US-12623868-B2 - Curtain assemblies or seals for dock levelers

US12623868B2US 12623868 B2US12623868 B2US 12623868B2US-12623868-B2

Abstract

Example dock leveler apparatuses are disclosed. A dock leveler apparatus includes a curtain assembly that includes an upper curtain section and a lower curtain section. The curtain assembly is movable between a folded configuration and a pendant configuration. The curtain assembly having a longer length in the pendant configuration than in the folded configuration. A connector couples to the upper curtain section to a deck pivotally coupled to a base frame of a dock leveler. A releasable coupling between the upper curtain section and the lower curtain section. The releasable coupling is to removably couple the lower curtain section and the upper curtain section.

Inventors

Bruce Henning
Collin Thole
Frank Heim

Assignees

RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240416

Claims (20)

1 . A curtain assembly comprising: a curtain movable between a folded configuration and a pendant configuration; and a connector to couple the curtain to a deck of a dock leveler, the connector structured to mount to the deck at a position between a first side edge and a second side edge of the deck adjacent a front edge of the deck, the connector including a channel defined between a first portion of the connector and a second portion of the connector, the channel to receive a forward wall of the deck adjacent the front edge, the first portion of the connector is to engage a first surface of the forward wall and the second portion of the connector is to engage a second surface of the forward wall opposite the first surface when the channel receives the forward wall.
2 . The curtain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a clip that is press fit with the deck.
3 . The curtain assembly of claim 2 , wherein the clip is a body having a front wall and a rear wall defining a channel therebetween, the front wall having a fastener and the rear wall having a barb.
4 . The curtain assembly of claim 3 , wherein the fastener fastens an upper portion of the curtain and the connector.
5 . The curtain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a c-shaped clamp.
6 . The curtain assembly of claim 1 , wherein a lower edge of the curtain is to be free from connectors.
7 . The curtain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the connector includes a fastener interface to couple an upper portion of the curtain and the connector, the first portion of the connector to be positioned between the curtain and a front plate of the deck when the curtain is coupled to the connector and the connector is coupled to the deck.
8 . The curtain assembly of claim 7 , further including a barb extending from the connector to engage the deck, and wherein the connector is resiliently flexible.
9 . The curtain assembly of claim 1 , wherein the curtain is to hang freely from the deck when the curtain is coupled to the deck via the connector.
10 . A curtain assembly comprising: a curtain movable between a folded configuration and a pendant configuration, the curtain assembly to extend between a deck of a dock leveler and a floor of a pit, a lower edge of the curtain assembly to depend freely from the deck, the lower edge to sealingly engage a surface; and one or more connectors to fasten an upper edge of the curtain assembly along and adjacent to a front edge of the deck, wherein the one or more connectors engage the deck without extending therethrough, and wherein the one or more connectors are flexible.
11 . The curtain assembly of claim 10 , wherein the lower edge of the curtain assembly is not fastened to the surface or a base frame of the dock leveler or the pit to enable the lower edge to depend freely from the deck.
12 . The curtain assembly of claim 10 , further including a side wall seal connected to and extending from a lateral side of the pit and toward a lateral edge of the curtain assembly.
13 . A curtain assembly comprising: a curtain movable between a folded configuration and a pendant configuration, the curtain including a first plurality of looped flaps made of a pliable sheet material; a connector to slidably couple to a deck of a dock leveler, the connector structured to mount to the deck at a position between a first side edge and a second side edge of the deck and adjacent a front edge of the deck; and a fastener to couple the curtain and the connector, a lower edge of the curtain to depend freely from the deck when the curtain is coupled to the connector via the fastener.
14 . The curtain assembly of claim 13 , wherein the curtain is coupled to the deck using only the connector.
15 . The curtain assembly of claim 13 , wherein the connector is a clamp.
16 . The curtain assembly of claim 13 , wherein the lower edge of the curtain is to rest on a surface, the looped flaps to sealingly engage the surface.
17 . The curtain assembly of claim 13 , the connector includes a body having a first wall and a second wall defining a channel therebetween, the connector to couple to a front plate of the deck such that the channel receives at least a portion of the front plate, the first wall engages a first surface of the front plate, and the second wall engages a second surface of the front plate opposite the first surface.
18 . The curtain assembly of claim 17 , wherein the fastener includes a first fastener portion and a second fastener portion, the first wall including the first fastener portion, the second fastener portion to couple to the first fastener portion to couple the curtain and the connector.
19 . The curtain assembly of claim 13 , wherein the curtain assembly includes a first curtain portion including an upper edge and a second curtain portion including the lower edge, and further including a coupler to releasably couple the first curtain portion and the second curtain portion.
20 . A curtain assembly comprising: a curtain movable between a folded configuration and a pendant configuration; and a plurality of clips to fasten an upper edge of the curtain assembly along a front edge of a deck of a dock leveler, the clips to be press fit with the deck, the clips to be spaced apart along the front edge between a first side edge and a second side edge of the deck, wherein the clips each include a body having a front wall and a rear wall defining a channel therebetween, the front wall having a fastener and the rear wall having a barb, the fastener to couple an upper portion of the curtain and the body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 17/156,171, filed on Jan. 22, 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/964,452, filed on Jan. 22, 2020, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Priority is hereby claimed to U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 17/156,171 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/964,452. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to dock levelers used at loading docks and, more particularly, to curtain assemblies or seals for dock levelers. BACKGROUND A typical loading dock of a building includes an exterior doorway with an elevated platform for loading and unloading vehicles, such as trucks and trailers. Many loading docks have a dock leveler to compensate for a height difference that might exist between the loading dock platform and an adjacent cargo bed of a vehicle (e.g., a truck or trailer). Dock levelers usually have a deck or ramp that is pivotally hinged along a rear edge to vary the height of a front edge relative to the cargo bed of the vehicle. An extension plate or lip extends outward from the front edge of the deck to span the gap between the deck and the vehicle. The deck and lip are usually moveable between a stored position and various operative positions. When in the stored position, the deck may be either vertical or horizontal, depending on the style of dock leveler. In various operative positions, the deck is generally at a slight angle from horizontal and the lip is extended or rotated from the front edge of the deck to rest upon the vehicle's cargo bed to form a bridge enabling personnel and material handling equipment to readily move on and off the vehicle during loading and unloading operations. Environmental enclosures (e.g., seals, shelters) are often installed around a perimeter of the dock doorway to reduce the exchange or flow of air, precipitation, contaminants, etc. between the interior and exterior environments when the dock door is open to load/unload a vehicle. Such enclosures are usually mounted along the upper and lateral edges of the doorway to reduce any gaps that might otherwise exist between the face of the building and the rear of the vehicle. The position of the dock leveler at the lower edge of the doorway and the operation of the leveler requiring the lip to extend beyond the dock face (i.e., into a vehicle) presents complications for sealing between the dock face and the vehicle along the lower edge of the doorway. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of an example dock leveler apparatus including an example dock leveler and an example curtain assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein. FIG. 2 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 but showing an example deck of the example dock leveler in an example lowered position. FIG. 3 is a front view of the example dock leveler apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the example curtain assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the example curtain assembly shown in an example pendant configuration. FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the example curtain assembly in an example folded configuration. FIG. 6 is a partially exploded side view of the example front end of the example dock leveler and an example connector of FIGS. 1-5. FIG. 7 is a partially exploded side view of an example upper curtain section and the example connector of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a partial exploded side view of an example lower curtain section and the example upper curtain section of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an example connector constructed in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein. FIG. 10 is a partially exploded side view of an example dock leveler deck and the example connector of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a partially exploded side view of the example upper curtain section of FIGS. 1-5, 7, and 8 and the example connector of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 12 is a partially exploded side view similar to FIG. 11 but showing another example connector disclosed herein. FIG. 13 is a side view similar to FIGS. 11 and 12 but showing yet another example connector disclosed herein. FIG. 14 is a front view of another example dock leveler apparatus having example corner seals disclosed herein. FIG. 15 is a front view of an example corner seal disclosed herein, where the example corner seal is in an example uncompressed position. FIG. 16 is a front view of the corner seal shown in FIG. 15 but showing the example corner seal in an example compressed position. FIG. 17 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 but showing an example elastic tensioner disclosed herein. FIG. 18 is a front view similar to FIG. 3 but showing another example dock leveler disclosed herein. FIG. 19 is a side view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the example dock leveler apparatus of FIG. 18. FIG. 20 is a fron