Patent Publication Number: US-2003230033-A1

Title: Loading dock seal with flow through vent

Description:
CONTINUATION DATA  
     [0001] This application hereby claims the benefit under Title 35, United States Codes § 119(e) of any U.S. application Ser. No. 60/382,815 filed May 23, 2002, and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to a loading docking seal having passageways formed therethrough to selectively allow air to flow through the passageways.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] A loading dock seal is attached around a loading dock doorway. A vehicle backs up until the rear of the vehicle is in contact with the loading dock seal. Once the rear of the vehicle is in contact or adjacent with the loading dock seal, workers transfer goods between the vehicle and the loading dock. The loading dock seal is utilized to protect the workers from the rain, snow, wind and cold during the loading and unloading process.  
       [0006] The loading dock seal can keep heat from escaping from the loading dock during the loading and unloading process. This heat insulating effect of loading dock seals can prove problematic in that the temperature can become very hot within the loading area because the hot air cannot escape from the loading dock, and cool air cannot flow thereinto during the loading and unloading process. This heat can be very uncomfortable for the workers loading and unloading the goods.  
       [0007] Another problem occurs if an opening or gap is intentionally left between the rear of the parked vehicle and the loading dock to allow cool air to enter into the loading area. By leaving a gap between the rear of the vehicle and the loading dock, rodents, insects, rain, snow and debris may enter into the loading area.  
       [0008] Another problem with loading dock seals is that rails, rollers or hinges are typically used in their construction. If the vehicle backs into the loading dock seal unevenly, at too high of a speed, or without braking, the rails, rollers and hinges can become damaged and require replacement. This increases the maintenance costs for the loading dock seal.  
       [0009] Furthermore, some materials that could be utilized, for example foam rubber, to construct the loading dock seal may be very quickly damaged and destroyed by the ultraviolet rays from the sun.  
       [0010] These problems are solved by the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] The present invention, in one form thereof, is a loading dock seal for sealing between a loading dock and a vehicle. The loading dock seal has a base connected to the loading dock. One or more support members are connected to the base in a spaced apart relationship forming one or more passages or recesses therebetween to permit ambient air to pass to and from the sealed loading dock area. A mesh segment is disposed adjacent to a recess allowing air to travel through the recess while keeping rodents, insects, rain, snow and debris from entering and traversing through the recess.  
       [0012] The present invention, in another form thereof, is a loading dock seal for sealing between a loading dock and a vehicle. The loading dock seal has a base connected to the loading dock. One or more support members are connected to the base in a spaced apart relationship forming one or more passages or recesses therebetween to permit ambient air to pass to and from the sealed loading dock area. A seal cover is located about the base and support members. The seal cover includes a mesh segment disposed adjacent a recess, thereby allowing air to travel through the recess while keeping rodents, insects, rain, snow and debris from entering and traversing through the recess.  
       [0013] The present invention, in yet another form thereof, is a loading dock seal for sealing between a loading dock and a vehicle. The loading dock seal has a base and a top connected to the loading dock. A plurality of foam blocks are connected in a spaced apart relationship to the base. A strip of foam is connected to the plurality of foam blocks creating at least one passageway (or recess) between the strip of foam and the base. The passageway traverses from an area within the loading dock seal to an area outside the loading dock seal, thereby permitting fresh air flow from into the loading dock area from the ambient outside atmosphere. A seal cover is located about the base, a plurality of foam blocks and the strip of foam. The cover has a mesh segment that screens the passageway allowing air to travel therethrough while keeping and/or reducing rodents, insects, rain, snow and debris from entering through the loading dock passageway. A mesh segment cover or flap, which is connectable to the cover or mesh segment for partially or completely sealing the mesh segment, may be utilized.  
       [0014] The present invention, in yet another form thereof, is a loading dock seal for sealing a loading dock and a vehicle. The loading dock seal has a resilient sealing member for attachment about the loading dock. The sealing member has a screened passageway to permit screened air to pass therethrough.  
       [0015] An advantage of the present invention is that, by forming passageways into the loading dock seal and by at least one of the passages having a mesh segment adjacent to or through the passage, the mesh segment is able to allow air to flow through the passage and therethrough the loading dock seal to make the loading area a more comfortable environment. The mesh segment also prevents/eliminates rodents, insects, rain, snow and debris from passing through the passage and to the loading dock area.  
       [0016] Another advantage of the present invention is that, by using a mesh segment cover to cover at least a portion of a mesh segment, air flow through the passages in the loading dock seal can be controlled. Also, the mesh segment cover can completely cover or seal a mesh segment to keep cold weather elements (e.g., cold air, snow) from entering the loading area through the passage.  
       [0017] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that rails, rollers or hinges are not used or needed in the construction of the loading dock seal and, therefore, reduced maintenance and construction costs are possible.  
       [0018] Still another advantage of the present invention is that, by coating the loading dock seal with a material to protect the loading dock seal from solar ultraviolet rays, ultraviolet damage to the loading dock seal can be minimized. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0019] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0020]FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the loading dock seal without a seal cover or mesh segment, in one form of the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the loading dock seal having a seal cover, mesh segments and a mesh segment cover, in one form of the present invention;  
     [0022]FIG. 3 is an exaggerated perspective view of the loading dock seal, in one form of the present invention;  
     [0023]FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the loading dock seal having a seal cover about the base, support members, support strip and recesses, in one form of the present invention; and  
     [0024]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the loading dock seal having a seal cover located about the base, support members and a support strip, in one form of the present invention. 
    
    
     [0025] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0026] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown one side of the loading dock seal  10  of the present invention. Loading dock seal  10  has a base  12 . Base  12  is constructed from wood, but other materials such as plastic or metal can be utilized therefor. Base  12  is approximately 2″×12″×8′ but other sizes thereof can be utilized as well. Base  12  is connected to a loading dock (not shown) utilizing bolts, fasteners, screws or any other type of connecting device (not shown).  
     [0027] One or more support members  16  are connected to base  12 . Support members  16  are compressible pads made of a foam, rubber, or other elastomeric/resilient material. Support members  16  are connected to base  12  in preferably an evenly spaced apart relationship utilizing glue, bolts, screws, fasteners or other connecting devices. The present invention is not limited to support members  16  being spaced evenly apart but can be spaced at variable distances as well. Also, a single support member  16  can instead be utilized.  
     [0028] A support strip  26  is glued or connected by some other fastener to support members  16 . Support strip  26  is advantageously formed of a single strip of material but can be composed of multiple strips of material as well. Support strip  26  is preferably formed from a foam, rubber, or other elastomeric material. Support strip  26  is connected to each and every support member  16 , in one form of the present invention, but can be connected to one or a plurality of support members  16  in another form thereof.  
     [0029] Between some or all of the adjacent support members  16 , a recess  14  (also described in this application as a pathway, passage or passageway) is formed. In another form of the present invention, recess  14  is an opening between base  12 , support members  16  and support strip  26 . Recess  14  allows ambient air to flow through loading dock seal  10  to the loading dock. Alternatively, base  12 , support members  16 , and support strip  26  could together be of a unitary construction (not shown), with at least one recess  14  formed therethrough.  
     [0030] Support members  16  and support strip  26  are coated with a polyurethane elastomeric coating to protect support members  16  and support strip  26  from being damaged by the ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun. The polyurethane elastomeric coating can be sprayed or brushed onto support members  16  and support strip  26 . The use of a polyurethane elastomeric coating is not meant to be limiting, and other types of coatings that can be applied to the elastomeric material to protect the elastomeric material from the solar ultraviolet rays can be utilized.  
     [0031] A seal cover  18 , as shown in FIG. 2, in another form of the invention, is located about base  12 , recess  14 , support members  16  and support strip  26 . Seal cover  18  is shown as being located about base  12 , recess  14 , support member  16  and support strip  26  in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Also, a cross-sectional view of seal cover  18  located about base  12 , support member  16  and support strip  26  is shown in FIG. 5. Seal cover  18  is made from a material, such as vinyl, to protect seal cover  18 , base  12 , support member  16  and support strip  26  from damage caused by the sun, weather or a vehicle impacting seal cover  18 .  
     [0032] Seal cover  18  may include (either attached or integrally forming therewith) a mesh segment  20  adjacent to recess  14 . Mesh segment  20  can be adjacent to a single recess  14 , all of the recesses  14  or any number of recesses  14  therebetween. Mesh segment  20  can be located on the interior surface  30  of loading dock seal  10 , the exterior surface  32  of loading dock seal  10  or both interior surface  30  and exterior surface  32  of loading dock seal  10 . Mesh segment  20  is utilized to allow air to flow through loading dock seal  10  while preventing rodents, insects, rain, snow and/or debris from entering through loading dock seal  10 . The present invention is not limited to a mesh segment  20 , and any segment that can allow air to flow through loading dock seal  10  while preventing rodents, insects, rain, snow and debris out of the loading dock can be utilized as well. An example of mesh segment  20  could be a metal or plastic screen.  
     [0033] A mesh segment cover  22  is utilized to partially or completely seal/cover mesh segment  20  or recess  14 . Mesh segment cover  22  can be located on interior surface  30  of loading dock seal  10 , exterior surface  32  of loading dock seal  10  or both interior surface  30  and exterior surface  32  of loading dock seal  10 . Mesh segment cover  22  is made from a material, such as vinyl.  
     [0034] Seal cover  18  has hook and loop fasteners  24  located adjacent to support strip  26  and base  12 . Mesh segment cover  22  likewise utilizes hook and loop fasteners to facilitate connection thereof to hook and loop fasteners  24  on seal cover  18 .  
     [0035] Mesh segment cover  22  is rolled up as shown in FIG. 2 to allow air to flow through each mesh segment  20 . Mesh segment cover  22  is unrolled to partially or completely cover each of the recesses  14  as shown in FIG. 3. An example would be if loading dock seal  10  had three recesses  14  and the loading dock workers wanted to cover two of recesses  14 , the workers would unroll mesh segment cover  22  to cover two of recesses  14  and apply the hook and loop fasteners from mesh segment cover  22  to hook and loop fasteners  24  on seal cover  18 . Mesh segment cover  22  would stay in the position to which it was attached to seal cover  18  until the loading dock workers desired to cover or uncover more of recesses  14 .  
     [0036] Loading dock seal  10  can also have a seal top  28 , as shown in FIG. 3. Seal top  28  is formed from an elastomeric material, such as foam. Seal top  28  is then covered with a material, such as vinyl to protect seal top  28  from rain and snow. Seal top  28  can include recesses such as those formed in the sides of loading dock seal  10 .  
     [0037] In another form of the present invention, mesh segment cover  22  will be a single piece of material covering each of mesh segments  20 . Mesh segment cover  22  has a zipper located in the center of the entire length of the single piece of material covering each of mesh segments  20 . The zipper can be zipped completely to the top of loading dock seal  10  to allow no air to flow through recesses  14 . As the zipper is unzipped towards the bottom of loading dock seal  10 , more air is able to flow through recesses  14 .  
     [0038] In operation, loading dock seal  10  is attached to a loading dock. A vehicle backs up until the frame of the rear door of the vehicle comes into contact with loading dock seal  10 . The elastomeric material utilized to create loading dock seal  10  provides for a cushion so that the loading dock is not damaged by the vehicle coming into contact with loading dock seal  10 . Also, the elastomeric material substantially creates a seal around the rear of the vehicle once the vehicle comes into engagement with loading dock seal  10 . The loading dock workers can then use mesh segment cover  22  to cover one or more of mesh segments  20  located in loading dock seal  10  if it is a cold day to keep cold air from entering through a mesh segment  20  and recess  14  combination. If it is a hot day, the loading dock workers will not use mesh segment cover  22  but instead will roll them up or move them out of the way to allow air to flow through mesh segment  20  and recess  14 . Based on the conditions, for example temperature or wind in the loading area, any number of mesh segments  20  can be covered using mesh segment cover  22 .  
     [0039] While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.