A temperature control docking system (TCDS) is configured for providing temperature controlled air for circulation within one or more freight trailers. The freight trailers are engaged with corresponding control docks of the TCDS, each control dock additionally defining a docking door configured between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The docking door separates the interior of the TCDS from an exterior thereof (and from the freight trailer). Upon engaging the freight trailer with the control dock, the docking door is configured to an open configuration, and a temperature maintenance unit positioned within the interior of the TCDS and corresponding with the control dock provides temperature controlled air for circulation within the interior of the freight trailer so as to maintain a desired temperature within the freight trailer.

Inflatable weather barriers for loading docks are disclosed. An example weather barrier includes an upper bellows defining a header air chamber between a top portion and a bottom portion of the upper bellows. A blower is in fluid communication with the header air chamber and the blower is selectively activated to discharge a pressurized air into the header air chamber to urge the upper bellows from a raised position toward a lowered position. The weather barrier includes a first extension spring that is under a first extension spring tension, a first pulley, and a first elongate member that is pliable. The first elongate member is under a first elongate member tension that urges the upper bellows toward the raised position. The first elongate member is wrapped at least partially around the first pulley and the first extension spring being connected to the first pulley such that the first pulley transmits the first extension spring tension to the first elongate member to subject the first elongate member to the first elongate member tension.

Enclosure assemblies for managing air flow. Such assemblies include an enclosure and at least one inclined pathway in contact with the enclosure, each pathway including a pair of side wall portions and a top wall portion that collectively extend between spaced apart openings to define an air mass. One opening having a lower boundary and the other opening having an upper boundary, with the lower boundary being at an elevation higher than that of the upper boundary, such that when a temperature differential exists within a given pathway, warmer air will be trapped in an upper portion of the air mass and above the upper boundary, thereby impeding air flow from the enclosure.

Adjustable lateral seals for loading dock barriers are disclosed. An example barrier includes a header structure coupled to the wall, where the header structure is horizontally elongate, extending above the doorway, and protrudes in the forward direction from the wall. A lateral seal is coupled to the wall. The lateral seal is vertically elongate and extends below the header structure. The lateral seal extends farther into a cargo passageway of a loading dock when the weather barrier is in a relaxed configuration than when the weather barrier is in an activated configuration. The lateral seal is to be engage by a vehicle when the vehicle is in a parked position. The lateral seal including an upper seal segment and a lower seal segment, the upper seal segment to move between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the lower seal segment. A flexible elongate member has an upper end coupled to the header structure and a lower end coupled to the upper seal segment. The flexible elongate member is to deflect from a relaxed position to a deflected position. The upper seal segment to move from the lowered position to the raised position in response to the flexible elongate member deflecting from the relaxed position to the deflected position.

A system for docking a vehicle to a building, wherein the vehicle functions as a space of the building when the vehicle is connected thereto, and wherein the building includes at least one station inside or outside thereof such that the vehicle can dock at the at least one station, includes a server configured to check whether the at least one station is available to allow a user to select a station for a vehicle, to select the station randomly when the user does not select the station, and when the vehicle is docked at the selected station, to connect the vehicle to the selected station in wired or wireless manner to manage use of the selected station.

Weather barriers for vehicle loading docks are disclosed. An example weather barrier includes a side support member being vertically elongate between an upper end and a lower end of the side support member. The side support member has a back end to be attached to a wall proximate a lateral doorway edge. The side support member is to extend in a forward direction to a front end of the side support member. A vertically elongate front sheet includes a pliable sheet having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is to attach to the front end of the side support member. The front sheet extends in a lateral direction from the proximal end to the distal end, where the lateral direction is horizontal and perpendicular to the forward direction. The front sheet is to extends in front of the doorway. A stay is to be coupled to the front sheet. The stay is resiliently flexible and horizontally elongate. The stay is to subject the front sheet to tension in a horizontal direction.

Adjustable lateral seals for loading dock barriers are disclosed. An example barrier includes a header structure coupled to the wall, where the header structure is horizontally elongate, extending above the doorway, and protrudes in the forward direction from the wall. A lateral seal is coupled to the wall. The lateral seal is vertically elongate and extends below the header structure. The lateral seal extends farther into a cargo passageway of a loading dock when the weather barrier is in a relaxed configuration than when the weather barrier is in an activated configuration. The lateral seal is to be engage by a vehicle when the vehicle is in a parked position. The lateral seal including an upper seal segment and a lower seal segment, the upper seal segment to move between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the lower seal segment. A flexible elongate member has an upper end coupled to the header structure and a lower end coupled to the upper seal segment. The flexible elongate member is to deflect from a relaxed position to a deflected position. The upper seal segment to move from the lowered position to the raised position in response to the flexible elongate member deflecting from the relaxed position to the deflected position.

The present invention is a pivoting pit seal assembly that forms a continuous seal with the rear bumper of a trailer parked in the bay of a loading dock, and which combines with the side and top seals of the loading dock to provide a 360 degree seal around a trailer. The pit seal assembly has a compression pad mounted to a rigid base. The pad has a resilient, compressible core material wrapped by a durable cover. One side of the base is pivotally held by brackets and corresponding releasable latches anchored to the front wall adjacent the pit floor or directly to the pit floor. During use, the pit seal is held in an upwardly angled position to compressingly engage the rear bumper of the trailer and form a continuous seal with the bumper. Each side end of the pit seal sealingly engages the vertical side seals located along the sides of the door opening to form a continuous seal between the pit seal and the side seals. To clean or access the pit, the releasable fastener is unfastened and the pit seal is rotated to a reclined position.

Enclosure assemblies for managing air flow. Such assemblies include an enclosure and at least one inclined pathway in contact with the enclosure, each pathway including a pair of side wall portions and a top wall portion that collectively extend between spaced apart openings to define an air mass. One opening having a lower boundary and the other opening having an upper boundary, with the lower boundary being at an elevation higher than that of the upper boundary, such that when a temperature differential exists within a given pathway, warmer air will be trapped in an upper portion of the air mass and above the upper boundary, thereby impeding air flow from the enclosure.

The present invention relates to a dock shelter module that is disposed at a side of a warehouse and connects the inside and outside of the warehouse, dock shelter module comprising: a top frame; a pair of side frames coupled to both sides of the top frame, longitudinally extending, and forming a loading-unloading space in cooperation with the top frame; a bottom frame coupled to the lower ends of the side frames and having a dock leveler seated thereon; a first gate coupled to the top frame, disposed at the front of the loading-unloading space, and opening and closing the outside of the warehouse and the loading-unloading space; a second gate coupled to the top frame, disposed at the rear of the loading-unloading space, and opening and closing the inside of the warehouse and the loading-unloading space; and an air curtain generator installed on the bottom of the top frame between the first gate and the second gate, and forming an air curtain in the loading-unloading space in accordance with whether the first gate and the second gate are opened and closed.