Patent classifications
B65G69/008
Vehicle-actuated weather barrier apparatus
Example weather barrier apparatus are disclosed herein. An example weather barrier apparatus includes a mount to couple to a wall of a loading dock and a seal coupled to the mount. The seal includes an outer flexible sheet having a first end and a second end. The seal includes an inner flexible sheet having a third end and a fourth end. The third end of the inner flexible sheet couples to the first end of the outer flexible sheet and the fourth end of the inner flexible sheet couples to the second end of the outer flexible sheet. The inner flexible sheet provides an edge seal and a surface seal. The edge seal engages a rearward facing edge of a vehicle and the surface seal engages surface panel of the vehicle when the vehicle is in engagement with the seal. A guide movably couples the outer flexible sheet and the inner flexible sheet. The guide is positioned between the respective ends of the inner and outer flexible sheets. The guide spaces apart a portion of the inner flexible sheet from a portion of the outer flexible sheet. The inner flexible sheet, the outer flexible sheet and the guide are to move between a first position and a second position in response to a force imparted to the weather barrier by the vehicle when the vehicle is in engagement with the inner flexible sheet to enable at least one of the edge seal to conform to a shape of the rearward facing edge of the vehicle or the surface seal to conform to a shape of the surface panel of the vehicle.
Vehicle-actuated weather barrier apparatus
Example weather barrier apparatus are disclosed herein. An example weather barrier apparatus includes a support structure having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, where the first end is to couple to a wall and the second end is movable relative to the first end. A seal is pivotally coupled to the second end of the support structure to define a pivot axis. The seal has a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion spaced from the first sealing portion. The first sealing portion is to engage a rear edge of a vehicle and the second sealing portion is to engage a surface of the vehicle spaced from the rear edge of the vehicle when the vehicle is in engagement with the seal.
Loading dock rainshield
The present loading dock rainshield has a self-adjusting, weighted canopy seal with a header projecting from the building to support a flexible, dual fixed-end, downwardly looped, central curtain. The central curtain spans the dominant width of the header and loops from front to back. The center curtain joins with opposed pleated side curtains to compete the front seal. The downwardly looped central curtain has a series of staggered and overlapping weighted baffles proximal its front end. When a trailer backs into the dock, the trailer top engages one or more baffles, which ride up onto the top of the trailer. The elongated weighted baffles push rainwater off the trailer top as it backs into the bay, and remain in forced sealing engagement with the trailer top when it is parked to divert water off the trailer top and prevent the water from flowing or blowing into the bay.
Face panels for loading dock seals and shelters
Seal assemblies for dock shelters and dock seals at a loading dock are disclosed herein. An example seal assembly includes a foam pad, a pliable cover to couple to the foam pad, and a shield to attach to the foam pad. The shield has a first end and a second end. The first end is to couple to at least one of the foam pad or the pliable cover and the second end is to project adjacent a vehicle-engaging surface of the foam pad. The shield is to move relative to the foam pad between a standby position when a vehicle is in a non-engaging relationship with the vehicle-engaging surface and a deflected position when the vehicle is in engagement with the vehicle-engaging surface.
Loading Dock Rainshield
The present loading dock rainshield has a self-adjusting, weighted canopy seal with a header projecting from the building to support a flexible, dual fixed-end, downwardly looped, central curtain. The central curtain spans the dominant width of the header and loops from front to back. The center curtain joins with opposed pleated side curtains to compete the front seal. The downwardly looped central curtain has a series of staggered and overlapping weighted baffles proximal its front end. When a trailer backs into the dock, the trailer top engages one or more baffles, which ride up onto the top of the trailer. The elongated weighted baffles push rainwater off the trailer top as it backs into the bay, and remain in forced sealing engagement with the trailer top when it is parked to divert water off the trailer top and prevent the water from flowing or blowing into the bay.
Puncture resistant seals for loading docks
Puncture resistant seals for loading docks are disclosed. An example weather barrier disclosed herein includes a canopy having a back end and a front end, where the back end is mountable to a wall above a doorway and the front end is to protrude forward from the wall when the canopy is mounted to the wall. A front bar is at the front end of the canopy and the front bar is horizontally elongate. A back curtain hangs from the front bar. The back curtain has an upper curtain edge attached to the front bar. The back curtain has a lower curtain edge that is at a lower elevation than an elevation of the upper doorway edge when the canopy is mounted to the wall. The back curtain has a curtain width. A front panel hangs in front of the back curtain. The front panel is less flexible than the back curtain. The front panel has a panel width that is approximately 50 to 80 percent of the curtain width. A space is interposed between and defined by the front panel and the back curtain.
Dock leveler sealing assembly
A sealing assembly for a dock leveler comprises two side restraints mounted on a loading dock along respective left and right sides of the vertical face of the dock leveler. A bottom restraint is mounted on the loading dock below the vertical face of the dock leveler. A mat is removably insertable between the side restraints. The mat is sized to allow left and right edges of the mat to engage the side restraints when inserted therebetween. The mat is foldable to define a vertical portion that covers the vertical face of the dock leveler and a horizontal portion that covers at least part of the horizontal face of the dock leveler. The mat substantially restricts airflow into and out of the loading dock through the gaps when the vertical portion of the mat is inserted between the side restraints such that a bottom edge of the vertical portion of the mat engages the bottom restraint, and the loading dock door closes atop of the horizontal portion of the mat.
Wiper seal pad systems
The present disclosure is directed generally to wiper seal pad systems for use at a loading dock station, which can include an elongate pad having a first side surface configured to face outwardly from the loading dock and contact an exterior surface of a trailer positioned at the loading dock, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface. The systems can further include a mounting member operably coupled to the upper surface, the first side surface, and/or the second side surface, and a hanger bracket having a base, a flange extending upwardly from the base, and a tab extending downwardly from the base. The flange can be configured to operably couple to the head member of the loading dock and the tab can be configured to operably couple to the mounting member, thereby attaching the elongate pad to the head member.
Sealing members for weather barriers
Example lateral sealing members for use with weather barriers are disclosed. An example lateral sealing member includes a lateral sealing member being vertically elongate. The lateral sealing member has a J-shaped cross-section extending between an attached end and a tip of the lateral sealing member. The lateral sealing member has a groove along the tip. The lateral sealing member is movable between an activated configuration and a relaxed configuration. The tip to extend farther into a vehicle pathway when the lateral sealing member is in the relaxed configuration than when the lateral sealing member is in the activated configuration. A tip seal is provided along the tip of the lateral sealing member. The tip seal is to protrude in the groove.
SEALING MEMBERS FOR WEATHER BARRIERS
Example lateral sealing members for use with weather barriers are disclosed. An example lateral sealing member includes a lateral sealing member being vertically elongate. The lateral sealing member has a J-shaped cross-section extending between an attached end and a tip of the lateral sealing member. The lateral sealing member has a groove along the tip. The lateral sealing member is movable between an activated configuration and a relaxed configuration. The tip to extend farther into a vehicle pathway when the lateral sealing member is in the relaxed configuration than when the lateral sealing member is in the activated configuration. A tip seal is provided along the tip of the lateral sealing member. The tip seal is to protrude in the groove.