Retractable Loading Dock Leveler Cover

Abstract

The present invention provides a system to quickly and easily employ a thermal/wind barrier over the surface of a mechanical dock leveler. Dock levelers used in structures with loading docks allow air transfer and thermal conductivity into the loading dock area from the outside environment through joints and openings in and around the dock leveler, when the leveler is not in use, causing economic loss of climate controlled air. The present invention provides a system to employ a thermal/wind barrier over the surface of a dock leveler when it is not being used, so as to prevent this loss. The barrier is deployed and retracted by use of a detent clutch operated spooling mechanism. The spooling mechanism is enclosed in a housing which is mounted to the inside, bottom surface of a loading dock door. An alternative embodiment uses an electric motor to deploy and retract the barrier.

1 . A system to provide a thermal/wind barrier to cover the entire surface of a dock leveler in a loading dock, during those periods of time when the dock leveler is not being used to load or unload trailers:
 a detent clutch operated, spooling mechanism that allows for manual deployment and retraction of the thermal/wind barrier, by use of a tether;   wherein the spooling mechanism is enclosed in a housing that is mounted directly to the interior bottom of a loading dock door, such that, when the thermal/wind barrier is retracted into the housing and on to the enclosed spooling mechanism, it moves up and out of the way of the loading dock door's opening, when the opening is needed for loading and unloading of trailers.   
     
     
         2 . An alternative embodiment of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal/wind barrier is deployed and retracted by means of an electric motor mounted inside the housing containing the spooling mechanism, which electric motor replaces the manual detent clutch method of deployment and retraction of the thermal/wind barrier. 
     
     
         3 . Another alternative embodiment of  claim 1  which includes a removable manual hand crank used to retract the thermal/wind barrier in instances where the detent clutch mechanism fails to operate correctly.