WEDGE SUPPORT

SUPPORT DE CALE

English Abstract

A support apparatus for a wheel chock for a trailer, semi-trailer or truck comprising a mobile and articulated arm, affixed to an exterior wall of a loading dock where the extremity supports a wheel chock. A part of the arm, mobile, having its anchor point at the loading dock, is attached by a universal joint to a second section, which is articulated, on which the wheel chock is affixed via a pivot. A recall mechanism assists in the motion and storage of the wheel chock support while ensuring that the chock exerts a pressure on the tire when it is in position under the wheel.

French Abstract

Un appareil de support pour une cale de roue de remorque, de semi-remorque ou de camion comprenant un bras mobile et articulé, fixé à un mur extérieur d'un quai de chargement, où l'extrémité supporte une cale de roue. Une partie du bras, mobile, ayant son point d'ancrage au quai de chargement, est fixé par un joint universel à une seconde section, qui est articulée, sur laquelle la cale de roue est fixée par l'intermédiaire d'un pivot. Un mécanisme de rappel aide au mouvement et au stockage du support de cale de roue, tout en assurant que la cale exerce une pression sur le pneu lorsqu'il est en position sous la roue.

Claims

7
CLAIMS
1. Wheel chock support arm system comprising:
a movable arm means connected by one end
in a vicinity of a loading dock and by another end to
a wheel chock:
a tension means mounted between a dock face of said loading dock and said arm
means,
said tension means being provided to facilitate easy placement of said chock
under a wheel of a
vehicle and to assure a secure positioning of said chock during loading and
unloading operation
and to facilitate a placement of said arm means into a storage position,
wherein said tension means facilitate the secure positioning of said chock by
means of
exerting pressure on a tire of said wheel and by means of counterbalancing a
weight of said chock
for easy setting.
2. Wheel chock support arni system according to claim 1, wherein said movable
arm means
comprises a first section and a second section, said first and second section
being pivotally
connected to each other.
3. Wheel chock support arm system according to claim 2, wherein said first
section being
connected to said chock by a first pivot means, said first pivot means is
provided to facilitate
movement of said chock.
4. Wheel chock support arm system according to claim 2, wherein said movable
arm means is
mounted on said dock face.
5. Wheel chock support arm system according to claim 4, wherein said second
arm section is
connected to said dock face by a second pivot means, said second pivot means
provided to
facilitate movement of said second arm section.
6. Wheel chock support arm system according to claim 2, wherein said first and
said second arm
portion are connected to each other by a joint or pivot.

8
7. Wheel chock support arm system according to claim 1, wherein said tension
means is an
extension spring.
8. Wheel chock support arm system according to claim 5, wherein said second
pivot means of
said second arm section is mounted on said dock face by a mounting means.
9. Wheel restraining system comprising:
a movable arm means connected by one end
in a vicinity of a loading dock and by another end to
a wheel restraint means:
a tension means mounted between said arm mean and mounting means located in
the
vicinity of said loading dock, said tension means being provided to facilitate
an easy placement of
said wheel restraint means under a wheel of a vehicle and to assure a secure
positioning of said
wheel restraint means during loading and unloading operations and to
facilitate a placement of said
arm means into a storage position,
wherein said wheel restraining system is provided to restrain movement of said
vehicle
away from a loading dock,
wherein said tension means facilitate secure positioning of said chock by
means of
exerting pressure on a tire of said wheel and by means of counterbalancing a
weight of said chock
for easy setting.
10. Wheel restraining system according to claim 9, wherein said movable arm
means comprises a
first section and a second section, said first and second section being
pivotally connected to each
other.
11. Wheel restraining system according to claim 10, wherein said wheel
restraint means is a chock.
12. Wheel restraining system according to claim 11, wherein said first section
is connected to said
chock by a first pivot means, said first pivot means are provided to
facilitate movement of said
chock.

9
13. Wheel restraining system according to claim 11, wherein said movable arm
means is mounted
on a dock face.
14. Wheel restraining system according to claim 10, wherein said second arm
section is connected
to said exterior wall by a second pivot means, said second pivot means being
provided to facilitate
movement of said second arm section.
15. Wheel restraining system according to claim 10, wherein said first and
said second arm
portions are connected to each other by a joint or pivot.
16. Wheel restraining system according to claim 9, wherein said tension means
is an extension
spring.
17. Wheel restraining system according to claim 14, wherein said second pivot
means of said
second arm section is mounted on said dock face by a mounting means.
18. Wheel chocking system comprising:
a truck tire wheel chock, said chock is connected to one end of
an adjustment means, said adjustment means are attached by another end to
mounting means located in proximity of a truck docking bay, and
tensioning means mounted between said adjustment means and said mounting
means, said
tension means are provided to assist in moving said system into an operational
position and to
exert tensioning force on said wheel chock to assure a secure positioning of
said chock under a
truck tire during the operational mode, and assist in moving said system from
the operational mode
into a storage position, and
wherein said tension means facilitate secure positioning of said chock by
means of
exerting pressure on said truck tire and by means of counterbalancing a weight
of said chock for

easy setting.
19. Wheel chocking system according to claim 18, wherein said adjustment means
comprises at
least two rigid beams.
20. Wheel chocking system according to claim 19, wherein said rigid beams are
pivotally attached
together.
21. Wheel chocking system according to claim 20, wherein said rigid beams are
attached
together by a joint or pivot.
22. Wheel chocking system according to claim 18, wherein said wheel chock is
attached to one end
of said adjustment means.
23. Wheel chocking system according to claim 18, wherein the other end of said
adjustment means
is attached to said mounting, means.
24. Wheel chocking system according to claim 18, wherein said mounting means
are immovably
attached in proximity to said truck docking bay.
25. Wheel chocking system according to claim 18, wherein said tensioning means
comprises an
extension spring.

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26. Wheel chock support system according to claim 1, wherein said tension
means is a piston.
27. Wheel restraining system according to claim 9, wherein said tension means
is a piston.
28. Wheel chocking system according to claim 18, wherein said tensioning means
is a piston.

Description

CA 02164738 2008-04-17
Specification
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a support apparatus for a wheel chock for use
by businesses at
loading and unloading docks for trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers to
facilitate the use of chocks
and ensure use of chocks by all truckers.
Description of prior art
It is customary in the transportation industry to use wheel chocks to prevent
accidents that can
happen if a truck or a semi-trailer moves during loading. Wheel chocks used in
the transportation
industry are handled by hand. Practice dictates that they are placed near
loading docks and
truckers have to take them from their storage space to put them under one or
more wheels of
their semi trailer or truck. After loading, the trucker has to put the chock
back into its storage
space. Two problems arise. In some cases, truckers are in a rush and leave the
chock on the
ground. These chocks can be crushed by the arrival of another semi trailer at
the loading dock, or
lost during snow removal in the winter. In other cases, truckers simply leave
with the chock. The
industry has to accommodate a significant number of lost or stolen chocks
because there is no
system to place the chocks back into their storage space.
Chocks are sometimes heavy and difficult to manipulate. They are often covered
in sludge, earth
or grease, making many reluctant to use this important safety element at
loading docks. If a
wheel chock detection system is implemented, truckers often deactivate the
system by removing
a chock out of its support and simply place it on the ground without putting
it under a wheel.
When they are used and the ground is wet, covered by snow or iced over, chocks
have a
tendency to lose some of their traction and can slide on the ground, which
substantially reduces
their efficiency and they don't offer the same safety they should.

CA 02164738 2008-04-17
Summary of the invention
According to the present invention, an apparatus to support a chock comprises
an articulated and
movable arm.
Preferably, a section is attached to the loading dock via an anchor point, at
whose extremity is
joined a second movable section.
Preferably, at the extremity of the second section, a chock is attached via a
pivot.
Preferably, the articulation and mobility of the arm is ensured by a pivot at
the anchor point at
the loading dock, a universal joint at the point where the two sections of the
arm meet, and a
pivot at the attachment point of the chock.
Preferably, a recall system, being a spring or a piston, facilitates the
manipulation of the arm
while ensuring that the wheel chock exerts a pressure on the wheel when it is
in position on it.
This system also permits to recall and upkeep of the wheel chock when it is
stored in its space.
Description of the drawings
Figure 1 is a plan view of the parts that make up the apparatus of the wheel
chock support.
Figure 2 is a lateral view of the wheel chock support when the chock is in
position under the
wheel.
Figure 3 is a lateral view of the wheel chock in storage position.
As described on the drawings, the wheel chock support apparatus is made to
help manipulation
of the wheel chock and to support it from its storage position to its position
under the wheel.
The apparatus comprises two sections, (4) and (6), joined by a universal joint
(5) that permits
gyratory motion of section (4) supporting the wheel chock (1). Section (6) is
attached to the
anchor system (9) by a pivot (8) that allows up and down movements. At the
extremity of section
(4), a wheel chock (1) is attached via a pivot (2) that permits up and down
movements of chock
(1). Spring (7) is attached by one extremity to loading dock wall (10) and by
the other extremity

CA 02164738 2008-04-17
to universal joint (5), and can be removed to let section (4) to be
disassembled without breaking
off the arm when the arm is fully extended. Spring (7) also provides useful
recall force when
truckers handle the support by exerting a recall force on chock (1) to provide
holding force on
tire (3) when it is in position, and permits the support to remain in storage
position when not in
use, as well as avoiding slippage. Handle (11) facilitates movement of the
chock support.
It goes without saying that the present invention should not be considered as
limited to the
described mode, and covers all variations thereof.

Representative Drawing