Abstract: A guiding mechanism for use in combination with an industrial door that includes an extension member extending across a doorway when the door is in a doorway blocking position is provided. The guiding mechanism includes a guard bracket extending along the doorway and having a mounting segment and a guard segment, and a track extending along the doorway and including a guideway for receiving a roller of the extension member and for guiding the roller as the door moves between blocking and unblocking positions. The track is affixedly mounted to the mounting segment such that the guard segment protects the track from an obstacle during a track impact condition.

Abstract: A roller door sealing system including at least one sealing member carried on the curtain, and disposed adjacent the end of the curtain attached to the roller, and a seal engaging member supported adjacent the curtain. The sealing member and the seal engaging member are disposed such that the sealing member engages the seal engaging member and seals the space between the curtain and the seal engaging member as the curtain approaches the doorway-blocking position. The sealing function provided by the sealing member or members only occurs as the door approaches the door blocking position.

Abstract: An air dispersion system is provided for conveying and distributing a source of forced air to a room, building, or other enclosure. The air dispersion system includes a fabric tube having a proximal end coupled to the source of forced air, a distal end opposite the proximal end, at least one vent formed in the tube, and an air dispersing panel covering each vent. The tube is constructed of an air-porous (i.e., air-permeable) fabric material which allows air from the source of forced air to leak therethrough. The panels, in turn, are constructed of a material having a different relative porosity than that of the tube which causes the air flow dispersion (or leakage) rate through each panel to be different from the air flow dispersion (or leakage) rate through the tube.

Abstract: A wheel-activated vehicle restraint system including a support structure disposed beside the path of the vehicle approaching the dock, and including a guide member extending away from the dock face, and an elevated supporting member. A trigger assembly is operatively connected to the guide member, and initially engages the wheel of the vehicle as it rolls toward the dock. A locking arm operatively engages the supporting member to move from a stored position to a chocking position on the wheel as the wheel engages the trigger and moves it toward the dock. A trolley assembly operatively connects the trigger assembly and the locking arm, the trolley assembly and the locking arm being connected at a connection point.

Abstract: An impact detection system for an industrial door, the system including two members that are releasably coupled to each other to move together with the door as it travels; disposed beyond the doorway opening is a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, preferably packaged together in a photoeye device, and emitting a beam of radiation; the first member carries a reflector that, when the two members are coupled, reflects the radiation back to the photoeye, and that is movable to a position wherein it does not reflect the radiation back to the photoeye in response to separation of the two members caused by the door being impacted, the change in state from 1) the radiation being reflected to the photoeye to 2) the radiation not being reflected to the photoeye thus serves as an indication that an impact on the door has occurred.

Abstract: A tension and release mechanism for use on a tension belt, including a first bearing member around which the tension belt passes and which is mounted on a support member. A bias member is coupled to the support member to exert a force on the support member tending to tension the belt. Engagement member is mountable adjacent the support member and is movable to a position wherein it exerts a force on the support member to move the support member to a tension-release position. A latch is also included for latching the support member in the tension release position.

Abstract: Vehicle restraint including a support mounted adjacent a loading structure. A carriage is supported from the support and has a generally horizontal portion extending over the roadway, the horizontal portion being operatively engageable with the vehicle bar over a vertical range. A vertically elongate barrier is supported from the carriage and is disposed remotely from the upright loading structure, the barrier being mounted for generally vertical movement with respect to the carriage between an inoperative vehicle-released position wherein the barrier is disclosed below the horizontal portion, and an inoperative vehicle restraining position, wherein the barrier extends vertically a fixed distance above the horizontal portion to define a vehicle bar capture distance along the horizontal portion.

Abstract: A loading dock shelter having rotating seal members is provided for forming a relatively air-tight seal between the dock opening and a truck so as to prevent air movement between the inside and the outside of the building during loading and unloading operations. The loading dock shelter has a frame assembly rigidly attached to the periphery of the dock opening and seal members rotatably mounted to the frame assembly on either side of the dock opening so that the truck may fit therebetween and form a seal between the exterior walls of the truck and the seal member. The seal members are rotatably movable between a first (open) position and a second (sealing) position in response to the movement of the truck into and out of the loading dock. In the first position, the seal members project into the path of the truck so that the truck engages the seal members as it backs into the loading dock.

Abstract: A system for loading and unloading a vehicle, including: a vehicle actuated wheel chock positioning device for at least one tire of such a vehicle which is rotatable on a treadway between an initial position and a plurality of operating positions, the chock positioning device including a mechanism engageable by such tire at the initial position and movable with the tire as it rolls on the treadway, a chock positionable behind the tire when the mechanism is in any of the operating positions in response to engagement of the mechanism by the rolling tire, and a controllable lock capable of selectively locking the chock in a chock position behind the tire corresponding to one of the operating positions, the system, in one preferred embodiment further including a leveling ramp carrying the chock positioning device with the ability vertically position the device and a vehicle chocked thereby to a selectable vertical position.

Abstract: A tensioning assembly for use on a roller door, the roller door including a curtain windable on a roller for selectively blocking and unblocking a doorway above a floor surface, the tensioning assembly including: a drum attached to the roller for rotation therewith, a pulley disposed adjacent to the floor and also adjacent to a vertical edge of the curtain in the doorway blocking position; and a resilient member having a first end connected to the drum and a second end attached to a leading edge of the curtain, the resilient member passes around the pulley intermediate its first and second ends, and the resilient member is windable on the drum in an opposite sense to the winding of the curtain on the roller, the drum and resilient member are dimensioned relative to the roller and curtain to maintain a proportional stretch on the belt for all vertical positions of the curtain, thereby maintaining the curtain under tension at all times.

Abstract: A fabric air dispersion device system with a fabric tube, and a closure attached to an open end of the tube, the closure being movable between a closed, blocking position, and an air-releasing position wherein forced air in the tube can flow past the closure and out of the tube. The closure moves to the air-releasing position when the end of the tube is compressed from an inflated configuration to a compressed configuration. The closure is preferably formed of a plurality of closure members which include free edges, the members being in an overlapped configuration to prevent the free passage of forced air when the tube end is in the inflated configuration. Upon compression of the tube end, the free edges of the flaps move relative to one another to expose an area through which the forced air can flow. A compression member is provided to compress the end of the tube to move the closure to the air-releasing position.

Abstract: An omni-directional breakaway guide assembly for use in conjunction with a bottom member in a roll-up door. The guide assembly comprises a guide extension for engaging vertical guide members to guide the door in a vertical plane, and a bottom member portion coupled to the bottom member. The breakaway guide assembly includes a magnetic coupling between the guide extension and the bottom member portion. Upon application of a sufficient force on the bottom member the magnetic coupling is overcome and the bottom member and attached bottom member portion breakaway from the guide extension. Such breakaway may occur for forces applied in a variety of directions to the bottom member.

Abstract: A seal assembly, which minimizes or eliminates infiltration of rain water along the roof of a truck parked in a loading dock, generally comprises a downwardly inclined roof panel which extends outwardly from the building wall and collects the water. A gutter member, supported by and disposed along the length of the roof panel, collects water runoff from the building walls and the roof panel and channels the water away from the center of the door opening and towards either side of the loading dock opening. The seal assembly also comprises a seal member mounted to the roof panel and/or the gutter member so that it generally hangs into the upper portion of the door opening and engages the top portion of the truck so as to sealably engage the truck roof and form a water blocking barrier, thereby minimizing or eliminating infiltration of rain water along the truck roof.

Abstract: A vertical retainer assembly for a roll-up door that selectively blocks and unblocks a doorway, the door including a curtain attached to a roller, and vertical members disposed on either side of the doorway, which include vertically-disposed guide tracks for receiving and guiding the curtain in a vertical plane, the vertical retainer assembly compromising: a horizontally disposed member attached to the curtain, the member being movable out of the vertical plane of the door; and a retaining surface in one of the vertical members at a location external to the guide track, the horizontally disposed member being selectively engageable with this retaining surface which vertically retains the member against upward movement, and prevents the roller from being actuated to roll up the curtain.

Abstract: A wheel-actuated vehicle restraint device is provided for restraining at least one wheel of a vehicle during loading and unloading thereof. The vehicle restraint comprises a lock assembly comprising an actuation assembly for initially engaging the wheel of the incoming vehicle and a lock assembly for chocking the wheel in response to engagement between the wheel and the actuation assembly. The lock assembly is operatively connected to the actuation assembly at a connection point such that the connection point is selectively positionable in response to the dimensions and location of the wheel for insuring that the lock assembly engages a bottom portion of the wheel and moves along the peripheral surface of the wheel to a chock position. In one embodiment, the actuation assembly comprises a trigger assembly disposed to engage the wheel and a trolley assembly operatively connecting the lock assembly and trigger assembly.

Abstract: A system for loading and unloading a vehicle, including: a vehicle actuated wheel chock positioning device for at least one tire of such a vehicle which is rotatable on a treadway between an initial position and a plurality of operating positions, the chock positioning device including a mechanism engageable by such tire at the initial position and movable with the tire as it rolls on the treadway, a chock positionable behind the tire when the mechanism is in any of the operating positions in response to engagement of the mechanism by the rolling tire, and a controllable lock capable of selectively locking the chock in a chock position behind the tire corresponding to one of the operating positions, the system, in one preferred embodiment further including a leveling ramp carrying the chock positioning device with a device to vertically position the device and a vehicle chocked thereby to a selectable vertical position.

Abstract: A maintenance strut assembly for supporting a dock leveler in a maintenance position, the leveler being disposed above a dock platform surface and including a receiving opening, the strut assembly comprising a strut member adapted to be oriented in a supporting orientation between the leveler and a base member, and receivable within the receiving opening, the strut member including a lower portion and an upper portion extending above the top surface of the leveler in the maintenance position, a base member fixed beneath the leveler, the base member maintaining the strut member in a supporting orientation; and a supporting member fixed to the strut member and positioned along the strut member to engage the bottom surface of the leveler in the maintenance position to prevent downward movement of the leveler.

Abstract: A roll-up strip curtain barrier apparatus is provided which provides a curtain member suspended from a support roller rotatably mounted about a door opening. The curtain member has plurality of flexible curtain-like strip panels which are adapted to span the door opening and provide an air-blocking seal. In one embodiment, the plurality of the strip panels are disposed in a plurality of rows, each row having a plurality of adjacent strip panels. The panels in one row are in abutting and overlapping relationship with the panels in the adjacent row. In one mode of operation, the flexible strip panels deflect in response to personnel and material passing through the door opening and then return to their original suspended position. In another mode of operation, the support roller may be rotated so as to wind and elevate the curtain member about the roller and create an unobstructed door opening. Reverse rotation of the support roller lowers the curtain member to the sealing position.

Abstract: The drive screw system comprises a drive screw and a drive nut adapted for driving a cooperating member such as a vehicle restraining device between the proximal and distal ends of the drive screw. At least one bearing assembly is mounted to a track for supporting the drive screw and automatically moving between the proximal and distal ends of the drive screw in response to the drive nut to automatically maintain a predetermined maximum unsupported length of the drive screw. Each bearing assembly comprises two bearing supports connected at a fixed length and which are coaxially disposed relative to each other. In one embodiment, the length of each bearing assembly are integral multiples of the smallest fixed connecting length and the drive screw has stationary bearing supports disposed at the proximal and distal ends wherein the distance between the stationary supports is (n+1)*L where n is the number of bearing assemblies and L is the length of the shortest bearing assembly.

Abstract: A loading dock shelter having a rotating seal member is provided for forming a relatively air-tight seal between the dock opening and the truck to prevent the movement of air between the inside and outside of the building during the loading and unloading operation. The seal members are rotatably mounted to the frame assembly for rotation between a first (open) position and a second (sealing) position in response to the movement of the truck into and out of the loading dock. In the first position, the seal member is spaced outwardly from the wall and the loading dock so that it does not interfere with the normal operation of the loading dock and so that it projects into the path of the truck for engaging the truck as the truck backs into the loading dock.