Heat shielded sealing curtain

Abstract

A sealing curtain adapted to seal against a vehicle parked against the sealing curtain is described. The sealing curtain includes a sealing surface for engaging the parked vehicle and a heat shield adjacent the sealing surface. The heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the sealing surface to dissipate heat from the parked vehicle across the sealing curtain and includes a plurality of heat shielding layers such that an air interface is present between adjacent heat shielding layers.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This patent application arises from a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 485,878 entitled “Heat Shielded Sealing Curtain,” filed Jul. 13, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 369,973 entitled “Heat Shielded Sealing Curtain,” filed Feb. 20, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 548,876, filed Apr. 13, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,467 all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The subject invention generally pertains to a loading dock and more specifically to a dock seal disposed around a doorway of the dock. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] When an exterior doorway of a building is used as a loading dock for vehicles, especially trucks, the perimeter of the doorway may include a loading dock shelter. The shelter may be formed of rigid or compressibl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In some embodiments, a heat shield is positioned adjacent a sealing surface to protect the sealing curtain from heat damage.

[0013] In some embodiments, a sealing curtain is provided with a heat shield that can withstand a higher temperature than a sealing surface of the sealing curtain, whereby the heat shield helps protect the sealing curtain from heat damage.

[0018] In some embodiments, a sealing surface of a sealing curtain includes raised elements that assist in heat dissipation across the sealing curtain.

Problems solved by technology

Constant usage damages the external surfaces of dock shelters and these sealing curtains.

The lights are often placed in the upper, back corners of truck beds and can create intense heat concentrations that over time will damage dock shelters and sealing curtains, in particular sealing curtains.

But if the truck operator inadvertently leaves the lights on, the outer surfaces of the dock shelter or sealing curtain will absorb the heat generated by these taillights.

The excessively high temperatures that result will wear on the structures, degrading their appearance.

More importantly, the high temperatures may crack the structures and, in some extreme cases, may even cause the structures to bum or melt at the points of contact.

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