Loading dock light system

• US 7,101,064 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2002
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas A. Ancel
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Ancel
• Inventors: Ancel, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/072,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,669 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/427, 362/547, 362/523, 362/418, 362/430, 362/432, 362/294, 362/370, 362/371, 362/373, 362/152, 362/431, 362/449, 362/368
• US Class Current: 362/427
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames

Abstract

The present invention is a device, which illuminates light inside of a tractor trailer truck van and other loading vehicles at a loading dock during loading and unloading procedures. As professionals working with such vehicles understand, natural lighting is simply not enough to prevent serious loading and unloading accidents, primarily at the deep end of the truck trailer van body. The loading dock spot light of the present invention with its short body design helps prevent fork trucks from hitting and destroying it. The overall short body of the light structure is designed to stay out of the primary main path of the fork truck traffic, allowing the light emitted from the light bulb to just peek beyond the loading dock door seal edge. The present invention is a simple mechanical device, which reduces loading dock operator confusion during loading and unloading operation, maintenance, and repair.

Claims

1. A loading dock light assembly comprising:

a vertical curved mounting plate adapted to be mounted to a pipe bollard;

a hinge pipe assembly located on said vertical curved mounting plate;

said hinge pipe assembly having a spaced distance between said vertical curved mounting plate and said hinge pipe assembly to ensure the body of the pipe mount light structure has a degree of rotation of 160 to 200 degrees, which allows said light body structure to move forward out of the way in the event the light body structure is hit by a forklift from the rear as the fork truck is entering into the truck trailer; and

to move backwards out of the way in the event the light body structure is hit by a forklift from the front as the fork truck is departing out of the truck trailer.

2. A loading dock light according to claim 1 wherein said mounting of the pipe bollard light fixture allows the light to swing in front of the bollard in the working position.

3. A loading dock light according to claim 1 wherein said mounting of the pipe bollard light fixture allows the light to swing in behind of the bollard out of the working position.

4. A loading dock light according to claim 1 wherein the design of bulb location, and cooling holes provides a cool surface to the touch.

5. A loading dock light according to claim 4 wherein the light bulb is mounted in an adjustable fixed head design.

6. A loading dock light according to claim 4, wherein said hinge design of the light fixture includes a horizontal axis swing design allowing the light fixture to swing in and out on a fixed horizontal plane without sagging.

7. A loading dock light according to claim 4, wherein said design of the light fixture includes a standard par 30 light bulb.

8. A loading dock light assembly according to claim 1 wherein said spaced distance is created by at least one spacer.

9. A loading dock light assembly according to claim 8 wherein said hinge assembly comprises a vertical pin with fastening means at the top and bottom of said assembly.

10. A loading dock light assembly according to claim 9 wherein said assembly comprises a stainless steel bolt with a head at the top and a nylon nut at the bottom.

11. A loading dock light assembly according to claim 10 wherein said stainless steel bolt enters from the top of the assembly, passes through a steel washer, passes through a rubber washer, passes through a horizontal frame member of the light body structure, through the hinge tube, passes through a lower horizontal frame member of the light body, passes through a steel washer;

and a nylon nut is threaded onto said stainless bolt.

12. A loading dock light according to claim 11 wherein said mounting of the door jamb light fixture allows the light to swing in behind the door seal and up against the door jamb and out of the working position and traffic zone.

13. A loading dock spot light comprising:

a light body,

a light source,

mounting means, comprising at least one vertically extending mounting plate which is curved to fit on a pipe bollard in the case of a pipe mounted light,

safe handling means to prevent burns to loading dock personnel,

means to convert from left to right hand mounting; and

means for connecting said light source to an electrical source.

14. A loading dock spot light according to claim 13 having a light body comprising a housing, a frame, and means to mount a light source.

15. A loading dock spot light according to claim 14 wherein said housing provides protection to internal elements.

16. A loading dock spot light according to claim 14 wherein said frame provides means to mount said light body to a permanent structure, and provides means to mount components of said light body.

17. A loading dock spot light according to claim 14 wherein said means to mount a light source comprises an internal fixture.

18. A loading dock spot light according to claim 17 wherein said internal fixture has a predetermined vertical and horizontal mounting angle which aims the light for optimum coverage inside a semi tractor trailer van.

19. A loading dock spot light according to claim 13 having a light source which comprises a standard small diameter par 30 halogen light bulb.

20. A loading dock spot light according to claim 17 having mounting means comprising at least one additional mounting plate, hinges, and fasteners.

21. A loading dock spot light according to claim 20 wherein said hinges permit free angular rotational motion of said spot light while providing means for it to remain firmly in one position.

22. A loading dock spot light according to claim 20 wherein said fasteners comprise elements selected from bolts, nuts, and washers.

23. A loading dock spot light according to claim 22 wherein said washers includes at least one which is made from elastometric material which material will provide resistance to motion when said nut and bolt are tightened.

24. A loading dock spot light according to claim 13 including safe handling means comprising vent holes and internal free air space.

25. A loading dock spot light according to claim 24 wherein said vent holes are located in at least one of the housing and frame area so as to allow hot air to escape from said housing.

26. A loading dock spot light according to claim 24 wherein said internal free air space is sufficient to allow diffusion of radiant and convective heat from said halogen light bulb prior to being transferred to said housing and frame.

27. A loading dock spot light according to claim 13 wherein the means to convert said said spot light from left hand to right hand mounting, and vise versa occurs without additional parts.

28. A loading dock spot light according to claim 27 wherein said means to convert comprises a plurality of internal mounting studs which allows said light fixture to be mounted in one of two positions to maintain said horizontal and vertical mounting angles.

29. A loading dock spot light according to claim 13 having means to connect said spot light to a source of electrical power comprising a length of electrical cable passing through said housing.

30. A loading dock spot light according to claim 20 wherein in the case of the door jamb mounted light, said mounting means comprises a mounting plate having a flat portion to fit a door jam in the case of the door jamb mounted light.

32. A loading dock light according to claim 19 wherein said mounting of the door jamb light fixture allows the light to swing away from the door jamb and into working position.

31. A loading dock light assembly comprising:

a vertical L shaped mounting plate having a pair of legs about 90 degrees apart and means for mounting one of said legs on a door jamb;

means for mounting a hinge pipe assembly having a light on said second leg;

said hinge pipe assembly having a spaced distance between said vertical mounting plate and said hinge pipe assembly to ensure that the body of the pipe mount structure allows said light to swing behind the door seal and against the door jamb out of the working position and traffic zone; and

wherein said mounting of the door jamb light fixture allows said light to swing out and away from the door jamb in a working position.

33. A loading dock light assembly comprising:

a vertical curved mounting plate adapted to be mounted to a pipe bollard;

a hinge pipe assembly located on said vertical curved mounting plate;

said hinge pipe assembly having a spaced distance between said vertical curved mounting plate and said hinge pipe assembly to ensure the body of the pipe mount light structure has a degree of rotation of 160 to 200 degrees, which allows said light body structure to move forward out of the way in the event the light body structure is hit by a forklift from the rear as the fork truck is entering into the truck trailer; and

to move backwards out of the way in the event the light body structure is hit by a forklift from the front as the fork truck is departing out of the truck trailer.