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:
Jul. 18, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1998
Elwood Blair Ellis, Indian River, CA;
Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A method for supporting the nose of an unfettered trailer disposed on a surface adjacent a loading bay, including the steps of 1) providing a supporting assembly movable along the surface relative to the nose of the trailer, and also movable between a stored, collapsed position wherein the supporting assembly does not interfere with movement of vehicles over the surface, and a raised, engaging position in which a portion of the supporting assembly is disposed vertically above the surface and engages and supports the nose of the trailer; 2) moving the supporting assembly along the surface and relative to the nose of the trailer with the supporting assembly in the stored position, 3) sensing the nose of the trailer with a sensor that is movable with the supporting assembly relative to the nose of the trailer, and 4) in response to the sensor sensing the nose of the trailer, automatically moving the supporting assembly from the stored position to the raised engaging position to support the nose of the trailer.