JOINT D'ETANCHEITE DE PORTE DE QUAI DE CHARGEMENT

LOADING DOCK DOOR SEAL

Abrégé anglais

The present invention relates to a loading dock door seal for sealing the
space
between a loading dock door opening and a vehicle backing up to the opening
and
an elongated longitudinal pad member for use in the loading dock door seal.
The
elongated longitudinal pad member comprises a mounting face for mounting said
pad member to a surface; a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge
of a
vehicle which backs up to and abuts against the pad member; whereby the pad
member is formed of a first compressible resilient material, having a first
predetermined degree of flexibility and having at least one flexing zone
therein, the
at least one flexing zone permitting the forced movement of the sealing face
relative
to the mounting face and thus the surface, to accommodate the movement of a
vehicle in abutting and sealing engagement with the pad member. The loading
dock
door seal comprises at least a pair of the elongated longitudinal pad members
arranged in a substantially laterally spaced apart relationship about the
opening
with the longitudinal axes being substantially vertical and substantially
parallel to
each other.

Revendications

36
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. An elongated longitudinal pad member for use in a loading dock door seal,
said pad member comprising:
a mounting face for mounting said pad member to a surface,
a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which backs
up
to and abuts against said pad member;
whereby said pad member is formed of a first compressible resilient material,
having a first predetermined degree of flexibility and having at least one
flexing
zone therein, said at least one flexing zone permitting the forced movement of
said
sealing face relative to said mounting face and thus said surface, to
accommodate
the movement of a vehicle in abutting and sealing engagement with said pad
member.
2. The pad member of Claim 1 further comprising an inner face and an outer
face wherein said at least one flexing zone is at least one passageway
extending from
said inner face through said first compressible resilient material to said
outer face.
3. The pad member of Claim 1 further comprising a first end and a second end
wherein said at least one flexing zone is at least one passageway extending
from said
first end through said first compressible resilient material to said second
end.
4. The pad member of Claim 1 further comprising an inner face and an outer
face wherein said at least one flexing zone is at least one cavity extending
from
either said inner face or said outer face a predetermined distance into said
first

37
compressible resilient material.
5. The pad member of Claim 1 further comprising an inner face, an outer face,
a
first end and a second end, wherein said at least one flexing zone is at least
one
chamber located within said first compressible resilient material between said
mounting face, said sealing face, said inner face, said outer face, said first
end and
said second end.
6. The pad member of Claim 1 wherein said at least one flexing zone comprises
a second compressible resilient material having a second predetermined degree
of
flexibility, said second predetermined degree of flexibility being
substantially
greater than said first predetermined degree of flexibility.
7. The pad member according to Claims 1 to 6 further comprising an outer
protective covering of substantially abrasion resistant resilient material
which
substantially extends around at least a portion of the outer surface thereof
and
substantially conforms to the contour thereof to protect said pad member from
damage.
8. The pad member of Claim 7 wherein said covering is movably mounted to
said surface allowing said covering to substantially move with said pad member
when a vehicle is in abutting and sealing engagement with said pad member.
9. The pad member of Claim 1 wherein said surface is a support having a front
face which is adapted to be affixed to said mounting face of said pad member
and a
rear face which is adapted to be affixed to the outer wall of a loading dock
about the

38
opening therein.
10. The pad member of Claim 9 wherein said front face of said support has a
predetermined surface area which is substantially less than the surface area
of said
mounting face of said pad member.
11. A loading dock door seal for sealing the space between a loading dock door
opening and a vehicle backing up to said opening, said loading dock door seal
comprising:
a pair of substantially vertically elongated longitudinal side wall pad
members arranged in a substantially laterally spaced apart relationship, one
side
wall pad member of said pair of side wall pad members located substantially
adjacent each of the opposite sides of said opening with the longitudinal axes
being
substantially parallel to each other, each side wall pad member of said pair
of side
wall pad members comprising:
a mounting face for mounting said pad member to a surface,
a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which backs
up
to and abuts against said side wall pad member;
whereby each side wall pad member of said pair of side wall pad members is
formed of a first compressible resilient material having a first predetermined
degree
of flexibility and having at least one flexing zone therein, said at least one
flexing
zone permitting the forced movement of said sealing face relative to said
mounting
face and thus said surface, to accommodate the movement of a vehicle in
abutting
and sealing engagement with said side wall pad member.
12. The loading dock door seal of Claim 11 wherein each side wall pad member


39
of said pair of side wall pad members further comprises an inner face and an
outer
face and wherein said at least one flexing zone is at least one passageway
extending
from said inner face through said first compressible resilient material to
said outer
face.
13. The loading dock door seal of Claim 11 wherein each side wall pad member
of said pair of side wall pad members further comprises a first end and a
second end
and wherein said at least one flexing zone is at least one passageway
extending from
said first end through said first compressible resilient material to said
second end.
14. The loading dock door seal of Claim 11 wherein each side wall pad member
of
said pair of side wall pad members further comprises an inner face and an
outer face
and wherein said at least one flexing zone is at least one cavity extending
from either
said inner face or said outer face a predetermined distance into said first
compressible resilient material.
15. The loading dock door seal of Claim 11 wherein each side wall pad member
of said pair of side wall pad members further comprises an inner face, an
outer face,
a first end and a second end, and wherein said at least one flexing zone is at
least
one chamber located within said first compressible resilient material between
said
mounting face, said sealing face, said inner face, said outer face, said first
end and
said second end.
16. The loading dock door seal of Claim 11 wherein said at least one flexing
zone
of each side wall pad member of said pair of side wall pad members comprises a
second compressible resilient material having a second predetermined degree of


40
flexibility, said second predetermined degree of flexibility being
substantially
greater than said first predetermined degree of flexibility.
17. The loading dock door seal according to Claims 11 to 16 wherein each side
wall pad member of said pair of side wall pad members further comprises an
outer
protective covering of substantially abrasion resistant resilient material
which
substantially extends around at least a portion of the outer surface thereof
and
substantially conforms to the contour thereof to protect said side wall pad
member
from damage.
18. The loading dock door seal of Claim 17 wherein said covering is movably
mounted to said surface allowing said covering to substantially move with said
side
wall pad member when a vehicle is in abutting and sealing engagement with said
side wall pad member.
19. The loading dock door seal of Claim 11 wherein said surface is a support
having a front face which is adapted to be affixed to said mounting face of
each side
wall pad member of said pair of side wall pad members and a rear face which is
adapted to be affixed to the outer wall of a loading dock about the opening
therein.
20. The loading dock door seal of Claim 19 wherein said front face of said
support has a predetermined surface area which is substantially less than the
surface
area of said mounting face of each side wall pad member of said pair of side
wall
pad members.
21. The loading dock door seal of Claim 11 further comprising a substantially

41
horizontally elongated longitudinal top wall pad member located substantially
above said opening substantially spanning the distance above and/or between
said
pair of side wall pad members with the longitudinal axis being substantially
perpendicular to that of said pair of side wall pad members, said top wall pad
member comprising:
a mounting face for mounting said top wall pad member to a surface,
a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which backs
up
to and abuts against said top wall pad member;
whereby said top wall pad member is formed of a first compressible resilient
material having a first predetermined degree of flexibility and having at
least one
flexing zone therein, said at least one flexing zone permitting the forced
movement
of said sealing face of said top wall pad member relative to said mounting
face of
said top wall member and thus said surface, to accommodate the movement of a
vehicle in abutting and sealing engagement with said top wall pad member.
22. The loading dock door seal of Claim 21 wherein said top wall pad member
further comprises an inner face and an outer face and wherein said at least
one
flexing zone is at least one passageway extending from said inner face through
said
first compressible resilient material to said outer face.
23. The loading dock door seal of Claim 21 wherein said top wall pad member
further comprises a first end and a second end and wherein said at least one
flexing
zone is at least one passageway extending from said first end through said
first
compressible resilient material to said second end.
24. The loading dock door seal of Claim 21 wherein said top wall pad member

42
further comprises an inner face and an outer face and wherein said at least
one
flexing zone is at least one cavity extending from either said inner face or
said outer
face a predetermined distance into said first compressible resilient material.
25. The loading dock door seal of Claim 21 wherein said top wall pad member
further comprises an inner face, an outer face, a first end and a second end
and
wherein at least one flexing zone is at least one chamber located within said
first
compressible resilient material between said mounting face, said sealing face,
said
inner face, said outer face, said first end and said second end.
26. The loading dock door seal of Claim 21 wherein said at least one flexing
zone
of said top wall pad member comprises a second compressible resilient material
having a second predetermined degree of flexibility, said second predetermined
degree of flexibility being substantially greater than said first
predetermined degree
of flexibility.
27. The loading dock door seal of Claims 21 to 26 wherein said top wall pad
member further comprises an outer protective covering of substantially
abrasion
resistant material which substantially extends around at least a portion of
the outer
surface thereof and substantially conforms to the contour thereof to protect
said top
wall pad member from damage.
28. The loading dock door seal of Claim 27 wherein said covering is movably
mounted to said surface allowing said covering to substantially move with said
top
wall pad member when a vehicle is in abutting and sealing engagement with said
top wall pad member.

43
29. The loading dock door seal of Claim 21 wherein said surface is a support
having a front face which is adapted to be affixed to said mounting face of
said top
wall pad member and a rear face which is adapted to be affixed to the outer
wall of a
loading dock about the opening therein.
30. The loading dock door seal of Claim 29 wherein said front face of said
support has a predetermined surface area which is substantially less than the
surface
area of said mounting face of said top wall pad member.
31. An elongated longitudinal pad member for use in a loading dock door seal,
said pad member comprising:
a mounting face for mounting said pad member to a surface;
a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which backs
up
to and abuts against said pad member;
at least one coupling connecting said mounting face and said sealing face and
located therebetween;
whereby said pad member is formed of a first compressible resilient material,
and said at least one coupling is adapted to permit the forced movement of
said
sealing face relative to said mounting face and thus said surface, to thereby
accommodate the movement of a vehicle in abutting and sealing engagement with
said pad member.
32. The pad member of claim 31, wherein the at least one coupling is in the
form
of spaced sections of said first compressible resilient material.

44
33. The pad member of claim 31 wherein the volume between said mounting face
and said sealing face and which includes said coupling has a degree of
flexibility
that is substantially greater than the flexibility of said mounting face and
said
sealing face, to facilitate the accommodation of vehicle movement.

Description

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
1
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Loading Dock Door Seal
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a loading dock door seal to be secured about
s an opening of a building structure to provide an abutting seal engaged by a
truck
trailer unit or the like to close the space between the building structure
opening and
the truck trailer unit. More particularly, the present invention is concerned
with a
loading dock door seal which allows fluid movement of the seal with the
rolling and
pitching motion of a docked truck trailer unit or the like during the loading
and/or
to unloading operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During the loading and/or unloading of truck trailers and the like, it is
highly
desirable to close the space between the building structure opening or doorway
and
the truck trailer from the outside environment. Various forms of foam pad
Is structures have been suggested. Generally, they employ similar side pads
and a top
pad secured to the edge of the opening of the structure. The pads are made of
a
compressible resilient material such as solid blocks of polyurethane foam. The
truck
trailer is backed into abutting and compressing engagement with the sealing
pad
and thereby enclose the space between the door structure and the truck
trailer.
2o Prior art seals have a fixed position about the door opening. Accordingly,
when the truck, which is pressed against the pads of such prior art door
seals, rises
and descends as a result of forklift traffic in and out of the trailer during
the loading
and/or unloading operation, there is considerable abrasion between the rear
edge of
the truck and the pads. This tends to wear out the pad covering and to exert
25 undesirable dislocating forces on the pads and pad mountings, sometimes
resulting
in tearing of the fabric covering and/or pulling the pads from the dock wall.

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
2
Prior art attempts to solve these problems have, for the most part, been
limited to reinforcing the fabric covering to resist wear and / or to reduce
the
dislocating forces exerted on the pads and/or the pad mountings. A well-known
prior art attempt to provide a solution to the problem of abrasion consists of
providing along each side pad, a vertical array of overlapping, flexible, wear
resistant flaps or plates sometimes called armor pleats. See for example U.S.
Patent
No. 3,181,205 to C.P. Frommelt et al. Such armor pleats however, afford only
limited protection. For instance, once compressed, these armor pleats have
limited
or no movement with the trailer due to the compression between the trailer and
to foam seal. This limits the possibility of adequate motion which could
prevent wear
and tear on the fabric covering. As well, the most common method of fastening
armor pleats to the fabric covering is by sewing or stitching.. Any upward or
downward motion of the trailer tends to concentrate stresses at the stitch
lines
attaching the armor plates to the fabric covering. As a result of their
limited ability
is to move with the trailer, armor pleats have been known to be torn off the
foam seal
at the stitch or fabric weld which holds the armor pleat to the fabric
covering, thus
leaving behind a damaged product. Also, the fitting and stitching required for
attaching armor pleats to the fabric covering is costly, and it is impractical
to provide
them on a door seal already installed for use. Furthermore, the multiple
needle
2o holes may create a location for water to seep through the fabric covering
to be
absorbed by the compressible resilient material within the door seal. Water
entering
into a door seal can become frozen in the winter months thus preventing
compression and any vertical and/or horizontal movements of the seal. A
docking
trailer would typically crush these fabric covered blocks of ice against the
building
25 wall causing the ice to break through the fabric cover and damaging the
seal.
Other methods to reduce the abrasion have been developed sold which

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
3
purport to allow up and down movement of the dock seal with the motion of a
trailer being loaded and unloaded. Prior art designs make use of springs,
bracketing
devices and other mechanisms. For example U.S. Patent No. 3,461,627 to Gary
Conger discloses a resilient foam pad structure secured to the building by a
plurality
s of resilient foam mounting blocks or the like. The side wall or edge pads
have
special central supporting structures, such as cable members between the top
and
bottom mounting pads. The mounting pad structure provides for a generally
universal movement of the door sealing arrangement or units. Thus, if during
the
movement of the truck trailer into abutting engagement or during the loading
to and/or unloading there is any lateral, horizontal or vertical movement, or
any tilting
movement, the pad assembly can move as a unit with the truck-trailer thereby
essentially eliminating the usual relative movement between the truck and the
seal
unit or front surfaces of the sealing pads.
Such mechanical systems fail as a result of damage which occurs to them
15 when hit by docking trailers or as a result of rust freezing the motion of
such
mechanical devices. As well, mechanical systems require the seal projection to
be
built out in order to create space for the "up and down" bracketing or
springs. This
creates a need to install bumpers which also project further from the wall in
order to
protect the mechanisms from damage due to docking trailers. Installing dock
2o bumpers with larger projections may cause an unsafe situation if the dock
leveler is
also not advanced as a result of lost "lip purchase". Lip purchase can be
defined by
the amount of dock leveler lip that rests on the trailer bed. Ten inches of
"lip
purchase" is recommended and must be maintained when modifying bumper
projection. These modifications add significant cost. Increased overall dock
seal
2s projection creates extra pressure on the building wall. These mechanisms
are
vulnerable to damage due to their nature of design and location.

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4
U.S. Patent No. 3,613,324 to Gary Conger discloses a resilient foam pad
structure secured to the building by a plurality of resilient foam mounting
blocks or
the like. The side wall pads include a plurality of rearwardly projecting
mounting
blocks vertically spaced throughout the length or depth of the pad. The blocks
are
s formed by recesses in the backside of the pad structure to purportedly
provide a
continuous integral support while allowing the total unit to move with the
truck.
This type of mounting does not allow for the full length contact and adherence
of
the foam to the surface for securely fastening the seal to the building wall.
As a
result, the dislocating forces exerted on the pads and pad mountings by the
rolling
and pitching motion of the truck during the loading and/or unloading operation
may pull the pads away from the dock wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved loading dock
door seal which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art loading dock door
seals.
Is It is another object of the present invention to provide a loading dock
door
seal which substantially eliminates abrasion between the rear edges of a truck
trailer
and the loading dock door seal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a loading dock door
seal having a substantially longer wear life than prior art loading dock door
seals.
2o It is a further object of the present invention to provide a loading dock
door
seal that allows fluid movement of the seal with the rolling and pitching
motion of a
docked trailer during the loading and/or unloading operation.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided an
elongated longitudinal pad member for use in a loading dock door seal, said
pad
25 member comprising:
a mounting face for mounting said pad member to a surface, and

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which backs
up
to and abuts against the pad member;
whereby said pad member is formed of a first compressible resilient material
having a first predetermined degree of flexibility and having at least one
flexing
s zone therein, the at least one flexing zone permitting the forced movement
of the
sealing face relative to the mounting face and thus the surface, to
accommodate the
movement of a vehicle in abutting and sealing engagement with the pad member.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the pad member further
comprises an inner face and an outer face wherein the at least one flexing
zone is at
least one passageway extending through the first compressible resilient
material
from the inner face to the outer face.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the pad member further
comprises a first end and a second end wherein the at least one flexing zone
is at
least one passageway extending through the first compressible resilient
material
from the first end to the second end.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the pad member further
comprises an inner face and an outer face wherein the at least one flexing
zone is at
least one cavity extending from either the inner face or the outer face a
predetermined distance into the first compressible resilient material.
2o In another embodiment of the present invention, the pad member further
comprises a first end and a second end wherein the at least one flexing zone
is at
least one cavity extending from either the first end or the second end a
predetermined distance into the first compressible resilient material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one flexing zone
2s is at least one chamber located within the first compressible resilient
material
between the mounting face, the sealing face, the inner face, the outer face,
the first

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
6
end and the second end.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one flexing zone
comprises a second compressible resilient material having a second
predetermined
degree of flexibility, the second predetermined degree of flexibility having a
substantially greater degree of flexibility than the first predetermined
degree of
flexibility.
In another embodiment of the present invention the pad member further
comprises an outer protective covering of substantially abrasion resistant
resilient
material extending substantially around at least a portion of the outer
surface
to thereof and substantially conforming to the contour thereof to protect the
pad
member from damage.
In another embodiment of the present invention the covering is movably
mounted to the surface allowing the covering to substantially move with the
pad
member when a vehicle is in abutting and sealing engagement with the pad
member.
In one instance, the surface is the outer wall of the loading dock. In another
instance, the surface is a support having a front face which is adapted to be
affixed
to the mounting face of the pad member and a rear face which is adapted to be
affixed to the outer wall of the loading dock about the opening therein. In
one
2o embodiment, the front face of the support is of a predetermined surface
area which
is substantially equal to the surface area of the mounting face of the pad
member. In
another embodiment, the support is of a predetermined surface area which is
substantially less than the surface area of the mounting face of the pad
member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a loading dock door seal for sealing the space between a loading dock door
opening
and a vehicle backing up to said opening, said loading dock door seal
comprising:

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
7
a pair of substantially vertically elongated longitudinal side wall pad
members arranged in a substantially laterally spaced apart relationship, one
side
wall pad member of said pair of side wall pad members located substantially
adjacent each of the opposite sides of said opening with the longitudinal axes
being
s substantially parallel to each other, each side wall pad member of said pair
of side
wall pad members comprising:
a mounting face for mounting said pad member to a surface,
a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which backs
up
to and abuts against said side wall pad member;
to whereby each side wall pad member of said pair of side wall pad members is
formed of a first compressible resilient material having a first predetermined
degree
of flexibility and having at least one flexing zone therein, said at least one
flexing
zone permitting the forced movement of said sealing face relative to said
mounting
face and thus said surface, to accommodate the movement of a vehicle in
abutting
15 and sealing engagement with said side wall pad member.
In an embodiment of the present invention, each side wall pad member of the
pair of side wall pad members further comprises an inner face and an outer
face
wherein the at least one flexing zone is at least one passageway extending
from the
inner face through the first compressible resilient material to the outer
face.
2o In another embodiment of the present invention, each side wall pad member
of the pair of side wall pad members further comprises a first end and a
second end
wherein the at least one flexing zone is at least one passageway extending
from the
first end through the first compressible resilient material to the second end.
In another embodiment of the present invention, each side wall pad member
2s of the pair of side wall pad members further comprises an inner face and an
outer
face wherein the at least one flexing zone is at least one cavity extending
from either

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
g
the inner face or the outer face a predetermined distance into the first
compressible
resilient material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, each side wall pad member
of the pair of side wall pad members further comprises an inner face, an outer
face, a
s first end and a second end, wherein the at least one flexing zone is at
least one
chamber located within the first compressible resilient material between the
mounting face, the sealing face, the inner face, the outer face, the first end
and the
second end.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one flexing zone
of each side wall pad member of the pair of side wall pad members comprises a
second compressible resilient material having a second predetermined degree of
flexibility, the second predetermined degree of flexibility being
substantially greater
than the first predetermined degree of flexibility.
In another embodiment of the present invention, each side wall pad member
is of the pair of side wall pad members further comprises an outer protective
covering
of substantially abrasion resistant resilient material extending substantially
around
at least a portion of the outer surface thereof and substantially conforms to
the
contour thereof to protect the side wall pad member from damage.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the covering is movably
2o mounted to the surface allowing the covering to substantially move with the
side
wall pad member when a vehicle is in abutting and sealing engagement with the
side wall pad member.
In one instance, the surface is the outer wall of a loading dock. In another
instance, the surface is a support having a front face which is adapted to be
affixed
2s to the mounting face of each side wall pad member of the pair of side wall
pad
members and a rear face which is adapted to be affixed to the outer wall of a
loading

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
9
dock about the opening therein. In one embodiment of the present invention,
the
front face of the support has a predetermined surface area which is
substantially
equal to the surface area of the mounting face of each side wall pad member of
the
pair of side wall pad members. In another embodiment of the present invention,
the
s front face of the support has a predetermined surface area which is
substantially less
than the surface area of the mounting face of each side wall pad member of the
pair
of side wall pad members.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the loading dock door seal
further comprises a substantially horizontally elongated longitudinal top wall
pad
member located substantially above the opening substantially spanning the
distance
above and/or between the pair of side wall pad members with the longitudinal
axis
being substantially perpendicular to that of the pair of side wall pad
members, the
top wall pad member comprising:
a mounting face for mounting the top wall pad member to a surface,
is a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which
backs up
to and abuts against the top wall pad member;
whereby the top wall pad member is formed of a first compressible resilient
material having a first predetermined degree of flexibility and having at
least one
flexing zone therein, the at least one flexing zone permitting the forced
movement of
2o the sealing face of the top wall pad member relative to the mounting face
of the top
wall member and thus the surface, to accommodate the movement of a vehicle in
abutting and sealing engagement with the top wall pad member.
In another embodiment of the present invention the top wall pad member
further comprises an inner face and an outer face wherein the at least one
flexing
2s zone is at least one passageway extending from the inner face through the
first
compressible resilient material to the outer face.

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
1~
In another embodiment of the present invention the top wall pad member
further comprises a first end and a second end wherein the at least one
flexing zone
is at least one passageway extending from the first end through the first
compressible resilient material to the second end.
In another embodiment of the present invention the top wall pad member
further comprises an inner face and an outer face wherein the at least one
flexing
zone is at least one cavity extending from either the inner face or the outer
face a
predetermined distance into the first compressible resilient material.
In another embodiment of the present invention the top wall pad member
to further comprises an inner face, an outer face, a first end and a second
end wherein
at least one flexing zone is at least one chamber located within the first
compressible
resilient material between the mounting face, the sealing face, the inner
face, the
outer face, the first end and the second end.
In another embodiment of the present invention the at least one flexing zone
of the top wall pad member comprises a second compressible resilient material
having a second predetermined degree of flexibility, the second predetermined
degree of flexibility being substantially greater than the first predetermined
degree
of flexibility.
In another embodiment of the present invention the top wall pad member
2o further comprises an outer protective covering of substantially abrasion
resistant
material extending substantially around at least a portion of the outer
surface
thereof and substantially conforms to the contour thereof to protect the top
wall pad
member from damage.
In another embodiment of the present invention the covering is movably
mounted to the surface allowing the covering to substantially move with the
top
wall pad member when a vehicle is in abutting and sealing engagement with the
top

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11
wall pad member.
In one instance, the surface is the outer wall of a loading dock. In another
instance, the surface is a support having a front face which is adapted to be
affixed
to the mounting face of the top wall pad member and a rear face which is
adapted to
be affixed to the outer wall of a loading dock about the opening therein. In
one
embodiment, the front face of the support has a predetermined surface area
which is
substantially equal to the surface area of the mounting face of the top wall
pad
member. In another embodiment, the front face of the support has a
predetermined
surface area which is substantially less than the surface area of the mounting
face of
to the top wall pad member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an elongated longitudinal pad member for use in a loading dock door seal, the
pad
member comprising:
a mounting face for mounting the pad member to a surface;
Is a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which
backs up
to and abuts against the pad member;
at least one coupling connecting the mounting face and the sealing face and
located therebetween;
whereby the pad member is formed of a first compressible resilient material,
2o and the at least one coupling is adapted to permit the forced movement of
the
sealing face relative to the mounting face and thus the surface, to thereby
accommodate the movement of a vehicle in abutting and sealing engagement with
the pad member.
In an embodiment of the present invention the at least one coupling is in the
25 form of spaced sections of the first compressible resilient material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the volume between the

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
12
mounting face and the sealing face and which includes the coupling has a
degree of
flexibility that is substantially greater than the flexibility of the mounting
face and
the sealing face, to facilitate the accommodation of vehicle movement.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
s loading dock door seal for sealing the space between a door opening in a
structure
and a vehicle, comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated longitudinal
side wall
sealing pad members formed of a resiliently compressible material, each of
said pad
members having a mounting face which is adapted to be secured to the structure
with one pad member adjacent each of the opposite sides of the opening, each
of
said pad members having a sealing face which is adapted to abut and sealingly
engage the rear of the vehicle, each of said pad members having at least one
flexing
zone therein, said flexing zone permitting the forced individual and
simultaneous
lateral horizontal and vertical movement of said sealing face relative to said
mounting face and thus said structure, to accommodate the individual and
is simultaneous lateral horizontal and vertical movement of the vehicle in
abutment
and sealing engagement with said pad member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be further understood from the following
description with references to the drawings in which:
2o FIG. 1 is a front view of a loading dock door seal according to one
embodiment of the present invention wherein the loading dock door seal
comprises
two vertically elongated longitudinal side wall sealing pad members and a
horizontally elongated top wall sealing pad member mounted on the outer wall
of a
building structure about a loading dock door opening through which the rear
end of
2s a truck trailer may extend.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a loading dock door seal according to

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
13
another embodiment of the present invention wherein the loading dock door seal
comprises two vertically elongated longitudinal side wall sealing pad members
mounted on the outer wall of a building structure about a loading dock door
opening through which the rear end of a truck trailer may extend and
illustrating
the arrangement of the at least one flexing zone of the side wall sealing pad
members.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the loading dock door seal of FIG. 1
illustrating the arrangement of the at least one flexing zones of the side
wall and top
wall sealing pad members.
to FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a loading dock door seal according to
another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a different
arrangement of
the top wall sealing pad member and a different arrangement of the at least
one
flexing zone of the top wall sealing member.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a loading dock door seal according to
another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a different
arrangement of
the top wall sealing pad member.
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the loading dock door seal of FIG. 3
illustrating a different arrangement of the at least one flexing zones of the
side wall
and top wall sealing pad members.
2o FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the loading dock door seal of FIG. 3
illustrating a different arrangement of the at least one flexing zones of the
side wall
and top wall sealing pad members.
FIG. 8 is a side horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal of
FIG.
4 illustrating the mounting of the side wall and top wall sealing pad members
directly to the outer wall of the building structure.
FIG. 9 is a side horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal of
FIG.

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
14
3 illustrating the mounting of the side wall and top wall sealing pad members
to a
support which is in turn mounted to the outer wall of the building structure.
FIG. 10 is a side horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal
according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrating the
s arrangement of the at least one flexing zones of the side wall and top wall
sealing
pad members.
FIG. 11 is a side horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal of
FIG. 3 illustrating a fragmentary portion of a truck trailer backed into
abutting and
sealing engagement with the seal illustrating the downward movement of the
truck
1o trailer during the loading, operation and the accommodating forced downward
movement of the sealing faces relative to the mounting faces of the side wall
and top
wall sealing pad members.
FIG. 12 is a side horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal of
FIG. 3 illustrating a fragmentary portion of a truck trailer backed into
abutting and
15 sealing engagement with the seal illustrating the upward movement of the
truck
trailer during the unloading operation and the accommodating forced upward
movement of the sealing face relative to the mounting faces of the side wall
and top
wall sealing pad members.
FIG. 13 is a side horizontal sectional view of a sealing pad member mounted
2o to a support illustrating a different arrangement of the support wherein
the support
has a predetermined length which is substantially less than the length of the
mounting face.
FIG. 14 is a side perspective view of the sealing pad member of FIG. 13
illustrating the covering of the sealing pad member with a cover and the
attachment
2s of the cover to the support via pivoting brackets.
FIG. 15 is a side view of the pivoting bracket attached to the cover of FIG.
14

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
illustrating the pivoting movement of the pivoting bracket and the movement of
the
cover.
FIG. 16 is a top horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal of
FIG.
1 illustrating the arrangement of the side wall sealing pad members on the
outer
s wall of the building structure about the loading dock door opening.
FIG. 17 is a top horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal
according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a
different
arrangement of the side wall sealing pad members on the outer wall of the
building
structure about the loading dock door opening.
to FIG. 18 is a top horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal of
FIG.
17 illustrating a fragmentary portion of a truck trailer backed into abutting
and
sealing engagement with the seal and deflecting the side wall sealing pad
members.
FIG. 19 is a top horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal
according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a
different
is arrangement of the side wall sealing pad members on the outer wall of the
building
structure about the loading dock door opening.
FIG. 20 is a top horizontal sectional view of the loading dock door seal of
FIG.
19 illustrating a fragmentary portion of a truck trailer backed into abutting
and
sealing engagement with the seal and deflecting the side wall sealing pad
members.
2o Similar references are used in different figures to denote similar
components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the loading dock door
seal 10 according to one aspect of the present invention. is shown secured to
the
outer wall 12 of a building structure such as a warehouse or the like about a
door
opening 14 raised above the usual ground level. There may be a series of such
openings 14 along the wall 12. This is often referred to as a loading dock. A
truck

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
16
trailer or the like is adapted to be aligned with the opening 14 for the
purposes of
transferring goods between the truck trailer and the building structure. The
truck
trailer moves into abutting and sealing engagement with the loading dock door
seal
to provide a relatively weather-tight closure and sealing of the space between
the
s rear edge of the truck trailer and the opening 14. This often is important
not only for
comfort but also as a way to avoid costly losses of heated or refrigerated
air.
Generally, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the loading dock door seal 10 of the
present
invention includes a pair of similarly constructed vertically elongated
longitudinal
side wall sealing pad members 16, 16' secured to the outer wall 12 of the
building
structure immediately adjacent the side edges of the opening 14. The side wall
sealing pad members 16, 16' extend and are co-extensive with the height of the
opening 14. Each of the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16' is similarly
constructed and consequently side wall sealing pad member 16 will be described
in
detail, the corresponding elements of side wall sealing pad member 16' being
1s identified by similar primed numbers. Side wall sealing pad member 16 has a
top
end 18, a bottom end 20 and four sides including a mounting face 22 for
mounting
the side wall sealing pad member 16 to a surface, a sealing face 24 which is
illustratively substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the mounting
face 22 by
a predetermined distance, the sealing face 24 for abutting and sealingly
engaging the
2o rear side edge of a truck trailer backing up to the loading dock, an outer
side face 26
which may illustratively be substantially perpendicular to the mounting and
sealing
faces 22 and 24, respectively, the outer side face 26 facing away from the
opening 14
and an inner side face 28 which may illustratively be substantially parallel
to and
spaced apart from the outer side face 26 by a predetermined distance, the
inner side
2s face 2$ facing across the opening 14.
The top edge of the opening 14 may be provided with a curtain (not shown)

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
17
or other means for contacting the roof of a truck trailer to prevent passage
of air,
rain, snow or any other undesirable element through this part of the opening
14. In
one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to
12, the
loading dock door seal 10 may also include a horizontally elongated
longitudinal
s top wall sealing pad member 30 secured to the outer wall 12 of the building
structure immediately above the top edge of the opening 14 and spanning the
distance above and/or between the two side wall sealing pad members 16, 16' to
provide a U-shaped loading dock door seal 10 about the opening 14. Top wall
sealing pad member 30 has a left end 32, a right end 34 and four sides
including a
to mounting face 36 for mounting the top wall sealing pad member 30 to a
surface, a
sealing face 38 illustratively disposed substantially parallel to and spaced
apart from
the mounting face 36 by a predetermined distance, the sealing face 38 for
abutting
and sealingly engaging the rear top edge of a truck trailer backing up to the
loading
dock, an outer side face 40 which is illustratively substantially
perpendicular to the
is mounting and sealing faces 36 and 38, respectively, the outer side face 40
facing
away from the opening 14 and an inner side face 42 which may be substantially
parallel to and spaced apart from the outer side face 40 by a predetermined
distance,
the inner side face 42 facing across the opening 14.
The top wall sealing pad member 30 may be somewhat wider in its vertical
2o dimension than the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16' are in their
horizontal
dimension. This is because while all truck trailers have substantially the
same
width, there is a considerable variation in the height of the roof line of
various truck
trailers. This may make it desirable to have a wider top wall sealing pad
member
30. In one instance, the side wall sealing pad members 16 and 16' vertically
extend
25 to the full height of the opening and the top wall sealing pad member 30
bridges the
top of the opening 14 and occupies the space between the top ends 18, 18' of
side

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
18
wall sealing pad members 16, 16'. In this instance, the top wall sealing pad
member
30 may be made vertically adjustable relative to the side wall sealing pad
members
16, 16'. As a truck trailer approaches the opening 14, an operator may
manually pull
down the top wall sealing pad member 30 to align it with the roof edge of the
truck
trailer. The truck trailer will then abut and sealingly engage the top wall
sealing pad
member 30 in unison with the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16'. In another
instance, the side wall sealing pad members do not vertically extend the full
height
of the opening 14 and the top wall sealing pad member 30 bridges the top of
the
opening 14 with its left and right ends 32 and 34, respectively in effect
constituting
1o top portions, or extensions, of the top ends 18 and 18', respectively of
the side wall
sealing pad members 16,16'.
The sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 may be formed of a first compressible
resilient material 44, having a first predetermined degree of flexibility. The
first
compressible resilient material 44 may be formed of any well known suitably
compressible resilient material, such as, for example, but not limited to,
polyurethane foam. The first compressible resilient material 44, having a
first
predetermined degree of flexibility after being deformed out of its usual
shape, will
return to such usual shape when pressure on the same is released. Thus, the
sealing
pad members 16, 16' and 30 will exert yielding pressure against the rear edges
of a
2o truck trailer and their flexibility will enable them to cooperate with
truck trailers of
different widths and shapes. There is no limitation to the compression of the
sealing
pad members 16, 16' and 30 of the loading dock door seal 10 of the present
invention. Each of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 may be formed as a
single
longitudinal pad, generally in accordance with the well known pad
construction.
Alternatively, each of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 may be
constructed of
multiple pads arranged end-to-end in a stacked relationship.

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
19
Each of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 is mounted and secured to a
surface. In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the surface is the
outside wall
12 of the building structure and each of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and
30 is
mounted and secured directly to the wall 12 about the opening 14. In another
s embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 14 and 16 to 20, the surface is a
support 46,
such as, for example, but not limited to, a wooden backboard, mounting frame
or
the like and each of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 is mounted and
secured
to the support 46 which in turn is mounted and secured to the wall 12 about
the
opening 14. The sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 may be secured to the
surface
to by any suitable or usual means, such as, for example, but not limited to,
by cement,
adhesive or the like. The support 46, when present, may be secured to the wall
12 in
any suitable or usual manner, such as, for example, but not limited to, by
mounting
anchors or the like.
The sealing faces 26, 26' and 38, respectively of the sealing pad members 16,
is 16' and 30 are sensitive to damage, particularly when engaged by any
irregularities
on the rear edges of a truck trailer, such as, for example, but not limited
to, door
hinges or the like. It is therefore desirable to substantially surround the
sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30 with a cover 48 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 12, 14 and
16 to 20.
The cover 48 may be formed of any well known tough, flexible material, such
as, for
2o example, but not limited to, a woven fabric or a synthetic sheet material,
for
example, a nylon fabric of about 40 oz. per square yard in weight. The cover
48
offers a high resistance to tearing and protects the exterior of the sealing
pad
members 16, 16' and 30 from damage. At the same time, the cover 48 is
sufficiently
flexible to conform to the shape of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30
whether
25 in their normal or deformed positions and does not interfere with the
compression
and/or flexion of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30. The cover 48
desirably

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
has a moisture-proof coating to protect the first compressible resilient
material 44
from the weather. The cover 48 may be fastened to the surface by a suitable
means,
such as, for example, but not limited to, staples, nails or the like. The
cover 48 may
be provided with air vent openings covered by a loosely woven fabric patch
(not
s shown). The cover 48 may also include at least one guide stripe (not shown)
located
centrally on the sealing faces 24 and 24' of the side wall sealing pad members
16,16'
along the opposite sides of the opening 14. In one embodiment, the at least
one
guide stripe may be formed of a reflective material and may be bright yellow
in
color. The at least one guide stripe, when present, aids drivers in backing
the ends
to of truck trailers into a docked position in abutting and sealing engagement
with the
loading dock door seal 10.
The sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 may be formed with at least one
flexing zone 50 within the first compressible resilient material 44 as
illustrated in
FIGS. 2 to 14. The at least one flexing zone 50 of the sealing pad members
16,16' and
t5 30 may take the form of any structure which permits the forced movement of
the
sealing faces 24, 24' and 38, respectively, relative to the mounting faces 22,
22' and
36, respectively, and thus relative to the surface, to accommodate any
movement of
the truck trailer 52 in abutting and sealing engagement with the sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30. During the loading and/or unloading operation, a truck
2o trailer in abutting and sealing engagement with the sealing pad members
16,16' and
may move in a direction such as, for example, but not limited to, up and down
in
a vertical direction, side to side in a lateral horizontal direction, front to
back in a
forward/rearward horizontal direction or in any combination of these resulting
in
angular and/or tilting movement of the truck trailer. The aforementioned
2s independent or simultaneous movements of a truck trailer during the loading
and/or unloading operation is often referred to as a rolling and pitching
motion.

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
21
The at least one flexing zone 50 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30
permits
the forced movement of the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38, respectively,
relative to the
mounting faces 22, 22' and 36, respectively and thus relative to the surface,
to
accommodate the rolling and pitching motion of the truck trailer in abutting
and
sealing engagement with the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30. In one
instance,
the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 comprise a single flexing zone 50
within the
first compressible resilient material 44. In another instance, the sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30 comprise a plurality of flexing zones 50 within the
first
compressible resilient material 44.
In one embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the
at least one flexing zone 50 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 is at
least one
passageway extending from the outer side faces 26, 26' and 40, respectively,
through
the first compressible resilient material 44 to the inner side faces 28, 28'
and 42,
respectively. The at least one passageway may follow a straight or convoluted
path
is through the first compressible resilient material 44 and may be of any
size, shape
and dimension. In one instance, the at least one flexing zone 50 of the
sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30 is a single passageway extending from the outer side
faces
26, 26' and 40, respectively, through the first compressible resilient
material 44 to the
inner side faces 28, 28' and 42, respectively. In this instance, the single
passageway
2o may be provided at a predetermined location along the sealing pad members
16, 16'
and 30. In another instance, the at least one flexing zone 50 of the sealing
pad
members 16, 16' and 30 is a plurality of passageways extending from the outer
side
faces 26, 26' and 40, respectively, through the first compressible resilient
material 44
to the inner side faces 28, 28' and 42, respectively. In this instance, the
plurality of
25 passageways may be located along substantially the entire length of the
sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30.

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
22
In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3 the
at
least one flexing zone 50 of the top wall sealing pad member 30 is at least
one
passageway extending from the left end 32 through the first compressible
resilient
material 44 to the right end 34. In one instance, the at least one flexing
zone 50 of the
s top wall sealing pad member 30 is a single passageway extending from the
left end
32 through the first compressible resilient material 44 to the right end 34.
In another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 6, the
at
least one flexing zone 50 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 is at
least one
cavity or hollow section extending a predetermined distance from either the
outer
side faces 26, 26' and 40, respectively or the inner side faces 28, 28' and
42,
respectively, into the first compressible resilient material 44. In this
embodiment,
the at least one cavity or hollow section does not entirely extend through the
first
compressible resilient material 44 from the outer side faces 26, 26' and 40 to
the inner
side faces 28, 28' and 42 or visa versa. The at least one cavity or hollow
section may
is follow a straight or convoluted path into the first compressible resilient
material 44
and may be of any size, shape and dimension. In one instance, the at least one
flexing zone 50 of the sealing pad members 16,16' and 30 is a single cavity or
hollow
section extending a predetermined distance from either the outer side faces
26, 26'
and 40, respectively, or the inner side faces 28, 28' and 42, respectively,
into the first
2o compressible resilient material 44. In this instance, the single cavity or
hollow
section may be provided at a predetermined location along the side wall
sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30. In another instance, the at least one flexing zone 50
of the
sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 is a plurality of cavities or hollow
sections
extending a predetermined distance from either the outer side faces 26, 26'
and 40,
25 respectively, or the inner side faces 28, 28' and 42, respectively, into
the first
compressible resilient material 44. In this instance, each of the cavities or
hollow

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
23
sections may extend identical or variable distances into the first
compressible
resilient material 44 and each may be may be of an identical shape, size and
dimension or alternatively of a different shape, size and dimension. The
plurality of
cavities or hollow sections may be located along substantially the entire
length of the
s sealing pad members 16,16' and 30.
In the embodiments wherein the at least one flexing zone 50 is at least one
passageway, cavity, or hollow section, the at least one flexing zone 50 may be
formed in the first compressible resilient material 44 by any suitable means,
such as,
for example, but not limited to, by boring, cutting, drilling, punching,
stamping or
otherwise.
In the embodiments wherein the at least one flexing zone 50 is at least one
passageway, cavity, or hollow section, the at least one flexing zone 50 may be
filled
with a second compressible resilient material 54 having a second predetermined
degree of flexibility which is substantially different from that of the first
is predetermined degree of flexibility of the first compressible resilient
material 44
making up the remainder of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30. In the
instance
wherein there are a plurality of passageways, cavities, or hollow sections,
all may be
filled with the second compressible resilient material 54. Alternatively, only
a
portion of the plurality of passageways, cavities, or hollow sections, may be
filled
2o with the second compressible resilient material 54. Typically, the second
predetermined degree of flexibility of the second compressible resilient
material 54
is substantially greater than that of the first predetermined degree of
flexibility of the
first compressible resilient material 44.
In the embodiments wherein the at least one flexing zone 50 of the sealing
25 pad members 16, 16' and 30 is at least one passageway, cavity or hollow
section, and
at least one of the at least one passageway, cavity or hollow section is not
filled with

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
24
a second compressible resilient material 54, the at least one flexing zone 50
prevents
water from accumulating within and/or being absorbed by the first compressible
resilient material 44. Any water which enters the sealing pad members 16, 16'
and
30 will drain out of the least one passageway, cavity or hollow section and
thus will
s not accumulate and/or be absorbed by the first compressible resilient
material 44.
This ensures the compression of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 and the
movement of the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38, respectively relative to the
mounting
faces 22, 22' and 36, respectively at all times even in the winter months.
In another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 7, the
at
to least one flexing zone 50 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 is at
least one
chamber located at either a predetermined or random position within the first
compressible resilient material 44. In this embodiment, the at least one
chamber is
completely surrounded by the first compressible resilient material 44. The at
least
one chamber may be of any shape and dimension. In one instance, the at least
one
is flexing zone 50 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 is a single
chamber located
at either a predetermined or random position within the first compressible
resilient
material 44. In another instance, the at least one flexing zone 50 of the
sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30 is a plurality of chambers located at either
predetermined
positions or dispersed randomly within the first compressible resilient
material 44.
2o In this instance, each of the chambers may be of an identical size, shape
and
dimension or alternatively of different sizes, shapes and dimensions. The
plurality
of chambers may be located along substantially the entire length of the
sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30.
In the embodiments wherein the at least one flexing zone 50 is at least one
25 chamber, the at least one flexing zone 50 may be formed within the first
compressible resilient material 44 by any suitable means, such as, for
example, but

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
not limited to, introducing air into the first compressible resilient material
44 while it
is in a liquid or semi-solid state in a mold to form at least one air pocket
therein such
that when the first compressible resilient material 44 solidifies to form the
sealing
pad member, the at least one air pocket forms the at least one chamber
therein.
s In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one flexing zone 50
comprises a second compressible resilient material 54 having a second
predetermined degree of flexibility which is substantially different from that
of the
first predetermined degree of flexibility of the first compressible resilient
material
44. Typically, the second predetermined degree of flexibility of the second
to compressible resilient material 54 is substantially greater than that of
the first
predetermined degree of flexibility of the first compressible resilient
material 44. In
this instance, the second compressible resilient material 54 is dispersed
throughout
the first compressible resilient material 44. In this instance, the at least
one flexing
zone 50 may be formed by an suitable means, such as, for example, but not
limited
is to, mixing together the first and second compressible resilient materials
44 and 54
while in a liquid or semi-solid state in a mold and allowing the first and
second
compressible resilient materials 44 and 54 to solidify to form the sealing pad
member. Alternatively, the at least one flexing zone 50 may be formed by
mixing
together the first and second compressible resilient materials 44 and 54 while
in a
2o solid state and in the form of particulate matter together with an adhesive
or the like
in a mold to form the sealing pad member.
The at least one flexing section 50 of the present invention formed within the
first compressible resilient material 44 allows the sealing pad members 16,
16' and 30
to comprise substantially uninterrupted and continuous mounting faces 22, 22'
and
25 36 along substantially the entire length thereof and thus allows
substantially full
length contact and adherence of the mounting faces 22, 22" and 36 of the
sealing pad

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
26
members 16, 16' and 30 to the surface. This results in stronger adherence of
the
sealing pad members 16,16' and 30 to the surface and thus, prevents the
sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30 from being pulled away from the surface by excessive
dislocating forces exerted thereon by the movement of a truck trailer in
abutting and
sealing engagement therewith during the loading and/or unloading operation.
Prior to the arrival of a truck trailer or the like 52 at a loading dock
comprising the loading dock door seal 10 of the present invention, the sealing
faces
24, 24' and 38 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 are in their rest
positions
(mid position in the range of their individual and simultaneous lateral
horizontal
1o and vertical shifting movement) as illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9. When a
truck trailer 52
backs into the loading dock, the rear side edges of the truck trailer 52 will
abut and
engage the respective side wall sealing pad members 16, 16' and the rear top
edge of
the truck trailer 52 will abut and engage the top wall sealing pad member 30.
Under
typical back pressure, all sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 will be
substantially
is equally compressed by the truck trailer 52 to provide a weather-tight seal
around
the rear top and side edges of the truck trailer 52 thus resiliently locking
the truck
trailer 52 to the sealing pad members 16,16' and 30.
Assuming that an unloaded truck trailer 52 backs into the loading dock, the
suspension is unflexed, thus to support the truck trailer 52 in an elevated
position.
2o The added weight of the loaded contents on the truck trailer 52 causes the
suspension to flex, and the truck trailer 52 will descend as illustrated in
FIG. 11. If
the truck trailer 52 is fully loaded when it backs into the loading dock, the
converse
occurs. As the contents are unloaded, the decrease in weight on the truck
trailer 52
causes the suspension to unflex, and the truck trailer 52 will rise as
illustrated in
2s FIG. 12. As well, during the loading and/or unloading operation, the
movement of
a forklift or the like into and/or out of the truck trailer 52 causes the
truck trailer 52

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
27
to roll and pitch.
In accordance with loading dock door seal 10 of the present invention, during
the loading and/or unloading operation, there will be no displacement between
the
rear edges of the truck trailer 52 and the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30.
This is
s because, as the truck trailer 52 moves up, down, forward, backward, sideways
and/or tilts (i.e., rolls and pitches), the at least one flexing zone 50 of
the sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30 allows the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38, respectively,
which
are locked to the truck trailer 52, to "float" or ride with the truck trailer
52 relative to
the mounting faces 22, 22' and 36, respectively, and thus the surface.
Accordingly,
to the seal is not broken during such movement and there is no tendency of the
truck
trailer 52 to scrape against the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38 of the sealing
pad
members 16, 16' and 30, or exert dislocating pressure against the mounting
faces 22,
22' and 36 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30. Therefore, there will be
no
abrasion or wear occurring between the rear edges of the truck trailer 52 and
the
1s cover 48 on the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 and the mounting faces
22, 22'
and 36 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 will be freed of any
dislocating
forces. In effect, the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 become temporarily
part of
the truck trailer 52 and all of the relative displacement between the truck
trailer 52
and the loading dock occurs on the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38 of the sealing
pad
2o members 16, 16' and 30 and not on the mounting faces 22, 22' and 36 of the
sealing
pad members 16,16' and 30.
The loading dock door seal 10 of the present invention substantially
eliminates any abrasion between the rear edges of the truck trailer 52 and the
sealing
pad members 16, 16' and 30 during the loading and/or unloading operation
because
25 the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38 fluidly move, in one instance,
individually and
simultaneously in a vertical and lateral horizontal direction with the truck
trailer 52

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
28
relative to the mounting faces 22, 22' and 36. The moveable sealing face
design of
the loading dock door seal 10 of the present invention drastically reduces the
wear
and tear on the fabric component of the seal and thus, the loading dock door
seal 10
of the present invention lasts longer than prior art loading dock door seals.
In one
instance, Applicant has conducted tests which demonstrate a four times greater
life
expectancy of the loading dock door seal 10 of the present invention as
compared to
that of prior art loading dock door seals.
When the truck trailer 52 leaves the loading dock, the sealing faces 24, 24'
and
38 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 are automatically restored to the
1o positions in which they occupied prior to the arrival of the truck trailer
52. If the
truck trailer 52 had moved the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38 of the sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30 to a low position as illustrated in FIG. 11, the
resilient nature
of the sealing pad members 16,16' and 30 will restore the sealing faces 24,
24' and 38
of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 to their rest positions. If the
truck trailer
52 had lifted the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38 of the sealing pad members 16,
16' and
30 to a high position as illustrated in FIG. 12, the resilient nature of the
sealing pad
members 16, 16' and 30 will return the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38 of the
sealing pad
members 16,16' and 30 to their rest positions.
It is therefore clear from the foregoing description that the sealing faces
24, 24'
2o and 38 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 are free to move in any
direction
along with the truck trailer 52. Accordingly, in one instance, a truck trailer
52 which
is backed tightly against the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 can move
individually and simultaneously in a vertical and lateral horizontal direction
and the
sealing faces 24, 24' and 38 of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 will
freely
2s move with the truck trailer 52 as aforesaid.
In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
29
14, the support 46 is cut shorter on the top and bottom ends thereof relative
to the
side wall sealing pad members 16, 16'. In one instance, the support 46 is cut
approximately 6" shorter on the top and bottom ends thereof relative to the
side
wall sealing pad members 16, 16'. Because of this, there is no requirement to
apply
adhesive to the top and bottom portions of the mounting faces 22, 22' of the
side
wall sealing pad members 16, 16'. This further aids in the vertical movement
of the
sealing faces 24, 24' relative to the mounting faces 22, 22' and thus relative
to the
support 46 and in turn relative to the outside wall 12. This also allows the
cover 48
to move more fluidly with the first compressible resilient material 44 it is
covering.
1o In another embodiment of the present invention, the support 46 is cut
narrower at the sides thereof relative to the side wall sealing pad members
16, 16'
(not shown). In one instance, the support 46 is cut approximately 6" narrower
at the
sides thereof relative to the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16'. Because
of this,
there is no requirement to apply adhesive to the outermost side portions of
the
t5 mounting faces 22, 22' of the side wall sealing pad members 16,16'. This
further aids
in the lateral horizontal movement of the sealing faces 24, 24' relative to
the
mounting faces 22, 22' and thus relative to the support 46 and in turn
relative to the
outside wall 12. This also allows the cover 48 to move more fluidly with the
first
compressible resilient material 44 it is covering. It will be apparent to
persons
2o skilled in the art that the support 46 may be cut narrower at the sides
thereof in
addition to being cut shorter on the top and bottom ends thereof relative to
the side
wall sealing pad members 16,16'.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the support 46 is cut shorter
on the left and right ends thereof relative to the top wall sealing pad member
30. In
25 one instance, the support 46 is cut approximately 6" shorter on the left
and right
ends thereof relative to the top wall sealing pad member 30. Because of this,
there is

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
no requirement to apply adhesive to the left and right portions of the
mounting face
36 of the top wall sealing pad member 30. This further aids in the lateral
horizontal
movement of the sealing face 38 relative to the mounting face 36 and thus
relative to
the support 46 and in turn relative to the outside wall 12. This also allows
the cover
5 48 to move more fluidly with the first compressible resilient material 44 it
is
covering.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the support 46 is cut
narrower at the sides thereof relative to the top wall sealing pad member 30
(not
shown). In one instance, the support 46 is cut approximately 6" narrower at
the
to sides thereof relative to the top wall sealing pad member 30. Because of
this, there is
no requirement to apply adhesive to the outermost side portions of the
mounting
face 36 of the top wall sealing pad member 30. This further aids in the
vertical
movement of the sealing face 38 relative to the mounting face 36 and thus
relative to
the support 46 and in turn relative to the outside wall 12. This also allows
the cover
t5 48 to move more fluidly with the first compressible resilient material 44
it is
covering. Again, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the
support 46
may be cut narrower at the sides thereof in addition to being cut shorter on
the left
and right ends thereof relative to the top wall sealing pad member 30.
In another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and
20 15, rather than traditional staples, nails or the like adhering the cover
48 to the
support 46, the cover 48 is removably attached to the support 46 via pivoting
brackets 56. Each pivoting bracket 56 is attached to the cover 48 on one side
and to
the side of the support 46 on the other. Typically, the one side of the
pivoting
bracket 56 is sewn to the inside edge of the cover 48 in three locations. The
other
2s side of the pivoting bracket 56 has a grommet, bearing or the like 58
whereby the
pivoting bracket 56 is fastened to the side of the support 46 by any suitable
means,

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
31
such as, for example, but not limited to, a screw or the like. The pivoting
brackets 56
aid in the ability of the cover 48 to move more fluidly with the sealing pad
members
16, 16' and 30.
In the embodiments wherein the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 are
s mounted directly to the outside wall 12 of the building structure, the side
of the
pivoting bracket 56 comprising the grommet 58 is fastened to the wall 12 by
any
suitable means, such as, for example, but not limited to, a screw or the like.
FIG. 16 illustrates one arrangement of the side wall sealing pad members 16,
16' on the outer wall 12 of the building structure about the door opening 14.
In this
to embodiment, the vertical centerlines of the side wall sealing pad members
16, 16'
may be spaced laterally apart a distance equal to the conventional spacing of
the rear
edges of the sides of a truck trailer (usually about 8 feet). The side wall
sealing pad
members 16, 16' are arranged on the wall 12 adjacent to the opening 14 but do
not
extend across same. This arrangement serves to abut and sealingly engage truck
t s trailers which may be wider than the opening 14, and which when backed
against
the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16', will form a suitable obstruction to
the
passage of air into the opening 14 beyond the sides of the truck trailer.
FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate another arrangement of the side wall sealing pad
members 16, 16' on the outer wall 12 of the building structure about the door
20 opening 14. In this embodiment, the opening 14 may be made of greater width
than
the width of a truck trailer so that truck trailers of different widths can be
readily
backed into operative relation to the opening 14. When the opening 14 is wider
than
the width of the truck trailer, it is necessary to provide side wall sealing
pad
members 16, 16' that extend somewhat across the opening 14 as illustrated in
FIGS. 3
2s and 4. As well, the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16' may be made wide
enough so that the truck trailer need not be precisely aligned therewith in
order to

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
32
abut and sealingly engage the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16' and
effectuate a
seal against the loading dock.
FIGS. 5, 19 and 20 illustrates a further embodiment of the loading dock door
seal 10 of the present invention wherein the shape of the side wall sealing
pad
s members 16, 16' is modified. In this embodiment, the side wall sealing pad
members 16, 16' have a substantially tapered cross section, having narrow
mounting
faces 22, 22' relative to wide sealing faces 24, 24'. The outer side faces 26,
26' are
substantially perpendicular to the mounting and sealing faces 22, 22' and 24,
24',
respectively. The inner side faces 28, 28' are substantially tapered. As a
result, the
1o side wall sealing pad members 16, 16' extend from the side edges of the
opening 14
outwardly and inwardly laterally of the opening 14 with the outermost portions
defining sealing lip portions 60, 60' generally extending inwardly of the
opening 14.
The spacing between the sealing lip portions 60, 60' is such that the opening
therebetween is somewhat less than the width of a regular or conventional
truck
1s trailer. Thus, when a truck trailer 15 moves backwardly into abutting and
sealing
engagement with the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16', it generally abuts
and
sealingly engages the inwardly projecting sealing lip portions 60, 60'. The
truck
trailer 52 may then actually move slightly inwardly between the side wall
sealing
pad members 16, 16' with the sealing lip portions 60, 60' deflecting inwardly,
with
2o some sealing compression of the side wall sealing pad members 16, 16', to
establish a
weather-tight seal between the rear side edges of the truck trailer 52 and the
side
wall sealing pad members 16, 16'. The top wall sealing pad member 30 may also
have a substantially tapered cross-section (not shown), having a narrow
mounting
face 36 relative to a wide sealing face 38. The outer side face 40 is
substantially
25 perpendicular to the mounting and sealing faces 36 and 38, respectively.
The inner
side face 42 is substantially tapered.

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
33
The loading dock door seal 10 of the present invention may include two
vertically elongated longitudinal side wall sealing pad members 16, 16'
approximately 8 feet in length only and/or one horizontally elongated
longitudinal
top wall sealing pad member 32 approximately 10 feet in length or may include
two
s vertically elongated longitudinal side wall sealing pad members 16, 16'
approximately 10 feet in length and one horizontally elongated longitudinal
top wall
sealing pad member 32 approximately 10 feet in length.
In any of the foregoing embodiments, the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30
could alternatively be considered to comprise mounting faces 22, 22' and 36,
respectively and sealing faces 24, 24' and 38, respectively which are coupled
to each
other so as to allow relative movement between those faces in response to
movement of the truck trailer 52. In particular, at least one coupling may be
provided such that the volume of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30
between
the mounting faces 22, 22' and 36, respectively and the sealing faces 24, 24'
and 38,
15 respectively has a different level of resiliency and/or flexibility than
the remainder
of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 to thereby allow relative movement
between the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38 and the mounting faces 22, 22' and 36
to
accommodate the rolling and pitching motion of the truck trailer 52. According
to
the foregoing embodiments of the broader inventive concepts, the at least one
2o coupling may be in the form of sections of the first compressible resilient
material 44
extending from the mounting faces 22, 22' and 36, respectively to the sealing
faces
24, 24' and 38, respectively of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30. These
sections are the material left after the area defining the at least one
"flexing zone" 50
has been removed from the first compressible resilient material 44 and/or
filled with
25 the second compressible resilient material 54. These sections can take a
variety of
forms, shapes and sizes. It is envisioned that alternative materials could be
used to

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
34
form the at least one coupling connecting the mounting faces 22, 22' and 36,
respectively and the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38, respectively of the sealing
pad
members 16, 16' and 30 to provide the desired relative movement. For example,
in
another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one coupling may be
in
s the form of at least one spring, such as, for example, but not limited to,
at least one
helical spring. In another embodiment of the present, the at least one
coupling may
be in the form of at least one hydraulic cylinder pivotally attached at each
end
thereof to the mounting faces 22, 22' and 36 respectively and the sealing
faces 24, 24'
and 38, respectively of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30. Removing
volumes
to of the first compressible resilient material 44 from the sealing pad
members 16, 16'
and 30 to leave behind sections that provide the coupling, however, is
believed to be
a cost-effective and advantageous means to achieving the desired relative
movement
between the sealing faces 24, 24' and 38, respectively, and the mounting faces
22, 22'
and 36, respectively, of the sealing pad members 16, 16' and 30 and thus the
surface.
is Applicant has found that the loading dock door seal 10 of the present
invention provides a relatively inexpensive and reliable tight seal about a
truck
trailer or the like having exceptionally long life, with a better seal than
that obtained
with the conventional solid rectangular foam pad. The present invention thus
provides an improved loading dock door seal which can be economically
2o constructed, readily applied to the outside wall of a building structure
about a door
opening and provides a long life and a reliable door seal. Due to the
simplicity of the
design of the loading dock door seal of the present invention, there are no
added
components and/or parts. This translates into, in one instance, a lower cost
in the
manufacture of the loading dock door seal 10 of the present invention. Other
2s advantages and benefits of the loading dock door seal 10 of the present
invention are
made readily apparent to person skilled in the art by reading the above
description.

CA 02343680 2001-04-11
While the foregoing provides a detailed description of preferred
embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that this
description is
intended to be illustrative only of the principles of the present invention
and not in a
limiting sense. Numerous modifications, variations, and adaptations may be
made
s to the particular embodiments of the present invention described above
without
departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the
claims.

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