Abstract: A door stopping mechanism for a sliding glazing patio door or like, independent in construction from the sliding glazing for which it is stopping, includes a vertical and horizontal component. The horizontal component is within the track of the door, while the vertical component is selectively attached to the sliding member. The mechanism is changeable from a locked to unlocked position by manipulation by a user at mid-height of the door, and at least one of the locked or unlocked positions is maintained by gravity.

Abstract: A door stopping mechanism for a sliding glazing patio door or like, independent in construction from the sliding glazing for which it is stopping, includes a vertical and horizontal component. The horizontal component is within the track of the door, while the vertical component is selectively attached to the sliding member. The mechanism is changeable from a locked to unlocked position by manipulation by a user at mid-height of the door, and at least one of the locked or unlocked positions is maintained by gravity.

Abstract: A door stopping mechanism for a sliding glazing patio door or like, independent in construction from the sliding glazing for which it is stopping, includes a vertical and horizontal component. The horizontal component is within the track of the door, while the vertical component is selectively attached to the sliding member. The mechanism is changeable from a locked to unlocked position by manipulation by a user at mid-height of the door, and at least one of the locked or unlocked positions is maintained by gravity.

Abstract: A dock leveler comprising a vehicle-engaging lip pivotally coupled to the vertically adjustable front edge of a deck includes a seal or series of seal segments that close one or more air gaps that exist in the area where the lip is hinged to the deck. Such gaps are particularly large when the lip hinge comprises a hinge pin that couples a series of lugs extending from underneath the deck to a series of lugs extending from the lip, wherein the lugs are spaced apart along the length of the hinge pin. The seal or seal segments could be above the deck, below the deck, or interposed between the adjoining edges of the deck and the lip. In some cases, the seal is provided by an air curtain or by a tube that is inflatable or hermetically sealed.

Abstract: Flexible structures for use with dock seals and shelters are disclosed. An example flexible structure includes a rigid backer to couple a flexible panel assembly to a loading dock wall and a flexible, self-supporting sheet-shaped member having sufficient rigidity to enable the flexible sheet-shaped member to be cantilevered from a surface of a building without substantial sagging. The sheet-shaped member has an inner surface and an outer surface defining a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge where the first and second longitudinal edges couple to the rigid backer. The inner surface defines an empty cavity when the sheet-shaped member is coupled to the rigid backer.

Abstract: Side seal member for a loading dock seal are disclosed. An example dock seal includes a backer to couple the dock seal to a wall and a resiliently compressible member supported by the backer. A pliable cover encases the compressible member. The pliable cover has a first end overlapping a second end to define a separable joint that is to be disposed between the backer and the wall when the dock seal is coupled to the wall.

Abstract: Flexible structures for use with dock seals and shelters are disclosed. An example flexible structure includes a rigid backer to couple a flexible panel assembly to a loading dock wall and a flexible, self-supporting sheet-shaped member having sufficient rigidity to enable the flexible sheet-shaped member to be cantilevered from a surface of a building without substantial sagging. The sheet-shaped member has an inner surface and an outer surface defining a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge where the first and second longitudinal edges couple to the rigid backer. The inner surface defines an empty cavity when the sheet-shaped member is coupled to the rigid backer.

Abstract: Flexible structures for use with dock seals and shelters are disclosed. An example flexible structure includes an elongate flexible panel assembly having first and second longitudinal edges and at least one flexible thin-walled member having a length along a longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible panel assembly. The at least one flexible thin-walled member is configured to have a cross-sectional geometry that provides sufficient rigidity to enable the elongate flexible panel assembly to be cantilevered from a surface via the first longitudinal edge without substantial deformation of the cross-sectional geometry of the at least one flexible thin-walled member along the length of the at least one flexible thin-walled member.

Abstract: A dock leveler comprising a vehicle-engaging lip pivotally coupled to the vertically adjustable front edge of a deck includes a seal or series of seal segments that close one or more air gaps that exist in the area where the lip is hinged to the deck. Such gaps are particularly large when the lip hinge comprises a hinge pin that couples a series of lugs extending from underneath the deck to a series of lugs extending from the lip, wherein the lugs are spaced apart along the length of the hinge pin. The seal or seal segments could be above the deck, below the deck, or interposed between the adjoining edges of the deck and the lip. In some cases, the seal is provided by an air curtain or by a tube that is inflatable or hermetically sealed.

Abstract: Side seal member for a loading dock seal are disclosed. An example truck loading dock seal comprising a resiliently compressible side pad supported by a relatively rigid backer and encased within a pliable cover includes at least one flexible lip protruding from the cover to seal a gap that might exist between the backer and the wall to which the backer is mounted. In some cases, the lip is part of the cover and is located where a rear vertical edge of the side pad meets the wall. The flexibility of the lip enables the lip to sealingly conform to a wall having an irregular surface. For additional sealing, a back sheet of the pliable cover includes a touch-and-hold fastener and/or overlapping layers of material that can provide a compressible seal between the wall and the backer.

Abstract: Side seal member for a loading dock seal are disclosed. An example dock seal includes a backer to couple the dock seal to a wall and a resiliently compressible member supported by the backer. A pliable cover encases the compressible member. The pliable cover has a first end overlapping a second end to define a separable joint that is to be disposed between the backer and the wall when the dock seal is coupled to the wall.

Abstract: Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example head curtain assembly for a vehicle loading dock includes a retractable curtain stiffened by a resiliently compressible foam panel that is more flexible about a horizontal axis than about a vertical axis. The difference in directional flexibility can be created by sewing the foam panel to a pliable cover using a series of parallel horizontal thread lines. The thread lines create in the foam a series of compressed indentations that run horizontally across the curtain so that the curtain tends to bend more easily along those lines. The relative stiffness in the horizontal direction enables the curtain to exert an appreciable sealing force against two lateral dock seal members, and the vertical flexibility makes the curtain easy to retract to accommodate vehicles of various heights. Touch-and-hold fasteners make many of the individual components of the head curtain readily replaceable.

Abstract: Weather shields for underneath a dock leveler are described herein. An example weather shield described herein includes an environmental barrier disposed underneath a deck where the environmental barrier includes a first section and a second section. A tensioner is coupled to the environmental barrier and creates a vertical tension in the environmental barrier in an upward direction such that a) when the deck is in the raised position, both the first section and the second section are in vertical tension; b) when the deck is in the lowered position, both the first section and the second section are in less vertical tension than they are when the deck is in the raised position; and c) when the deck is in the intermediate position, the first section is in appreciably greater vertical tension than the second section such that there is a discrete incremental difference in vertical tension in the environmental barrier.

Abstract: Flexible structures for use with dock seals and shelters are disclosed. An example flexible structure includes an elongate flexible panel assembly having first and second longitudinal edges and at least one flexible thin-walled member having a length along a longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible panel assembly. The at least one flexible thin-walled member is configured to have a cross-sectional geometry that provides sufficient rigidity to enable the elongate flexible panel assembly to be cantilevered from a surface via the first longitudinal edge without substantial deformation of the cross-sectional geometry of the at least one flexible thin-walled member along the length of the at least one flexible thin-walled member.

Abstract: Flexible structures for use with dock seals and shelters are disclosed. An example flexible structure includes an elongate flexible panel assembly having first and second longitudinal edges and at least one flexible thin-walled member having a length along a longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible panel assembly. The at least one flexible thin-walled member is configured to have a cross-sectional geometry that provides sufficient rigidity to enable the elongate flexible panel assembly to be cantilevered from a surface via the first longitudinal edge without substantial deformation of the cross-sectional geometry of the at least one flexible thin-walled member along the length of the at least one flexible thin-walled member.

Abstract: Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example head curtain assembly for a vehicle loading dock includes a retractable curtain stiffened by a resiliently compressible foam panel that is more flexible about a horizontal axis than about a vertical axis. The difference in directional flexibility can be created by sewing the foam panel to a pliable cover using a series of parallel horizontal thread lines. The thread lines create in the foam a series of compressed indentations that run horizontally across the curtain so that the curtain tends to bend more easily along those lines. The relative stiffness in the horizontal direction enables the curtain to exert an appreciable sealing force against two lateral dock seal members, and the vertical flexibility makes the curtain easy to retract to accommodate vehicles of various heights. Touch-and-hold fasteners make many of the individual components of the head curtain readily replaceable.

Abstract: Side seal member for a loading dock seal are disclosed. An example truck loading dock seal comprising a resiliently compressible side pad supported by a relatively rigid backer and encased within a pliable cover includes at least one flexible lip protruding from the cover to seal a gap that might exist between the backer and the wall to which the backer is mounted. In some cases, the lip is part of the cover and is located where a rear vertical edge of the side pad meets the wall. The flexibility of the lip enables the lip to sealingly conform to a wall having an irregular surface. For additional sealing, a back sheet of the pliable cover includes a touch-and-hold fastener and/or overlapping layers of material that can provide a compressible seal between the wall and the backer.

Abstract: A shield system for shielding the area underneath a dock leveler allows a gap to be created either above or below the shield when the deck rises, whereby a shield of a given height dimension can used on dock levelers of various lift heights. In some embodiments, the shield is a pliable curtain that a tensioner holds taut during some operations of the dock leveler, yet the curtain can collapse for below-dock operation. The shield system can be used on horizontally storing dock levelers or vertically storing ones. In some cases, the system includes a pliable web that extends between a front face of the deck and a lip extending from the deck. The web can help seal the area adjacent to a pair of dock bumpers.

Abstract: A dock leveler comprising a vehicle-engaging lip pivotally coupled to the vertically adjustable front edge of a deck includes a seal or series of seal segments that close one or more air gaps that exist in the area where the lip is hinged to the deck. Such gaps are particularly large when the lip hinge comprises a hinge pin that couples a series of lugs extending from underneath the deck to a series of lugs extending from the lip, wherein the lugs are spaced apart along the length of the hinge pin. The seal or seal segments could be above the deck, below the deck, or interposed between the adjoining edges of the deck and the lip. In some cases, the seal is provided by an air curtain or by a tube that is inflatable or hermetically sealed.

Abstract: A dock leveler with a vertically adjustable deck and horizontally translating lip includes a weather shield that helps shelter a pit area underneath the lip and the deck. The dock leveler and shield system is particularly suited for serving trucks that include a rear liftgate. An upper edge of the weather shield seals against and moves with the lip of the dock leveler, and a lower edge of the shield can be attached to a lower dividing panel. The lower dividing panel (sometimes known as an ISO panel) isolates the deck of the dock leveler from a liftgate-receiving receptacle within the pit area. The weather shield accommodates the lip's horizontal movement and the deck's vertical movement. The shield is such that it further accommodates a vertically moving door panel that can close in front of both the deck and the lip.