Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100269427 | HEAD CURTAINS FOR DOCK SHELTERS OR DOCK SEALS - Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example head curtain assembly for a vehicle loading dock includes a retractable curtain stiffened by a resiliently compressible foam panel that is more flexible about a horizontal axis than about a vertical axis. The difference in directional flexibility can be created by sewing the foam panel to a pliable cover using a series of parallel horizontal thread lines. The thread lines create in the foam a series of compressed indentations that run horizontally across the curtain so that the curtain tends to bend more easily along those lines. The relative stiffness in the horizontal direction enables the curtain to exert an appreciable sealing force against two lateral dock seal members, and the vertical flexibility makes the curtain easy to retract to accommodate vehicles of various heights. Touch-and-hold fasteners make many of the individual components of the head curtain readily replaceable. | 10-28-2010 |
20130047526 | HEAD CURTAINS FOR DOCK SHELTERS OR DOCK SEALS - Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example dock apparatus disclosed herein includes a first weather barrier and a second weather barrier. The first and second weather barriers are positioned laterally of a doorway of a loading dock and compressible by a vehicle. The lateral weather barriers include inner surfaces that are to bulge toward each other in response to the vehicle compressing the lateral weather barriers. A head curtain is at least partially positioned between the lateral weather barriers and being engagable by the vehicle, the head curtain having a lateral stiffness such that in response to the vehicle engaging the head curtain and compressing the lateral weather barriers, the head curtain becomes pinched between the bulging inner surfaces to restrict a vertical movement of the curtain. | 02-28-2013 |
20130239494 | HEAD CURTAINS FOR DOCK SHELTERS OR DOCK SEALS - Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example dock apparatus disclosed herein includes a first weather barrier and a second weather barrier. The first and second weather barriers are positioned laterally of a doorway of a loading dock and compressible by a vehicle. The lateral weather barriers include inner surfaces that are to bulge toward each other in response to the vehicle compressing the lateral weather barriers. A head curtain is at least partially positioned between the lateral weather barriers and being engagable by the vehicle, the head curtain having a lateral stiffness such that in response to the vehicle engaging the head curtain and compressing the lateral weather barriers, the head curtain becomes pinched between the bulging inner surfaces to restrict a vertical movement of the curtain. | 09-19-2013 |
20140026359 | TROLLEYS AND HANGERS FOR WASHDOWN CURTAINS - Example trolleys and hangers for washdown curtains are disclosed herein. An example trolley disclosed herein includes features that simplify manufacturing and promote liquid runoff to avoid bacterial growth. Some example trolleys comprise U-bolts, shoulder screws and acorn nuts. In some examples, a frame of the trolley has a nestable V-shape profile that makes the frame readily blanked and formed from sheet metal with minimal waste. In some examples, an example trolley disclosed herein has a pair of rollers that are horizontally offset to a point from which the curtain hangs so that the weight of the curtain tilts the trolley to promote liquid runoff from the trolley's frame. | 01-30-2014 |
20150007511 | WEATHER BARRIER APPARATUSES FOR SEALING OR SHELTERING VEHICLES AT LOADING DOCKS - Example weather barrier apparatuses for sealing or sheltering vehicles at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a side seal member to be vertically elongate and having a front surface facing away from a doorway when the apparatus is in a relaxed configuration, the side seal member extending laterally farther into a cargo passageway when the apparatus is in the relaxed configuration than when in an activated configuration, the front surface engages a vehicle as the vehicle moves between a departed position and a parked position. The apparatus also includes an upper seal member to hang in front of the side seal member when the apparatus is in the relaxed configuration, the upper seal member being horizontally elongate and having a lower corner point proximate the side seal member, the front surface facing away from the lower corner point when the apparatus is in the activated configuration. | 01-08-2015 |
20150007512 | WEATHER BARRIER APPARATUSES FOR SEALING OR SHELTERING VEHICLES AT LOADING DOCKS - Example weather barrier apparatuses for sealing or sheltering vehicles at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a side support member attachable to a wall proximate a doorway. A side seal member extends from the side support member and a rear edge seal is supported by the side seal member. The rear edge seal engages a first rear edge of a vehicle. The rear edge seal has a seal core and a seal cover, where the core has a gap defined by a first portion and a second portion. | 01-08-2015 |
20150007513 | WEATHER BARRIER APPARATUSES FOR SEALING OR SHELTERING VEHICLES AT LOADING DOCKS - Example weather barrier apparatuses for sealing or sheltering vehicles at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first seal to be engaged by a vehicle as the vehicle moves between a departed position and a parked position relative to the first seal. The first seal has a penetration portion movable between a relaxed condition when the vehicle releases the first seal and an activated condition when the vehicle engages the first seal. A second seal is coupled adjacent the first seal. The second seal has an opening to be positioned adjacent the penetration portion of the first seal such that at least a portion of the penetration portion extends across at least a portion of the opening when the first seal is in the relaxed condition, and the opening of the second seal receives at least the penetration portion of the first seal when the first seal is in the activated condition. | 01-08-2015 |
20150059105 | SHIELDS OR SEALS TO SHELTER AN AREA UNDERNEATH A DOCK LEVELER - Example dock levelers with a pivotal deck and a translating lip having weather shields for sheltering an area underneath the deck are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein includes selectively providing a weather shield by performing at least one of joining or separating a main shield segment and a secondary shield segment to provide, respectively, a first weather shield having a first size or a second weather shield having a second size, where the first size being larger than the second size, and where the first weather shield includes the main shield segment and the secondary shield segment, and the second weather shield includes the main shield segment without the secondary shield segment. The method also includes installing at least one of the first weather shield or the second weather shield underneath the deck. | 03-05-2015 |