Patent ID: 8678736

Claim:
A vehicle brace for a vehicle that moves substantially vertical in response to the vehicle being loaded or unloaded at a loading dock, the vehicle brace comprising: a track system mountable to the loading dock, the track system having a guide track surface and a brake track surface, the brake track surface to lie at an incline relative to the guide track surface; a track follower mounted to the track system for movement relative thereto; a vehicle support member connected to the track follower to travel therewith, the vehicle support member to engage the vehicle; a brake actuator coupled to at least one of the track follower or the vehicle support member to enable the brake actuator to travel with the track follower or the vehicle support member, the brake actuator being movable between a holding position and a release position; and a brake pad coupled to the brake actuator, the brake pad to move relative to the brake track surface between a disengaged position and an engaged position in response to the brake actuator moving between the release position and the holding position, the brake pad in the engaged position to press against the brake track surface to resist downward movement of the vehicle support member relative to the track system, and the brake pad in the disengaged position to release the brake track surface to permit movement of the vehicle support member relative to the track system.