Dock gate barrier system
AssigneeA-Safe Hq Ltd
InventorsJohn Graham MARTIN, Matthew Lee SCOTHERN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dock gate barrier system includes: a barrier with first and second ends with a central axis extending therebetween, and a coupling defining a passage; and a support member, from which extends a hitch pin, which extends along a longitudinal axis, and can enter and extend into the coupling passage. The hitch pin and the passage are configured such that: in a first configuration, the hitch pin can enter into/withdraw from, the passage; and in a second configuration, in response to a load being applied to the barrier causing it to bend, the hitch pin is engaged with the coupling to thereby lock the coupling relative to the hitch pin and thereby lock the barrier member to the first support member.
Claims23
A dock gate barrier system, the dock gate barrier system comprising:
- a barrier member comprising a first end and a second end with a central axis extending therebetween along a length of the barrier member, the barrier member further comprising a coupling, which defines a coupling passage with an inlet;
- and
- a first support member, from which extends a hitch pin, which extends along a longitudinal axis, the hitch pin configured to enter the coupling passage at the inlet and extend into the coupling passage,
- wherein the hitch pin and the coupling passage are configured such that:
- in a first configuration, the hitch pin is operable to be entered into, and withdrawn from, the coupling passage;
- and
- in a second configuration, in response to a load being applied to the barrier member causing it to bend along its central axis, the hitch pin is engaged with the coupling to thereby lock the coupling relative to the hitch pin and thereby lock the barrier member to the first support member.
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A method of operating a dock gate barrier system, the dock gate barrier system comprising:
- a barrier member comprising a first end and a second end with a central axis extending therebetween along the length of the barrier member;
- a coupling, which defines a coupling passage with an inlet;
- and
- a first support member, from which extends a hitch pin, which extends along a longitudinal axis, the hitch pin being configured to enter the coupling passage at the inlet and extend into the coupling passage, the method comprising:
- in a first mode, the barrier system is in a first configuration, and the hitch pin is selectively operated to enter into and to withdraw from the coupling passage;
- and
- in a second mode, in response to a load being applied to the barrier member causing it to bend along its central axis, the barrier system is in a second configuration, and the hitch pin is engaged with the coupling to thereby lock the coupling relative to the hitch pin and thereby lock the barrier member to the first support member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.