An article of manufacture for use as an insulated overhead door that is designed to roll open and closed in tracks, with a sheet of thermoplasitc material that acts as the outer door membrane and barrier to entry, a sheet of insulating material that acts as a base insulating barrier adhered to the thermoplastic membrane.

A method of accessing a cargo in a trailer. The method includes steps of engaging the trailer to a vehicle, wherein the trailer comprises at least one trailer door assembly operably engaged with at least one driving assembly; unlocking a trailer door of the at least one trailer door assembly via at least one locking assembly; actuating the trailer door, via a rotary actuator, from a closed position to an opened position; pivoting the trailer door, via an expansion assembly of the at least one driving assembly, from the closed position to the opened position; and providing access to the cargo inside of the trailer.

A tailgate assembly includes a talegate and latch assembly. The tailgate is moveable between open and closed positions. The latch assembly includes an actuator, a latch, and a stopper. The actuator is operative to move the latch between an unlatched position where the latch allows movement of the tailgate from the closed position, and a latched position where the latch prevents movement of the tailgate from the closed position. The stopper is responsive to movement in the actuator to move between a nonstopping position and a stopping position. In the stopping position, the stopper prevents the latch from moving from the latched position to the unlatched position other than by the actuator.

A tailgate assembly includes a talegate and latch assembly. The tailgate is moveable between open and closed positions. The latch assembly includes an actuator, a latch, and a stopper. The actuator is operative to move the latch between an unlatched position where the latch allows movement of the tailgate from the closed position, and a latched position where the latch prevents movement of the tailgate from the closed position. The stopper is responsive to movement in the actuator to move between a nonstopping position and a stopping position. In the stopping position, the stopper prevents the latch from moving from the latched position to the unlatched position other than by the actuator.

A pressure differential lockout system for a door separating first and second regions comprises a piston assembly, a follower linkage, and a fluid conduit. The follower linkage is mechanically coupled with a latch release handle of the door. The piston assembly includes a piston and a piston housing collectively defining an interior chamber. The fluid conduit provides fluid communication between the first region and the interior chamber. The piston is translatable along a translation axis relative to the piston housing responsive to a pressure differential between the interior chamber and the second region. The piston defines a channel that is parallel to the translation axis and that accommodates a follower component of the follower linkage. The channel inhibits rotation of the follower linkage within a first translation range of the piston and enables rotation of the follower linkage within a second translation range of the piston.

A pressure differential lockout system for a door separating first and second regions comprises a piston assembly, a follower linkage, and a fluid conduit. The follower linkage is mechanically coupled with a latch release handle of the door. The piston assembly includes a piston and a piston housing collectively defining an interior chamber. The fluid conduit provides fluid communication between the first region and the interior chamber. The piston is translatable along a translation axis relative to the piston housing responsive to a pressure differential between the interior chamber and the second region. The piston defines a channel that is parallel to the translation axis and that accommodates a follower component of the follower linkage. The channel inhibits rotation of the follower linkage within a first translation range of the piston and enables rotation of the follower linkage within a second translation range of the piston.

A locking assembly can achieve positive locking of a tailgate, by including a guideblock having a guide slot defined therein, a lockplate configured to be slidably received within the guide slot, and a clevis that is configured to operatively cooperate with the lockplate. A locking hook formed in the lockplate will capture a pin in the clevis to achieve the desired locking capabilities. A capture pin is removably coupled to the guideblock and positioned within a containment in the lockplate to control travel. An actuator is coupled at one end to a portion of the vehicle and at the other end to the lockplate in a manner to cause movement of the lockplate and subsequent movement of the tailgate in an opening direction. The actuator is further configured to cause the tailgate to move in a closing direction until reaching a closed position and then moving the lockplate from an unlocked position to a locked position, thus causing the locking hook to capture the pin in the clevis and further causing the tailgate to be positively locked.

A locking assembly can achieve positive locking of a tailgate, by including a guideblock having a guide slot defined therein, a lockplate configured to be slidably received within the guide slot, and a clevis that is configured to operatively cooperate with the lockplate. A locking hook formed in the lockplate will capture a pin in the clevis to achieve the desired locking capabilities. A capture pin is removably coupled to the guideblock and positioned within a containment in the lockplate to control travel. An actuator is coupled at one end to a portion of the vehicle and at the other end to the lockplate in a manner to cause movement of the lockplate and subsequent movement of the tailgate in an opening direction. The actuator is further configured to cause the tailgate to move in a closing direction until reaching a closed position and then moving the lockplate from an unlocked position to a locked position, thus causing the locking hook to capture the pin in the clevis and further causing the tailgate to be positively locked.

A hood lifting assembly according to various implementations includes a re-latching feature that allows two slidably coupled plates to be reset, or locked, relative to each other by moving a head of a pin into a keyhole opening of a keyhole slot defined in one of the plates. In an initial position, the head of the pin is spaced apart from the keyhole opening, allowing the pin to move along the keyhole slot from the initial position to a deployed position and then to a reset position. In other implementations, a hood lifting assembly includes an energy absorbing feature. One exemplary energy absorbing feature includes a plate defining an elongated slot that has a narrowed width portion through which a pin travels during movement from the initial position to the deployed position.

A hood lifting assembly according to various implementations includes a re-latching feature that allows two slidably coupled plates to be reset, or locked, relative to each other by moving a head of a pin into a keyhole opening of a keyhole slot defined in one of the plates. In an initial position, the head of the pin is spaced apart from the keyhole opening, allowing the pin to move along the keyhole slot from the initial position to a deployed position and then to a reset position. In other implementations, a hood lifting assembly includes an energy absorbing feature. One exemplary energy absorbing feature includes a plate defining an elongated slot that has a narrowed width portion through which a pin travels during movement from the initial position to the deployed position.