# US 12,005,874 B2 · Wheel chock with locking mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,874 B2 - Document ID: US12005874B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/145,420 - Filed: 2022-12-22 - Published: 2023-04-27 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-14 - Assignees: 9172-9863 Quebec Inc. - Applicants: 9172-9863 Quebec Inc. - Inventors: Gregory Palmer; Jonathan Dube; Daniel Grothe; Gaetan Jette; Marc-Andre Boivin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005874B2 ## CPC - B60T 3/00: Portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles, e.g. chocks - B65G 69/005: {the means engaging at least one wheel of the vehicle} - B60P 3/077: Wheel cradles, chocks, or wells - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) ## Abstract The wheel chock includes a locking mechanism that can be held in a locked state when properly positioned on a base plate. The locking mechanism includes a positioning unit having at least one tooth provided to engage a side of a corresponding one of the blocking elements in a latched engagement when the positioning unit is in the fully locked position. The locking mechanism also includes an actuating device to move the positioning unit from the unlocked position towards the fully locked position, and a holding device to selectively hold the positioning unit in the fully locked position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wheel chock for use over a ground-anchored base plate in a restraint system to prevent a parked vehicle from moving away in an unauthorized or accidental manner in a departure direction when the wheel chock is in a tire-blocking position on the base plate, the base plate having a plurality of spaced apart blocking elements and each blocking element having opposite first and second sides, the wheel chock having a fire-facing side to be positioned directly in front of a tire of a wheel of the parked vehicle, the wheel chock including: a main body; a plurality of spaced apart first teeth provided underneath the wheel chock to engage the first side of at least one of the blocking elements of the base plate in a latched engagement when the wheel chock is in the tire-blocking position on the base plate; and a locking mechanism including: a positioning unit located inside the main body and movable between an unlocked position and a fully locked position, the positioning unit having at least one second tooth provided underneath to engage the second side of a corresponding one of the blocking elements in a latched engagement when the positioning unit is in the fully locked position, the at least one second tooth being out of engagement with the blocking elements when the positioning unit is in the unlocked position; an actuating device operatively connected to the positioning unit to move the positioning unit from the unlocked position towards the fully locked position; a holding device located inside the main body to selectively hold the positioning unit in the fully locked position; wherein the positioning unit includes a spring biased linkage interposed between a first portion of the positioning unit engaged by the actuating device and a second portion of the positioning unit where the at least one second tooth is provided; and wherein the holding device maintains the positioning unit in the fully locked position only when the at least one second tooth unobstructedly engages the second side of the corresponding blocking element while the wheel chock is in the tire-blocking position on the base plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring-biased linkage includes a cylindrical polymeric spring member to mitigate damages to the locking mechanism in case of an overloading force applied on the wheel chock in a direction opposite to the departure direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding device includes an electromagnet system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding device includes a locking pin system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding device includes a pivoting latch system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding device includes a locking arrangement and the positioning unit includes a main arm pivotally mounted around a transversal pivot axis, the main arm transmitting a motion received from the actuating device to other parts of the positioning unit, the main arm having a free end to which a movable portion of the locking arrangement is attached, the movable portion registering with a fixed portion of the locking arrangement only when the positioning unit reaches the fully locked position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The wheel chock as defined in claim 6, wherein the actuating device includes a manually operated lever pivotally mounted on a side of the main body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The wheel chock as defined in claim 7, wherein the lever transmits a motion to the positioning unit through a transversally disposed peg engaging the main arm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The wheel chock as defined in claim 6, wherein the locking arrangement includes an electromagnet system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The wheel chock as defined in claim 6, wherein the locking arrangement includes a locking pin system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The wheel chock as defined in claim 6, wherein the locking arrangement includes a pivoting latch system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a biasing device to move the positioning unit towards the unlocked position when the actuating device and the holding device are released. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wheel chock as defined in claim 12, wherein the biasing device includes at least one return spring extending between the positioning unit and a fixed location inside the main body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second tooth is more than one in number and forms a set of longitudinally spaced apart and substantially downwardly projecting second teeth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the positioning unit includes a double row of second teeth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The wheel chock as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuating device includes a powered actuator located on the wheel chock. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The wheel chock as defined in claim 16, wherein the powered actuator is one among a group consisting of a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator and an electric actuator.