Heat shield for a dock pad

Abstract

A dock pad for a loading dock includes a heat shield that helps protect the pad from heat generated by an adjacent lamp. The heat shield overlays an exterior surface of the pad, and, in some cases, the heat shield includes a plurality of layers. The thermal conductivity may differ among the layers with one layer having greater thermal conductivity than the exterior surface of the pad and another layer having less thermal conductivity. In some cases, a screen or mesh creates an air gap between the layers.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A dock pad assembly adapted to provide a seal between a building and a vehicle, comprising: 
 a dock pad attachable to the building and being adapted to seal against the vehicle; and    a heat shield overlaying an exterior surface of the dock pad, wherein a portion of the heat shield has a lower thermal conductivity and a higher temperature resistance than the exterior surface of the dock pad.    
     
     
         2 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a backer adapted to connect the dock pad to the building, wherein the heat shield has a first end anchored to a first side of the backer.  
     
     
         3 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the heat shield has a second end anchored to a second side of the backer, wherein the first side and the second side are at opposite sides of the backer.  
     
     
         4 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat shield includes a plurality of layers.  
     
     
         5 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of layers includes a conductive layer and an insulating layer, wherein the conductive layer has greater thermal conductivity than the insulating layer.  
     
     
         6 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of layers includes a conductive mesh, wherein the conductive mesh has greater thermal conductivity than the exterior surface of the dock pad.  
     
     
         7 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of layers includes two conductive layers that have greater thermal conductivity than the exterior surface of the dock pad, and the conductive mesh is sandwiched between the two conductive layers.  
     
     
         8 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising an insulating jacket that contains the plurality of layers, wherein the insulating jacket has lower thermal conductivity than the exterior surface of the dock pad.  
     
     
         9 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the exterior surface of the dock pad has an average thermal conductivity that is greater than one layer of the plurality of layers and less than another layer of the plurality of layers.  
     
     
         10 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of layers includes a conductive later sandwiched between two insulating layers wherein the conductive layer has greater thermal conductivity than the two insulating layers.  
     
     
         11 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an articulated arm attached to the building and a lamp attached to the articulated arm such that the heat shield is between the dock pad and the lamp.  
     
     
         12 . A dock pad assembly adapted to provide a seal between a building and a vehicle, comprising: 
 a foam core; and    a pliable cover overlaying the foam core, wherein the pliable cover has a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface, wherein the first exterior surface has a lower thermal conductivity and a higher temperature resistance than the second exterior surface.    
     
     
         13 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a backer adapted to connect the dock pad to the building, wherein the first exterior surface has a first end anchored to a first side of the backer.  
     
     
         14 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first exterior surface has a second end anchored to a second side of the backer, wherein the first side and the second side are at opposite sides of the backer.  
     
     
         15 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising an articulated arm attached to the building and a lamp attached to the articulated arm such that the heat shield is between the dock pad and the lamp.  
     
     
         16 . A dock pad assembly adapted to provide a seal between a building and a vehicle, comprising: 
 a dock pad attachable to the building and being adapted to seal against the vehicle;    an articulated arm attachable to the building;    a lamp attached to the articulated arm such that the articulated arm can support the lamp adjacent to the dock pad; and    a heat shield attached to the dock pad at a position where the heat shield is between the lamp and dock pad.    
     
     
         17 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a backer for connecting the dock pad to the building, wherein the heat shield has a first end anchored to a first side of the backer.  
     
     
         18 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the heat shield has a second end anchored to a second side of the backer, wherein the first side and the second side are at opposite sides of the backer.  
     
     
         19 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the heat shield includes a plurality of layers.  
     
     
         20 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of layers includes a conductive layer and an insulating layer, wherein the conductive layer has greater thermal conductivity than the insulating layer.  
     
     
         21 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of layers includes a conductive mesh, wherein the conductive mesh has greater thermal conductivity than the exterior surface of the dock pad.  
     
     
         22 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of layers includes two conductive layers that have greater thermal conductivity than the exterior surface of the dock pad, and the conductive mesh is sandwiched between the two conductive layers.  
     
     
         23 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising an insulating jacket that contains the plurality of layers, wherein the insulating jacket has lower thermal conductivity than the exterior surface of the dock pad.  
     
     
         24 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the exterior surface of the dock pad has an average thermal conductivity that is greater than one layer of the plurality of layers and less than another layer of the plurality of layers.  
     
     
         25 . The dock pad assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of layers includes a conductive later sandwiched between two insulating layers wherein the conductive layer has greater thermal conductivity than the two insulating layers.