Abstract
An apparatus for use with a frame protection system comprises a coupler including a first inner passage having a first longitudinal axis and a second inner passage having a second longitudinal axis transverse to the first longitudinal axis; and a shock absorber sized and configured to be received within the first inner passage and the second inner passage of the coupler.
Claims
1. An apparatus for use with a frame protection system, the apparatus comprising: a coupler including a first inner passage having a first longitudinal axis and a second inner passage having a second longitudinal axis transverse to the first longitudinal axis; and a shock absorber sized and configured to be received within the first inner passage and the second inner passage of the coupler.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first inner passage has a first dimension and the shock absorber includes a first protuberance and a second protuberance, the first protuberance and the second protuberance each having a second dimension commensurate with the first dimension.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first protuberance and the second protuberance are arcuate in shape, the first dimension is a first diameter and the second dimension is a second diameter.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first protuberance and the second protuberance are diametrically opposed.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a third protuberance and a fourth protuberance, diametrically opposed from the third protuberance, the third protuberance and fourth protuberance angularly spaced by 90 degrees, respectively.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber includes a first shock absorbing member sized and configured to be received within the first inner passage and a second shock absorbing member sized and configured to be received within the second inner passage.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first inner passage and the second inner passage are defined by a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, respectively.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first protuberance and the second protuberance are angularly spaced by a first inner passage and the second inner passage are defined by a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section, respectively, the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section together forming an L-shaped coupler.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a door frame protection system for use in warehouse setting.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door frame protection system of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of a coupler for use in the door frame protection system of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 4 is an end view of the coupler of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 5 is cross-sectional side view of a portion of the door frame protection system including the coupler of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a door frame protection system 10 is positioned at the entrance of a warehouse opening 100, which may include a door (e.g., roll-up door) 102. The warehouse opening 100 is generally located at an area of the warehouse where goods are loaded and unloaded. For example, the warehouse opening 100 allows for trucks to back up to the opening where a forklift or pallet truck (neither shown) is used to load or unload goods into and out of the truck through the warehouse opening 100.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 2, door frame protection system 10 includes two cylindrical upright bars 12, each of which is anchored into the ground at an anchor point 104. Details the way in which cylindrical upright bars 12 are anchored to the ground and floor can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,163, which is incorporated herein by reference. Top ends 13 of each of the upright bars 12 are connected by a cylindrical overhead crossbar 14 using couplers 20. Each of the cylindrical upright bars 12 includes an upper section 12a positioned within a lower section 12b in telescoping fashion to allow for the adjusting of the height of crossbar 14 relative to a mounting base 12c.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, coupler 20 is T-shaped in that a first cylindrical tube 22 is transverse to a second cylindrical tube 24. Each of first cylindrical tube 22 and second cylindrical tube 24 includes cylindrical inner passages, 22a, 24a, respectively for receiving shock absorbers 26. Inner passages 22a, 24a of first cylindrical tube 22 and second cylindrical tube 24 have inner diameters commensurate with outer diameters of the shock absorbers such that there is a relatively tight fit therebetween. Moreover, first cylindrical tube 22 and second cylindrical tube 24 have sufficient lengths for allowing upper sections 12a of upright bars 12 as well as end portions of overhead crossbar 14 to move therein. This allows for using upright bars and overhead crossbars with imprecise lengths.
[0021] In some examples, the cylindrical upright bars 12 and cylindrical overhead crossbar 14 are formed of steel, and coupler 20 is made of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, shock absorbers 26 include two pairs of arcuate protuberances 28a,28b, 28c, 28d. Arcuate protuberances 28a and 28c are diametrically opposed from each other. Arcuate protuberances 28b, 28d are also diametrically opposed from each other. The outer diameters of arcuate protuberances 28a,28b, 28c, 28d are slightly less than the inner diameters of first cylindrical tube 22 and second cylindrical tube 24 such that shock absorbers 26 can be positioned within first and second cylindrical tubes 22, 24 with a friction fit. Between each of arcuate protuberances 28a,28b, 28c, 28d are arcuate gaps 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. Each of arcuate gaps have outer diameters which are less than the outer diameters of arcuate protuberances 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d. With this arrangement, shock absorbers 26 act as dampeners to absorb forces to the door frame protection system due to any impact to upright bars 12, overhead crossbar 14, or coupler 20 itself. For example, if a forklift were to strike one or more of the upright bars 12 or overhead crossbar 14, that force is propagated to absorbers 26 positioned within couplers 20 where the absorbers act as spring-like resilient members. In some embodiments, shock absorbers 26 are formed of ethylene propylene diene monomer (M-class) rubber (i.e., EDPM). In other embodiments, the shock absorbers may be made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, and again to FIG. 3, shock absorbers 26 are held within couplers 20 with clevis pins 32, which are positioned within holes 34 of the first and second cylindrical tubes 22, 24 as well as holes 36 of the arcuate protuberances 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d. In positioning shock absorbers 26 within the first and second cylindrical tubes 22, 24, holes 34 and holes 36 are first aligned. The size of holes 36 are enlarged, relative to the size of the clevis pins 32, to allow freedom to laterally adjust absorbers 26 with their respective cylindrical tubes. On the other hand, holes 34 are sized more closely to the size of clevis pins 32 so as to have a friction fit and secure the absorbers within the cylindrical tubes.
ALTERNATIVES
[0024] In some examples, the cylindrical upright bars 12, cylindrical overhead crossbar 14, and coupler 20 are made from an HDPE material having a high visibility color (e.g. yellow). In some examples, the cylindrical upright bars 12, cylindrical overhead crossbar 14, and coupler 20 are colored with an alternating pattern of black and a high visibility color (e.g., horizontally striped).
[0025] In some examples where the upright bars and the overhead crossbar are made of metal (e.g., steel), the upright bars and the overhead crossbar are painted with a high visibility paint color (e.g., yellow). In other examples, the upright bars and the overhead crossbar may be made from an HDPE material having a high visibility color.
[0026] In some examples, the bolts used to anchor the upright bars to the ground are secured into the ground using an epoxy resin anchor foundation.
[0027] It is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
