Loading dock seal

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a loading dock seal. In one aspect it supplements an existing loading dock seal by attaching a flexible sheet vertically along vertical sides of the existing loading dock. The sheet wraps around the rear vertical edges of a truck body to seal any gaps that might exist, for example, between the opened rear door and the truck body wall caused by hinges.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 812,491 filed Jun. 9, 2006, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to loading docks and, more particularly, to a seal device for engaging the cargo portion of a truck adjacent a loading dock. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Dock seals are commonly used in association with loading docks and try to provide a seal while loading and off-loading trucks, more particularly tractor / trailer trucks. The dock seal is used to seal between the end of the truck body parked in front of the loading dock and the dock. The seal is of particular importance when the loading operation is being carried out in an environmentally controlled warehouse. Additionally, the dock seal is important in a situation where the truck, or more particularly the trailer, is left in front of the loadin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved loading dock seal that is simple to manufacture and replace.

[0027] In another aspect of the invention, a flexible sheet is sized to extend essentially the entire vertical height of the loading dock on each side so that it can effectively seal the entire vertical height of each side of the loading dock or existing loading dock seal.

Problems solved by technology

Another issue regarding dock seals is the formation of a proper seal when the truck or trailer has conventionally outward swinging doors.

Additionally, the hinges can stick out of the rear of the truck bed, preventing or making difficult a clean and complete seal against the loading dock entrance.

Because the pads are so large and deep, they will typically bulge outward when compressed between the truck box and the walls of the loading dock.

Further, when the pads projected to the truck body, they can be damaged by forklift trucks moving between the dock and the truck bed.

But because of the design, the truck cannot be off center relative to the entrance to the loading dock very much before the pad is rendered useless.

The main disadvantage of the dock shelter is that it is complicated to operate and expensive to construct.

Additionally, the dock shelter design will not provide a complete seal when the truck body has outward swinging doors, as the dock shelter cannot compensate for the gap created between the door and the outer side of the truck body.

But the assembly of the '662 is still very complex and expensive to assemble.

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