Loading dock seal with flow through vent

Abstract

A loading dock seal has one or more recesses formed within the loading dock seal and covered by a transparent material. Mesh segments are utilized to screen some of the recesses to reduce rain, snow, rodents, insects and debris from passing through the recess passageway to the loading dock. A further transparent or opaque mesh segment cover can be utilized to selectively cover one or more of the mesh segments.

1 . A loading dock seal for providing a sealing relationship between a loading dock and a vehicle, the loading dock seal comprising: 
 a base connected to the loading dock;    a plurality of support members connected to said base in a spaced apart relationship, at least one support members defining a recess therebetween; and    a substantially transparent cover sealing said recess and mounted on at least one of said base and one said support member.    
   
   
       2 . The loading dock seal in  claim 1 , wherein at least one said support member is made from an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       3 . The loading dock seal in  claim 1 , further comprising a mesh segment located about a second recess, said mesh segment configured for screening air traveling through said second recess.  
   
   
       4 . The loading dock seal in  claim 1 , further comprising a seal cover located about said base and said plurality of support members, said seal cover being made of an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       5 . A loading dock seal for providing a sealing relationship between a loading dock and a vehicle, the loading dock seal comprising: 
 a base connected to the loading dock;    a plurality of support members connected to said base in a spaced apart relationship, each member pair of adjacent support members defining a recess therebetween; and    a transparent seal cover located about said base and said plurality of support members.    
   
   
       6 . The loading dock seal in  claim 5 , further comprising said seal cover having a mesh segment disposed adjacent at least one said recess allowing air to travel through said recess and a transparent mesh segment cover for at least one of partially and completely covering said mesh segment.  
   
   
       7 . The loading dock seal in  claim 5 , wherein at least one said support member are made from an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       8 . The loading dock seal in  claim 5 , wherein said seal cover is made from an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       9 . A loading dock seal for sealing between a loading dock and a vehicle, the loading dock seal comprising: 
 a base and a top connected to the loading dock;    a plurality of foam blocks connected in a spaced apart relationship to said base;    a strip of foam connected to said plurality of foam blocks, said strip of foam, said plurality of foam blocks, and said base together defining at least one passage extending through the loading dock seal;    a seal cover located about said base, said plurality of foam blocks and said strip of foam, said cover having a a transparent segment, said transparent sealing said at least one passages in a manner allowing light to travel therethrough;.    
   
   
       10 . A loading dock seal for sealing a loading dock and a vehicle, the loading dock seal comprising: 
 a resilient sealing member for attachment about the loading dock, said sealing member having a transparent covered passageway to permit light to pass therethrough.    
   
   
       11 . The loading dock seal in  claim 10 , further comprising a means for opaquely sealing said passageway.  
   
   
       12 . A loading dock seal for sealing between a loading dock and a vehicle, the loading dock seal comprising: 
 a primary seal structure, said primary seal structure being one of an assembly and a unitary construction, said primary seal structure having an inside seal face and an outside seal face, said inside seal face for facing the loading dock, said outside seal face for facing the vehicle, said primary seal structure having a through recess therein, said through recess extending through said primary seal structure from said outside seal face to said inside seal face; and    a transparent segment disposed against said primary seal structure and extending across said through recess, said transparent segment thereby permitting visualization through the primary seal structure.    
   
   
       13 . The loading dock seal of  claim 12 , wherein said transparent segment is mounted to at least one of said outside seal face and said inside seal face.  
   
   
       14 . The loading dock seal of  claim 12 , wherein said through recess is one of a plurality of through recesses, each said through recess being covered by at least one said transparent segment.