Vehicle restraining apparatus

Abstract

A vehicle restraining apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to be disposed adjacent a fixed structure, such as a loading dock, for securing a vehicle adjacent the fixed structure. In a typical application, the apparatus is disposed adjacent a loading dock for restraining trucks which are backed into a position adjacent the dock during loading and unloading operations. The apparatus includes an articulated structure adapted to be deployed in a vehicle-engaging position adjacent an upright surface of the dock for engaging an adjacent vehicle. The articulated structure includes upper and lower vertically aligned pivot arms, and an actuator is provided for pivoting the upper arm upwardly in a first pivotal direction about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the upright surface, and pivoting the lower arm, about a second pivot axis spaced from the first axis, in a second, opposite pivotal direction, the distal end portion of the upper arm being thereby brought into engagement with a structural portion of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, a keeper member is mounted on the distal end portion of the upper pivot arm, the keeper member being positioned to seat in front of a horizontally-extending structural member of a vehicle, for securing the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot arms of the articulated structure are pivotable about respectively different pivot axes extending substantially horizontally, for maintaining the keeper member in a vertical orientation. In one embodiment, a fluid operated system is provided for retracting the articulated structure.