Rite-hite Corporation

Tom Boffeli

David J Hoffmann

Jon Giuliani

Tom Medley

Bill Triervieler

Ken Lenz

Bob Frommelt

Tom Duccini

A loading dock shelter having rotating seal members is provided for forming a relatively air-tight seal between the dock opening and a truck so as to prevent air movement between the inside and the outside of the building during loading and unloading operations. The loading dock shelter has a frame assembly rigidly attached to the periphery of the dock opening and seal members rotatably mounted to the frame assembly on either side of the dock opening so that the truck may fit therebetween and form a seal between the exterior walls of the truck and the seal member. The seal members are rotatably movable between a first (open) position and a second (sealing) position in response to the movement of the truck into and out of the loading dock. In the first position, the seal members project into the path of the truck so that the truck engages the seal members as it backs into the loading dock. After the truck initially engages the seal members, the continued rearward movement of the truck rotates the seal members from the open position to the sealing position wherein the seal members are then compressed against the exterior walls of the truck so as to prevent interference with the loading and/or unloading of the truck. A curtain, pivotally suspended from the top of the frame, is also provided for sealing any gap that may exist between the top of the truck and the frame assembly.

Loading dock shelter with a rotatable seal

A loading dock shelter having a rotating seal member is provided for forming a relatively air-tight seal between the dock opening and the truck to prevent the movement of air between the inside and outside of the building during the loading and unloading operation. The seal members are rotatably mounted to the frame assembly for rotation between a first (open) position and a second (sealing) position in response to the movement of the truck into and out of the loading dock. In the first position, the seal member is spaced outwardly from the wall and the loading dock so that it does not interfere with the normal operation of the loading dock and so that it projects into the path of the truck for engaging the truck as the truck backs into the loading dock. After the truck initially engages the seal members, the rearward movement of the truck rotates the seals from the open position to the sealing position in which the seal member is compressed against the outer wall of the truck so that it does not block or otherwise interfere with the normal loading/unloading of the truck.

Growing community of inventors

Dubuque, IA, United States of America

Tom Boffeli