Patent ID: 6726432
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A vehicle restraint adapted to be mounted in front of a dock face where the vehicle restraint is adapted to selectively restrain and release a vehicle, comprising:a restraining member adapted to be mounted in front of the dock face, being moveable between a raised position to limit movement of the vehicle and a lowered position to release the vehicle, and also being rotatable about an axis between a stored orientation and an operative orientation, wherein the axis traverses a horizontal plane; an actuator adapted to exert a force at a substantially constant radius from the axis to rotate the restraining member between the stored orientation and the operative orientation; a rod along which the restraining member travels to move between the lowered position and the raised position and about which the restraining member rotates between the stored orientation and the operative orientation; and a first guide element associated with the rod and engaging a second guide element associated with the restraining member, wherein the first guide element engages the second guide element to rotate the restraining member as the restraining member travels vertically along the rod.