Patent ID: 7384229
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A loading dock vehicle restraint for securing a trailer to a loading dock, the loading dock having a face wall and an elevated floor, the floor being elevated from the ground in front of the face wall, the ground supporting the trailer, and the trailer having an ICC bar, said loading dock vehicle restraint comprising: a track extending from a location proximal the ground to a location below the elevated floor of the dock, said track being anchored in place proximal the face wall; a barrier assembly including a barrier and a guide, said barrier having front and rear ends, said barrier having a hook and a recessed portion that form a throat to receive the ICC bar and a rearward facing abutment to engage the ICC bar, said recessed portion and throat extending rearwardly from said abutment, said guide being located proximal said rear end of said barrier assembly and slidingly joining said barrier to said track to allow said barrier to move along a path of travel between stored and raised operating positions, said barrier extending from said track in a substantially fixed horizontal orientation as it moves along said path of travel; a drive unit including a drive mechanism having first and second ends and being positioned below said barrier and movable between retracted and extended positions, said drive unit being selectively activated to move said barrier from said stored position to said raised operating position; a lift assembly including a lower tension arm secured proximal said track at a fixed pivot joint, said lower tension arm being foldably joined to an upper push arm at a rotating pivot joint, said upper push arm having an upwardly offset peak, said arms being positioned below said barrier with said upper push arm being joined to said barrier assembly, said arms being movable between retracted and extended positions, said first end of said drive mechanism being pivotally secured near said fixed pivot joint of said lower tension arm, said second end of said drive mechanism being pivotally secured to said peak of said upper push arm, and said drive mechanism being joined to said offset peak of said upper push arm in a levered manner to selectively move said barrier from said stored position to said raised operating position; and, wherein said drive unit and lift assembly are configured to apply a substantially uniform upward lifting force to said barrier assembly when raising said barrier from said stored position to said raised operating position, and said barrier assembly is constructed to allow the ICC bar to move over it in an unobstructed manner when in said stored position.