Rite-hite Holding Corporation

Timothy Cotton

Jonathan I Andersen

Andrew G Brooks

Norbert Hahn

Matthew Sveum

Kurt Lessard

Ben Wieberdink

Bradley J Stone

Benjamin Wieberdink

Pamala Pietrangelo

Kyle E Nelson

Reinhard E Sander

Joseph Manone

Eric Bublitz

John A Kish

Henk De Lang

Timothy Muhl

Ryan John Kleckner

Pamela Pietrangelo

Matt Sveum

Donald L Anton

Steve Fleischman

Joseph A Manone

Eric D Bublitz

Vehicle restraints with activated catches are disclosed. An example vehicle restraint includes a main body mountable at a loading dock and to move vertically relative to the loading dock. A barrier is movable relative to the main body to selectively block and release a RIG of a vehicle, where the barrier is selectively movable to a first blocking position to block the RIG, a stored position to release the RIG, and an intermediate position between the first blocking position and the stored position. A pawl is movable relative to the barrier between an activated position and a released position. A stop is carried by the main body and a pawl actuator is coupled to at least one of the main body and the barrier. The pawl actuator has a contact surface to engage the RIG, where the contact surface is movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the barrier. The contact surface moves between the raised position and the lowered position in response to relative movement between the RIG and the barrier while the contact surface is in engagement with the RIG. Movement of the contact surface from the raised position to the lowered position is to cause the pawl to move from the released position to the activated position. The pawl is spaced apart from the stop when the barrier is at the intermediate position while the pawl is in the released position and the pawl to engage the stop when the barrier is at the intermediate position while the pawl is in the activated position.

Vehicle restraints with activated catches

Some example vehicle restraints that include a movable barrier for selectively blocking a vehicle's RIG (Rear Impact Guard) near the dock face of a loading dock also include a spring loaded brace that helps hold the barrier in its blocking position, even when the RIG separates from the barrier. To hold the brace in its activated position where it supports the barrier, some examples of the brace include a tooth that engages a detent in a catch. The catch, in some examples, includes a tooth-engaging surface that protrudes into a circular path along which the tooth can travel relative to the barrier.

Vehicle restraints with stop mechanisms

Example manual wheel restraint systems and methods for restraining a vehicle at a loading dock include are disclosed herein. An example wheel restraint disclosed herein includes a retractable wheel-blocking barrier mounted to a carrier that can be repositioned along a track, where the track is anchored to a driveway of a loading dock. The track runs generally parallel to a vehicle path that a wheel of a vehicle travels along as the vehicle backs into the dock. To block a rear wheel of the vehicle parked at the dock, the barrier extends laterally into the wheel path, adjacent or in front of the wheel. To release the vehicle, the barrier retracts out from within the wheel path. In some examples, to ensure that the vehicle is secured, the barrier and/or the carrier include barrier or carrier catches to help hold the barrier and carrier in a fixed position. In some examples, one or more sensors determine or sense whether the catches are secured or released and generate signals accordingly. The signals, in some examples, alert dock personnel of the condition of the catches.

Track-mounted wheel restraint systems

Example wheel restraint systems include example wheel chocks for blocking a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock. In some examples, the wheel chock is movable between a stored position and a wheel-blocking position. In the wheel-blocking position, the chock latches onto a track that is mounted to a driveway of the loading dock. In the stored position, the chock is spaced apart from the track. In some examples, a lifting mechanism, such as a hoist or a spring-loaded articulated arm, helps carry at least some of the chock's weight as the chock is manually moved between its stored and wheel-blocking positions. In some examples, the chock includes a rotatable lever for selectively latching and unlatching the chock to the track.

Latching mechanisms for removable chocks

Vehicle restraints are disclosed herein. An example vehicle restraint disclosed herein includes a deck installable at the loading dock and a lip extending from the deck where the deck and lip are movable between a stored configuration and an operative configuration such that the deck and lip in the operative configuration provide a bridge between a vehicle bed and a platform when the deck is installed at a loading dock and the vehicle is at the loading dock. A blocking member is selectively attachable to the lip to selectively engage and disengage a restraint feature of the vehicle bed. The blocking member restricts forward movement of the vehicle relative to the loading dock when the blocking is engaged with the restrain feature and the blocking member allows forward movement of the vehicle relative to the loading dock when the blocking is disengaged from the restraint.

Downwardly insertable vehicle restraints

An example wheel restraint includes a track to be positioned adjacent a vehicle approach path of a loading dock. A shuttle is pivotally coupled to the track via a track follower and pivots between a home position and a deployed position about a shuttle axis substantially parallel to and offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the track. A barrier is pivotally coupled to the shuttle and pivots between a non-blocking position and a blocking position about a pivot axis substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the track such that the shuttle rotates in a first direction about the shuttle axis when the shuttle moves from the home position to the deployed position and bather rotates in a second direction about the pivot axis when the barrier moves from the non-blocking position to the blocking position, where the first direction being different than the second direction.

Manual wheel chocks with enhanced bracing upon depolyment

An example wheel restraint includes a wheel chock that is manually movable between a retracted or release position clear of a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock and an operative position to block the path of the wheel. In the release position, the chock can be manually moved freely along a track that is mounted to a driveway of the dock. When the chock is manually moved from its release position to its operative position, a locking feature automatically restricts the movement of the chock relative to the track. When the chock is manually moved back to its release position, the locking feature automatically disengages. Although the wheel chock is connected to a track, much of the force exerted by the wheel against the chock can be transmitted directly from the chock to the driveway.

Manual wheel chocks with enhanced bracing upon deployment

Restraints for restraining a vehicle at a loading dock are described. An example restraint described herein includes a brace movable between a holding position and a release position. A first portion of the brace engages a supporting portion of the vehicle and a second portion of the brace engages a non-movable location at the loading dock to restrain the vehicle relative to the loading dock when the brace is in the holding position. For the holding position, the first portion of the brace moves in one direction underneath the vehicle to engage the supporting portion and the second portion moves in a second direction underneath the vehicle to engage the non-movable location. The first and second portions retract to allow the vehicle to move relative to the loading dock when the brace is in the release position.

Support frame vehicle restraints

A vehicle restraint restricts the movement of a vehicle at a loading dock by engaging the vehicle's RIG (rear impact guard). The vehicle restraint includes a barrier carried by a vertically translatable track follower, the barrier being driven by a motor or some other type of power unit. A RIG sensor detects the RIG's horizontal position relative to the barrier and can periodically energize the motor to maintain the barrier in generally continuous contact with the RIG, even if the RIG moves horizontally away from the barrier. Detection of such horizontal movement of the RIG triggers the barrier to move accordingly to reduce a horizontal gap that may have formed between the RIG and the barrier.

Vehicle restraint with bi-directional sensor

A wheel restraint includes a wheel chock that is manually movable between a retracted position clear of a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock and an operative position to block the path of the wheel. In the retracted position, the chock can be manually moved freely along a track that is mounted to a driveway of the dock. When the chock is manually moved from its retracted position to its operative position, a locking feature automatically restricts the movement of the chock relative to the track. When the chock is manually moved back to its retracted position, the locking feature automatically disengages. Although the wheel chock is connected to a track, most of the force exerted by the wheel against the chock is transmitted directly from the chock to the driveway.

Manual wheel chocks with automatic positive locking

Wheel restraints for restraining vehicles at loading docks are described herein. An example wheel restraint includes a restraining arm to anchor a wheel chock to a fixed point at the dock. When in a blocking position, the chock rests directly upon the dock's driveway without the chock having to engage additional hardware that could be an obstruction to snow removal. In some examples, the wheel chock automatically swings between its blocking and release positions in response to the arm simply lowering or raising the chock.

Restraining arms for wheel chocks

A wheel restraint for restraining a vehicle at a loading dock includes various features such as, a wheel chock supported by a spring loaded articulated arm with a spring that can be selectively tightened or released, a sensor that detects whether the chock is solidly against a base plate or floor, a bi-directional pivotal joint between the articulated arm and the wheel chock to ensure that the chock can sit squarely on a mating base plate, a wheel chock that meshes with a hydraulically actuated base plate, pivotal or otherwise movable backstops that prevent a wheel chock from sliding out of position, and a base plate cleaning system. The cleaning system might include a vehicle-actuated brush, fluid spray nozzles, electric heater and removable cover plates.

Wheel chock system

A vehicle restraint includes a hook supported by a carriage that travels vertically along a track, wherein the hook can move to selectively restrain or release a vehicle's ICC bar at a loading dock. The carriage includes a unique roller arrangement that minimizes friction while maximizing the rolling line contact between a set of rollers and the track. Instead of individual rollers mounted at opposite ends of a shaft extending from the carriage, two or more rollers are mounted to a module, and two such modules are rotatably or otherwise movably attached to the ends of the shaft. Each module includes a shaft-receiving bore having an inner diameter comparable to that of a conventional individual roller, thus the unique roller arrangement lends itself well to retrofit applications.

Growing community of inventors

Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Timothy Cotton