Combination dock shelter and dock seal with replaceable seal members

Abstract

A combined dock seal and shelter structure for a truck loading dock includes a vehicle-engaging seal member that is removably or replaceably attached to a compressible side pad. A backer can be used to help mount the side pad to a wall, adjacent to a doorway. The side pad preferably comprises a resiliently compressible foam core within a pliable cover 4 , while the seal member comprises a pliable curtain or semi-rigid panel that are flexible but less compressible than the foam core.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad being vertically elongate, being attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening, and having a pad width that runs horizontally and parallel to the wall when attached thereto, wherein the side pad includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover;    a seal member having an outer edge adjacent to the side pad and an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, wherein the outer edge and the inner edge define a seal width that is greater than the pad width, and the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core;    an anchor base attached to the side pad, wherein the anchor base is more rigid than the pliable cover and is less compressible than the compressible foam core; and    an anchor attached to the seal member and releasably coupled to the anchor base, whereby the seal member is releasably attached to the side pad.    
     
     
         2 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is a threaded fastener.  
     
     
         3 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor base is installed between the compressible foam core and the pliable cover.  
     
     
         4 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor base comprises a plurality of vertically spaced apart segments.  
     
     
         5 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor base comprises a plurality of segments that are pivotally interconnected.  
     
     
         6 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is coupled to the anchor base through magnetic attraction.  
     
     
         7 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is releasably coupled to the anchor base by virtue of the anchor being resiliently flexible.  
     
     
         8 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 7 , wherein the anchor is a strip of spring steel.  
     
     
         9 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein an interlocking sliding connection exists between the anchor and the anchor base.  
     
     
         10 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor and the anchor base each have an extrudeable cross-section.  
     
     
         11 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is an elongate member that fits into a groove defined by the anchor base, and a portion of the seal member is held pinched between the elongate member and the anchor base.  
     
     
         12 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad that includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover, a backer that is attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening, a front face that faces away from the backer, an outer side surface that extends between the backer and the front face and faces away from the doorway when the side pad is attached to the wall, and an inner side surface that faces away from the outer side surface and extends between the backer and the front face;    a seal member having an outer edge adjacent to the outer side surface, an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, and an intermediate point adjacent to the inner side surface, wherein the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core; and    a plurality of releasable connectors that releasably connect the seal member to the side pad, wherein the plurality of releasable connectors are vertically spaced apart from each other and are disposed along at least one of the outer side surface and the inner side surface.    
     
     
         13 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of releasable connectors are disposed along at least one of the outer side surface and the inner side surface.  
     
     
         14 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of releasable connectors are buttons.  
     
     
         15 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of releasable connectors includes a pliable elongate member.  
     
     
         16 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of releasable connectors extend completely through the side pad from the inner side surface to the outer side surface.  
     
     
         17 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , further comprising a first loop on the seal member, a second loop on the side pad, and a pin coupling the first loop to the second loop.  
     
     
         18 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , further comprising a flange connected to the seal member and overlapping at least one of the inner side surface and the outer side surface of the side pad, wherein the backer is closer to the plurality of releasable connectors than to the flange.  
     
     
         19 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of releasable connectors includes a snap-in buckle.  
     
     
         20 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of releasable connectors includes a binding buckle.  
     
     
         21 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of releasable connectors includes a hook.  
     
     
         22 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad that includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover, a backer that is attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening, and a front face that faces away from the backer, wherein the side pad defines a slit;    a seal member having an outer edge adjacent to the front face, an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, wherein the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core; and    a protrusion attached to the seal member and extending into the slit to help hold the seal member to the side pad.    
     
     
         23 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 22 , wherein the slit runs horizontally, and the protrusion extends downward.  
     
     
         24 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 22 , wherein the slit runs vertically and the protrusion extends sideways.  
     
     
         25 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 22 , wherein the slit is one of a plurality of vertically spaced apart slits, and the protrusion is one of a plurality of vertically spaced apart protrusions.  
     
     
         26 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 25 , further comprising a plurality of stays attached to the seal member, wherein the plurality of stays are resiliently flexible to help support the seal member, and the plurality of vertically spaced apart protrusions are an integral extension of the plurality of stays, whereby the plurality of stays protrude into the plurality of vertically spaced apart slits.  
     
     
         27 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 22 , wherein the side pad has a pad height and the slit runs for most of the pad height.  
     
     
         28 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 22 , wherein the side pad includes a loop that defines the slit.  
     
     
         29 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 22 , wherein the side pad includes a pocket and the slit is an opening of the pocket.  
     
     
         30 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad that includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover, a backer that is attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening, a front face that faces away from the backer, an outer side surface that extends between the backer and the front face and faces away from the doorway when the side pad is attached to the wall, and an inner side surface that faces away from the outer side surface and extends between the backer and the front face;    a seal member having an outer edge adjacent to the outer side surface, an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, and an intermediate point adjacent to the inner side surface, wherein the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core;    a first zipper that runs vertically and connects the outer edge to the outer side surface; and    a second zipper that runs vertically and connects the intermediate point to the inner side surface.    
     
     
         31 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad that includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover, a backer that is attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening, a front face that faces away from the backer, an upper surface that extends from the backer to the front face;    a seal member having an outer edge adjacent to the front face and an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, wherein the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core; and    a top flap attached to the seal member and overlaying the upper surface of the side pad.    
     
     
         32 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 31 , wherein the top flap is made of a pliable material.  
     
     
         33 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 31 , wherein the top flap is attached to the backer.  
     
     
         34 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 31 , further comprising a touch-and-hold fastener that releasably connects the top flap to the upper surface.  
     
     
         35 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 31 , wherein the top flap engages the upper surface to help support the weight of the seal member.  
     
     
         36 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad that includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover, a backer that is attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening and a front face that faces away from the backer;    a seal member having an outer edge adjacent to the front face and an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, wherein the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core;    a flange extending from the seal member and overlapping the side pad; and    a constrictor overlapping the flange and wrapped in tension around the side pad to help hold the seal member to the side pad.    
     
     
         37 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad that includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover, a backer that is attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening, a front face that faces away from the backer, an outer side surface that extends between the backer and the front face and faces away from the doorway when the side pad is attached to the wall, and an inner side surface that faces away from the outer side surface and extends between the backer and the front face, wherein the side pad defines a crevice that extends into the compressible foam core;    a seal member having an outer edge adjacent to the side pad and an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, wherein the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core; and    a releasable connector engaging the seal member and protruding into the crevice, wherein the releasable connector releasably grips the side pad.    
     
     
         38 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 37 , wherein the crevice extends through the front face.  
     
     
         39 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 37 , wherein the crevice extends through the inner side surface.  
     
     
         40 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 37 , wherein the crevice extends through the outer side surface.  
     
     
         41 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 37 , further comprising a touch-and-hold fastener disposed on the releasable connector and in the crevice.  
     
     
         42 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 37 , further comprising a barb disposed on the releasable connector.  
     
     
         43 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 37 , wherein the pliable cover lines an interior of the crevice.  
     
     
         44 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad that includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover, a backer that is attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening, a front face that faces away from the backer, an outer side surface that extends between the backer and the front face and faces away from the doorway when the side pad is attached to the wall, and an inner side surface that faces away from the outer side surface and extends between the backer and the front face;    a flap extending from the pliable cover and selectively overlaying the front face, wherein the flap has a pivotal edge and a distal edge such that the pivotal edge enables the distal edge to be selectively swung toward and away from the front face;    a seal member connected to the flap and having an outer edge adjacent to the flap and an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, wherein the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core;    a first fastener releasably connecting the seal member to the flap; and    a second fastener releasably holding the distal edge adjacent to the side pad.    
     
     
         45 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the flap and the pliable cover are made of the same material.  
     
     
         46 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the pivotal edge of the flap is sewn to the pliable cover.  
     
     
         47 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the first fastener is a threaded fastener.  
     
     
         48 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the flap is sandwiched between the seal member and the front face of the side pad when the second fastener is holding the distal edge adjacent to the side pad.  
     
     
         49 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the second fastener is a touch-and-hold fastener.  
     
     
         50 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the second fastener includes a button.  
     
     
         51 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the second fastener includes a snap-in buckle.  
     
     
         52 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the second fastener is resiliently flexible.  
     
     
         53 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the second fastener includes a binding buckle.  
     
     
         54 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the distal edge is adjacent the inner side surface of the side pad.  
     
     
         55 . The combined dock seal and shelter of  claim 44 , wherein the distal edge is adjacent the outer side surface of the side pad.  
     
     
         56 . A combined dock seal and shelter adapted to help seal between a vehicle and a wall, wherein the wall defines a doorway of a building, the combined dock seal and shelter comprising: 
 a side pad that includes a compressible foam core within a pliable cover, a backer that is attachable to the wall adjacent to the dock opening, a front face that faces away from the backer, an outer side surface that extends between the backer and the front face and faces away from the doorway when the side pad is attached to the wall, and an inner side surface that faces away from the outer side surface and extends between the backer and the front face;    a seal member having an outer edge adjacent to the outer side surface, an inner edge adapted to engage the vehicle, and an intermediate point adjacent to the inner side surface, wherein the seal member is flexible but less compressible than the compressible foam core; and    a set of laces releasably connecting the seal member to the side pad.