Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Resilient Vehicle Guide Rail Assembly.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to guide rails and is particularly
directed to a resilient vehicle guide rail assembly for guiding a vehicle
along a
desired path to a pre-determined proper position, for example for guiding a
transport vehicle while negotiating and positioning up against a loading dock
or the
like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known, it is frequently necessary to accurately position a vehicle,
such as a transport vehicle, within close proximity to a door opening in a
building
wall, such as a loading dock, to facilitate the loading or unloading of the
vehicle. In
this case, along with similar cases, an operator must accurately guide the
vehicle
along a pathway, bringing it to a defined position in relationship to
surrounding
stationary structures, enclosures, or spaces.
It is not uncommon for damage to occur to the vehicle and/or surrounding
structures which may be obscured from the operator's line of sight during the
positioning process. Moreover, the initial positioning of the vehicle may be
unsatisfactory. If this is the case, the positioning operation may have to be
repeated,
thereby leading to the possibility that damage will occur during
repositioning.
Alternatively, if repositioning is not performed, other consequential
problems, such
as difficulty in loading and unloading cargo, frequently arise, possibly
increasing the
time and cost involved in such an operation.
These and other problems inherent in vehicular positioning operations are
well recognized and the use of various devices and techniques to control
vehicles
along a prescribed path to overcome such problems is an art recognized
concept.
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For example, United States Patent 4,469,277 to Howes issued September 4,
1984 discloses a back-up guide for trucks or trailers made of two elongated
members
attached perpendicularly to each other, with spikes on their underside to hold
the
device in a stationary position. The longer of the two members provides a
guide for
the side of a vehicle's rear wheel during backing up, and the other, shorter
member
is laterally disposed and provides a wheel chock or stop member for the rear
wheel,
and also acts as a visual stop point for the driver. Both members are formed
of
square section steel tubing about 3 inches (76 mm) in width.
United States Patent 3,710,524 to Seiz issued January 16, 1973 discloses a
guide-way which directs an order pick-up vehicle in an aisle between storage
structures in a warehouse, the guide-way having a resilient entryway to assist
the
operator of the vehicle in aligning the vehicle with the guide-way prior to
travel
therein.
United States Patent 3,796,410 to Konstant issued March 12, 1974 discloses a
deflectable guide-rail adapted for positioning at the end of a rack aisle to
restrain
handling equipment from damaging a rack upon such equipment entering or
exiting
the aisle.
Presently, it is known to use permanently mounted vehicle guide rails to
locate a vehicle longitudinally. However, the vehicle guide rails known are
made of
steel or other non-resilient material. Experience has revealed that the usual
steel
vehicle guide rails employed in truck loading docks are more expensive than
they
might seem to be because of the necessity for rather frequent replacements due
to
impact damage.
Moreover, such steel vehicle guide rails do not tend to soften the impact of
the vehicle with the guide rail, and hence, are of little aid in preventing
damage of
truck wheels. Furthermore, the steel vehicle guide rails currently on the
marketplace
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are arranged at a specific height from the travel path. This height limitation
is
required to prevent direct friction of the wheel rims of a vehicle against the
steel
guide rails and causing damage to the rims and/or the guide rails. While the
above-
mentioned guide rails do tend to direct the vehicle, they do not maintain the
vehicle
within the desired path since because of the height limitation imposed upon
the
currently marketed vehicle guide rails, if the vehicle wheel is turned or
strikes
strongly against the guide rail, there is so much friction that the vehicle
tires could
obtain sufficient traction to climb over the guides, escape therefrom and the
vehicle
drives off path. As a result of such procedure, damage can occur to the
vehicle
and/or vehicle guide rail from the weight of the loaded trailer and cause
improper
positioning of the vehicle against a loading dock which then results in
repositioning
of the trailer and further time and costs involved.
It has been evident, therefore, that a relatively inexpensive, conveniently
mounted resilient vehicle guide rail assembly having the necessary height and
resiliency, is desirable.
It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a vehicle
guide
rail assembly, preferably a loading dock vehicle guide rail assembly, which
avoids
all of the drawbacks of the above-mentioned currently marketed vehicle guide
rails.
It is accordingly another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle
guide rail assembly which is arranged at a relatively greater height above the
travel
path.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle guide
rail
assembly, preferably made of resilient material.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle guide
rail
assembly which reduces the likelihood of trailer override.
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It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle guide
rail
assembly which reduces the likelihood of damage to the vehicle guide rail
and/or
the wheel rims of a vehicle.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle guide
rail
assembly that is economical to produce.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a vehicle guide rail
assembly which may use waste material in the production thereof.
Further and other objects of the invention will be apparent to a person
skilled
in the art reading the following:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle guide
rail assembly for guiding a vehicle to a proper position relative to a loading
dock,
the vehicle guide rail assembly comprising:
(a) at least one resilient member;
(b) at least one resilient member support; and
(c) at least one mounting element for mounting said guide rail assembly to
a surface, whereby said at least one resilient member is disposed at a
predetermined
height from said surface thus reducing the likelihood of damage to the
vehicle.
Preferably, the vehicle guide rail assembly comprises at least one pair of
vehicle guide rails arranged substantially parallel to each other and in a
substantially
horizontally spaced apart relationship.
Preferably, the at least one resilient member is a plurality of interconnected
resilient portions.
Preferably, the plurality of resilient portions are substantially arranged
face-
to-face to each other in a substantially stacked and compressed relationship.
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In one embodiment, the at least one mounting element is integral with said at
least one resilient member support.
Preferably, the at least one resilient member support is a rod.
Preferably, the at least one mounting element is a bracket.
5 In one embodiment, the at least one pair of vehicle guide rails has two
ends,
wherein one end of said pair of vehicle guide rails is substantially parallel
to each
other and the other end of said pair of vehicle guide rails is substantially
divergent.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
vehicle guide rail assembly comprising:
(i) a plurality of resilient members, substantially arranged face-to-face in a
substantially stacked relationship, said stack having at least two outer face
ends,
each of said plurality of resilient members having at least one aperture
located at a
predetermined position thereon;
(ii) at least one pair of brackets for abutting the outer face ends of the
stack;
(iii) at least one connecting member, said at least one connecting member
having two ends, wherein said connecting member extends through said at least
one
aperture of each of said plurality of resilient members and each of said ends
of said
at least one connecting member being secured by each of said at least one pair
of
brackets, whereby each of said plurality of resilient members is retained
along said
at least one connecting member as a stack, between said at least one pair of
brackets,
whereby said plurality or resilient members are at a predetermined height
reducing
the likelihood of damage to the vehicle.
In one embodiment, the at least one pair of brackets further comprises at
least
one mounting element located thereon, for mounting onto a surface.
Preferably, the at least one connecting member support is a rod.
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Preferably, the vehicle guide rail assembly comprises at least one pair of
vehicle guide rails arranged substantially parallel to each other and in a
substantially
horizontally spaced apart relationship.
In one embodiment, the at least one pair of vehicle guide rails has two ends,
wherein one end of said pair of vehicle guide rails is substantially parallel
to each
other and the other end of said pair of vehicle guide rails is substantially
divergent.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
vehicle guide rail assembly comprising:
(i) a plurality of rubber sheets arranged in a substantially face-to-face
stacked relationship, each of said rubber sheets having an aperture located
thereon,
such that each of said apertures of each of said rubber sheets are
substantially
aligned,
(ii) a plurality of brackets, for abutting said rubber sheets, each of said
brackets having an aperture located thereon such that each of said apertures
of each
of said brackets are substantially aligned with each of said apertures of each
of said
rubber sheets, and,
(iii) a rod, having two ends, said rod extending through each of said
apertures of each of said rubber sheets and each of said apertures of each of
said
brackets,
whereby each end of said rod is secured to one of said plurality of brackets,
each of said plurality of brackets. further comprising a mounting flange
located
thereon, for mounting said vehicle guide rail assembly to a surface such that
said
vehicle guide rail assembly projects a predetermined height above said
surface, to
prevent the likelihood of vehicle override and damage of a wheel rim of a
vehicle
when said vehicle is being positioned up against a loading dock.
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In any of the above embodiments, the at least one resilient member is
preferably a plurality of resilient members, preferably substantially arranged
face-to-
face in a substantially stacked relationship.
In any of the above embodiments, the resilient material may include but is not
limited to scrap laminate rubber, crumb rubber, foam, a spring or a
combination of
the above.
In any of the above embodiments, the overall height of the vehicle guide rail
assembly is preferably at least as high as the lower edge of a wheel rim of a
vehicle,
preferably at least 10 inches from the surface of the driveway approaching a
loading
dock.
In any one of the embodiments, the vehicle guide rail assembly is preferably
arranged substantially parallel to the desired path of the vehicle.
In any one of the above embodiments, the vehicle guide rail assembly is
constructed of a single vehicle guide rail for engaging the wheels on one side
of a
vehicle.
In any one of the above embodiments, the vehicle guide rail assembly is
constructed of a plurality of individual stacks combined in an end to end
arrangement to define the desired path for the vehicle.
In any of the above embodiments, the vehicle guide rail assembly is
constructed of a single continuous stack to define the desired path for the
vehicle.
In any of the above embodiments, the vehicle guide rail assembly is
constructed of a pair of vehicle guide rails, a right hand vehicle guide rail
and a left
hand vehicle guide rail arranged substantially parallel to each other and in a
horizontally spaced apart relationship to engage the wheels on each side of a
vehicle.
The vehicle guide rail assembly of the present invention has several
advantages. Its arrangement at a relatively greater height above a vehicle's
travel
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path reduces the likelihood of vehicle override. The resilient aspect of its
construction reduces the likelihood of damage to the vehicle guide rail
assembly
and/or the wheel rims of a vehicle. Because it may use waste material in the
production thereof, it is economical to produce. Also, because it can be
easily
mounted to an existing driveway, the installation does not require the expense
of
excavation and concrete construction. Furthermore, because it rests on the
surface of
the driveway, it is easily accessible for service, and can be easily detached
and
moved to a new location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be further understood from the following
description with references to the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates in a top view, a typical prior art wheel guide rail
assembly.
Fig. 2 illustrates in a top view, the vehicle guide rail assembly in one
embodiment of the present invention showing a vehicle when positioned thereby.
Fig. 3 illustrates in a perspective view, the vehicle guide rail assembly in
one
embodiment of the present invention showing various parts thereof.
Fig. 4 illustrates in a side elevation view, a vehicle when positioned by the
vehicle guide rail assembly in one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 illustrates in a perspective view, the resilient member in another
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 illustrates in a perspective view, the resilient member in another
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 illustrates in a perspective view, the bracket in one embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 8 illustrates the resilient members on the connection member in yet
another embodiment of the present invention.
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Fig. 9 illustrates the resilient members on the connecting member using ball
bearings.
Fig. 10 illustrates the resilient .members on the connecting member using
grease.
Similar references are used in different figures to denote similar components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a typical prior art wheel guide rail
assembly having a pair of guide rails made of tubular steel, the top of the
guide rails
being positioned at a pre-determined height above the surface of the driveway
approaching a loading dock which is well below the height of a wheel rim of a
vehicle. The prior art arrangement does not provide for the prevention of
damage to
the wheel rims of a vehicle nor damage to the guide rails themselves, nor does
it
provide adequate prevention of vehicle override.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a vehicle guide rail assembly 10 of
the present invention which is constructed of a pair of vehicle guide rails; a
right
hand vehicle guide rail 12 located at one side of the driveway approaching the
loading dock 16 and a left hand vehicle guide rail 12' located at the other
side of the
driveway approaching the loading dock 16. The two vehicle guide rails 12 and
12'
are mirror images of each other and are arranged substantially parallel to
each other
and in a horizontally spaced apart relationship to engage the outside of the
wheels
14 on each side of a vehicle. In this embodiment, the vehicle guide rail
assembly 10
serves to capture and provide for proper positioning of the wheels 14 of an
incoming
vehicle up against the loading dock 16.
In a preferred embodiment, one end 18 of the vehicle guide rail assembly 10
may be arranged in a substantially diverging relationship to the other end 20
of the
vehicle guide rail assembly 10 making the entrance at the one end 18 to the
vehicle
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guide rail assembly 10 wider than the distance between the wheels 14 of a
vehicle to
permit reception of the wheels 14 therein even though the vehicle may not be
in
substantially horizontal alignment with the desired path.
In this embodiment, the one end 18 of the vehicle guide rail assembly 10
5 begins the locating and guiding of the approaching vehicle and as the wheels
14
approach the other end 20 of the vehicle guide rail assembly 10, the vehicle
is
properly positioned in relation to the loading dock 16.
In determining the distance between the right and left hand vehicle guide
rails 12, 12', the variation in the track width of different types of vehicles
travelling
10 over the desired path will be considered. The spacing of the right and left
hand
vehicle guide rails 12, 12', is correlated with the spacing of the right and
left wheels
14 of a vehicle so that each wheel will contact each one of the vehicle guide
rails 12
and 12' when the vehicle is backed up along the desired path in substantially
horizontal alignment with the loading dock 16.
Each of the vehicle guide rails 12 and 12' comprise a plurality of
individually
and substantially same size rectangular members 22 made of resilient material,
in
this embodiment, laminate scrap rubber sheets such as that removed from
vehicle
tires. The resilient members 22 are arranged face-to-face in a stacked
relationship
constituting the body of the vehicle guide rail assembly 10 providing an
elevated
vertical surface for contact with the wheels 14 of a vehicle and thus acting
to keep
the vehicle in the desired path. The dimensions of the resilient members 22
may
vary depending upon design requirements or preference.
Each of the resilient members 22 has an aperture 24, as by drilling or cutting
or punching or otherwise. The apertures 24 are located substantially in the
same
position on each resilient member 22 so that when placed in a stacked
relationship,
the apertures 24 align with each other and provide a longitudinal opening
through
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the entire stack of resilient members 22. The resilient members 22 are secured
along
a connecting member 28 between a plurality of brackets 26, each of the
brackets 26
has an axially aligned aperture 26' thereon such that the resilient members 22
are
substantially compressed between the brackets 26.
The connecting member 28 is in the form of parallel through-bolt which is
inserted and which extends through the aligned apertures 24 of the resilient
members 22 and the apertures 26' of the brackets 26, such that the connecting
member 28 has each end thereof secured to the bracket 26. The connecting
member
28 may be secured to the brackets 26 by any suitable means, i.e. welding nut
and
bolt, threaded arrangement, or the like. T'he resilient members 22 extend
beyond the
peripheral edge of each of the brackets 26 proximate the side which abuts the
wheel,
so that the brackets 26 will not be damaged by the wheel rims of a vehicle
backing
up against the vehicle guide rail assembly 10, nor will the brackets 26
interfere with
the performance of the vehicle guide rail assembly 10 as best seen in Figure
3.
In this embodiment, each of the brackets 26 comprises a mounting flange 30
located at one end of each of the brackets 26. The mounting flange 30 is
provided to
mount the vehicle guide rail assembly 10 against a rigid surface, in this
embodiment,
the driveway approaching a loading dock 16. The mounting flange 30 is
preferably
flush with the rear face of the vehicle guide rail assembly 10, so that the
mounting
flange 30 does not interfere with the performance of the vehicle guide rail
assembly
10 as best seen in Figure 4.
The vehicle guide rail assembly 10 may be attached to the surface of the
driveway by bolts, it may be welded to a steel plate which has been embedded
in the
concrete of the driveway, or any other appropriate means so long as the
vehicle
guide rail assembly 10 is secured.
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The compression of the resilient members 22 along the connecting member 28
can be established by holding the vehicle guide rails 12, 12' in a press or
vise until
the ends of the connecting member 28 are appropriately secured onto the
brackets 26
to maintain the desired pressure. Preferably in one embodiment, the pressure
is
2000 pounds compression.
While one connecting member 28 has been shown, more or less connecting
members may also be used, depending on the size of the vehicle guide rail
assembly
and the application thereof.
While a plurality of brackets 26 have been shown, a pair of brackets may also
be used depending on the size of the vehicle guide rail assembly and the
application
thereof.
As best seen in Figure 3, the vehicle guide rails 12, 12' are constructed of a
continuous single unit for engaging the wheels 14 of a vehicle. It will be
evident
however, that a plurality of individual vehicle guide rails 12, 12' combined
in an end
to end arrangement to define the desired path for a vehicle may also be used.
As best seen in Figures 2 and 4, when a vehicle is being backed up to a
loading dock 16, the wheels 14 of the vehicle contact the resilient members 22
of the
one end 18 of the vehicle guide rail assembly 10. The one end 18 meeting the
wheels
14 of a vehicle acts to essentially capture the vehicle and begins the guiding
process.
If the wheels 14 attempt to climb the assembly 10, the resilient members 22 of
the
vehicle guide rail assembly 10 have a height above the driveway such that it
will
reduce the likelihood of the wheels 14 of the vehicle to climb over the
vehicle guide
rail assembly 10. As the vehicle continues towards the loading dock 16, the
other
end 20 of the vehicle guide rail assembly 10 also operates to reduce the
likelihood of
the wheels 14 from inadvertently leaving the desired path and directs the
vehicle
along the path to guide the vehicle to a proper position relative to a loading
dock 16.
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In yet another embodiment, as best seen in Fig. 5, there is shown a variation
to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the resilient members
22
are bulbous in shape 32.
In yet another embodiment, as best seen in Fig. 6, there is shown a variation
to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the resilient members
22
are substantially circular in shape 34.
In another embodiment, the resilient members 22 preferably have the ability
to rotate on said connecting member 28, such that when the wheels 14 engage
the
resilient members 22, the rim 22 will rotate thereby further reducing the
likelihood
of damage and/or vehicle override or the like. One exemplary way of
accomplishing this ability to substantially rotate is by having the apertures
24 of the
resilient member 34 being at least slightly greater in diameter than the
diameter of
the connecting members 28, such that the resilient member 34 will fit onto
said
connecting member 28 to provide for rotation thereof, as best seen in Fig. 8.
Other
ways of accomplishing the ability of the resilient member 34 to rotate on the
connecting member 28 are also contemplated by the present invention. As best
seen
in Fig. 9, in another embodiment, the resilient member 34 is placed onto a
collar 38
and the collar 38 is then placed onto the connecting member 28 such that there
are
ball bearings 40 between the collar 38 and the connecting member 28, allowing
rotation of the collar 38. In Fig. 10, there is shown a liquid, preferably
grease 42,
between the collar 38 and the connecting member 28.
In another embodiment, the vehicle guide rail assembly 10 is constructed of a
single vehicle guide rail 12 for engaging the wheels 14 on one side of a
vehicle. In
this instance, only the wheels 14 on one side of the vehicle abut against the
vehicle
guide rail 12 and be guided in the proper position relative to a loading dock
16 (not
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shown), while the wheels 14 on the other side of the vehicle run alongside a
stationary structure such as a wall or the like.
In any of the above embodiments, the layering configuration of the laminate
scrap rubber sheets can be substantially horizontal as shown in Figs. 2 and 3
substantially vertical (not shown) or a combination of both (not shown).
Furthermore, the resilient members 22 can also be formed as a single resilient
member extending along the length of the connecting member 28.
The preferred material for the connecting member 28 and each of the brackets
26 in any of the above embodiments is high carbon steel, but any appropriate
metal
or any other effective material which can meet the requirements of the
invention
may be used. Preferably the connecting member 28 is a '/A inch diameter carbon
steel rod and each of the brackets 26 are substantially trapezoidal in shape.
Furthermore, although laminate scrap rubber sheets are shown in these
embodiments as the preferred material for the resilient members 22, any
suitable
resilient material may be used, which can meet the requirements of the
invention.
The length of the vehicle guide rails 12,12' are selected so that the vehicle
will
travel over a required distance. This will be determined by factors such as
the width
and length of the vehicle and the space limitation in which the vehicle is
being
moved. Further, the vehicle guide rails 12, 12' used for guiding the vehicle
through
the path should have an optimum height above the driveway such that the height
will be at least as high as the lower edge of a wheel rim of a vehicle, to
allow for
substantial prevention of damage to the wheel rim and substantial prevention
of
vehicle override. Preferably the overall height of the vehicle guide rails 12
and 12'
should be approximately 10 inches from the surface of the driveway.
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While the vehicle guide rails 12 and 12' may be made in different sizes as
previously mentioned, in a typical case, the vehicle guide rails 12 and 12'
are 83
inches long and the degree of divergence is approximately 7 degrees.
As many changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention
5 without departing form the scope of the invention; it is intended that all
material
contained herein be interpreted as illustrative of the invention and not in a
limiting
sense.
