Heat shielded sealing curtain

Abstract

A sealing curtain for a loading dock includes a pliable heat shield that helps protect the sealing curtain from concentrated heat generated by a truck's taillight being pressed against the sealing curtain. The heat shield is preferably placed just underneath a sealing surface of the sealing curtain. The heat shield reflects heat away from an inner surface and disperses the heat over a broader area to reduce the peak temperature of any hot spots. The sealing curtain may be height adjustable to position the heat shield at various heights along the loading dock.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A sealing curtain adapted to seal against a vehicle parked against the sealing curtain, comprising: 
 a sealing surface for engaging the parked vehicle; and    a heat shield adjacent the sealing surface, wherein the heat shield and the sealing surface are pliable and wherein the heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the sealing surface to dissipate heat from the parked vehicle across the sealing curtain.    
     
     
         2 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1  further comprising an inner surface, wherein the heat shield is interposed between the inner surface and the sealing surface.  
     
     
         3 . The sealing curtain of  claim 2 , wherein the heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the inner surface.  
     
     
         4 . The sealing curtain of  claim 2 , wherein the heat shield can withstand a higher temperature than the inner surface.  
     
     
         5 . The sealing curtain of  claim 2 , wherein the heat shield has a higher reflectivity than the inner surface.  
     
     
         6 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shield is formed of a plurality of heat shield layers.  
     
     
         7 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shield can withstand a higher temperature than the sealing surface.  
     
     
         8 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shield has a higher reflectivity than the sealing surface.  
     
     
         9 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one armor pleat at an outer edge of the sealing curtain.  
     
     
         10 . The sealing curtain of  claim 9 , wherein the heat shield extends over the armor pleat.  
     
     
         11 . The sealing curtain of  claim 9 , wherein the armor pleat includes a plurality of overlapping sections, wherein the heat shield is formed integrally with at least one of the plurality of overlapping sections.  
     
     
         12 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing curtain is a head curtain and has an elongated length running substantially horizontally.  
     
     
         13 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing curtain is a side curtain and has an elongated length running substantially vertically.  
     
     
         14 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing curtain further comprises; 
 a head curtain having an elongated length running substantially horizontally; and    at least one side curtain having an elongated length running substantially vertically.    
     
     
         15 . The sealing curtain of  claim 14 , wherein the head curtain has a leading edge movable from a first height to a second height, and wherein the at least one side curtain has a leading edge movable from a first height to a second height independent from the movement of the leading edge of the head curtain.  
     
     
         16 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing curtain has a leading edge with an adjustable height.  
     
     
         17 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shield includes aluminum.  
     
     
         18 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shield that can withstand a higher temperature than the sealing surface.  
     
     
         19 . The sealing curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing surface includes a plurality of raised elements that dissipate heat across the sealing curtain.  
     
     
         20 . A sealing curtain, comprising: 
 a first armor pleat;    a second armor pleat, the first armor pleat and second armor pleat being disposed at opposing side edges of the sealing curtain;    a sealing surface extending between the first armor pleat and the second armor pleat, the sealing surface having a height adjustable leading edge; and    a heat shield disposed adjacent the sealing surface, wherein the heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the sealing surface to dissipate heat across the sealing curtain.    
     
     
         21 . The sealing curtain of  claim 20 , wherein the heat shield is formed of a plurality of heat shields.  
     
     
         22 . The sealing curtain of  claim 20 , wherein the heat shield has sufficient flexibility to allow the sealing curtain to pay out from a raised position.  
     
     
         23 . The sealing curtain of  claim 20 , wherein the heat shield has a higher reflectivity than the sealing surface.  
     
     
         24 . The sealing curtain of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one panel disposed adjacent the sealing curtain, wherein the heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the panel.  
     
     
         25 . The sealing curtain of  claim 24 , wherein the heat shield has a higher reflectivity than the panel.  
     
     
         26 . The sealing curtain of  claim 24 , wherein the panel is a side panel.  
     
     
         27 . The sealing curtain of  claim 24 , wherein the panel is a header panel.  
     
     
         28 . A side curtain comprising: 
 a side panel;    a sealing surface for engaging the parked vehicle; and    a heat shield adjacent the sealing surface, wherein the heat shield and the sealing surface are pliable and wherein the heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the sealing surface to dissipate heat across the side curtain.    
     
     
         29 . The side curtain of  claim 28  further comprising an inner surface, wherein the heat shield is interposed between the inner surface and the sealing surface.  
     
     
         30 . The side curtain of  claim 29 , wherein the heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the inner surface.  
     
     
         31 . The side curtain of  claim 29 , wherein the heat shield can withstand a higher temperature than the inner surface.  
     
     
         32 . The side curtain of  claim 29 , wherein the heat shield has a higher reflectivity than the inner surface.  
     
     
         33 . The side curtain of  claim 28 , wherein the heat shield is formed of a plurality of heat shield layers.  
     
     
         34 . The side curtain of  claim 28 , wherein the heat shield can withstand a higher temperature than the sealing surface.  
     
     
         35 . The side curtain of  claim 28 , wherein the heat shield has a higher reflectivity than the sealing surface.  
     
     
         36 . A sealing curtain adapted to seal against a vehicle parked against the sealing curtain, comprising: 
 a sealing surface for engaging the parked vehicle; and    a heat shield adjacent the sealing surface, wherein the heat shield and the sealing surface are pliable and wherein the heat shield has a higher heat reflectivity than the sealing surface to reflect heat from the parked vehicle.    
     
     
         37 . The sealing curtain of  claim 36 , further comprising an inner surface, wherein the heat shield is interposed between the inner surface and the sealing surface and wherein the heat shield has a higher reflectivity than the inner surface.  
     
     
         38 . The sealing curtain of  claim 37 , wherein the heat shield has a higher thermal conductivity than the inner surface.  
     
     
         39 . The sealing curtain of  claim 37 , wherein the heat shield can withstand a higher temperature than the inner surface.  
     
     
         40 . The sealing curtain of  claim 36 , wherein the heat shield can withstand a higher temperature than the sealing surface.  
     
     
         41 . The sealing curtain of  claim 36 , wherein the sealing curtain is a head curtain and has an elongated length running substantially horizontal.  
     
     
         42 . The sealing curtain of  claim 36 , wherein the sealing curtain is a side curtain and has an elongated length running substantially vertically.  
     
     
         43 . The sealing curtain of  claim 36 , wherein the sealing surface includes a plurality of raised elements that dissipated heat across the sealing curtain.