U.S. patent number RE32,968 [Application Number 07/131,395] was granted by the patent office on 1989-06-27 for vehicle restraint.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Abon Corporation. Invention is credited to Norbert Hahn.
United States Patent |
RE32,968 |
Hahn |
June 27, 1989 |
Vehicle restraint
Abstract
A vehicle restraint is provided for securing a parked vehicle
against a loading dock during loading or unloading of the vehicle.
The restraint includes a carriage member which is mounted on a dock
wall for vertical movement and is biased to assume a predetermined
elevated rest position relative to the roadway on which the vehicle
is parked. The carriage member moves vertically downwardly from the
rest position upon an external force of predetermined magnitude
being exerted on an exposed cam surface of the carriage member. An
attaching member is adjustably mounted on the carriage member for
movement relative thereto between a vehicle locking mode and a
vehicle release mode. Adjustably mounted on a lower portion of the
carriage member is a toe-like member which normally assumes a
pendent position projecting from the carriage member. The toe-like
member has an exposed surface portion in an aligned coplanar
relation with the carriage member cam surface and forms an
extension thereof when the toe-like member assumes its pendent
position. The toe-like member is moveable from its normal pendent
position .[.by a reactive force exerted thereon by the roadway.].
when the carriage member moves vertically downwardly beyond a
predetermined distance from its rest position.
Inventors: |
Hahn; Norbert (South Milwaukee,
WI) |
Assignee: |
Abon Corporation (Naples,
FL)
|
Family
ID: |
26829426 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/131,395 |
Filed: |
December 10, 1987 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
629685 |
Jul 11, 1984 |
04560315 |
Dec 24, 1985 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
414/401;
14/71.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
69/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
69/00 (20060101); B65G 069/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;414/401,396,584
;14/71.1,69.5,71.3 ;410/58 ;104/29,30 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Werner; Frank E.
Assistant Examiner: Bucci; David A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Neuman, Williams Anderson &
Olson
Claims
I claim:
1. In a vehicle restraint for securing a vehicle parked on a
roadway to an adjacent wall of .Iadd.a .Iaddend.loading dock
wherein the restraint has a carriage member mounted for vertical
movement on the dock wall and being biased to assume a
predetermined elevated rest position relative to the roadway, the
carriage member being moveable vertically downwardly from the rest
position upon an external force of a predetermined magnitude being
exerted on an exposed cam surface of the carriage member, and an
attaching member mounted on the carriage member for movement
relative thereto between a vehicle locking mode and a vehicle
release mode; the improvement comprising means adjustably mounted
on said carriage member and normally assuming a pendent relative
position wherein an exposed portion thereof forms an extension of
the carriage member cam surface; said means being moveable
independently of said carriage member from the normal pendent
position by a reactive force exerted thereon by a portion of the
roadway upon the carriage member being moveable vertically
downwardly beyond a predetermined distance from the rest
position.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the adjustably mounted means
includes a toe-like member mounted on said carriage member to
normally assume an outwardly and downwardly extending pendent
position relative to a lower portion of said carriage member.
3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the toe-like member is
pivotally mounted on the carriage member.
4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the toe-like member is
provided with a peripheral surface portion which is aligned with
the carriage member cam surface, when said toe-like member assumes
the normal outwardly and downwardly extending pendent position.
5. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the toe-like member is
slidably mounted on a lower portion of the carriage member for
movement between a fully extended position and a fully retracted
position; when in a fully extended position, said toe-like member
projecting downwardly and outwardly from the carriage member
whereby a peripheral portion of the toe-like member is in
substantially coplanar relation with the cam surface of said
carriage member.
6. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the toe-like member is
moveable independently of the attaching member.
7. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the force of gravity causes
the toe-like member to normally assume the pendent position
relative to the lower portion of the carriage member.
8. The improvement of claim 3 including stop means adapted to coact
with the carriage member and the toe-like member to limit pivotal
movement of the latter in one direction whereby same assumes a
predetermined normal pendent position.
9. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the toe-like member and the
carriage member are interconnected by an assembly having an
elongated slot formed on one of the members and complemental pin
means on the other member being sized relative to said slot whereby
said pin means extends into the slot and is moveable only
longitudinally thereof as said toe-like member moves between said
fully extended and fully retracted positions. .Iadd.
10. In a vehicle restraint for securing a vehicle parked on a
roadway to an adjacent wall of a loading dock wherein the restraint
has a carriage member mounted for vertical movement on the dock
wall and biased to assume a predetermined elevated rest position
relative to the roadway, the carriage member being movable
vertically downwardly from the rest position upon an external force
of a predetermined magnitude being exerted on an exposed cam
surface of the carriage member, and an attaching means mounted on
the carriage member for movement relative thereto between a vehicle
locking mode and a vehicle release mode;, the improvement
comprising toe means adjustably mounted on said carriage member and
normally assuming a pendent relative position extending below the
carriage member whereby an exposed portion thereof forms an
extension of the carriage member cam surface, said toe means being
movable relative to said carriage member from the normal pendent
position upon the carriage member being moved vertically downward
below a predetermined spaced position relative to the roadway.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the
adjustably mounted toe means includes a toe-like member mounted on
said carriage member to normally assume an outwardly and downwardly
extending pendent position relative to a lower portion of said
carriage member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The improvement of claim 11
wherein the toe-like member is pivotally mounted on the carriage
member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the
toe-like member is provided with a peripheral surface portion which
is aligned with the carriage member cam surface, when said toe-like
member assumes the normal outwardly and downwardly extending
pendent position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The improvement of claim 11
wherein the toe-like member is slidably mounted on a lower portion
of the carriage member for movement between a fully extended
position and a fully retracted position; when in a fully extended
position, said toe-like member projecting downwardly and outwardly
from the carriage member whereby a peripheral portion of the
toe-like member is in substantially coplanar relation with the cam
surface of said carriage member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The
improvement of claim 11 wherein the toe-like member is movable
independently of the attaching member. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The
improvement of claim 11 wherein the force of gravity causes the
toe-like member to normally assume the pendent position relative to
the lower portion of the carriage member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The
improvement of claim 12 including stop means adapted to coact with
the carriage member and the toe-like member to limit pivotal
movement of the latter in one direction whereby the toe-like member
assumes the predetermined normal pendent position. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The improvement of claim 14 wherein the toe-like member
and the carriage member are interconnected by an assembly having an
elongated slot formed on one of the members and complemental pin
means on the other member being sized relative to said slot whereby
said pin means extends into the slot and is moveable only
longitudinally thereof as said toe-like member moves between
said fully extended and fully retracted positions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. In a vehicle restraint system, the combination
comprising: a roadway for parked vehicles, a loading dock including
a loading surface above said roadway and an upright wall connecting
the roadway and the loading surface, and a vehicle restraint
mounted on said upright wall, said restraint including a carriage
member mounted for vertical movement on the upright wall, said
carriage member being biased to assume a predetermined elevated
rest position relative to the roadway, the carriage member having
an exposed cam surface and being movable vertically downwardly from
the rest position upon an external force of a predetermined
magnitude being exerted on said cam surface, an attaching means
mounted on the carriage member for movement relative thereto and
cooperating therewith to establish a vehicle locking mode and a
vehicle release mode, and toe means adjustably mounted on said
carriage member and normally assuming a pendent position wherein an
exposed portion thereof forms an extension of the carriage member
cam surface, said toe means being movable relative to said carriage
member from the normal pendent position upon the carriage member
being moved vertically downward below a predetermined spaced
position relative to the roadway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The
improvement of claim 19 wherein the adjustably mounted toe means
includes a toe-like member mounted on said carriage member to
normally assume an outwardly and downwardly extending pendent
position relative to a lower portion of said carriage member.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The improvement of claim 20 wherein the force
of gravity causes the toe-like member to normally assume the
pendent position relative to the lower portion of the carriage
member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. In a vehicle restraint for securing a
vehicle on a roadway to an adjacent wall of a loading dock wherein
the restraint has a carriage member mounted for vertical movement
on the dock wall and biased to assume a predetermined elevated rest
position relative to the roadway, the carriage member being movable
vertically downwardly from the rest position upon an external force
of a predetermined magnitude being exerted on an exposed cam
surface of the carriage member, and an attaching means mounted on
the carriage member for movement relative thereto and cooperating
therewith to define a vehicle locking mode and a vehicle release
mode; the improvement comprising toe means adjustably mounted on
said carriage member and normally assuming a pendent relative
position extending below the carriage member whereby an exposed
portion thereof forms an extension of the carriage member cam
surface, stop means maintaining said toe means in said pendent
position to form said extension, said toe means being movable
relative to said carriage member from the normal pendent position
to a position spaced from said stop means upon the carriage member
being moved vertically downward below a predetermined spaced
position relative to the roadway. .Iaddend.
.Iadd. In a vehicle restraint for securing a vehicle parked on a
roadway to an adjacent wall of a loading dock wherein the restraint
has a carriage member mounted for vertical movement on the dock
wall and biased to assume a predetermined elevated rest position
relative to the roadway, the carriage member being movable
vertically downwardly from the rest position upon an external force
of a predetermined magnitude being exerted on an exposed cam
surface of the carriage member, and an attaching member mounted on
the carriage member for movement relative thereto between a vehicle
locking mode and a vehicle release mode; the improvement comprising
toe means on said carriage member, pivot means supporting said toe
means on said carriage member, stop means maintaining said toe
means in a pendent position to form a downward extension of said
cam surface, said toe means being movable relative to said carriage
member from the normal pendent position to a position spaced from
said stop means upon the carriage member being moved vertically
downward below a predetermined spaced position relative to the
roadway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. In a vehicle restraint for securing a
vehicle parked on a roadway to an adjacent wall of a loading dock
wherein the restraint has a carriage member mounted for vertical
movement on the dock wall and biased to assume a predetermined
elevated rest position relative to the roadway, the carriage member
being movable vertically downwardly from the rest position upon an
external force of a predetermined magnitude being exerted on an
exposed cam surface of the carriage member, and an attaching member
mounted on the carriage member for movement relative thereto
between a vehicle locking mode and a vehicle release mode; the
improvement comprising toe means on said carriage member, pivot
means supporting said toe means on said carriage member, stop means
maintaining ssid toe means in a pendent position to form a downward
extension of said cam surface, said toe means being rotatable about
said pivot means relative to said carriage member from said pendent
position pdetermined by said stop means to an elevated position in
response to movement of said carriage member downwardly below a
predetermined spaced position relative to the roadway. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Proper securing of a parked vehicle to a loading dock during a
loading or unloading operation is an essential safety precaution.
Various restraints have heretofore been provided to accomplish the
desired result by having a portion thereof engaging an ICC bar
depending from the rear of the parked vehicle. By reason of the
condition of the ICC bar and/or the weight of the load being
carried by the vehicle, the height of the ICC bar relative to the
roadway may vary 15 or more inches.
Thus, where the restraint incorporates a vertically adjustable
carriage member, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,259,
which is adapted to be engaged by the ICC bar of the vehicle while
the latter is backing into position, the carriage member will
automatically move downwardly from its upwardly biased rest
position the required amount so that the attaching member (hook)
mounted on the carriage member can lockingly engage the ICC bar.
Heretofore, where the height of the ICC bar was less than 15 inches
above the roadway, difficulty was experienced in some instances in
that the ICC bar did not engage the cam surface of the carriage
member, and thus, the attaching member was not able to engage the
ICC bar. In other instances where the carriage member was forced to
move downwardly to the fullest extent by the ICC bar of the backing
vehicle the bar was forced to move upwardly over the cam surface of
the carriage member causing the restraint, the dock wall to which
it is attached, as well as the vehicle ICC bar to be subjected to
damaging and/or severe stress and strain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved
vehicle restraint which is capable of accommodating ICC bars which
vary in height over a range that is greater than the normal 15
inches.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved
vehicle restraint which has a float of more than 15 inches without
sacrificing the stability and structural integrity of the
restraint.
It is a still further object to provide an improved vehicle
restraint which is easy to install and maintain, and does not cause
defacement of or damage to the dock wall, roadway and ICC bar.
Further and additional objects will appear from the description,
accompanying drawings and appended claims.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an improved
restraint is provided for securing a parked vehicle against the
front wall of a conventional loading dock during loading and
unloading of the vehicle. The restraint includes a carriage member
which is mounted on the dock front wall for vertical movement and
is biased to assume a predetermined elevated rest position with
respect to the roadway on which the vehicle is parked. Mounted on
the carriage member for relative movement between a vehicle locking
mode and a vehicle release mode is an attaching member. The
carriage member is adapted to move downwardly from its elevated
rest position upon an exposed cam surface of the carriage member
being engaged by the ICC bar of the vehicle as the latter is being
backed into a parked position. Adjustably mounted on the lower
portion of the carriage member is a toe-like member which is
adapted to normally assume a pendent position wherein it projects
outwardly and downwardly from the carriage member. When in the
normal pendent position, a peripheral portion of the toe-like
member is aligned with and in coplanar relation with the carriage
member cam surface; thus, forming an extension thereof. The
toe-like member is movable independently of the carriage member
from the normal pendent position by a reactive force exerted
thereon by the roadway when the carriage member is movable
downwardly beyond a predetermined distance from the normal rest
position.
DESCRIPTION
For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should
be made to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top perspective view of one embodiment of
the improved vehicle restraint shown mounted on a dock front wall
and with the attaching member thereof in the vehicle locking
mode.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the restraint of
FIG. 1 but showing the carriage member thereof in a vertically
depressed position whereby the toe-like member is engaging and
being deflected upwardly by the roadway from its normal pendent
position; the attaching member is shown in full lines in locking
engagement with the ICC bar of a parked vehicle; the attaching
member in a vehicle release mode is shown in phantom lines.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the restraint of
FIG. 1 and showing only the lower portion of the carriage member
and the toe-like member disposed in a normal pendent position.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a second
embodiment of the improved vehicle restraint with the toe-like
member thereof shown in a normal pendent position, the toe-like
member in a fully retracted position is shown in phantom lines.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a third
embodiment of the improved vehicle restraint; the toe-like member
in a fully retracted position is shown in phantom lines.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 a preferred embodiment of an
improved vehicle restraint 10 is shown mounted on the front wall W
of a conventional loading dock D. The restraint may be used in
combination with a dock leveler, not shown, often times
incorporated in the loading dock structure.
The restraint 10 includes a mounting assembly 11 which is fixedly
secured to wall W by a plurality of anchoring bolts or the like,
not shown. The assembly 11 is preferably elevated at or about 17
inches above the roadway R which supports the parked vehicle, not
shown. The elevation of the assembly 11 will depend upon the height
range of the ICC bars B, see FIG. 2, to be accommodated by the
restraint. The maximum height of such bars by government regulation
should not exceed 30 inches. The minimum height of the bar will
vary (i.e., 13"-16") and will depend upon the condition or state of
repair of the bar itself, the styling of the vehicle (i.e., low
slung bed) and/or the weight of the load carried by the
vehicle.
Mounted for vertical adjustment on the assembly 11 is a carriage
member 12. The member 12 is biased by springs or the like, not
shown, to normally assume a maximum elevated rest position, as
shown in FIG. 1 wherein the underside 12a of the carriage member is
disposed at approximately 17 inches above the roadway R. The
carriage member 12, as illustrated has a construction similar to
that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,259 and includes a pair of
plate members 13 arranged in spaced, parallel relation and
projecting transversely outwardly from the mounting assembly 11.
The outer edges 13a of the plate members 13 are inclined upwardly
and inwardly towards the dock wall W and define an exposed cam
surface, the purpose of which will be described more fully
hereinafter. The upper extremity of the cam surface terminates in
substantially horizontally extendin upper edges 13b of the plate
members. The plate members are maintained in space parallel
relation by a spacer piece 14 which spans the distance between and
is secured to the corresponding lower portions of the outer edges
13a of the plate members.
Mounted on the carriage member and moveable therewith, as well as
moveable independently thereof is an attaching member 15, sometimes
referred to as a hook. The member 15 is disposed between the plate
members 13, see FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment the attaching
member has a substantially J-shape with the end of the long leg 15a
thereof pivotally connected by a pivot pin 16 to the plate members,
see FIG. 2. The short leg 15b of the attaching member extends
transversely from the outer end of the leg 15a so that when the
member 15 is in a vehicle locking mode I, FIG. 2, the ICC bar B
will be hooked--that is to say, the bar is captured between the
short leg 15b and the mounting assembly 11. Normally, the bar B
will rest upon the upper edges 13b of the plate members 13, when it
is in locking relation with the attaching member 15.
When the attaching member 15 is in the vehicle release mode II
(shown in phantom lines, FIG. 2) it is concealed within the
carriage member so that the cam surface will not be obstructed by
any portion of the attaching member.
Mounted on one side of the carriage member 12 and moveable
therewith as a unit is a housing H in which is disposed a drive
motor and gear box, not shown, for moving the attaching member 15
from the release mode II to the lock mode I. A control panel, not
shown, for controlling actuation of the motor is normally remotely
located relative to the restraint and is under the supervision of
loading dock personnel thus, providing added safety for the
personnel in that the parked vehicle is locked in place before
commencing a loading or unloading operation.
Mounted on the lower portion of the carriage member is an
adjustable toe-like member 17 which is biased preferably by the
force of gravity to assume a normal pendent position P wherein the
member 17 projects outwardly and downwardly from the outer lower
corner of the carriage member, see FIG. 1. Member 17 as seen in
FIGS. 1-3 includes a pair of elongated side rails or arms 17a which
are disposed in spaced parallel relation. The upper portions of the
side rails 17a overlie and engage the exterior surface of the plate
members 13 and are pivotally connected thereto by a common,
transversely extending pivot pin 18, see FIG. 3. The lower portions
of the side rails 17a project beyond the underside 12a of the
carriage member and are interconnected by a spacer piece 17b.
Mounted on the exterior surface of each plate member 13 is a stop
piece 20. Each piece is disposed in the vicinity of, but spaced
from the pivot pin 18 and is adapted to abut the backside 17c of
the corresponding side rail 17a and prevent further
counter-clockwise movement of the toe-like member 17 once it has
assumed its normal pendent position P. When the backsides of the
side rails are abutting the stop pieces 20, the front side 17d of
each side rail is in aligned coplanar relation with the cam surface
formed by the edges 13a of the plate members and form an extension
thereof. The distance the lower portions of the side rails project
from the underside of the carriage member will depend upon the
least elevated ICC bar B, the restraint 10 is intended to engage
when the carriage member is disposed in the normal elevated rest
position. When the carriage member is in the normal rest position
and the toe-like member 17 is in the normal pendent position, the
ICC bar B of the backing vehicle will initially contact either the
front side 17d of the member 17 or the inclined edges 13a of the
plate member 13 and as the vehicle continues its backward movement,
the force exerted by the bar on the carriage member will overcome
the upward bias force exerted on the carriage member 12 and cause
the latter to automatically move downwardly. As the carriage member
moves downwardly the front sides 17d and the cam surface will slide
past the bar until the latter engages the top edges 13b of the
plate members 13. When the bar reaches such a position relative to
the carriage member, the attaching member 15 is activated to its
locking mode I by dock personnel manually starting the drive motor
from the control panel. Once the member 15 is in the locking mode
and the bar B is captured thereby, a visual or audible signal, not
shown, may be energized at the control panel and the dock wall W
indicating to both the dock personnel and the vehicle driver that a
safe condition exists for loading or unloading of the vehicle.
As the .[.carraige.]. .Iadd.carriage .Iaddend.member 12 moves
downwardly a predetermined distance (e.g., 16") from its normal
rest position due to the external force applied thereto by bar B,
the ends 17e of the side rails 17a will contact the roadway R and a
reactive force will be exerted by the latter causing the toe-like
member 17 to pivot or be deflected in a clockwise direction about
pivot pin 18 and thus, avoid any serious stress or strain
developing within the restraint itself, the ICC bar, the dock front
wall, or the roadway R.
FIG. 4 illustrates a second version 117 of the toe-like member
which is mounted on the lower portions of the plate members 13.
Instead of member 117 being pivotally connected to the carriage
member, it is mounted for a substantially telescoping movement
between a fully extended position (shown in full lines in FIG. 4)
and a fully retracted position (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4).
Member 117 has a construction similar to that of member 17, except
that each side rail 117a of member 117 is provided with an
elongated longitudinally extending slot S; each slot is of like
configuration. Disposed within each slot and sized so as to permit
each side rail to move only in a direction longitudinally of the
slot, is a pair of pintles X which are affixed to and project
outwardly from the exterior surface of the adjacent plate member
13. In lieu of a pair of pintles, a single lug, not shown, having
elongated facetted side edges in sliding contact with the elongated
sides of the slot may be utilized. The free lower ends of the side
rails 117a are interconnected by a transversely extending spacer
117b. A stop piece 20 mounted on the plate member exterior surface
is in contact with the backside 117c of the side rail 117a and
resists twisting movement of the toe-like member when it is in
contact with an ICC bar, or when it is moving to a retracted
position due to the reactive force of the roadway exerted on the
end 117e of the side rail.
A third version 217 of the toe-like member is shown in FIG. 5 and
is similar to member 117 of FIG. 4, except that the elongated slots
S' are formed in the plate members 13 and the pairs of pintles X'
are provided on the interior surfaces of the side rails 217a.
In both versions of the toe-like member 117 and 217, the front
edges 117d and 217d of the side rails remain in coplanar relation
at all times with the cam surface-forming edges 13a of the plate
members 13.
Thus, it will be seen that an improved vehicle restraint has been
disclosed which is capable in a simple, yet effective manner, of
accommodating a veriety of ICC bars having a wider than normal
range of height variations and at the same time avoids serious
stresses and strains developing within the restraint, the ICC bar,
the dock front wall and the roadway.
* * * * *