Container restraint for a parked swap body

• US 6,520,472 B1
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Inventors: Sander, Reinhard E., Harter, Robert J., Manich, Glenn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun; Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US09/235,430
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 248/351,352 410/54,56,58,61,63,94 414/402,584,461
• US Class Current: 248/351
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/003 Restraining movement of a vehicle at a loading station using means not being part of the vehicle

Abstract

A restraint for a parked swap body container includes a face stop that can be selectively positioned to a restraining position and a release position. In the restraining position, the face stop is adapted to engage a front face of the container to limit the extent to which the parked container can move away from an edge of a truck loading dock. In The release position, the face stop allows a truck to remove the container from the loading dock. The restraint may also include a frame that can be repositioned longitudinally to accommodate containers of various lengths. A fine adjustment can be added to further limit horizontal movement of the container. And an optional bottom support could engage the bottom of the container to provide even more support.

Claims

1. A restraint for limiting movement of a swap body in a parked position, the swap body having a length extending along a longitudinal direction and a width extending along a lateral direction, the swap body including a container having a front face and a rear face at opposite ends of the length and extending upwardly from a bottom of the container, the direction from the rear face to the front face defining a first direction, the swap body also including a plurality of legs coupled to the container and adapted to rest upon a driveway to support the container above the driveway in the parked position, the restraint comprising:

a frame adapted to be coupled to the driveway, with the frame being moveable in the lateral direction;

a first axis associated with the frame;

a bottom support coupled to the frame and adapted to engage the bottom of the container;

a face stop coupled to the frame and selectively positionable to a restraining position and a release position, in the release position the face stop being adapted to accommodate delivery and removal of the swap body respectively to and from the driveway, in the restraining position the face stop being adapted to engage the front face to limit horizontal movement of the container in the first direction, the face stop being positionable to the restraining position and the release position by virtue of the frame being movable in the lateral direction; and

a fine adjustment that repositionably couples the face stop to the bottom support.

2. A restraint for limiting movement of a swap body in a parked position, the swap body having a length extending along a longitudinal direction and a width extending along a lateral direction, the swap body including a container having a front face and a rear face at opposite ends of the length and extending upwardly from a bottom of the container, the direction from the rear face to the front face defining a first direction, the swap body also including a plurality of legs coupled to the container and adapted to rest upon a driveway to support the container above the driveway in the parked position, the restraint comprising:

a frame adapted to be coupled to the driveway, with the frame being moveable in the lateral direction;

a first axis associated with the frame;

a bottom support coupled to the frame and adapted to engage the bottom of the container;

a face stop coupled to the frame and selectively positionable to a restraining position and a release position, in the release position the face stop being adapted to accommodate delivery and removal of the swap body respectively to and from the driveway, in the restraining position the face stop being adapted to engage the front face to limit horizontal movement of the container in the first direction, the face stop being positionable to the restraining position and the release position by virtue of the frame being movable in the lateral direction; and

a plug protruding downward from the frame and selectively engaging and releasing a socket of a plurality of sockets adapted to be recessed into the driveway at a corresponding plurality of locations, whereby horizontal movement of the frame relative to the driveway can be limited at the corresponding plurality of locations.

3. A restraint for limiting movement of a swap body in a parked position, the swap body having a length extending along a longitudinal direction and a width extending along a lateral direction, the swap body including a container having a front face and a rear face at opposite ends of the length and extending upwardly from a bottom of the container, the direction from the rear face to the front face defining a first direction, the swap body also including a plurality of legs coupled to the container and adapted to rest upon a driveway to support the container above the driveway in the parked position, the restraint comprising:

a frame adapted to be coupled to the driveway, with the frame being moveable in the lateral direction;

a first axis associated with the frame;

a bottom support coupled to the frame and adapted to engage the bottom of the container;

a face stop coupled to the frame and selectively positionable to a restraining position and a release position, in the release position the face stop being adapted to accommodate delivery and removal of the swap body respectively to and from the driveway, in the restraining position the face stop being adapted to engage the front face to limit horizontal movement of the container in the first direction, the face stop being positionable to the restraining position and the release position by virtue of the frame being movable in the lateral direction; and

a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame and adapted to move the frame across the driveway, the plurality of wheels also being selectively movable in a vertical direction relative to a lower surface of the frame to selectively fix and release the lower surface relative to the driveway.

4. A restraint for limiting movement of a swap body in a parked position, the swap body having a length extending along a longitudinal direction and a width extending along a lateral direction, the swap body including a container having a front face and a rear face at opposite ends of the length and extending upwardly from a bottom of the container, the direction from the rear face to the front face defining a first direction, the swap body also including a plurality of legs coupled to the container and adapted to rest upon a driveway to support the container above the driveway in the parked position, the restraint comprising:

a frame adapted to be coupled to the driveway;

a face stop coupled to the frame and being selectively positionable to a restraining position and a release position, in the release position the face stop being adapted to accommodate delivery and removal of the swap body respectively to and from the driveway, in the restraining position the face stop being adapted to engage the front face to limit movement of the container in the first direction, wherein the frame is movable in the lateral direction to laterally position the face stop between the restraining position and the release position; and

a plug protruding downward from the frame and selectively engaging and releasing a socket of a plurality of sockets adapted to be recessed into the driveway at a corresponding plurality of locations, whereby movement of the frame relative to the driveway can be limited at the corresponding plurality of locations.

5. A restraint for limiting movement of a swap body in a parked position, the swap body having a length extending along a longitudinal direction and a width extending along a lateral direction, the swap body including a container having a front face and a rear face at opposite ends of the length and extending upwardly from a bottom of the container, the direction from the rear face to the front face defining a first direction, the swap body also including a plurality of legs coupled to the container and adapted to rest upon a driveway to support the container above the driveway in the parked position, the restraint comprising:

a frame adapted to be coupled to the driveway;

a face stop coupled to the frame and being selectively positionable to a restraining position and a release position, in the release position the face stop being adapted to accommodate delivery and removal of the swap body respectively to and from the driveway, in the restraining position the face stop being adapted to engage the front face to limit movement of the container in the first direction, wherein the frame is movable in the lateral direction to laterally position the face stop between the restraining position and the release position; and

a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame and adapted to move the frame across the driveway, the plurality of wheels also being selectively movable in a vertical direction relative to a lower surface of the frame to selectively fix and release the lower surface relative to the driveway.

6. A restraint for limiting movement of a swap body in a parked position, the swap body having a length extending along a longitudinal direction and a width extending along a lateral direction, the swap body including a container having a front face and a rear face at opposite ends of the length and extending upwardly from a bottom of the container, the direction from the rear face to the front face defining a first direction, the swap body also including a plurality of legs coupled to the container and adapted to rest upon a driveway to support the container above the driveway in the parked position, the restraint comprising:

a frame adapted to be coupled to the driveway;

a face stop coupled to the frame by way of a moveable assembly and being selectively positionable to a restraining position and a release position, in the release position the face stop being adapted to accommodate delivery and removal of the swap body respectively to and from the driveway, in the restraining position the face stop being adapted to engage the front farce to limit movement of the container in the first direction;

a bottom support coupled to the frame and adapted to engage the bottom of the container when the face stop is in the restraining position; and

a fine adjustment that moves the face stop in relation to the bottom support.