Low Profile Wheel Chocking System and Chock Construction

Abstract

A wheel chock is constructed from metallic material has an elongate primary body construction. The primary body construction has a Π-shaped transverse cross-section formed by an upper C-shaped channel construction and a lower planar basal construction. The basal construction has U-shape that extends orthogonally relative to the C-shape of the channel construction. The Π-shaped transverse cross-section bears and distributes stress imposed on the primary body construction. The C-shaped channel construction preferably includes a series of apertures for reducing weight and controlling elastic response of the primary body construction. Among these apertures are edge-based apertures, arm-based stress relief slots, and aligned apertures having sequentially decreasing diameters.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A wheel chock for chocking a wheel upon a support surface, the wheel chock comprising:
 a primary body construction, the primary body construction having a primary length extending in a first dimension and a Π-shaped transverse cross-section, the Π-shaped transverse cross-section for bearing and distributing stress imposed on the primary body construction, the primary length being chock-placeable such that the wheel is radially orthogonal to the primary length;   a strap retaining assembly extending within the primary body construction over a at least a portion thereof; and   a wheel-harnessing strap extending from the strap retaining assembly wherein said wheel harnessing strap is configured to extend upwardly through an aperture in the primary body construction to harness the wheel.   
     
     
         19 . The wheel chock of  claim 18  wherein the primary body construction comprises a primary series of apertures for reducing weight and controlling elastic response of the primary body construction. 
     
     
         20 . The wheel chock of  claim 19  wherein the primary body construction comprises channel arms and an arm-spanning channel section, the channel section joining the channel arms at channel edging, the channel edging being outfitted with apertures for increasing frictional contact surface area with the wheel when in chock adjacency thereto. 
     
     
         21 . The wheel chock of  claim 19  wherein a secondary series of apertures extend intermediate a first end and a second end of the primary body construction, the secondary series of apertures having decreasing diameters from a position proximate the second end toward the first end for enhancing structural strength toward the first end. 
     
     
         22 . The wheel chock of  claim 19  wherein the primary body construction comprises primary stress relief slots, the primary stress relief slots having slot axes extending in the first dimension for controlling elastic response of the primary body construction. 
     
     
         23 . The wheel chock of  claim 18  wherein the strap retaining assembly is tubular. 
     
     
         24 . The wheel chock of  claim 18  wherein the strap retaining assembly comprises a slot for retaining the wheel-harnessing strap. 
     
     
         25 . The wheel chock of  claim 18  wherein the strap retaining assembly comprises a torque tube assembly for selectively tensioning the wheel-harnessing strap 
     
     
         26 . The wheel chock of  claim 18  wherein the strap retaining assembly comprises a winch/ratchet mechanism for selectively tensioning the wheel-harnessing strap. 
     
     
         27 . The wheel chock of  claim 18  wherein the strap retaining assembly is held within the primary chock construction via at least one support structure. 
     
     
         28 . The wheel chock of  claim 27  wherein the at least one support structure comprises a support plate. 
     
     
         29 . The wheel chock of  claim 28  wherein the support plate comprises an aperture therein, wherein a portion of the strap retaining assembly is disposed within the aperture. 
     
     
         30 . The wheel chock of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a support plate disposed within the primary chock construction having at least one aperture configured to receive an attachment pin for attaching the primary chock construction to a support rail. 
 
     
     
         31 . The wheel chock of  claim 30  wherein when the attachment pin is disposed through the at least one aperture of the support plate and through a support rail, the primary chock construction extends orthogonally from the rail.