Abstract: A sealing mechanism associated with a dockboard for providing a weather seal for the pit in the loading dock during a loading operation. The sealing mechanism includes a pair of guide tracks mounted on the vertical front face of the dock, and a frame is mounted for sliding movement on the guide tracks and is biased to an upward position. A flexible panel is carried by the frame and extends upwardly and outwardly in a position to be engaged by the rear end of a truck bed as a truck backs toward the loading dock for a loading operation. An operating rod extends upwardly from the frame and is positioned to be engaged by the ramp of the dockboard to thereby enable the panel to follow downward float of the truck bed during a loading operation. Engagement of the panel with the truck bed, along with the engagement of the sides of the panel with bumpers mounted on the loading dock, provide an effective weather seal for the pit area during the loading operation.

Abstract: An improved dock shelter comprising a pair of side panels and a top panel which are hinged to the dock and border a doorway in the dock. The panels are each biased to a storage position where the panel extends laterally outward from the dock. The panels are pivoted inwardly from the storage position to an operative sealing position by inflatable bags which are operably connected to the panels. A blower mounted above the doorway operates through a duct system to inflate the bags and pivot the panels into sealing engagement with the sides and top of a truck parked in front of the dock. When the loading operation is completed, operation of the blower is discontinued and the biasing mechanism acts to return the panels to the storage position. Corner panels are carried by the top panel and are mounted for flatwise sliding movement relative to the respective side panels.

Abstract: An improved counterbalancing mechanism for an edge-of-dock dockboard. The dockboard comprises a frame mounted on a loading dock and one end of a center plate is pivotally connected to the frame. A lip is hinged to the opposite end of the center plate and is movable between a downwardly hanging pendant position and an extended position where the lip forms an extension to the center plate. A counterbalancing mechanism includes a first link pivotally connected to the center plate, and a second link pivotally connected to the lip. The opposite ends of the links are connected together, and a counterbalancing mechanism, such as a spring, interconnects the first link and the frame of the dockboard. The linkage is constructed and arranged so that when the center plate is in a horizontal storage position and the lip is pendant, the force of the counterbalancing spring will urge the lip in toward the dock.

Abstract: A dock shelter to provide a seal between the rear end of a truck and a loading dock. The dock shelter includes a pair of side sections mounted along the sides of a doorway in the dock and each side section is composed of a resilient pad that projects outwardly from the dock. A group of panels are secured in vertically spaced relation to the outer end of each pad and extend in a direction toward the center of the doorway and are disposed at an acute angle with respect to the wall of the dock. An arm is connected to the inner end of each panel and extends outwardly from the panel in a direction away from the dock. The arm is located at an angle of about 90.degree. with respect to the panel. Interconnecting each pad and the inner ends of the panels is a flexible curtain that extends the full height of the side section, while a vertical sealing strip connects the spaced arms.