Vehicle restraining apparatus

A vehicle restraining apparatus for restraining a vehicle adjacent a construction having an upright surface, comprising:

• a first supporting structure disposed and supported on a vehicle supporting surface adjacent the upright surface;
• upper and lower pivot arms each having respective first and second end portions;
• first means for pivotally associating the first end portion of the lower pivot arm to the first structure intermediate thereof and for permitting pivotal movement of the lower pivot arm about a first pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the upright surface, and second means, pivotally associating the second end portion of the lower pivot arm to the first end portion of the upper pivot arm, for permitting pivotal movement of the upper pivot arm, relative to the lower pivot arm, about a second pivot axis spaced from said first pivot axis, the pivot arms comprising a second, articulated structure positionable in a folded, retracted position in which the lower pivot arm extends in a first, substantially horizontally direction and the upper pivot arm extends over the lower pivot arm in a substantially opposite direction, and a second, vehicle-engaging position;
• gas operated actuating means, connected between the first structure and the second end portion of the upper pivot arm, for deploying the second, articulated structure in its vehicle-engaging position;
• fluid operated retracting means, having an actuator connected between the first structure and the second end portion of the upper pivot arm, for retracting the second, articulated structure.

A vehicle restraining apparatus for restraining a vehicle from moving away from a loading dock, comprising:

• a supporting structure disposed and mounted on a vehicle supporting surface adjacent the said loading dock;
• means for attaching a portion of said supporting structure to a generally vertical face of said loading dock while said supporting structure is mounted on said vehicle supporting surface;
• substantially vertically aligned upper and lower pivot arms respectively constituting first and second members, each having respective inner and outer end portions;
• means pivotally associating the inner end portion of the lower pivot arm first member to and symmetrical with respect to the said supporting structure and for permitting pivotal movement of the lower pivot arm first member about a first pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the said vertical face, and means pivotally associating the outer end portion of the lower pivot arm first member to the inner end portion of the upper pivot arm second member, for permitting pivotal movement of the upper pivot arm second member, relative to the lower pivot arm first member, about a second pivot axis substantially perpendicular to said vertical face and spaced from said first pivot axis, the pivot arms forming an articulated structure in which the lower pivot arm first member extends in a direction away from the said supporting structure and the upper pivot arm second member extends in a substantially opposite direction toward the said supporting structure;
• and
• means for deploying the articulated structure between a folded storage position to an unfolded vehicle-engaging position.