupled to said force exerting means for moving said piston through said opening to coact with said surface of said second member to slide said second member in a relatively vertical direction with respect to said sidewall, in accordance with the movement of said piston.

Claim 9

In combination: a. a load accommodating assembly, having a backwall, a front wall, first and second sidewalls, and a bottom wall all contiguous to form a boxlike container having an opening; b. a first member of a length substantially equal to the length of one of said sidewalls and fixedly moUnted on the top of said sidewall near said opening, said member having at least one internal cavity contiguous with an opening on a top surface thereof; c. force exerting means, including a moveable piston; mounted in said cavity and positioned to permit said piston to move through said opening in said top surface of said first member; d. a second member of a length substantially equal to the length of said first member and having a U-shaped cross section positioned over said first member and slideably mounted with respect to said fist member and having at least a section thereof covering said opening; and e. selectively operated pressure means coupled to said force exerting means for moving said piston through said opening to coact with said surface of said second member to slide said second member in a relatively vertical direction with respect to said sidewall, in accordance with the movement of said piston.

Claim 10

A retractable sideboard assembly for dump trucks or the like having a boxlike load accommodating assembly including two sidewalls, a bottom wall, a front and backwall and an open top, comprising: a. a first housing having an internal cavity and having one surface adapted for mounting on a sidewall of said load accommodating assembly near said open top, said housing having an aperture therein communicating with said internal cavity and located on a surface of said housing furthest removed from said open top; b. a second member of a length substantially equal to the length of said sidewall said second member having a relatively U-shaped cross section and dimensioned to cover and be slideable with respect to said first housing; c. a cylinder including a piston member, said cylinder rigidly positioned within said internal cavity of said first housing, said piston member slideably mounted with respect to said cylinder and said first housing to slide through said opening when said piston is activated; d. means including a selectively activated valve coupled to said cylinder and adapted to accommodate a source of pressurized fluid to permit said fluid to enter said cylinder to slide said piston through said opening in a first position and to block the entrance of fluid in a second position, whereby said piston in said first position coacts with and raises said second member with respect to said sidewall after a load is accommodated by said truck; and e. selection means coupled to said valve for operating the same in either of said first and second positions.

Claim 11

A retractable sideboard assembly for dump trucks or the like having a boxlike load accommodating assembly including two sidewalls, a bottom wall, a front and backwall and an open top, comprising: a. a first housing having an internal cavity and having one surface adapted for mounting on a sidewall of said load accommodating assembly near said open top, said housing having an aperture therein communicating with said internal cavity and located on a surface of said housing furthest removed from said open top; b. a second member of a length substantially equal to the length of said sidewall said second member having a relatively U-shaped cross section and dimensioned to cover and be slideable with respect to said first housing; c. a cylinder including a piston member, said cylinder rigidly positioned within said internal cavity of said first housing, said piston member slideably mounted with respect to said cylinder and said first housing to slide through said opening when said piston is activated; d. means including a selectively activated valve coupled to said cylinder and adapted to accommodate a source of pressurized fluid to permit said fluid to enter said cylinder to slide said piston through said opening in a first position and to block the entrance of fluid in a second position, whereby said piston in said first position coacts with and raises said second member with respect to said sidewall after a load is accommodated by said truck; and e. selection means coupled to said valve for operating the same in either of said first and second positions.

Claim 12

The retractable sideboard assembly according to claim 7 wherein said means coupled to said cylinder is adapted to accommodate a source of pressurized gas.