Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Hanging or drape type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2002-08-13
Safavi, Michael (Department: 3635)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Hanging or drape type
C052S173200, C112S417000, C112S475060, C112S475080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06431252
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of loading docks, and more specifically to loading dock shelters that are positioned around a loading dock opening to provide a shelter between the loading dock and the open end of a vehicle (e.g., a truck or trailer).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most warehouses, manufacturing facilities and large retail stores include loading docks that provide a location for loading and unloading vehicles. Loading docks typically include a raised platform and a dock opening positioned above the raised platform. The dock opening is formed by a dock wall having two vertical side portions extending upwardly from the platform, and a horizontal upper portion connecting the top of the side portions. A vehicle can back toward the dock opening until the back of the vehicle is abutting the platform. The platform sometimes includes a dockleveler that provides a ramp between the platform and the bed of the vehicle to facilitate loading and unloading of the vehicle (e.g., by a forklift).
Many loading docks include dock seals and shelters that provide a barrier between the dock wall and the back of the vehicle. For example, dock shelters can include rigid frame shelters that are made from wood or steel tubing. The rigid frame typically includes a head frame positioned above the dock opening and side frames positioned on opposing sides of the dock opening. Fiberglass panels or flexible fabric covers the frames. In addition, a head curtain and side curtains with flexible stays are positioned in front of the frames and are designed to contact the vehicle to provide a barrier between the inside of the loading dock and the exterior environment.
The above-described dock shelters provide good protection against the elements. However, as with most loading dock equipment, it must withstand repeated uses under a variety of weather and loading conditions. Any increase in longevity of the dock shelters would therefore be an improvement. In addition, simplified construction techniques and improved structural stability are desirable design goals.
A typical dock shelter
10
is illustrated in FIG.
1
. The dock shelter
10
includes a frame
20
that is adapted to be mounted to a loading dock
12
. The dock shelter
10
further includes a head curtain
26
that hangs from a top portion of the frame
20
, and side curtains
28
that extend inwardly from respective side portions of the frame
20
. The head curtain
26
and the side curtains
28
typically include flexible stays (not visible in
FIG. 1
) which add resiliency to the curtains to maintain a biased contact with different sized vehicles when the vehicles are positioned at the loading dock.
Referring now particularly to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the curtains
28
are typically pre-assembled before they are shipped to the site of loading dock. A typical curtain
28
includes a weather-proof sheet
22
that has several pockets
24
mounted in uniform spaced parallel relation along the length of the sheet
22
(spacing is shown most clearly in FIGS.
1
and
4
). The pockets
24
are adapted to receive flexible stays
27
. One end of each stay
27
is typically inserted into a protective sleeve
23
before the stay
27
is inserted into the pocket
24
. The sleeve
23
prevents the edges of the stay
27
from puncturing or prematurely wearing the sheet
22
. The sleeve
23
is typically much smaller than the pocket
24
.
A typical curtain
28
is assembled by punching or drilling a hole
25
in one end of the stay
27
prior to inserting the stay
27
into the pocket
24
. Corresponding holes
26
are also punctured through the pocket
24
and the sheet
22
. The stay
27
, with the sleeve
23
mounted thereon, is inserted into the pocket
24
and then manually manipulated until the hole
25
in the stay
27
and the holes
26
in the sheet
22
and pocket
24
are aligned. The stay
27
is secured to the sheet
22
and the pocket
24
by inserting a grommet
30
into the aligned holes
25
,
26
and then crimping the pocket
24
, stay
27
and sheet
22
together using the grommet
30
.
As shown most clearly in
FIG. 4
, the curtain
28
is assembled to the frame
20
of the dock shelter
10
by positioning the curtain
28
between an angled section
40
and the frame
20
and then securing the angled section
40
and the curtain
28
to the frame
20
using a wood screw
41
. The angled section
40
typically includes pre-punched holes
42
such that each wood screw
41
is inserted through one of the pre-punched holes
42
in the angled section
40
and then through the grommet
30
before being threaded into the frame
20
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the drawbacks associated with using a grommet to secure the stay to the curtain is that the spacing between the pockets on the curtain often varies due to manufacturing tolerances. Therefore, the spacing between grommets often varies slightly. The varying distances between the grommets will result in one of two scenarios.
The first scenario has adjacent grommets farther from one another than the distance between the pre-punched holes in the angled section. In this first scenario, the grommets must be manually moved closer together as the curtain and angled section are assembled to the frame. The adjacent grommets are moved closer together until two of the adjacent pre-punched holes that are in the angled section are aligned with two adjacent grommets. Once the pre-punched holes and the grommets are aligned, wood screws can be inserted through the adjacent holes in the angled section and the corresponding grommets in the curtain. Moving adjacent grommets closer together before assembling the curtain and angled section to the frame causes the curtain to bunch under the angled section as the angled section and curtain are assembled to the frame.
The second scenario has adjacent grommets closer to one another than the distance between the pre-punched holes in the angled section. In this second scenario, only one of the adjacent grommets is able to receive a wood screw because the sheet in the curtain can only be stretched so far. As a result, the angled section and curtain must either be assembled to the frame using less than an appropriate number of fasteners, or an extra hole must be drilled through the angled section at a precise location which is aligned with the grommets. An alternative but more costly solution is to acquire a replacement curtain. However, the replacement curtain may also have the same problems.
These conventional curtains are also relatively expensive and difficult to assemble. As stated previously, the stay in a conventional curtain must typically have a hole pre-punched into the end of the stay that is positioned under the angled section. In addition, the pocket and sheet must have a hole pre-punctured hole in order to be able to receive a grommet. Finally, the stay must be manually manipulated until the hole in the stay is aligned with the pre-punctured holes in the pocket and sheet so that they may be crimped together by the grommet.
The present invention alleviates one or more of the above-noted problems by providing a curtain for a dock shelter that is easily assembled and is easily assembled in combination with other components as part of a dock shelter. The curtain of the present invention is designed to ensure that each of the stays in the curtain are easily and reliably inserted into the pockets on the curtain with the stays appropriately positioned in spaced, parallel relation on the curtain.
The curtain includes a sheet, preferably a weather resistant sheet, that has a pocket mounted thereon. The pocket is adapted to receive a flexible stay and includes slits. The slits in the pocket align and maintain the stay in the appropriate position within the pocket by inhibiting movement of the stay. For example, the pocket can include two slits, and the stay can be positioned between the two slits.
In one embodiment, the pocket of the curtain is folded under itself at one end before the pocket is secured to the sheet of
Eungard William C.
Strobel Ronald T.
Baker & Hostetter LLP
Kelley Company Inc.
Safavi Michael
LandOfFree
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