Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090165224 | SEAL FOR A DOCK LEVELER LIP HINGE - A dock leveler comprising a vehicle-engaging lip pivotally coupled to the vertically adjustable front edge of a deck includes a seal or series of seal segments that close one or more air gaps that exist in the area where the lip is hinged to the deck. Such gaps are particularly large when the lip hinge comprises a hinge pin that couples a series of lugs extending from underneath the deck to a series of lugs extending from the lip, wherein the lugs are spaced apart along the length of the hinge pin. The seal or seal segments could be above the deck, below the deck, or interposed between the adjoining edges of the deck and the lip. In some cases, the seal is provided by an air curtain or by a tube that is inflatable or hermetically sealed. | 07-02-2009 |
20090293371 | 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. | 12-03-2009 |
20090293382 | SIDE SEAL MEMBERS FOR A DOCK SEAL - Side seal member for a loading dock seal are disclosed. An example truck loading dock seal comprising a resiliently compressible side pad supported by a relatively rigid backer and encased within a pliable cover includes at least one flexible lip protruding from the cover to seal a gap that might exist between the backer and the wall to which the backer is mounted. In some cases, the lip is part of the cover and is located where a rear vertical edge of the side pad meets the wall. The flexibility of the lip enables the lip to sealingly conform to a wall having an irregular surface. For additional sealing, a back sheet of the pliable cover includes a touch-and-hold fastener and/or overlapping layers of material that can provide a compressible seal between the wall and the backer. | 12-03-2009 |
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 |
20120000150 | SIDE SEAL MEMBERS FOR A DOCK SEAL - Side seal member for a loading dock seal are disclosed. An example dock seal includes a backer to couple the dock seal to a wall and a resiliently compressible member supported by the backer. A pliable cover encases the compressible member. The pliable cover has a first end overlapping a second end to define a separable joint that is to be disposed between the backer and the wall when the dock seal is coupled to the wall. | 01-05-2012 |
20120227192 | SEAL FOR DOCK LEVELER LIP HINGE - A dock leveler comprising a vehicle-engaging lip pivotally coupled to the vertically adjustable front edge of a deck includes a seal or series of seal segments that close one or more air gaps that exist in the area where the lip is hinged to the deck. Such gaps are particularly large when the lip hinge comprises a hinge pin that couples a series of lugs extending from underneath the deck to a series of lugs extending from the lip, wherein the lugs are spaced apart along the length of the hinge pin. The seal or seal segments could be above the deck, below the deck, or interposed between the adjoining edges of the deck and the lip. In some cases, the seal is provided by an air curtain or by a tube that is inflatable or hermetically sealed. | 09-13-2012 |
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 |
20130221624 | FACE PANELS FOR LOADING DOCK SEALS AND SHELTERS - Example flexible face panels for dock shelters and dock seals at a loading dock include a tip seal and/or an air-filled blister or elongate “bubble” that sealingly conforms to a rear portion of a vehicle (e.g., truck, trailer, etc.) at the dock. In some examples, an air chamber within the blister is open at one or both ends. This prevents otherwise trapped pressurized air from adversely affecting the blister's compliance or its ability to sealingly conform to irregular surfaces of the vehicle. In some examples, as the vehicle backs into and deflects the face panel, the blister distorts and wraps itself around the vehicle's surface irregularities, such as door hardware and protruding lights. In some examples, the face panel's tip seal includes an overlapping seal flap, wherein a series of slits in the tip seal allow the seal to fit over the vehicle's various surface irregularities. | 08-29-2013 |
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 |
20150052833 | FACE PANELS FOR LOADING DOCK SEALS AND SHELTERS - Example flexible face panels for dock shelters and dock seals at a loading dock are disclosed. An example seal assembly includes a projection panel mountable to extend outward from the wall in proximity with a doorway. A first face panel extends from the projection panel in front of the doorway when the projection panel is mounted to the wall, where the first face panel has a first distal edge spaced apart from the projection panel. A second face panel extends from the projection panel in front of the doorway when the projection panel is mounted to the wall, where the second face panel having a second distal edge spaced apart from the projection panel. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054232 | FACE PANELS FOR LOADING DOCK SEALS AND SHELTERS - Example flexible face panels for dock shelters and dock seals at a loading dock are disclosed herein. An example seal assembly comprises a face panel to be coupled to a projection panel, where the face panel has a front side, a back side and an edge spaced apart from the projection panel. A bulb is positioned adjacent the edge of the face panel. A seal flap is attached to the bulb such that the seal flap projects from an outer surface of the bulb and toward a doorway of a loading dock when the seal assembly is coupled to a wall of the loading dock. | 02-26-2015 |