Pedestrian-vehicle warning systems for loading docks
First Claim
1. A safety system for a loading dock to receive a vehicle approaching a doorway in a wall at the loading dock, the safety system comprising:
- a sensor at the loading dock to sense the vehicle approaching the loading dock, the first sensor to provide a first signal in response to the vehicle approaching the loading dock;
an alarm device mounted at a lower elevation than a lowermost edge defining an opening of the doorway, the alarm device being between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the opening defining the doorway, the alarm device to provide an alarm signal to warn a pedestrian in a path of the approaching vehicle in response to the first signal; and
a signal device mounted adjacent the first lateral edge of the doorway and at a higher elevation relative to the alarm device, the signal device configured to provide a status signal to a driver of the vehicle, the status signal being independent from the alarm signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example safety systems for use at a loading dock are disclosed. An example safety system includes a first sensor installed at the loading dock to sense the vehicle approaching the loading dock, where the first sensor is to provide a feedback signal in response to sensing the vehicle approaching the loading dock. An alarm device mounted at a lower elevation than a lowermost edge defining an opening that of the doorway. The alarm device being between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the opening defining the doorway. The alarm device to provide an alarm signal to warn to a pedestrian in a path of the approaching vehicle in response to the feedback signal sensing the vehicle approaching the loading dock. The alarm signal being at least one of a visual warning or an audible warning.
47 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A safety system for a loading dock to receive a vehicle approaching a doorway in a wall at the loading dock, the safety system comprising:
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a sensor at the loading dock to sense the vehicle approaching the loading dock, the first sensor to provide a first signal in response to the vehicle approaching the loading dock; an alarm device mounted at a lower elevation than a lowermost edge defining an opening of the doorway, the alarm device being between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the opening defining the doorway, the alarm device to provide an alarm signal to warn a pedestrian in a path of the approaching vehicle in response to the first signal; and a signal device mounted adjacent the first lateral edge of the doorway and at a higher elevation relative to the alarm device, the signal device configured to provide a status signal to a driver of the vehicle, the status signal being independent from the alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A safety system for a loading dock for a vehicle approaching a doorway in a wall at the loading dock, the safety system comprising:
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a pedestrian warning system to inform a pedestrian of an approaching vehicle, the pedestrian warning system including; a first sensor installable at a substantially fixed location at the loading dock, the first sensor to provide a first feedback signal in response to sensing the vehicle approaching the loading dock; and an alarm device configured to receive the first signal from the first sensor, the alarm device to emit at least one of an audible alert or a visual alert in response to the first feedback signal to warn a pedestrian in a path of the approaching vehicle; and a vehicle warning system to inform a driver of a vehicle of a status of a vehicle restraint at the loading dock, the vehicle warning system to operate independently from the pedestrian warning system, the vehicle warning system including; a signal device to receive a second signal and to emit a communication to a driver of the vehicle, the second signal being different from the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A safety system for a loading dock configured to receive a vehicle approaching a doorway in a wall at the loading dock, the safety system comprising:
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a sensor installable at a substantially fixed location at the loading dock, the sensor providing a feedback signal in response to sensing the vehicle approaching the loading dock, the vehicle being closer to the wall when the vehicle is in a parked position than when the vehicle is in an approach position; a vehicle restraint to restrain the vehicle at the loading dock, the vehicle restraint being configured selectively to a stored configuration and an operative configuration; an alarm device coupled to and movable with the vehicle restraint, the alarm device being configured to receive the feedback signal from the sensor, the alarm device being movable relative to the sensor in response to the vehicle approaching the doorway, the alarm device to emit at least one of an audible alert or a visual alert in response to the feedback signal sensing the vehicle to warn a pedestrian in a path of the approaching vehicle, the alarm device being at a higher elevation when the vehicle is at the approach position than when the vehicle is at the parked position.
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21. A safety system for a loading dock configured to receive a vehicle approaching a doorway in a wall at the loading dock, and the vehicle including a wheel, the safety system comprising:
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at least one of a shelter or a seal coupled to the wall adjacent a perimeter of the doorway; a sensor installable at the loading dock at an elevation above a lowermost edge of the doorway and outside a perimeter of the at least one of the shelter or the seal, the sensor to provide a feedback signal in response to sensing the vehicle approaching the doorway of the loading dock; a signal device installable at the loading dock at an elevation above the lowermost edge of the doorway and outside a perimeter of the at least one of the shelter or the seal, the signal device to emit selectively a first light and a second light different than the first light to provide information to a driver of the vehicle; and an alarm device installable at the loading dock at an elevation below the lowermost opening of the doorway, the alarm device to emit at least one of an audible signal or a visual signal in response to the feedback signal from the sensor and that is representative of the approaching vehicle to warn a pedestrian in a pathway of the approaching vehicle, the alarm device to be hidden from a line of sight of a driver of the vehicle backing into the loading dock and the signal device to remain in the line of sight of the driver of the vehicle backing into the loading dock. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification