Systems and methods for modifying loading dock environments to enable trailer swing doors to open inside of a loading dock
AssigneeOutrider Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAndrew F. Smith, Lawrence S. Klein, Joseph A. Welsh, JohnDavid A. Arnott, Chandler R. Deimund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for the modification of loading dock environments are provided that allow trailers and shipping containers on chassis' to park at a loading dock with closed doors and have these doors opened into the loading dock environment and resealed while the trailer remains at the loading dock. A resilient, semi-rigid protective panel can also be removably attached to cover part of the inside face of an opened trailer door, so as to protect it from impact by equipment or goods as they pass into and out of the trailer.
Claims13
A method for modifying a loading dock comprising the steps of:
- removing material from each of opposing edges of a loading dock pit to accommodate locking lugs of trailer swing doors when swung open;
- adapting a leveler deck in the pit to be lowered to a position that enables the locking lugs to pass over the deck while being swung open toward the shelves;
- and
- providing a restraint that maintains the doors in the swung open position, including affixing a protective panel to an inside face of at least of portion of at least one of the doors.
A method for protecting and securing a trailer door in an opened position at a loading dock comprising:
- locating the trailer door in a swung open orientation approximately beyond 90-degrees relative to a closed orientation;
- applying a protective panel constructed from a resilient material so that a first hook thereof, located at an inner edge of the protective panel, engages an inner edge of the trailer door in a location residing in contact with a top end of a first hinge of the trailer door;
- and
- engaging a stationary object with a substantially taut, elongated flexible member that extends from an attachment location on a front edge of the protective panel to the stationary object, and is secured thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.