# US 5,346,353 A · Vehicle restraint

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- Number: US 5,346,353 A
- Document ID: US5346353A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/003,467
- Filed: 1993-01-12
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1990-01-18
- Assignees: The Serco Corporation
- Inventors: James C. Alexander
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346353A

## CPC

- B65G 69/003: {Restraining movement of a vehicle at a loading station using means not being part of the vehicle}
- 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)

## Abstract

A vehicle restraint employs a 4 bar linkage to lift a restraining member to a position that engages a vehicle thus restraining it at a loading dock. The linkage is upwardly biased to hold the unit in an engaging position and may be retracted by using any of a number of mechanical techniques such as hydraulic electric or pneumatic power. The 4 bar linkage transfers all loading on the unit from the ICC to the frame thus isolating any driven members from overloads. A secondary hook mounted to the 4 bar linkage is pivotally spring loaded to limit vehicle travel away from the dock and to extend the capture range of the device in the case of ICC's bars that are damaged or mounted at non-standard positions at the rear of the vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for restraining a vehicle to prevent movement away from a loading dock comprising;
a vertically moving member carrying a hook member movable in a vertical direction without any substantial horizontal or rotational component to such movement,
means to raise said vertically moving member from a lower inoperative position where said vehicle can move toward or away from the loading dock to an upper operative position where said vehicle is restrained from movement away from said loading dock,
said hook member having multiple hook positions defined by first and second wall portions spaced from each other at different distances from said loading dock when said vertically moving member is in said upper operative position, said hook member comprising a first hook component having said first wall portion and a second hook component having said second wall portion, said second hook component movable relative to said first hook component to expose said first hook component for engagement with said vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing secured in a stationary manner relative to said loading dock to house said vertically moving member and said hook member when in said lowered inoperative position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein said housing comprises a pivotally mounted cover plate, said cover plate positioned horizontal over said device when said device is in said inoperative position and pivoting upward as said vertically moving member moves upward to said operative position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said wall portions of said hook member are parallel separated substantially vertical walls.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said means to raise comprises a cylinder having an extensible member to move said hook member into engagement with said vehicle at said operative position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein said cylinder is filled with a fluid to provide elasticity whereby said hook member may follow vertical movements of said vehicle after said hook member has been placed in said operative position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing for said vertically moving member, said housing including a top plate which is oriented horizontally when said vertically moving member is in the inoperative position to provide a cover for said housing and said top plate pivoting upward as said vertically moving member moves upward toward said operative position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said hook member further comprises a first substantially horizontal section positioned inward toward said loading dock, said first wall portion being substantially upright and abutting said first substantially horizontal section and a second substantially horizontal section positioned outward from said first wall portion and abutting said second wall portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein said first and second substantially horizontal sections are at different vertical positions on said hook member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said hook member further comprises first and second horizontal portions at different heights.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 further comprising means to pivot said second hook component relative to said first hook component.

### Claim 12

A restraint to prevent vehicle movement away from a loading dock comprising:
a vertically extensible member having a separate hook member mounted at an upper portion thereof,
a mount for said hook member to secure it to said vertically extensible member,
means to raise said vertically extensible member in a vertical direction without any substantial horizontal or rotational component to such movement from a lower inoperative position where said vehicle can move toward or away from the loading dock to an upper operative position where said vehicle is restrained from movement away from said loading dock, said separate hook member having multiple hook positions defined by first and second wall portions spaced from each other at different distances from said loading dock when said vertically moving member is in said upper operative position, said hook member comprising a first hook component having said first wall portion and a second hook component having said second wall portion, said second hook component movable relative to said first hook component to expose said first hook component for engagement with said vehicle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12 further comprising a housing secured in a stationary manner relative to said loading dock to house said vertically moving member and said hook member when in said lowered inoperative position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, wherein said housing comprises a pivotally mounted cover plate, said cover plate positioned horizontal over said device when said device is in said inoperative position and pivoting upward as said vertically moving member moves upward to said operative position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein said wall portions of said hook member are parallel separated substantially vertical walls.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein said means to raise comprises a cylinder having an extensible member to move said hook member into engagement with said vehicle at said operative position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein said cylinder is filled with a fluid to provide elasticity whereby said hook member may follow vertical movements of said vehicle after said hook member has been placed in said operative position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12 further comprising a housing for said vertically moving member, said housing including a top plate which is oriented horizontally when said vertically moving member is in the inoperative position to provide a cover over said device and said top plate pivoting upward as said vertically moving member moves upward toward said operative position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein said hook member further comprises a first substantially horizontal section positioned inward toward said loading dock, said first wall potion being substantially upright and abutting said first substantially horizontal section and a second substantially horizontal section positioned outward from said first wall portion and abutting said second wall portion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The device of claim 19, wherein said first and second substantially horizontal sections are at different vertical positions on said hook member.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein said hook member further comprises first and second horizontal portions at different heights.

### Claim 22 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12 further comprising means to pivot said second hook component relative to said first hook component.