Rite-Hite Holding Corporation

Gregory J Thill

Charles J Ashelin

Charles J Digmann

David J Hoffmann

Timothy J Schmidt

Matt Fleckenstein

David J Hoffman

Example room dividers are described herein. The example room dividers include a flexible curtain with features pertaining to security, impactability, insulation, sound absorption, configurability, and/or flame resistance. In some examples, the curtain comprises an inorganic carbon fiber pad sandwiched between two sheets of fiberglass fabric coated with silicone rubber. A tongue-and-groove joint, in some examples, enables the interconnection of a series of curtains to create room dividers of various lengths. In some examples, the curtain comprises a full-width wire mesh sandwiched between two sheets of vinyl coated polyester fabric, wherein a touch-and-hold fastener at the outer perimeter of the curtain and overlapping the wire mesh holds the two sheets together and holds the wire mesh in place. In some examples, the flexibility of the curtain allows the curtain to respond to impacts and/or air pressure differentials.

Flexible room dividers

A compressible seal for a loading dock includes a pliable heat shield that helps protect the seal from concentrated heat generated by a truck's taillight being pressed against the seal. The seal includes a compressible foam core protected by a tough outer covering. The heat shield is preferably placed against the foam core, just underneath the cover. The shield reflects heat away from the foam and helps disperse the heat over a broader area to reduce the peak temperature of any hot spots.

Heat shielded dock pad

A loading dock seal for around a doorway of a building includes a vertically movable side seal and a relatively fixed head seal that are adapted to seal against the rear of a truck. As the truck is loaded or unloaded of its cargo, the resulting weight change on the truck's suspension can cause the truck to raise and lower a few inches. To minimize the truck abrading the side seal, a movable coupling allows the side seal to move with the truck's vertical movement. In some embodiments, the coupling includes antifriction elements, such as rollers and bearing pads, which smoothen the motion of the side seal. Although the head seal is relatively fixed to ensure a positive seal against the face of the building, the head seal is designed to readily deform in response to the truck's vertical movement.

Loading dock with vertically movable side pads

An extendible shield for sheltering the pit area below a dock leveler of a loading dock. The shield is especially suited for dock levelers having a ramp of pivotally adjustable height with a lip extension for providing a traffic path between the rear of a vehicle and a loading dock platform. The shield includes a curtain wrapped around a roller, which provides the shield with a vertical span that can vary to match the up and down movement of the ramp. Various embodiments include features such a flexible seal that seals against the rear of a vehicle and cutouts for accommodating a vehicle restraint and lip keepers.

Weather shield for below a dock leveler

A compressible foam draft pad for use at a lower inner portion of dock shelter helps seal against the lower rear side of a truck of an appropriate height and bridges a gap between an exterior face of a building and a laterally extending member of the dock shelter. The draft pad is generally wedge-shaped and has a forward relief surface that leans away from the laterally extending member with a lower forward edge that abuts the laterally extending member. A rear relief surface can lean away from the building as well, and can have a lower rear edge of the draft pad sealingly abut the building. The relief surfaces can minimize wear, especially along the inside surface of the laterally extending member. The unique shape of the draft pad provides a ratio of the pad's weight to a distance between spaced apart mounting points that is sufficiently small to minimize sagging of the draft pad.

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Dubuque, IA, United States of America

Gregory J Thill