Rite-hite Holding Corporation

Rite-hite Corporation

Thomas J Boffeli

Kenneth F Lenz

David J Hoffmann

William Triervieler

Thomas J Medley

Robert J Frommelt

Thomas E Duccini

Charles J Ashelin

Nicolas B Paschke

Jon Giuliani

Robert Frommelt

David J Hoffman

Jon A Giuliani

A sealing device for engaging the surface of a vehicle parked adjacent a structure and which is automatically actuated in response to the approach or departure of the vehicle. A seal member is supported by a pivoting frame which is mountable to the structure. The pivoting frame is moveable between an engaged position in which the seal is positioned to engage the vehicle surface and a released position in which the seal is spaced away from the vehicle surface. A pivoting actuating member is mountable to the structure and engages the frame. The actuating member is adapted to be responsive to movement of the vehicle, so that the frame having the attached seal member moves toward the engaged position as the vehicle approaches the structure. Accordingly, the seal member seals the interior of the cargo vehicle as well as the interior of the structure from the ingress of wind, water and other contaminants in order to maintain a safer work environment.

Vehicle sealing device

A flexible air duct is provided for conveying and distributing a source of forced air to a room or other area of a building. The air duct includes a flexible outer casing made of an air permeable fabric that evenly disperses the air into the room. To prevent the fabric from sagging when the source of forced air is periodically turned off, a support frame holds the casing in a generally open tubular shape even when the duct's interior and exterior air pressures are the same.

Frame to support a deflated fabric air duct

A sealing apparatus for forming a weather seal between a vehicle and a loading dock is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a compressible seal and a support mounted for pivoting away from the top of an adjacent vehicle to facilitate exiting. In some embodiments, a stiffening member is located proximally to the seal to provide a compression force between the seal and the top of the vehicle. In other embodiments, the apparatus includes a deflectable seal and a locator including a distal recess for engaging the leading edge of a vehicle entering the parking area.

Sealing apparatus for forming a weather seal between a vehicle and a loading dock or the like

A loading dock shelter having a resilient and flexible seal assembly is provided for forming a substantially air-tight seal between the dock opening and the truck. The seal assembly comprises a support or panel member which is adapted to attach to the loading dock frame and to support a seal member. The seal member has a substantially hook-shaped cross-section adapted to hookably engage the incoming truck and is capable of resiliently flexing between a hook-shaped cross-section in the disengaged position and a substantially straight cross-section in the sealing position in response to the truck. The hook-shaped cross section permits the seal member to sealably engage the interior wall of the truck, and, in the alternative, will seal against the peripheral edge of the truck, or the exterior wall of the truck depending on the size and position of the truck. The flexible seal member has a seal end adapted to bend and conform to the surface contours of the truck surface in the sealing position so as to form a substantially air-tight seal therewith.

Loading dock seal assembly

A seal assembly, which minimizes or eliminates infiltration of rain water along the roof of a truck parked in a loading dock, generally comprises a downwardly inclined roof panel which extends outwardly from the building wall and collects the water. A gutter member, supported by and disposed along the length of the roof panel, collects water runoff from the building walls and the roof panel and channels the water away from the center of the door opening and towards either side of the loading dock opening. The seal assembly also comprises a seal member mounted to the roof panel and/or the gutter member so that it generally hangs into the upper portion of the door opening and engages the top portion of the truck so as to sealably engage the truck roof and form a water blocking barrier, thereby minimizing or eliminating infiltration of rain water along the truck roof. In one embodiment, the seal member comprises a fabric curtain which is suspended into the path of the incoming truck and drapes over the truck roof to form a seal therewith. In another embodiment, the seal member comprises a resilient, compressible and deformable seal pad, pivotally suspended from the roof panel and/or the gutter member, into the path of the incoming truck and for engaging the roof and/or the top rear peripheral edges of the truck and thereby form a barrier to rain, snow, air and the like.

Gutter and seal assembly

A loading dock shelter having a resilient and flexible seal assembly is provided for forming a substantially air-tight seal between the dock opening and the truck. The seal assembly comprises a support or panel member which is adapted to attach to the loading dock frame and to support a seal member. The seal member has a substantially hook-shaped cross-section adapted to hookedly engage the incoming truck and is capable of resiliently flexing between a hook-shaped cross-section in the disengaged position and a substantially straight cross-section in the sealing position in response to the truck. The hook-shaped cross section permits the seal member to sealably engage the interior wall of the truck, and, in the alternative, will seal against the peripheral edge of the truck, or the exterior wall of the truck depending on the size and position of the truck. The flexible seal member has a seal end adapted to bend and conform to the surface contours of the truck surface in the sealing position so as to form a substantially air-tight seal therewith.

Growing community of inventors

Dubuque, IA, United States of America

Thomas J Boffeli