Abstract: An electronic fishing information recording and storage device is disclosed. The device attaches to a traditional fishing rod and reel assembly and automatically records the number of casts executed with the subject rod and reel. For each fish caught, the device is capable of recording relevant information about the type of fish and weather conditions at the time of catch. Means are provided for transfer of fishing information to a traditional personal computer. The device provides a method for tournament fishing wherein the allotted time for each contestant to fish can be replaced by the number of casts allotted.

Abstract: A device for restraining a truck from movement during the loading and unloading thereof while the truck is parked in a driveway in a loading dock. The truck restraining device has a lock assembly comprising a base and a locking arm pivotally mounted to the base for rotating between retracted and extended positions. In the retracted position, the locking arm is substantially horizontal for permitting the truck to drive over the restraining device whereas, in the extended position, the locking arm extends upwardly for engaging the truck wheels for restraining movement of the truck.

Abstract: An electronic fishing information recording and storage device is disclosed. The device attaches to a traditional fishing rod and reel assembly and automatically records the number of casts executed with the subject rod and reel. For each fish caught, the device is capable of recording relevant information about the type of fish and weather conditions at the time of catch. Means are provided for transfer of fishing information to a traditional personal computer. The device provides a method for tournament fishing wherein the allotted time for each contestant to fish can be replaced by the number of casts allotted.

Abstract: Manually positioned wheel chocking apparatus are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the chocking apparatus includes a track secured adjacent a parking area; a movable chock; and means for temporarily fixing the chock to the track to substantially prevent the chock from moving. The movable chock has a surface which can be selectively positioned within the parking space at a location for engaging a tire of a vehicle. It also includes an extension for operatively engaging the track. The fixing apparatus may optionally comprise a pin sized to mate with a bore in a track or a frictional lock, preferably constructed as an over-center toggle.

Abstract: Manually positioned wheel chocking apparatus are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the chocking apparatus includes a track secured adjacent a parking area; a movable chock; and means for temporarily fixing the chock to the track to substantially prevent the chock from moving. The movable chock has a surface which can be selecidvely positioned within the parking space at a location for engaging a tire of a vehicle. It also includes an extension for operatively engaging the track. The fixing means may optionally comprise a pin sized to mate with a bore in a track or a, frictional lock, preferably constructed as an over-center toggle.

Abstract: A force display master interface is provided for interaction with teleoperated robotic slave manipulators or virtual slave entities. The device provides a de-coupled actuator that permits selective engagement between the actuator and the fingertip. A method for high speed control of force display masters is disclosed, which includes determination of a pre-contact state of the slave entity and an object in the slave environment. Operation on the pre-contact state information is used to pre-position the actuator into an appropriate position to represent the contact to the operator, before slave contact is made. In one embodiment, the force display master provides a hand mounted linkage assembly, in combination with a remote control assembly that measures fingertip motion and selectively provides resistance thereto. In another embodiment the invention includes general linkage-actuator arrangements that can be used singly or in combination to provide a variety of master interface devices.

Abstract: An outrigger to prevent a moving vehicle from overturning includes an arm that normally stays in a retracted, stored position that allows the vehicle freedom to travel, but then automatically extends to brace the vehicle in response to tilting to a predetermined limit. The arm has a pivotal or linear motion driven by virtue of its own weight or by spring force. A releasable latch holding the arm in the stored position automatically releases the arm in response to a mechanical or electrical tilt sensor that detects that the vehicle has tilted to the limit.

Abstract: A dock leveler ramp with a lip that can be latched in an extended position to ensure that the lip comes to rest upon the back end of a vehicle as the ramp descends includes an unlatching mechanism. The mechanism positively unlatches the lip by direct force created by the lip engaging the vehicle or created by the ramp descending upon an internal abutment in the event that a vehicle is not present. Also, the descent of an unlatched lip is dampened to prevent the lip from slamming back down to its pendant position.

Abstract: A dock leveler including a deck pivotally mounted relative to a loading dock, and a lip pivotally connected to the deck at the front end for pivotal movement between a pendant position and an extended position wherein the lip may engage the vehicle, at least one leg member pivotally connected to the front end of the deck for movement between a supporting position and a nonsupporting position, and a leg control member pivotally attached to the front end of the deck and adapted to engage the bed of the vehicle along with the lip, and to maintain the leg member in a nonsupporting position so long as the leg control member is carried on the bed of the vehicle, the leg control member losing contact with a departing vehicle before the lip loses contact with the vehicle, allowing the leg member to return to a supporting position, such that downward movement of the deck will be arrested in the event the vehicle continues departing and the lip loses contact with the bed of the vehicle with a load present on the deck.

Abstract: A device for restraining a truck from movement during the loading and unloading thereof while the truck is parked in a driveway in a loading dock. The truck restraining device has a lock assembly comprising a base and a locking arm pivotally mounted to the base for rotating between retracted and extended positions. In the retracted position, the locking arm is substantially horizontal for permitting the truck to drive over the restraining means whereas, in the extended position, the locking arm extends upwardly for engaging the truck wheels for restraining movement of the truck. The locking arm has a front end adapted to pivotally mount to the base and a rear end adapted to engage the wheel in the extended position. Means is provided for rotating the locking arm between the retracted and the extended positions.

Abstract: A device for restraining a truck from movement during the loading and unloading thereof while the truck is parked in a driveway in a loading dock. The truck restraining device has a lock assembly comprising a base and a locking arm pivotally mounted to the base for rotating between retracted and extended positions. In the retracted position, the locking arm is substantially horizontal for permitting the truck to drive over the restraining device whereas, in the extended position, the locking arm extends upwardly for engaging the truck wheels for restraining movement of the truck.

Abstract: Manually positioned wheel chocking apparatus are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the chocking apparatus includes a track secured adjacent a parking area; a movable chock; and fixing apparatus for temporarily fixing the chock to the track to substantially prevent the chock from moving. The movable chock has a surface which can be selectively positioned within the parking space at a location for engaging a tire of a vehicle. It also includes an extension for operatively engaging the track. The fixing apparatus may optionally comprise a pin sized to mate with a bore in a track or a frictional lock, preferably constructed as an over-center toggle.

Abstract: Improved vehicle restraints, restraint components and specific improvements to certain existing restraints, including: 1) improvements to the design of the barrier portion or head of the restraining member intended to prevent or eliminate downward forces exerted on the restraining member by a departing ICC bar; and 2) providing a locking member for locking the restraining member of a restraint into a given vertical position for a pull away by the parked vehicle, the lock not impeding normal operation of the restraint, but only being activated during a pull away.

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: 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: 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 vehicle-activated support assembly control system is provided which comprises a sensor assembly which senses the position of the vehicle relative to the dock leveler and an actuation assembly which is operatively connected to the support assembly so as to actuate or maintain the support assembly in a retracted position in response to the position of the vehicle. The actuation assembly is adapted to automatically position the support assembly between (1) a retracted or non-supporting position when the vehicle is in close proximity to the loading dock and (2) an active supporting position when the vehicle is greater than a predetermined distance from the loading dock. The control assembly is adapted to activate the support assembly and move the support assembly to the active supporting position as the vehicle pulls away from the dock leveler but before the lip loses contact with the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided for restraining a truck from movement during the loading and unloading thereof while the truck is parked in a driveway in a loading dock. The truck restraining device has a lock assembly comprising a base and a locking arm pivotally mounted to the base for rotating between retracted and extended positions. In the retracted position, the locking arm is substantially horizontal for permitting the truck to drive over the restraining device whereas, in the extended position, the locking arm extends upwardly for engaging the truck wheels for restraining movement of the truck.

Abstract: A dock leveler assembly for a loading dock is provided having an adjustable ramp, a pivotally mounted lip and a pivotally mounted barrier plate both disposed at front edge portion of the ramp. The pivotal movement of the lip and the barrier plate are coordinated so that, when the lip is in a depending stored position, the barrier plate may be selectively adjusted to assume either an operative upwardly projecting vehicle barrier mode or an inoperative non-projecting mode allowing material handling equipment to load or unload the rear end of a vehicle parked adjacent the loading dock. When the lip is in an operative cantilevered position bridging a gap formed between the ramp front edge portion and the bed of a parked vehicle the barrier plate assumes the inoperative mode allowing material handling equipment to pass over the ramp and the lip onto the bed of the parked vehicle during loading and unloading thereof.

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.