Low profile wheel chock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11554758-B2
Application number	US-201916687901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2019
Priority date	Nov 19, 2019
Publication date	Jan 17, 2023
Grant date	Jan 17, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a chocking device, including a frame, a plate, and a stop. The frame has an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface. The plate has a substantially planar contact surface and includes an operating region. The plate is movable between a first position, wherein the contact surface is arranged substantially coextensively with the uppermost surface, and a second position, wherein the contact surface is arranged between the uppermost and lowermost surfaces. The stop is coupled to the frame and has an operating portion arranged in direct contact with the operating region. The stop is rotatable such that movement of the plate from the first position to the second position rotates the stop from a first stop position to a second stop position. The operating region is arranged nearer to the uppermost surface than is the operating portion when the stop is in the first and the second stop positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chocking device, comprising:
a frame having an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, the lowermost surface arranged opposite the uppermost surface;
a plate having a substantially planar contact surface and including an operating region, the plate movable between a first plate position, wherein a portion of the contact surface is arranged substantially coextensively with the uppermost surface of the frame, and a second plate position, wherein the portion of the contact surface is arranged between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the frame;
a stop coupled to the frame, the stop having an operating portion arranged in direct contact with the operating region, the stop rotatable such that movement of the plate from the first plate position to the second plate position rotates the stop from a first stop position to a second stop position; and
a deployment mechanism coupling the plate to the frame, the deployment mechanism including a plurality of bar linkages, each bar linkage including a first pivot point coupled to the plate, a second pivot point coupled to the frame, and a link between the first pivot point and the second pivot point, wherein:
the operating region of the plate is arranged nearer to the uppermost surface than is the operating portion of the stop when the stop is in the first stop position and when the stop is in the second stop position,
the plate is pivotable relative to the links about the first pivot points, and
the links are pivotable relative to the frame about the second pivot points.

2. The chocking device of claim 1 , wherein the contact surface is substantially coplanar with the uppermost surface of the frame when the plate is in the first plate position.

3. The chocking device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a return mechanism configured to move the plate from the second plate position to the first plate position, wherein the return mechanism is arranged between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the frame.

4. The chocking device of claim 3 , wherein:
the return mechanism includes a spring, and
the return mechanism is coupled to the stop such that rotation of the stop from the first stop position to the second stop position compresses the spring.

5. The chocking device of claim 4 , wherein the return mechanism is coupled to the operating portion of the stop.

6. The chocking device of claim 1 , wherein the operating region is arranged within the frame when the plate is in the first plate position and when the plate is in the second plate position.

7. The chocking device of claim 1 , wherein:
the stop includes a stopping portion and a shaft arranged between the stopping portion and the operating portion; and
the shaft is coupled to the frame such that the stop rotates about an axis of the stop.

8. The chocking device of claim 7 , wherein the stopping portion and the operating portion are positionally fixed relative to one another.

9. The chocking device of claim 7 , wherein the stopping portion is substantially coextensive with the contact surface when the plate is in the first plate position.

10. The chocking device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes sides, which are angled such that the sides are nearer to one another at the uppermost surface and are farther from one another at the lowermost surface.

11. The chocking device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lock rotatably coupled to the stop and configured to prevent movement of the stop from the second stop position to the first stop position.

12. A chocking device, comprising:
a frame having an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, the lowermost surface arranged opposite the uppermost surface;
a plate having a substantially planar contact surface extending from a first end of the plate to a second end of the plate, the second end of the plate including an operating region, the plate movable between a first plate position, wherein the second end of the plate is arranged substantially coextensively with the uppermost surface, and a second plate position, wherein the second end of the plate is arranged between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface;
a stop mechanism having an operating portion arranged between the second end of the plate and the lowermost surface such that movement of the plate from the first plate position to the second plate position moves the operating portion; and
a return mechanism including a spring, wherein the spring is arranged so as to be compressed by lateral movement of the first end of the plate such that the spring is compressed by the first end of the plate when the plate is in the second plate position, wherein:
when the plate is in the first plate position, the first end of the plate is substantially coextensive with the uppermost surface of the frame, and
when the plate is in the second plate position, the first end of the plate is arranged between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the frame.

13. The chocking device of claim 12 , wherein the operating portion is arranged in direct contact with the second end of the plate.

14. A chocking device, comprising:
a frame having an uppermost surface, a lowermost surface, and a plurality of sides, each side extending from the uppermost surface to the lowermost surface;
a plate arranged so as to extend through an opening formed in one of the sides of the frame, the plate having a substantially planar contact surface and including an operating region, the plate movable between a first plate position, wherein a portion of the contact surface is arranged substantially coextensively with the uppermost surface of the frame, and a second plate position, wherein the portion of the contact surface is arranged between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the frame; and
a stop mechanism having an operating portion arranged between the operating region of the plate and the lowermost surface such that movement of the plate from the first plate position to the second plate position moves the operating portion.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Anderl William James

Classifications

• B60T3/00 Primary

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