Wheel blocking alarm and indicating system

Claim 2

In combination with a loading dock for wheeled freight carriers wherein freight is moved between the interior of the dock and the interior of a carrier parked at the dock by lift truck vehicles which are driven into and out of the interior of the parked carrier, a wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a wheel of a freight carrier parked at said dock in a manner preventing movement of the carrier; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the wheel of the carrier, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means located in the interior of said dock and including means for providing an alarm signal to indicate that said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and means for providing a safety signal to indicate that said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; d. means connecting said sensing means to said indicating means whereby said indicating means provides an alarm signal when said sensing means is in the first state and provides a safety signal when said sensing means is in the second state.

Claim 3

A combination according to claim 1 further including: a. storage means mounted in proximity to the exterior of said dock for receiving said blocking member when it is not in use; b. another sensing means on said blocking member and having a first state when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and a second state when said blocking member is received by said storage means; c. second indicating means located in the interior of said dock; and d. means connecting both of said sensing means to said second indicating means whereby said second indicating means provides an alarm signal when both of said sensing means are in said first state when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and is not placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof.

Claim 4

A combination according to claim 2 wherein said second indicating means is electrically operated, said connecting means comprises cable means, and said other sensing means comprises switching means coupled to said first sensing means adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel and in controlling relation to said second indicating means whereby said second indicating means provides an alarm signal when said sensing means adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel is in said first state and said switching means is in said first state when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and is not placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof.

Claim 5

In combination with a loading dock for wheeled freight carriers wherein freight is moved between the interior of the dock and the interior of a carrier parked at the dock by lift truck vehicles which are driven into and out of the interior of the parked carrier, a wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a wheel of a freight carrier parked at said dock in a manner preventing movement of the carrier; b. sensing means comprising switching means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the wheel of the carrier, said switching means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. electrically operated indicating means located in the interior of said dock; and d. cable means connecting said switching means in controlling relation to said indicating means whereby when said switching means is in said first state said indicating means provides said alarm signal and when said switching means is in said second state said indicating means provides said safety signal.

Claim 6

In combination with a loading dock for wheeled freight carriers wherein freight is moved between the interior of the dock and the interior of a carrier parked at the dock by lift truck vehicles which are driven into and out of the interior of the parked carrier, a wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a wheel of a freight carrier parked at said dock in a manner preventing movement of the carrier; b. sensing means comprising switching means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the wheel of the carrier, said switching means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. electrically operated indicating means located in the interior of said dock; and d. cable means connecting said switching means in controlling relation to said indicating means whereby when said switching means is in said first state said indicating means provides said alarm signal and when said switching means is in said second state said indicating means provides said safety signal.

Claim 7

A vehicle wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a vehicle wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means operatively connected to said sensing means and comprising a pair of termiNals adaptd to be connected to a source of electric current, a first electrically operated indicating means comprising a lamp providing a visual alarm indication when said sensing means is in the first state, a second electrically operated indicating means comprising a lamp providing a visual indication of safety when said sensing means is in the second state, and means connecting one terminal of said pair of terminals to each of said first and second electrically operated indicating means; and d. said sensing means comprising switching means connecting the other terminal of said pair of terminals to said first electrically operated indicating means in said first state of said sensing means and to said second electrically operated indicating means in said second state of said sensing means.

Claim 8

A vehicle wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a vehicle wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means operatively connected to said sensing means and comprising a pair of termiNals adaptd to be connected to a source of electric current, a first electrically operated indicating means comprising a lamp providing a visual alarm indication when said sensing means is in the first state, a second electrically operated indicating means comprising a lamp providing a visual indication of safety when said sensing means is in the second state, and means connecting one terminal of said pair of terminals to each of said first and second electrically operated indicating means; and d. said sensing means comprising switching means connecting the other terminal of said pair of terminals to said first electrically operated indicating means in said first state of said sensing means and to said second electrically operated indicating means in said second state of said sensing means.

Claim 9

A vehicle wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a vehicle wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means operatively connected to said sensing means and comprising a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of electric current, a first electrically operated indicating means for providing an alarm indication, a second electrically operated indicating means for providing an indication of safety, and means connecting one terminal of said pair of terminals to each of said first and second electrically operated indicating means; d. said sensing means comprising switching means connecting the other terminal of said pair of terminals to said first electrically operated indicating means in said first state of said sensing means and to said second electrically operated indicating means in said second state of said sensing means; e. storage means separate from said blocking member for receiving said blocking member when it is not in use; f. another switching means on said blocking member and having a first switching state when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and a second switching state when said blocking member is received by said storage means; and g. indicating means connected to both of said switching means and providing an alarm indication when both of said switching means are in the first state thereof when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and is not placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof, said indicating means comprising electrically operated alarm means for providing an audible alarm indication and electrically operated signalling means having intermittent operation.

Claim 10

A vehicle wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a vehicle wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means operatively connected to said sensing means and comprising a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of electric current, a first electrically operated indicating means for providing an alarm indication, a second electrically operated indicating means for providing an indication of safety, and means connecting one terminal of said pair of terminals to each of said first and second electrically operated indicating means; d. said sensing means comprising switching means connecting the other terminal of said pair of terminals to said first electrically operated indicating means in said first state of said sensing means and to said second electrically operated indicating means in said second state of said sensing means; e. storage means separate from said blocking member for receiving said blocking member when it is not in use; f. another switching means on said blocking member and having a first switching state when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and a second switching state when said blocking member is received by said storage means; and g. indicating means connected to both of said switching means and providing an alarm indication when both of said switching means are in the first state thereof when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and is not placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof, said indicating means comprising electrically operated alarm means for providing an audible alarm indication and electrically operated signalling means having intermittent operation.

Claim 11

A vehicle wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a vehicle wheel in a manner preventing movment thereof; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means operatively connected to said sensing means and including means for providing an alarm indication when said sensing means is in the first state and means for providing an indication of safety when said sensing means is in the second state; d. storage means separate from said blocking member for receiving said blocking member when it is not in use; e. another sensing means on said blocking member and having a first state when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and a second state when said blocking member is received by said storage means; and f. indicating means operatively connected to both of said sensing means and providing an alarm indication when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and is not placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof.

Claim 12

A vehicle wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a vehicle wheel in a manner preventing movment thereof; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means operatively connected to said sensing means and including means for providing an alarm indication when said sensing means is in the first state and means for providing an indication of safety when said sensing means is in the second state; d. storage means separate from said blocking member for receiving said blocking member when it is not in use; e. another sensing means on said blocking member and having a first state when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and a second state when said blocking member is received by said storage means; and f. indicating means operatively connected to both of said sensing means and providing an alarm indication when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and is not placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof.

Claim 13

A vehicle wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a vehicle wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means operatively connected to said sensing means and including means for providing an alarm indication when said sensing means in in the first state and means for providing an indication of safety when said sensing means is in the second state, said indicating means comprising a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of electric current, first electrically operated indicating means for providing an alarm indication, second electrically operated indicating means for providing an indication of safety, and means connecting one terminal of said pair of terminals to each of said alarm indicating means and safety indicating means; and d. said sensing means comprising switching means connecting the other terminal of said pair of terminals to said first electrically operated indicating means in said first state of said sensing means and to said second electrically operated indicating means in said second state of said sensing means.

Claim 14

A vehicle wheel blocking and indicating system comprising: a. a blocking member adapted to be placed against a vehicle wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; b. sensing means on said blocking member and adapted to be contacted by the vehicle wheel, said sensing means having a first state when said blocking member is not placed against the wheel and a second state when said blocking member is placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof; c. indicating means operatively connected to said sensing means and including means for providing an alarm indication when said sensing means in in the first state and means for providing an indication of safety when said sensing means is in the second state, said indicating means comprising a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of electric current, first electrically operated indicating means for providing an alarm indication, second electrically operated indicating means for providing an indication of safety, and means connecting one terminal of said pair of terminals to each of said alarm indicating means and safety indicating means; and d. said sensing means comprising switching means connecting the other terminal of said pair of terminals to said first electrically operated indicating means in said first state of said sensing means and to said second electrically operated indicating means in said second state of said sensing means.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said switching means comprises: a. a switch arm movably mechanically connected to said blocking member and adapted to be contacted and moved by the vehicle wheel; b. means connecting said switch arm to the other terminal of said pair of terminals; c. first and second contact means connected to said first and second electrically operated indicating means, respectively; and d. biasing means mechanically connected to said switch arm and said blocking member, said biasing means normally urging said switch arm into engagement with said first switch contact means and said switch arm being movable against said biasing means and into engagement with said second switch contact means when contacted and moved by the vehicle wheel.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 8 further including: a. storage means separate from said blocking member for receiving said blocking member when it is not in use; b. another switching means on said blocking member and having a first switching state when said blocking member is not received by said storage means; and c. indicating means connected to both of said switching means and providing an alarm indication when both of said switching means are in the first state thereof when said blocking member is not received by said storage means and is not placed against the wheel in a manner preventing movement thereof.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said wheel blocking member has a base member and a wheel contacting surface member extending at an acute angle to said base member and wherein said sensing means is on said wheel contacting surface member whereby when said wheel blocking member is wedged between the vehicle wheel and the ground to prevent movement of the wheel, said sensing means is in the second state.