Patent · US Expired

Low-profile vehicle restraint

US6726432B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
10References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 13, 2001
Grant dateApr 27, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 13, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G69/003
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle restraint includes a restraining member that rises to an operative position and lowers to a stored position to respectively engage and release an ICC bar of a truck parked at a loading dock. In moving to the lowered stored position, the restraining member also rotates off to its side, so as not to obstruct snow removal equipment or incoming vehicles having an especially low ICC bar or low ground clearance. In some embodiments, rotation of the restraining member is achieved by various actuators that apply a generally uniform torque. A resilient member, moves the restraining member upward to engage the ICC bar, and allows for vertical movement of the truck as it is being loaded or unloaded. Opposing the upward urging of the resilient member, a drive unit forcibly moves the restraining member downward when the truck is ready to be released.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.