Brakes – Vehicle – On ground
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-06-26
Schwartz, Christopher P. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Vehicle
On ground
C414S401000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250432
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of vehicle restraining devices that prevent movement of a vehicle away from a desired location. More specifically, the present invention relates to powered wheel chocking devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Powered wheel chocking devices have been developed to allow a vehicle (e.g., a straight truck, a trailer with or without a tractor, etc.) to be secured at a desired location (e.g., a loading dock) so that loading, unloading or other operations can be performed without risk that the vehicle will unexpectedly move away. Such wheel chocking devices typically include a chock that can be selectively moved by a drive mechanism between a chocked position and an unchocked position. These devices are commonly provided with visual and audible signals that indicate when the chock is in the chocked position and when the chock is in a unchecked position.
One type of powered wheel chocking device has been designed by Michel Roux, and is disclosed in European Patent Publication No. 537,075. The Roux device includes a chock that is movable between an unchecked lowered position and chocked raised position. The Roux device is designed to maintain the chock in a lowered position until the chock has been moved longitudinally into contact with the vehicle wheel. After contact with the vehicle wheel, further movement of the drive mechanism causes the chock to pivot to the raised position to secure the vehicle wheel.
A similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,965 to Springer et al. The Springer device also includes a chock that is movable between lowered and raised positions, and the chock is designed to be moved longitudinally into contact with the vehicle wheel while the chock is in the lowered position. After contact with the wheel, the drive mechanism will continue to drive a portion of the chock until the chock moves to the raised position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One problem with the above noted powered wheel chocking devices is that the chock can prematurely move to the raised position before the chock is positioned in contact with the vehicle wheel. This can be caused by an impediment (e.g., ice, debris, damage or other discontinuity) in the path of the chock. Such an impediment can restrict movement of the chock to such a degree that the device acts as if the vehicle wheel has been engaged, when in fact it has not been engaged. The result is that the chock can prematurely move to the raised position. After the chock is raised, the drive mechanism can overcome the impediment and continue moving the raised chock toward the vehicle wheel. If the vehicle includes depending obstructions (e.g., tool boxes, spare tires, etc.) hanging down from the vehicle in the chock's path, the raised chock could engage the obstruction and give a false indication that the vehicle wheel has been properly engaged.
Another problem with some of the prior art devices is that the drive mechanisms are unnecessarily complex, requiring sliding support blocks and collapsing chock wheels. Some of these devices also position the drive mechanism offset from the wheel path, thereby requiring the use of two chocks and a centered drive mechanism to compensate for the misaligned forces involved in securing the vehicle.
The present invention alleviates the above noted problem by providing a wheel chocking device that is designed to deflect around any obstructions that could be depending from a vehicle in the chock's path. In this regard, the invention is embodied in a method of securing a vehicle at a desired location- using a wheel chocking device having a chock movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The method comprises the steps of positioning the vehicle at the desired location with the chock in the lowered position, raising the chock to the raised position, moving the raised chock toward a wheel of the vehicle, sensing the presence of an obstruction on the vehicle, lowering the raised chock to an intermediate position to allow the chock to pass under the obstruction, and contacting the chock with the wheel.
The present invention also provides a wheel chocking device having a drive mechanism that is positioned underneath the chock so that the vehicle actually drives over the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism of the present invention is simplified with the use of a drive screw and a partial drive nut that facilitates the use of support members for supporting the drive screw at spaced locations along the length of the drive screw. A multi-link chock facilitates use of the device on wheels of varying sizes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1102773 (1914-07-01), Martin
patent: 3110466 (1963-11-01), O'Sullivan
patent: 3305049 (1967-02-01), Willey
patent: 4207019 (1980-06-01), Cone
patent: 4216724 (1980-08-01), Grillet
patent: 5531557 (1996-07-01), Springer
patent: 5553987 (1996-09-01), Ellis
patent: 5582498 (1996-12-01), Springer et al.
patent: 5709518 (1998-01-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 5762459 (1998-06-01), Springer et al.
patent: 583404 (1933-02-01), None
patent: 537074A1 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 91 12448 (1963-04-01), None
patent: 526008 (1958-02-01), None
patent: WO95/18029 (1995-07-01), None
“Equipements Servoqual” brochure published by Michel Roux starting in March, 1991 or earlier, and translation
“Les Hommes, Les Vehicules, Le Quai” Brochure published by Michel Roux starting in Nov. 1991 or earlierr, and translation.
Photographs published by Michel Roux in 1991.
“Descriptif Technique, Descriptif de Fonctionnement, & Caracteristiques Techniques” brochure published by Michel Roux starting in Oct., 1991 or earlierr, and translation.
“Amenagement de Quais Industriels” brochure published by Michel Roux starting in Nov., 1991 or earlierr, and translation.
“Calage Automatiqe” brochure published collectively with the “Amenagement de Quals Industriels” brochure by Michel Roux starting in Mar. 1992 or earlier, and translation.
Hageman Martin P.
Hodges Charles H.
Palus Thomas J.
Sherard Jack L.
Kelley Company Inc.
Michael & Best & Friedrich LLP
Schwartz Christopher P.
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