Wheel chock systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329105-B2
Application number	US-201715685632-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2017
Priority date	Jun 6, 2016
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

Wheel chock systems for use at loading docks and other locations are described herein. In some embodiments, the wheel chock systems can include a wheel chock assembly that is positionable in contact with a vehicle wheel to restrain the vehicle at a loading dock. The wheel chock assembly can include a sensor target, and a corresponding sensor can be mounted to, for example, an outer wall of the loading dock or a wheel chock storage cradle mounted to the outer wall. In operation, the sensor can emit a wireless signal (e.g., an electromagnetic signal) that is reflected off of the sensor target and received back by the sensor when the wheel chock has been positioned in a blocking relationship relative to the vehicle wheel to restrain the vehicle at the loading dock. The sensor can be operably connected to a loading dock signal system (e.g., a signal light system) that displays appropriate signals to loading dock personnel based on detection of proper wheel chock placement. In other embodiments, wheel chock systems can include other types of devices for wirelessly communicating wheel chock placement information to loading dock systems. Such device types can include, for example, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, etc.

First claim

We claim:

1. A vehicle restraint system, comprising:
a wireless receiver positioned at least proximate to a loading dock;
a wheel chock configured to be spaced apart from the wireless receiver and manually positioned in contact with a wheel of a vehicle to restrict movement of the vehicle away from the loading dock, wherein the wheel chock is further configured to be manually moved away from the wheel to permit movement of the vehicle away from the loading dock and the wheel chock; and
a wireless transmitter operably coupled to the wheel chock, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal that is received by the wireless receiver when the wheel chock is positioned in contact with the wheel of the vehicle to restrict movement of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 wherein the wheel chock is a portable wheel chock that is independently movable relative to the wireless receiver.

3. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is mounted to the wheel chock.

4. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 wherein placement of the wheel chock in contact with the wheel of the vehicle activates the wireless transmitter.

5. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is an RF transmitter.

6. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 , further comprising a signaling device operably connected to the wireless receiver, wherein the signaling device is configured to provide at least one of a visible signal or an audible signal in response to the wireless receiver detecting that the wheel chock is positioned in contact with the wheel of the vehicle to restrict movement of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle restraint system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power source carried by the wheel chock; and
a wheel sensor mounted to the wheel chock and configured to detect the presence of the vehicle wheel when the wheel chock is positioned in contact with the vehicle wheel, wherein the wheel sensor is configured to respond to the presence of the vehicle wheel by causing the power source to energize the wireless transmitter, and wherein energizing the wireless transmitter causes the wireless transmitter to transmit the wireless signal to the wireless receiver.

8. The vehicle restraint of claim 7 wherein the wheel sensor is a proximity sensor.

9. The vehicle restraint of claim 7 wherein the wheel sensor is an electromechanical switch.

10. The vehicle restraint system of claim 7 wherein the wheel chock includes a blocking surface configured to abut the wheel of the vehicle, and wherein the wheel sensor is positioned proximate to the blocking surface.

11. A vehicle restraint system, comprising:
a wireless receiver positioned at least proximate to a loading dock;
a wheel chock configured to be spaced apart from the wireless receiver and positioned in contact with a wheel of a vehicle to restrict movement of the vehicle away from the loading dock;
a wireless transmitter operably coupled to the wheel chock, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal that is received by the wireless receiver when the wheel chock is positioned in contact with the wheel of the vehicle to restrict movement of the vehicle;
a power source carried by the wheel chock;
a wheel sensor mounted to the wheel chock and configured to detect the presence of the vehicle wheel when the wheel chock is positioned in contact with the vehicle wheel, wherein the wheel sensor is configured to respond to the presence of the vehicle wheel by causing the power source to energize the wireless transmitter, and wherein energizing the wireless transmitter causes the wireless transmitter to transmit the wireless signal to the wireless receiver; and
a storage cradle mounted proximate to the loading dock, wherein the storage cradle includes a recharging unit, and wherein the storage cradle is configured to receive the wheel chock and recharge the power source via the recharging unit when the wheel chock is not in use.

12. The vehicle restraint system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a recharging interface mounted to the wheel chock wherein the recharging unit includes a recharging receptacle, and wherein placement of the wheel chock in the storage cradle automatically connects the recharging interface to the recharging receptacle for recharging the power source.

Assignees

• Assa Abloy Entrance Systems Ab

Inventors

• Hoofard Richard K
• Day Daryl

Classifications

• B60P3/077

  Wheel cradles, chocks, or wells · CPC title

• B65G2203/044

  Optical · CPC title

• B60T3/00

  Portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles, e.g. chocks · CPC title

• B65G69/005 Primary

  the means engaging at least one wheel of the vehicle · CPC title