Loading dock seal

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a loading dock seal. In one aspect it supplements an existing loading dock seal by attaching a flexible sheet vertically along vertical sides of the existing loading dock. The sheet wraps around the rear vertical edges of a truck body to seal any gaps that might exist, for example, between the opened rear door and the truck body wall caused by hinges.

1 . A seal adapted for sealing between a loading dock seal and a truck or trailer comprising: 
 a. a flexible sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, a front surface and a back surface;    b. the first edge adapted to be attached to a dock seal; and    c. the second edge adapted to be attachable to an interior wall of the truck or trailer.    
   
   
       2 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein the dock seal is attached to a dock shelter.  
   
   
       3 . The flexible seal of  claim 2  wherein the dock seal attached to the dock shelter is a pillow seal.  
   
   
       4 . The flexible seal of  claim 2  wherein the dock seal attached to the dock shelter is a curtain.  
   
   
       5 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein the flexible seal is removable from the dock seal.  
   
   
       6 . The flexible seal of  claim 5  wherein the flexible seal is attached to the dock seal via a hook and loop fastener.  
   
   
       7 . The flexible seal of  claim 6  wherein the hook and loop fastener extends along the entire length of the first edge.  
   
   
       8 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein the truck or trailer has a rear opening defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge; and the flexible seal extends along the first vertical edge from the bottom edge to the top edge.  
   
   
       9 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein the truck or trailer has a rear opening defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge; 
 the first and second vertical edge with hinges that attach to rearward swinging doors that swing back against the truck or trailer thus forming hinge gaps; and    the flexible seal able to wrap around the vertical edges of the truck or trailer, sealing the hinge gap.    
   
   
       10 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein there are two flexible sheets attached to each side of the loading dock.  
   
   
       11 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein a bar is attached along the second edge of the flexible seal.  
   
   
       12 . The flexible seal of  claim 11  wherein the bar is attached to the second edge via a pocket sown along the length of the flexible seal.  
   
   
       13 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein the second edge of the flexible sheet is removably attached to the interior wall of the truck via at least one magnet.  
   
   
       14 . The flexible seal of  claim 13  wherein at least two or more magnets are spaced along the second edge of the flexible sheet.  
   
   
       15 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein a bar is attached along the entire length of the second edge; and 
 magnets are affixed and spaced along the length of the bar.    
   
   
       16 . The flexible seal of  claim 1  wherein a Velcro™ hook piece and a Velcro™ pile or loop piece is attached to the back surface of the flexible sheet.  
   
   
       17 . The flexible seal of  claim 16  wherein the Velcro™ pieces attach to each other when the flexible seal is folded back upon itself.  
   
   
       18 . A flexible seal for sealing between a loading dock and a truck or trailer comprising: 
 a rectangular flexible sheet with a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge wherein a bar is attached to the second edge and magnets are affixed along the bar;    the first edge removably attached to a dock seal b a releasable fastener wherein the dock seal is attached to a dock shelter;    the truck or trailer having a cargo box with a rear opening with a top edge, bottom edge, a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge;    the truck or trailer vertical edges having hinges that attach to rearward doors that open outward and lie flat against an outer vertical surface of the cargo box; and    the flexible seal's second edge attachable to an interior surface of the truck or trailer via the magnets attached to the bar such that the flexible seal extends from the bottom edge to the top edge of the opening.    
   
   
       19 . A method of sealing a gap between a loading dock and a trailer or truck using a flexible seal comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a flexible sheet having a top edge, bottom edge, a first side edge, second side edge and a front and back surface to a dock seal;    wrapping the flexible seal around a vertical edge of a rear opening of the trailer or truck wherein the rear opening is defined as having a top edge, bottom edge, a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge; and    attaching the flexible seal against an interior vertical wall of the trailer or truck.    
   
   
       20 . A method of sealing a gap between a loading dock and a trailer or truck using a flexible seal comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a flexible sheet having a top edge, bottom edge, a first side edge, second side edge to a ceiling of a dock shelter;    attaching a pad to the ceiling of the dock shelter wherein the pad is mounted relative to the flexible sheet such that when a truck or trailer backs into the loading dock the flexible sheet is drawn back and pinched between the pad and the truck or trailer thus forming a barrier.    
   
   
       21 . A seal adapted for sealing between a loading dock opening and a truck or trailer, comprising: 
 a. a flexible sheet having top, bottom, first side, and second side edge, front surface and a back surface;    b. the first edge adapted to be removably attachable, detachable, and re-attachable to a dock jamb, dock shelter, or dock seal; and    c. the second edge adapted to be releasably attachable, detachable, or re-attachable to an interior wall of the truck or trailer.    
   
   
       22 . A seal adapted for sealing between a loading dock seal and a truck or trailer, comprising: 
 a. a flexible sheet having a top, bottom, first side, and second side edge, front surface and back surface;    b. the first edge adapted to be attached to a support structure; and    c. the second edge adapted to be attachable to an interior wall of a truck or trailer substantially completely along the entire vertical height of the truck or trailer such that substantially complete seal along the vertical height is achieved.