Loading dock shelter with a rotatable seal

US5675945A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rite-Hite Holding Corporation · US

Inventors

• Jon Giuliani · Whitefish Bay, US
• Bill Triervieler · Dubuque, US
• David J. Hoffmann · Dubuque, US
• Tom Boffeli · Dubuque, US
• Tom Medley · Dubuque, US
• Bob Frommelt · Peosta, US
• Ken Lenz · Platteville, US
• Tom Duccini · Dubuque, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 1995
• Grant date: Oct 14, 1997
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC E): Fixed Constructions
• CPC primary: E06B7/18
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A loading dock shelter having rotating seal members is provided for forming a relatively air-tight seal between the dock opening and a truck so as to prevent air movement between the inside and the outside of the building during loading and unloading operations. The loading dock shelter has a frame assembly rigidly attached to the periphery of the dock opening and seal members rotatably mounted to the frame assembly on either side of the dock opening so that the truck may fit therebetween and form a seal between the exterior walls of the truck and the seal member. The seal members are rotatably movable between a first (open) position and a second (sealing) position in response to the movement of the truck into and out of the loading dock. In the first position, the seal members project into the path of the truck so that the truck engages the seal members as it backs into the loading dock. After the truck initially engages the seal members, the continued rearward movement of the truck rotates the seal members from the open position to the sealing position wherein the seal members are then compressed against the exterior walls of the truck so as to prevent interference with the loadi…