Lead-in bumper for a loading dock
OwnerJoseph J. DiBiase, Paul J. Maly +1inventors
InventorsJoseph J. DiBiase, Paul J. Maly, Walter J. Swietlik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bumper system for a loading dock includes an engagement member and a guide member mounted to the face of the dock. The guide member helps guide a vehicle toward the engagement member, which receives the primary impact of the vehicle backing into the dock. If the vehicle is excessively off to one side, the guide member of some embodiments may affect the operation of a dock leveler, vehicle restraint, dock seals, or a door associated with the loading dock. In some embodiments when the vehicle is off to one side the guide member may inhibit the vehicle from reaching the engagement member.
Claims47
A bumper for engaging at least one of a rear surface and a side surface of a vehicle that is adjacent a dock face of a loading dock, the bumper comprising:
- an engagement member attachable to the loading dock and being adapted to engage the rear surface of the vehicle;
- and
- a guide member adjacent the engagement member and being adapted to help guide the vehicle toward the engagement member.
A bumper for engaging at least a rear surface of a vehicle that is adjacent a dock face of a loading dock, the bumper comprising:
- an engagement member adapted to be mounted to the dock face and having a generally L-shape, wherein a first leg of the L-shape is adapted to engage the rear surface of the vehicle when the vehicle is at a certain proper position relative to the bumper, and wherein a second leg of the L-shape is adapted to engage the rear surface of the vehicle when the vehicle is at a certain improper position relative the bumper.
The bumper of claimn 20, wherein the second leg protrudes further from the dock face than does the first leg.
A bumper system for engaging a rear surface of a vehicle that is adjacent a dock face of a loading dock, the bumper system comprising:
- an engagement member attachable to the loading dock and being adapted to engage the rear surface of the vehicle when the vehicle is at a predetermined proper position relative to the bumper system;
- and
- a guide member adjacent the engagement member and being adapted to engage the rear surface of the vehicle when the vehicle is at a predetermined improper position relative to the bumper system, wherein the guide member is adapted to protrude further away from dock face than what the engagement member is adapted to protrude.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.