Vehicle braces having a track-clamping mechanism
US8678736B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G69/003
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An example of a vehicle brace for use at a loading dock includes a vehicle support member that can travel to various heights along a vertical track. The support member exerts a substantial but limited resistive force up against the underside of a vehicle's rear impact guard to mitigate bouncing of the vehicle's truck or trailer bed as the vehicle is being loaded and/or unloaded of its cargo. Of particular interest in some examples is a rather short brake actuator mounted at an angle to create an inclined binding clamp action, the actuator being installed to travel with the vehicle support member, and the track having an inclined braking surface so that the brake's clamping force does not rely on friction alone, all of which provides for a compact vehicle brace installable as a self-contained unit and operated without having to rely on structural support from a driveway surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.