The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 05, 1998
James C Alexander, London, CA;
United Dominion Ind., Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
A vehicle restraint having a fixed member such as a frame mounted to a dock face and a hook movable relative to the fixed member for engaging a portion of a vehicle and restraining movement of the vehicle away from the dock. A non-contact sensor is employed to determine engagement of the hook with a portion of the vehicle. The sensor is positioned to provide an effective magnetic field in the zone of contact so that engagement with an ICC bar on the vehicle can be ascertained. The sensor may also be a sensor bar pivotally movable respect to a vertical restraining member. The sensor bar houses a sensor that determines relative movement between itself and a target to provide a signal indicative of engagement when the sensor bar is depressed by the vehicle.