Loading dock shelter with semi-rigid curtains

Abstract

In order to provide a loading dock shelter with an effective seal, the shelter is provided with a side curtain that is semi-rigid. The relative stiffness of the curtain allows it to be supported along a vertical edge, while a distal vertical edge of the curtain can be cantilevered for sealing against the side of a truck. The curtain has sufficient flexibility and resilience to at least partially seal against the truck without having to rely on compressible foam. In some cases, the semi-rigid curtain is attached to a side frame by way of a sliding connection that allows for differences in thermal expansion between the curtain and the frame. A relatively pliable corner seal helps seal a gap between the side curtain and an adjacent head curtain.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A dock shelter adapted to provide at least a partial seal between a vehicle and a wall of a building, comprising: 
 a side frame mountable to the wall and being vertically elongated;    a side curtain having a proximal edge coupled to the side frame and a distal edge adapted to engage the vehicle; and    a sliding connection that couples the proximal edge to the frame, wherein the sliding connection allows vertical thermal expansion of the side curtain relative to the side frame.    
     
     
         2 . The dock shelter of  claim 1  wherein the sliding connection comprises at least one vertical slot in the side curtain and at least one vertically fixed post fixed relative to the side frame and received within the at least one slot.  
     
     
         3 . The dock shelter of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of metal stays attached to the side curtain to help bias the side curtain to the standby position.  
     
     
         4 . The dock shelter of  claim 2 , wherein the distal edge curves about a second vertical axis.  
     
     
         5 . The dock shelter of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal edge has a plurality of vertically elongated slots that facilitate the sliding connection.  
     
     
         6 . The dock shelter of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners extending through a plurality of bushings, which in turn extend through the plurality of elongated slots, wherein the plurality of bushings each have a length that helps prevent the plurality of fasteners from being over tightened against the side curtain.  
     
     
         7 . The dock shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising: a head frame mountable to the wall and being horizontally elongated; a head curtain suspended from the head frame; and a corner curtain bridging a gap between the head curtain and the side curtain.  
     
     
         8 . The dock shelter of  claim 7 , wherein the corner curtain is more flexible than the side curtain and the head curtain.  
     
     
         9 . The dock shelter of  claim 7 , wherein the corner curtain includes a first portion that overlaps the side curtain and a second portion that overlaps the head curtain such that the side curtain is closer to the wall than the first portion but the second portion is closer to the wall than the head curtain.  
     
     
         10 . A dock shelter adapted to provide at least a partial seal between a vehicle and a wall of a building, comprising: 
 a side frame mountable to the wall and being vertically elongated;    a side curtain having a proximal edge coupled to the side frame and a distal edge adapted to engage the vehicle; and    a first sliding connection that couples the proximal edge to the frame, wherein the first sliding connection allows vertical thermal expansion of the side curtain relative to the side frame;    a head frame mountable to the wall and being horizontally elongated;    a head curtain suspended from the head frame; and    a second sliding connection that couples the head curtain to the head frame, wherein the second sliding connection allows horizontal thermal expansion of the head curtain relative to the head frame.    
     
     
         11 . The dock shelter of  claim 10 , wherein the distal edge curves about a vertical axis.  
     
     
         12 . The dock shelter of  claim 10 , further comprising a corner curtain bridging a gap between the head curtain and the side curtain.  
     
     
         13 . The dock shelter of  claim 12 , wherein the corner curtain is more flexible than the head curtain and the side curtain.  
     
     
         14 . The dock shelter of  claim 10 , wherein the first sliding connection comprises at least one vertical slot in the side curtain and at least one vertically fixed post fixed relative to the side frame and received within the at least one slot.  
     
     
         15 . A dock shelter adapted to provide at least a partial seal between a vehicle and a wall of a building, comprising: 
 a side frame mountable to the wall and being vertically elongated;    a side curtain having a proximal edge coupled to the side frame and a distal edge adapted to engage the vehicle;    a head frame mountable to the wall and being horizontally elongated;    a head curtain suspended from the head frame; and    a corner curtain bridging a gap between the head curtain and the side curtain, wherein the corner curtain is more pliable than the side curtain.    
     
     
         16 . The dock shelter of  claim 15 , wherein the corner curtain is more pliable than the head curtain.