Bollard With Integrated Control System
AssigneeThe Chamberlain Group, Inc.
InventorsRobert John Olmsted, Casparus Cate, Randall Lee Planck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control panel is configured to operate one or more dock devices in a loading dock environment. The control panel can be supported at least in part by a bollard disposed in the loading dock environment. In one form, the bollard is configured to contain portions of the control panel and dock devices including sensors, lights, and the like. In one form, the control panel and one or more dock devices are mounted to a preexisting bollard to add functionality to the loading dock environment.
Claims27
A control system for a loading dock having a plurality of dock devices, the control system comprising:
- a control panel to control the plurality of dock devices;
- an illumination assembly configured to be positioned on a top of a bollard at the loading dock, the illumination assembly configured to be communicatively coupled to the control panel;
- and
- a mount configured to connect the control panel to the bollard, the mount including an elongate crossbar with a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the first end portion configured to be secured to a side of the bollard and the second end portion configured to be secured to a second structure so that the crossbar extends intermediate the side of the bollard and the second structure for supporting the control panel between the second structure and the side of the bollard.
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A control system for controlling a plurality of dock devices at a loading dock, the control system comprising:
- a mount configured to connect to a bollard;
- a control panel configured to be connected to the mount, the control panel comprising:
- a user interface having at least one user input for controlling the dock devices;
- a dock device interface adapted to receive information from the dock devices and transmit control information to the dock devices;
- and
- a processor unit operatively coupled to the user interface and the dock device interface, the processor unit being operable to control the dock devices via the dock device interface;
- and
- an illumination assembly configured to be positioned on a top of the bollard, the illumination assembly configured to be communicatively coupled to the control panel;
- wherein the mount includes an elongate crossbar having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the first end portion configured to be secured to a side of the bollard and the second end portion configured to be secured to a second structure so that the crossbar extends intermediate the side of the bollard and the second structure for supporting the control panel between the second structure and the side of the bollard.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method of retrofitting a control panel to a bollard of a loading dock, the method comprising:
- mounting an illumination assembly to a top of the bollard at the loading dock;
- securing a first end portion of an elongate crossbar to a side of the bollard;
- securing a second end portion of the elongate crossbar to a second structure;
- connecting a control panel to the elongate crossbar so that the control panel is supported at least in part by the bollard;
- and
- communicatively coupling the control panel to a plurality of dock devices.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.