Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
DRAWBRIDGE DOCKING SYSTEM
Priority Claim
The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
62/978,027 filed
February 18, 2020.
Field
[0001] The subject disclosure generally relates to docking plates installed
on dock tops,
to create a transition surface for ingress to and egress from shipping and
delivery vehicles and
more particularly to a docking plate with a simplified, drawbridge-style
design.
BackEround
[0002] Docking plates are well known and are often used in shipping,
receiving and
delivery areas of facilities of all kinds. Docking plates come in a variety of
sizes, styles and
configurations; most are used to create a generally horizontal ramped
transition surface for the
movement of people and loading and unloading of materials from delivery
vehicles into the
facility with a minimum of difficulty.
[0003] Drawbacks and limitations exist in numerous of the docking plates
currently
known and available. Several popular models are not affixed to the dock top,
thereby requiring
personnel to manually lift the docking plate or plate, place same in between
the dock top floor
and the delivery vehicle as a bridge, reposition as necessary during the
course of loading,
unloading, and transit, and then subsequently remove and store. These docking
plate options
are cost-effective, but are cumbersome and difficult to lift, place,
reposition and remove, and
create a worker safety concern.
[0004] More expensive docking plate solutions involve hydraulic systems to
lift, place,
reposition if necessary, and remove the docking plate bridge between the dock
top and the
delivery vehicle. Such systems are safer and more effective than manual
systems, but are often
prohibitively expensive, and require maintenance and specialized training to
operate.
Accordingly, novel docking plate systems have been developed to reduce or
alleviate at least
some of these mechanical, personnel, and cost concerns.
[0005] For example, U.S. Patent No. 394067S to Wanddell discloses a
horizontally
hinged raiseable, extensible docking plate, wherein a docking plate bridge is
raised from the
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dock top and extended, by means of a rolling guide and a hinged lip plate, to
form a continuous
load supporting span throughout their combined extent from a vehicle platform
to the dock top.
This is a useable iteration but includes too many moving features and
therefore opportunities
for wear, breakage or mechanical failure, as well as being prohibitively
expensive.
[0006] While the usefulness of known and available docking plates is well-
known,
improvements and/or alternatives are generally desired. It is therefore an
object to provide a
novel docking plate with a simplified, drawbridge-style design.
Summary
[0007] It should be appreciated that this summary is provided to introduce
a selection
of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the
detailed description of
embodiments. This summary is not intended to be used to limit the scope of the
claimed subject
matter.
[0008] Accordingly, in one aspect there is provided a dockboard featuring a
hinged
dock plate with a simplified design resembling a drawbridge, with one plate
portion being a
stationary dock plate bolted flat on a dock top in an unobstructing
disposition, and a second
plate portion being a movable dock plate, fixably connected to the first
portion with hinges,
which may be raised or lowered to extend or retract a continuous floor plane
giving horizontal
access from the dock top to the adjacent receiving or discharging vehicle.
When in an
inoperative position, the second, movable dock plate is rotated to rest at a
resting position angle
of between 60 and 80 degrees from the first, stationary dock plate. When in an
operative
position, the movable dock plate is rotated to rest at a circumferential
resting position of 180
degrees from the stationary dock plate, forming a continuous load-supporting
plane with the
stationary dock plate.
[0009] In one or more embodiments, the movable dock plate is sloped outward
from
its connection to the stationary plate, at the hinge, approximately ten
degrees over its span, to
create an easily traversable slope for users.
[0010] In one or more embodiments, the lip of the movable dock plate is
tapered, in
order that it also sloped outward at approximately ten degrees over its span,
to create an easily
traversable slope to the receiving or discharging vehicle.
[0011] In one or more embodiments, the stationary dock plate is bolted to
the dock top
with two or more bolts.
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[0012] In one or more embodiments, the hinge connecting the movable plate
to the
stationary plate is an interleaving piano hinge. The stationary plate and the
movable plate abut,
at the hinge, when the movable plate is in its extended position. The vertical
corner edge of the
stationary plate closest to the hinge and the vertical corner edge of the
movable plate closest to
the hinge abut when the movable plate is in its retracted position.
[0013] In one or more embodiments, the angle of the movable plate in its
extended
position may be controlled by a rubber bumper affixed to the dock top. The
movable plate in
its retracted position may be controlled by use of a metal tie.
Brief Description of the Drawino
[0014] Embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a simplified overhead view of the movable dock plate with
tapered lip;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a simplified side view of the moveable dock plate and the
hinge pin;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic of the preferred embodiment of the
dockboard
of the present disclosure, shown mounted on a dock top in proximity to an
adjacent delivery
vehicle, and showing the dock top, the stationary plate affixed to the
horizontal edge of the
dock top, the movable plate rotating by means of the hinges to several
positions along the axis
of its rotation, the rubber bumper affixed to the vertical edge of the dock
top, and the adjacent
delivery vehicle with rubber stopper;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a top view of the stationary plate and the movable plate
interleaving;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a top view of the moveable plate with tapered lip and
hinges;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the stationary plate and the movable
plate with hinge
connections; and
[0021] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the slope of the movable plate.
Detailed Description of Embodiments
[0022] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description
of certain
embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings. As used herein, an element or feature recited in the singular and
preceded by the
word -a" or -an" should be understood as not necessarily excluding a plural of
the elements of
features. Further, references to one example" or one embodiment" are not
intended to be
interpreted as excluding the existence of additional examples or embodiments
that also
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incorporate the recited elements or features of that one example or one
embodiment. Moreover,
unless explicitly stated to the contrary, examples or embodiments -
comprising," -having" or
-including" an element or feature or a plurality of elements or features
having a particular
property may further include additional elements or features not having that
particular property.
Also, it will be appreciated that the terms -comprises" -has" and -includes"
mean -including
but not limited to" and the terms -comprising" -having" and -including" have
equivalent
meanings.
[0023] As used herein, the term -and/or" can include any and all
combinations of one
of more of the associated listed elements or features.
[0024] It will be understood that when an element or feature is referred to
as being
-on," -attached" to, -connected" to, -coupled" with, -engaged" with, -
contacting," etc.,
another element or feature, that element or feature can be directly on,
attached to, connected
to, coupled with, engaged with or contacting the other element or feature or
intervening
elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element or feature is
referred to as being,
for example -directly on," -directly attached" to, -directly connected" to, -
directly coupled"
with, -directly engaged" with or -directly contacting" another element or
feature, there are no
intervening elements or features present.
[0025] It will be understood that spatially relative terms, such as -
under," -below,"
-lower," -over," -above," -upper," -front," -back," and the like, may be used
herein for ease
of describing the relationship of an element or feature to another element or
feature as depicted
in the figures. The spatially relative terms can, however, encompass different
orientations in
use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
[0026] Reference herein to -example" means that one or more features,
structures,
elements, components characteristics and/or operational steps described in
connection with the
example is included in at least one embodiment and/or implementation of the
subject matter
according to the subject disclosure. Thus, the phrases -an example," -another
example," and
similar language throughout the subject disclosure may, but do not
necessarily, refer to the
same example. Further, the subject matter characterizing any one example may,
but does not
necessarily, include the subject matter characterizing any other example.
[0027] Reference herein to -configured" denotes an actual state of
configuration that
fundamentally ties the element or feature to the physical characteristics of
the element or
feature preceding the phrase -configured to."
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[0028] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms 'first," -second," etc. are
used here in
merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or
hierarchical
requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover. Reference to a
-second" item
does not require or preclude the existence of a lower-numbered item (e.g., a
"first" item) and/or
a higher-numbered item (e.g., a "third" item).
[0029] As used herein, the terms -approximately" and -about" represent an
amount
close to the stated amount that still performs the desired function or
achieves the desired result.
For example, the terms -approximately" and -about" may refer to an amount that
is within
engineering tolerances that would be readily appreciated by a person skilled
in the art.
[0030] As shown in FIGURES 1-3, the drawbridge system 10 comprises a
stationary
plate 20, a hinge 30 and a movable dock plate 40. As shown in FIGURE 1, the
stationary dock
plate 20 is a flat, rectangular metal dock plate, fabricated of aluminum or
galvanized or stainless
steel, or such other materiel as may be determined by one skilled in the art.
As shown in
FIGURES 1 and 3, the stationary dock plate 20 is disposed on the dock top 50
with an outer
end portion 22 extending almost, but not entirely, to the outer edge 52 of the
dock top 50, where
the dock ends. The inner end portion 24 of the stationary dock plate 20 is
supported by the dock
top 50 and extends toward the building (not shown) of which the dock top 50 is
a part. The
stationary dock plate 20 is fixably attached to the dock top 50 by way of two
or more bolts 28,
at least one on each side of the stationary dock plate 20. The bolts28 are as
close to the margin
of the stationary plate 20 as practicable to minimize interference with users
traversing the
drawbridge system 10 or dockboard, particularly where wheeled moving element s
are in use.
[0031] As shown in FIGURES 2 and 6, the hinge apparatus 30 consists of a
hinge pin
32 and a number of hinges 34, and is located at the meeting point of, and
fixably connected to,
the stationary dock plate 20 and the movable dock plate 40. Three or more
interleaving piano
hinges 34 are pivotally connected to both the stationary plate 20 and the
movable plate 40. The
hinge pin 32 extends through the hinges 34 and spans the width of both the
stationary plate 20
and the movable plate 40. The hinge pin 32 is a hardened, treated rod or pin
fabricated of
galvanized or stainless steel, or such other materiel as may be determined by
one skilled in the
art, to minimize wear and tear. The length of the hinge pin 32 will be
coextensive with the
width of the stationary 20 and movable 40 dock plates.
[0032] As shown in FIGURES 3-5 The movable plate 40 is a flat, rectangular
metal
dock plate, fabricated of aluminum or galvanized or stainless steel, or such
other materiel as
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-16
may be determined by one skilled in the art. The movable dock plate 40 is
disposed, in its
retracted, inoperative position, rotated inward away from the dock top 50 by
means of the hinge
apparatus 30 at a circumferential angle of between 60 and 80 degrees from the
stationary plate
20, and generally above the stationary plate 20 on the dock top 50. In its
retracted, inoperative
position, the inner end portion 42 of the movable plate 40 at its hinged
connection 30 to the
stationary plate 20 rests generally on the dock top 50, and its outer end
portion 44 extending
inward to the building side of the dock top 50 and is supported by the
abutment of its vertical
corner edge 46 with the vertical corner edge 26 of the stationary plate 20.
[0033] In its retracted, inoperative position, the movable plate 40 may be
controlled by
use of a metal tie (not shown) which could be, for instance, looped through a
bolt hole 28, or
another alternative securing mechanism or materiel as may be determined by one
skilled in the
art.
[0034] As detailed in FIGURES 3 and 7, the movable dock plate 40 is sloped
along its
length, as considered outward from its connection at the inner portion 42 to
the stationary plate
20 at the hinge 30, to its outward edge 44 toward the edge of the dock top 50
(when in its
extended, operative position), approximately ten degrees from the horizontal
over its span,
thereby creating an easily traversable slope for users.
[0035] The movable dock plate 40 has a tapered lip 49 at its outward edge
44, in order
that the lip also slopes outward and downward from the horizontal, at
approximately ten
degrees over its span, thereby creating an easily traversable slope at the
immediate connection
to the receiving or discharging vehicle.
[0036] As shown in FIGURE 3 rubber stopper 60 or bumper may be affixed to
the
outward, vertical face of the dock top 54. The resting angle of the movable
plate 40 in its
extended position may be controlled by use of the rubber stopper 60 or bumper
so affixed.
Alternatively, the rubber stopper may be duplicated or reciprocally affixed to
the back of the
vehicle being loaded or unloaded. In typical operation, the movable plate 40
will be retracted
from its extended position before the receiving or discharging vehicle departs
from the dock,
and therefore concerns about restraining the further movement of the movable
plate beyond the
horizontal plane defined by the dock top.
[0037] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, the
dockboard 10 is shown mounted on a dock top 50, extending in its operative
position to provide
a continuous, load-supporting surface extending between a dock top and an
adjacent vehicle,
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and retracting to move to its retracted, inoperative position, wherein the
dockboard" bridge" is
removed.
[0038] As so constructed, the dockboard 10 is rotationally movable from a
retracted,
inoperative position wherein the movable dock plate 40 is rotated inward away
from the dock
top 50 by means of the hinge apparatus 30 at a circumferential angle of
between 60 and 80
degrees from the stationary plate, and generally above the stationary plate 20
on the dock top
50, to an extended, operative position wherein the movable dock plate 40 has
been rotated
circumferentially from its retracted position to an extended position where
the movable plate
extends and provides a continuous, load-supporting surface extending between a
dock top 50
and an adjacent vehicle.
[0039] The hinge apparatus 30 guides the rotational movement of the movable
plate
circumferentially from the retracted, inoperative position of the movable
plate in a substantially
vertical path outward and away from the stationary plate, extending from the
dock top 50 into
the space beyond the dock top, allowing the movable plate 40 to rotate from
its retracted,
inoperative position to its extended, operative position. In its extended,
operative position, the
inner end portion 42 of the movable plate 40 rests on and remains partially
supported by the
dock top 50, and the rubber stopper 60 and the adjacent vehicle platform. The
movable plate
40 therefore hingedly depends on the stationary plate 20 and the portion of
the supporting dock
top 50, such that when rotated into its extended, operative position, the
movable 40 plate and
the stationary plate 20 together form a continuous, load-supporting span
throughout their
combined extent from a vehicle platform to the dock top.
[0040] Both the stationary dock plate 20 and the movable dock plate 40 are
made of
flat, heavy steel that may be supported in their inoperative position by the
dock top 50, together
with the connection of the two plates at the hinge 30 at their vertical top
corner edge; and, in
their operative position, by a combination of the dock top 50, the rubber dock
top stopper 60,
and the adjacent vehicle floor.
[0041] When the dockboard is desired for use, the movable plate 40 may be
detached
by hand from its controlling feature, such as a metal tie (not shown) or other
controlling feature
as may be determined by one skilled in the art, from its retracted,
inoperative position, and
rotated circumferentially in a generally upward and outward direction to its
extended, operative
position approximately 180 degrees from the stationary plate 20, with which it
abuts in its
extended, operative position. When it is desired to return the dockboard 10 to
its retracted,
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inoperative position from its extended, operative position, the movable dock
plate 40 may be
raised by hand to rotationally retract and return to its retracted, in
operative position.
[0042] Although
embodiments have been described above and are shown in the
accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
variations and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope as defined by the
appended
claims, and the scope of the claims should be given the broadest
interpretation consistent with
the specification as a whole.
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