Wheel chock system

Abstract

Vehicle restraint systems are disclosed herein. An example vehicle restraint system includes a base to be positioned adjacent a loading dock and a wheel chock to be positioned on the base. An actuator is coupled to the base and moves the base relative to a wall of the loading dock in a linear direction between a release position and a holding position when the wheel chock is coupled to the base. In the release position, the wheel chock disengages from a wheel of a vehicle positioned at the loading dock. In the holding position, the wheel chock frictionally engages the wheel of the vehicle to restrict movement of the wheel away from the loading dock.

1 . A wheel restraint system comprising:
 a base to be positioned adjacent a loading dock;   a wheel chock to be positioned on the base; and   an actuator coupled to the base, the actuator to move the base relative to a wall of the loading dock in a linear direction between a release position and a holding position when the wheel chock is coupled to the base, wherein in the release position the wheel chock is to disengage from a wheel of a vehicle positioned at the loading dock, and in the holding position the wheel chock is to frictionally engage the wheel of the vehicle to restrict movement of the wheel away from the loading dock.   
     
     
         2 . A wheel restraint system of  claim 1 , wherein the base is to slide relative to a driveway of the loading dock when the actuator moves the base between the release position and the holding position. 
     
     
         3 . A wheel chock of  claim 1 , wherein in the holding position, the actuator imparts a force to the base in a direction toward the wall of the loading dock and opposite from a force imparted by a wheel of a vehicle to the wheel chock. 
     
     
         4 . A wheel restraint system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the wheel chock and the base includes an engagement surface with at least one protruding tooth. 
     
     
         5 . A wheel restraint system of  claim 4 , wherein in the holding position, the actuator and the wheel impart opposing forces to the tooth of the wheel chock. 
     
     
         6 . A wheel restraint system of  claim 5 , wherein in the release position, the tooth of the base is to disengage the tooth of the wheel chock to enable the wheel chock to be moved away from the base, and in the holding position the tooth of the base is to move into locking engagement with the tooth of the wheel chock to prevent disengagement between the wheel chock and the base. 
     
     
         7 . A wheel restraint system of  claim 5 , wherein each tooth of the base and the wheel chock includes an angled surface and a substantially vertical surface defining a shoulder. 
     
     
         8 . A wheel restraint system of  claim 7 , wherein in the holding position, a shoulder of the tooth of the wheel chock frictionally engages a shoulder of the tooth of the base to lock a position of the wheel chock relative to the base. 
     
     
         9 . A wheel restraint system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel chock and the base include a plurality of teeth that frictionally engage when the actuator moves the base in the holding position relative to the wheel chock to prevent disengagement between the wheel chock and the base. 
     
     
         10 . A wheel restraint system comprising:
 an anchor mountable to a loading dock;   a base;   a wheel chock to engage the base, the base to position the wheel chock between a holding position and a release position such that in the holding position the wheel chock is to obstruct a wheel of a vehicle at the loading dock and in the release position the wheel chock is to clear of the wheel and disengage the base;   a tooth protruding from at least one of the wheel chock and the base, the tooth to help maintain engagement between the wheel chock and the base when the wheel chock is in the holding position; and   an actuator coupling the base to the anchor, the actuator to slidably move the base between the holding position and the release position such that the actuator is to slide the base toward a wall of the loading dock in the holding position to urge the wheel chock into engagement with the wheel.   
     
     
         11 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 10 , wherein in the holding position, the actuator pulls the base and the wheel chock toward the wall of the loading dock and into frictional engagement with the wheel of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator provides a continuous pulling force toward the wall of the loading dock when the wheel chock is in the holding position. 
     
     
         14 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 10 , wherein the wheel chock is lifted away from the base when the base is in the release position. 
     
     
         15 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 14 , wherein the wheel chock is manually lifted away from the base. 
     
     
         16 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator is to push the base away from the wall of the loading dock to move the base from the holding position to the release position. 
     
     
         17 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 14 , wherein a piston of the actuator is operatively coupled to an edge of the base via a pin. 
     
     
         18 . A wheel restraint system comprising:
 means for retaining a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock;   means for positioning the means for retaining relative to the wheel of the vehicle at the loading dock, the means for positioning to receive the means for retaining; and   means for slidably moving the means for positioning between a release position to cause the means for retaining to frictionally disengage from the wheel of the vehicle and a holding position to cause the means for retaining to frictionally engage the wheel of the vehicle to prevent the wheel from moving away from a loading dock.   
     
     
         19 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 18 , further comprising means for frictionally interlocking the means for retaining and the means for positioning. 
     
     
         20 . The wheel restraint system of  claim 18 , further comprising means for coupling the means for slidably moving and the means for positioning. 
     
     
         21 . A method of restraining a vehicle at a loading dock, the method comprising:
 providing a base at a loading dock to receive a wheel chock; and   sliding the base relative to a wheel of the vehicle between a release position and a holding position when the wheel chock is coupled to the base such that in the release position the wheel chock is to disengage the wheel and in the holding position the wheel chock is to frictionally engage the wheel.   
     
     
         22 . A method of  claim 21 , wherein sliding the base to the holding position comprises pulling the base and the wheel chock coupled thereto toward the wheel of the vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . A method of  claim 21 , sliding the base to the release position comprises pushing the base and the wheel chock coupled thereto away from the wheel of the vehicle.