Abstract: Dock leveler safety supports are disclosed herein. An example dock leveler disclosed herein includes a deck movable relative to a platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration, where a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the deck are proximate the platform when the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position and the deck residing at least partially in a pit when the front edge of the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position. A front edge of the deck is above at least one of the lowered cross-traffic position or the raised position and inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing flexible moulded polyurethane foams (flexible moulded PU foams) with horizontally disposed zones of different hardness, the method being implemented in such a way that at least two fluid reaction mixtures, forming foams with different hardnesses, are introduced in succession in horizontal disposition, in layer form, into the moulding cavity, with at least one fluid reaction mixture being freely foamed, before at least one further foam-forming fluid reaction mixture is introduced into the moulding cavity.

Abstract: A suction cup dust extractor for a drill including a housing; a drill collar attached to the housing, having a drill passage formed through it; a recess formed by the walls of the housing having an opening and which, in use, locates against a work piece to create a chamber; an aperture located on the housing through which air can pass; and an air passage formed within the housing which enables air to pass from the drill passage to the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing polyether carbonate polyols, wherein: (i) in a first step, (a) carbon dioxide and propylene oxide or (b) carbon dioxide and a mixture of propylene oxide and at least one further alkylene oxide in a ratio by weight of >90:10 are attached to one or more H-functional starting substances in the presence of at least one DMC catalyst; ii) in a second step, the reaction mixture obtained from step (i) is (ii-1) first chain-lengthened with a mixture containing propylene oxide (PO) and ethylene oxide (EO) in a PO/EO ratio by weight of 90/10 to 20/80 in the presence of at least one DMC catalyst.

Abstract: A suction cup dust extractor for a drill including a housing; a drill collar having a drill passage formed through it; a recess formed by the walls of the housing having an opening and which, in use, locates against a work piece to create a chamber; an aperture located on the housing through which air can pass; at least one first air passage formed within the housing which connects to the aperture; and at least one second air passage formed within the housing which enables air to pass from the recess to the aperture; the collar being releasably attachable to the housing, the at least one first air passage making fluid connection with the drill passage when it is attached to the housing to enable air to pass from the drill passage to the aperture.

Abstract: Example manual wheel restraint systems and methods for restraining a vehicle at a loading dock include are disclosed herein. An example wheel restraint disclosed herein includes a retractable wheel-blocking barrier mounted to a carrier that can be repositioned along a track, where the track is anchored to a driveway of a loading dock. The track runs generally parallel to a vehicle path that a wheel of a vehicle travels along as the vehicle backs into the dock. To block a rear wheel of the vehicle parked at the dock, the barrier extends laterally into the wheel path, adjacent or in front of the wheel. To release the vehicle, the barrier retracts out from within the wheel path. In some examples, to ensure that the vehicle is secured, the barrier and/or the carrier include barrier or carrier catches to help hold the barrier and carrier in a fixed position. In some examples, one or more sensors determine or sense whether the catches are secured or released and generate signals accordingly.

Abstract: Example light fixtures include one or more light transmitting illuminated rods that emit a series or array of discrete spots of light. Some example light fixtures disclosed herein include optical features that provide an intriguing, attention-getting affect that can be useful particularly in alerting personnel of certain conditions at a doorway of a truck loading dock. In some examples, the light transmitting rods are mechanically coupled to a housing that contains an LED light source. The mechanical coupling allows the illuminated rods to be readily replaced without disrupting with the operation or wiring of the light source. Some example light fixtures illuminate the cargo bay of a vehicle at the loading dock.

Abstract: Vehicle restraints are disclosed herein. An example vehicle restraint disclosed herein includes a deck installable at the loading dock and a lip extending from the deck where the deck and lip are movable between a stored configuration and an operative configuration such that the deck and lip in the operative configuration provide a bridge between a vehicle bed and a platform when the deck is installed at a loading dock and the vehicle is at the loading dock. A blocking member is selectively attachable to the lip to selectively engage and disengage a restraint feature of the vehicle bed. The blocking member restricts forward movement of the vehicle relative to the loading dock when the blocking is engaged with the restrain feature and the blocking member allows forward movement of the vehicle relative to the loading dock when the blocking is disengaged from the restraint.

Abstract: Vehicle restraints with underside catches are disclosed. An example vehicle restraint includes a main body and a barrier. The barrier includes a proximal end, and a distal end. The distal end is selectively movable to a first blocking position, a plurality of extended blocking positions, and a stored position. The example vehicle restraint also includes an engageable feature. The example vehicle restraint further includes a stop. The stop is to engage the engageable feature when the distal end is at the first blocking position while the stop is at a holding position. The stop is spaced apart from the engageable feature when the distal end is at the first blocking position while the stop is at a release position. The stop is spaced apart from the engageable feature when the distal end is in the stored position.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed. The handle assembly has a handle (84), a metal strip (82) for releasably mounting the handle assembly to the housing of a power tool, and a fastening mechanism (80, 100, 104) for tightening and loosening the metal strip on the housing of the power tool. Vibration dampers (124, 126) are located between the handle and the fastening mechanism to damp vibrations transmitted from the fastening mechanism to the handle. Limited rotation of the handle relative to the metal strip is possibly, but rotation beyond predetermined limits causes the fastening mechanism to tighten and/or loosen the metal strip on the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polyether polyols having primary hydroxyl end groups, comprising the steps of reacting a starter compound containing active hydrogen atoms with an epoxide under double metal cyanide catalysis, reacting the resulting product with a cyclic carboxylic anhydride and reacting this resulting product with ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one nitrogen atom per molecule, excluding non-cyclic, identically substituted tertiary amines. The invention further relates to polyether polyols obtainable by this process, compositions containing said polyols and polyurethane polymers based on said polyols.

Abstract: An example wheel restraint includes a track to be positioned adjacent a vehicle approach path of a loading dock. A shuttle is pivotally coupled to the track via a track follower and pivots between a home position and a deployed position about a shuttle axis substantially parallel to and offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the track. A barrier is pivotally coupled to the shuttle and pivots between a non-blocking position and a blocking position about a pivot axis substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the track such that the shuttle rotates in a first direction about the shuttle axis when the shuttle moves from the home position to the deployed position and bather rotates in a second direction about the pivot axis when the barrier moves from the non-blocking position to the blocking position, where the first direction being different than the second direction.

Abstract: A suction cup dust extractor for a drill having a housing; a drill collar attached to the housing, having a drill passage formed through it; a recess formed by the walls of the housing having an opening and which, in use, locates against a work piece to create a chamber; a single aperture located on the housing through which air can pass; at least one first air passage formed by the walls of the housing which connects between the drill and the aperture to enable air to pass from the drill passage to the aperture; and at least one second air passage formed within the housing which connects between the recess and the at least one first air passage and which enables air to pass from the recess to the aperture via a part of the at least one first air passage; characterized in that there is a dividing wall which forms both one of the walls of the recess and one of the walls of the first passage, the at least one second passage being an aperture formed through that wall.

Abstract: An example wheel restraint includes a wheel chock that is manually movable between a retracted or release position clear of a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock and an operative position to block the path of the wheel. In the release position, the chock can be manually moved freely along a track that is mounted to a driveway of the dock. When the chock is manually moved from its release position to its operative position, a locking feature automatically restricts the movement of the chock relative to the track. When the chock is manually moved back to its release position, the locking feature automatically disengages. Although the wheel chock is connected to a track, much of the force exerted by the wheel against the chock can be transmitted directly from the chock to the driveway.

Abstract: Example manual wheel restraint systems and methods for restraining a vehicle at a loading dock include are disclosed herein. An example wheel restraint disclosed herein includes a retractable wheel-blocking barrier mounted to a carrier that can be repositioned along a track, where the track is anchored to a driveway of a loading dock. The track runs generally parallel to a vehicle path that a wheel of a vehicle travels along as the vehicle backs into the dock. To block a rear wheel of the vehicle parked at the dock, the barrier extends laterally into the wheel path, adjacent or in front of the wheel. To release the vehicle, the barrier retracts out from within the wheel path. In some examples, to ensure that the vehicle is secured, the barrier and/or the carrier include barrier or carrier catches to help hold the barrier and carrier in a fixed position. In some examples, one or more sensors determine or sense whether the catches are secured or released and generate signals accordingly.

Abstract: A suction cup dust extractor for a drill having a housing; a drill collar attached to the housing, having a drill passage formed through it; an aperture located on the housing through which air can be sucked out by a suction device; a recess formed by the walls of the housing having an opening which, in use, locates against a work piece to create a chamber; at least one first air passage formed within the housing which enables air to pass from the drill passage to the aperture; at least one second air passage formed within the housing which enables air to pass from the recess to the aperture; and a manually operable valve mechanism mounted in the housing which is connected to the recess and which, when operated, allows air surrounding the housing to freely enter the recess when its opening is located against a work piece; characterized in that the housing further comprises a hand grip), the valve mechanism being mounted, at least in part, inside of the hand grip.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for moveably mounting a handle of a power tool to a housing of the power tool is disclosed. The mounting assembly has a metal bar (324) mounted to a housing (290) of the power tool and a vibration damper (332) mounted to a handle (294) of the power tool and slidably mounted to the metal bar. The vibration damper includes a vibration damping member (344) for damping vibrations tending to cause the vibration damper to pivot relative to the metal bar about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metal bar.

Abstract: An example of a vehicle brace for use at a loading dock includes a vehicle support member that can travel to various heights along a vertical track. The support member exerts a substantial but limited resistive force up against the underside of a vehicle's rear impact guard to mitigate bouncing of the vehicle's truck or trailer bed as the vehicle is being loaded and/or unloaded of its cargo. Of particular interest in some examples is a rather short brake actuator mounted at an angle to create an inclined binding clamp action, the actuator being installed to travel with the vehicle support member, and the track having an inclined braking surface so that the brake's clamping force does not rely on friction alone, all of which provides for a compact vehicle brace installable as a self-contained unit and operated without having to rely on structural support from a driveway surface.

Abstract: A tool holder for a hand supported impacting machine, which tool holder is suitable for receiving a tool having a shank portion on which is formed a retaining collar. The tool holder includes a tubular main body for receiving the tool and at least one locking element moveably mounted with respect to the main body and having an engaging portion moveable between a radially inner locked position in which the engaging portion is engageable with the retaining collar of the tool and a radially outer unlocked position in which a tool can be inserted into or removed from the tool holder. The tool holder additionally comprises a manually actuable sleeve moveable between a locked position in which the locking elements are held in their locked position and an unlocked position in which the engaging portions of the locking elements are moveable to their unlocked position.