Segmented dock seals for truck loading docks and associated systems and methods
Assignee4Front Engineered Solutions, Inc.
InventorWilliam C. Eungard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Segmented dock seals for truck loading docks are described herein. An elongate, compressible pad member for use with a loading dock seal is positioned to compliantly conform to an aft end of a trailer positioned proximate to an opening in a building. The pad member includes a body portion having a front side and a back side. The body portion is composed of a compressible foam material. The pad member further includes a plurality of individual fingers projecting away from the front side of the body portion. The individual fingers are integral with the body portion and are spaced apart from each other.
Claims39
An elongate, compressible pad member for use with a loading dock seal, the pad member comprising:
- a body portion having a front side and a back side, wherein the body portion is composed of a compressible foam material;
- and
- a plurality of individual fingers projecting away from the front side of the body portion, wherein the individual fingers are spaced apart from each other and are integral with the body portion.
An apparatus for forming at least a partial seal between an open end of an over road trailer and an opening in a building, the apparatus comprising:
- a first side member configured to extend vertically adjacent to a first side portion of the door opening, wherein the first side member includes a first compressible foam portion covered by a first fabric portion, and wherein
- the first foam portion includes a first base portion and a plurality of first segments spaced apart from each other and projecting away from the first base portion;
- a second side member configured to extend vertically adjacent to a second side portion of the door opening opposite to the first side portion of the door opening, wherein the second side member includes a second compressible foam portion covered by a second fabric portion, and wherein the second foam portion includes a second base portion and a plurality of second segments spaced apart from each other and projecting away from the second base portion;
- and
- a head member configured to extend horizontally adjacent to an upper portion of the door opening between the first and second side members.
A system for sheltering an open end of an over road trailer positioned adjacent to an opening in a building, the system comprising:
- first means for sealing a first side portion of the opening, wherein the first means includes a compressible foam core having a plurality of individual first raised features spaced apart from each other and positioned to contact the trailer;
- second means for sealing a second side portion of the opening, wherein the second means includes a compressible foam core having a plurality of individual second raised features spaced apart from each other and positioned to contact the trailer;
- and
- third means for sealing an upper portion of the opening between the first and second side portions.
An elongate, compressible side pad member for use with a loading dock seal, the side pad member comprising:
- an elongate, generally rigid support member having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side of the support member is attachable to a wall of a building adjacent to an opening in the building;
- and
- a plurality of individual fingers projecting away from the front side of the support member, wherein the individual fingers are spaced apart from each other and are fixedly attached to the support member, and wherein the fingers are composed of a resilient, compressible material.
An apparatus for engaging an open end of an over road trailer positioned adjacent to an opening in a building, the apparatus comprising:
- a first side pad member configured to extend vertically adjacent to a first side portion of the opening in the building, wherein the first side pad member comprises
- an elongate, generally rigid first support member having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side of the first support member is attachable to a wall of the building adjacent to the first side portion of the opening;
- and
- a plurality of discrete first segments fixedly attached to the first support member, wherein the individual first segments are spaced apart from each other and project away from the front side of the first support member, and wherein the first segments are composed of a resilient, compressible foam material;
- a second side pad member configured to extend vertically adjacent to a second side portion of the opening in the building, wherein the second side pad member comprises
- an elongate, generally rigid second support member having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side of the second support member is attachable to the wall of the building adjacent to the second side portion of the opening;
- and
- a plurality of discrete second segments fixedly attached to the second support member, wherein the individual second segments are spaced apart from each other and project away from the front side of the second support member, and wherein the second segments are composed of a resilient, compressible foam material;
- and
- a head pad member configured to extend horizontally adjacent to an upper portion of the door opening between the first and second side pad members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.