US4815918A — Vehicle restraint having a snubbing restraining m…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

A vehicle restraint, comprising a frame to be mounted on a loading dock, restraining means mounted for movement on the frame from a storage position to an operative position where said restraining means will be disposed in a position outward of an abutment on a vehicle parked in front of the loading dock to prevent the vehicle from moving away from said dock, a flexible member interconnecting said restraining means and said frame, hydraulic cylinder means operably interconnecting the frame and said flexible member at a location intermediate the ends of said flexible member, and resilient means operably connected to the flexible member and constructed and arranged to permit limited vertical movement of said restraining means when said restraining means is in the operative position and said hydraulic cylinder means is in a locked condition.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 135 words

A vehicle restraint, comprising a frame to be mounted on a loading dock, restraining means mounted for movement on the frame from a storage position to an operative position where said restraining means will be disposed in a position outward of an abutment on a vehicle parked in front of the loading dock to prevent the vehicle from moving away from said dock, a flexible member interconnecting said restraining means and said frame, hydraulic cylinder means operably interconnecting the frame and said flexible member at a location intermediate the ends of said flexible member, and resilient means operably connected to the flexible member and constructed and arranged to permit limited vertical movement of said restraining means when said restraining means is in the operative position and said hydraulic cylinder means is in a locked condition.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 1, wherein said flexible member comprises a chain.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 1, wherein said resilient means is connected to said chain at a location between the attachment of said hydraulic cylinder means to said chain and the attachment of said restraining means to said chain.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 209 words

A vehicle restraint for preventing accidental movement of a vehicle away from a loading dock during a loading operation, comprising a supporting structure mounted on said dock, restraining means mounted for movement on said structure between a storage position and an operating position wherein said restraining means prevents movement of said vehicle away from said dock, hydraulic cylinder means including a piston member and a cylinder member with a first of said members being movable relative to a second of said members, a flexible element connected to said restraining means, said first member of said hydraulic cylinder means being connected to said flexible element in a manner so that movement of said first member relative to said second member will cause movement of said restraining means between the storage position and the operating position, and resilient means operably connected to said flexible element at a location between the attachment of said flexible element to said first member and the attachment of said flexible element to said restraining means, said resilient means being constructed and arranged to permit limited vertical movement of said restraining means caused by vertical movement of said vehicle during said loading operation and when said first member is locked in position relative to said second member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 209 words

A vehicle restraint for preventing accidental movement of a vehicle away from a loading dock during a loading operation, comprising a supporting structure mounted on said dock, restraining means mounted for movement on said structure between a storage position and an operating position wherein said restraining means prevents movement of said vehicle away from said dock, hydraulic cylinder means including a piston member and a cylinder member with a first of said members being movable relative to a second of said members, a flexible element connected to said restraining means, said first member of said hydraulic cylinder means being connected to said flexible element in a manner so that movement of said first member relative to said second member will cause movement of said restraining means between the storage position and the operating position, and resilient means operably connected to said flexible element at a location between the attachment of said flexible element to said first member and the attachment of said flexible element to said restraining means, said resilient means being constructed and arranged to permit limited vertical movement of said restraining means caused by vertical movement of said vehicle during said loading operation and when said first member is locked in position relative to said second member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 4, wherein said resilient means comprises a gas spring unit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 4, wherein said supporting structure includes guide means mounted on said dock, said restraining means comprises a carriage mounted for movement on said guide means and a hook extending upwardly from the outer end of said carriage.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 167 words

A vehicle restraint for preventing accidental movement of a vehicle away from a loading dock during a loading operation, comprising a frame, restraining means mounted for movement on said frame between a storage position and an operative position, said restraining means having a first section that extends outwardly from said frame when said restraining means is in the operative position and disposed to engage an abutment on said vehicle as said restraining means moves to said operative position, said restraining means also having a second section extending generally vertically from the outer end of said first section and disposed outwardly of said abutment when said restraining means is in the operative position, said second section being mounted for movement relative to said first section in a direction toward and away from said frame, and operating means for moving said second section in a direction toward said frame when said restraining means is in the operative position to move said second section into snubbing engagement with said abutment.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 167 words

A vehicle restraint for preventing accidental movement of a vehicle away from a loading dock during a loading operation, comprising a frame, restraining means mounted for movement on said frame between a storage position and an operative position, said restraining means having a first section that extends outwardly from said frame when said restraining means is in the operative position and disposed to engage an abutment on said vehicle as said restraining means moves to said operative position, said restraining means also having a second section extending generally vertically from the outer end of said first section and disposed outwardly of said abutment when said restraining means is in the operative position, said second section being mounted for movement relative to said first section in a direction toward and away from said frame, and operating means for moving said second section in a direction toward said frame when said restraining means is in the operative position to move said second section into snubbing engagement with said abutment.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 7, wherein said second section is mounted for linear sliding movement with respect to said first section.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 7, wherein said operating means comprises a hydraulic cylinder unit carried, by said first section.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 7, wherein said second section extends upwardly from the upper surface of said first section.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 7, wherein said frame includes guide means mounted on a vertical face of said dock, said first section being mounted for vertical movement on said guide means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 68 words

The vehicle restraint of claim 9, wherein said hydraulic cylinder unit is constructed and arranged so that the force exerted by said hydraulic cylinder unit in moving said second section in a direction toward said frame is substantially less than the reactive force in said unit opposing a force exerted through said abutment against said second section and necessary to move said second section in the opposite direction.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 222 words

A vehicle restraint for preventing accidental movement of a vehicle away from a loading dock during a loading operation, comprising a supporting structure, restraining means mounted for movement on said supporting structure between an inoperative position and an operative position, said restraining means having a first section that extends outwardly from said structure and is engaged with an abutment on a vehicle when said restraining means is in the operative position and having a second section extending generally vertically from the outer end o said first section and is located outwardly of said abutment when said restraining means is in the operative position to prevent the vehicle from moving away from said dock, said second section being mounted for movement relative to said first section in a direction toward and away from said structure, and a hydraulic cylinder unit for moving said second section in a direction toward said structure to move said second section into snubbing engagement with said abutment, said hydraulic cylinder unit is constructed and arranged so that the force exerted by said hydraulic cylinder unit in moving said second section in a direction toward said structure is substantially less than the reactive force in said unit opposing a force exerted through said abutment against said second section and necessary to move said second section in the opposite direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 222 words

A vehicle restraint for preventing accidental movement of a vehicle away from a loading dock during a loading operation, comprising a supporting structure, restraining means mounted for movement on said supporting structure between an inoperative position and an operative position, said restraining means having a first section that extends outwardly from said structure and is engaged with an abutment on a vehicle when said restraining means is in the operative position and having a second section extending generally vertically from the outer end o said first section and is located outwardly of said abutment when said restraining means is in the operative position to prevent the vehicle from moving away from said dock, said second section being mounted for movement relative to said first section in a direction toward and away from said structure, and a hydraulic cylinder unit for moving said second section in a direction toward said structure to move said second section into snubbing engagement with said abutment, said hydraulic cylinder unit is constructed and arranged so that the force exerted by said hydraulic cylinder unit in moving said second section in a direction toward said structure is substantially less than the reactive force in said unit opposing a force exerted through said abutment against said second section and necessary to move said second section in the opposite direction.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 165 words

A restraint for preventing accidental movement of a truck away from a loading dock during a loading operation, comprising a frame, restraining means mounted for movement on said frame between a storage position and an operative position where said restraining means is engaged with an abutment on said truck and prevents outward movement of said truck from said dock, said restraining means having a first section extending outwardly from said dock when said restraining means is in the operative position and having a second section extending generally vertically from the outer end of said first section when said restraining means is in the operative position, said second section being mounted for movement relative to said first section in a direction toward and away from said dock, operating means for moving said second section relative to said first section in a direction toward said dock, and means operable as a consequence of said restraining means being moved to the operative position for actuating said operating means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 165 words

A restraint for preventing accidental movement of a truck away from a loading dock during a loading operation, comprising a frame, restraining means mounted for movement on said frame between a storage position and an operative position where said restraining means is engaged with an abutment on said truck and prevents outward movement of said truck from said dock, said restraining means having a first section extending outwardly from said dock when said restraining means is in the operative position and having a second section extending generally vertically from the outer end of said first section when said restraining means is in the operative position, said second section being mounted for movement relative to said first section in a direction toward and away from said dock, operating means for moving said second section relative to said first section in a direction toward said dock, and means operable as a consequence of said restraining means being moved to the operative position for actuating said operating means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The restraint of claim 14, and including guide means for guiding said second section for linear sliding movement with respect to said first section.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 46 words

The restraint of claim 14, wherein said means operable as a consequence of said restraining means being moved to the operative position comprises sensing means carried by said restraining means and disposed to engage said abutment as said restraining means is moved to the operative position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The restraint of claim 16, wherein said sensing means is mounted on said first section of said restraining means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

The restraint of claim 17, wherein said sensing means is located above the level of the upper surface of said first section.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-03-27	1992-09-26	1993-03-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-03-27	1996-09-26	1997-03-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-03-27	2000-09-26	2001-03-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vehicle restraint having a snubbing restraining member

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