AU2010257436B2

AU2010257436B2 - Retaining means for a fender assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2010257436B2
Application number: AU2010257436A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Steven John Cowey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-04
Filing date: 2010-12-24
Publication date: 2016-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-24
Also published as: AU2010257436A1

Abstract

A fender assembly (10) used for protecting vehicle loading docks is adapted for attachment to a fixed support surface comprising a support (12) that in use is fixed with respect to the support surface.A fender (11) is mounted on the support (12) and guided thereon for slidable movement in a vertical direction from a normal rest position. There is provided a means for preventing the fender (11) from disengaging from the support (12) but which allows the required range of movement of the fender (11) with respect to the support (12). The means for preventing the fender (11) from disengaging from the support (12) preferably comprises a retaining element mounted on the fender (12), which abuts against a stop surface (30) on the support (12) when the fender (11) slides upwards. In this way, upward movement of the fender (11) is limited and unauthorised removal of the fender (11) from the support (12) is prevented. Figure 1 Figure 2

Description

PRIORITY DOCUMENTS

The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2010900020 titled “RETAINING MEANS FOR A FENDER ASSEMBLY” and filed on 4 January 2010, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a fender assembly and in particular to a means of retaining a fender in relation to a support upon which the fender is mounted for slidable movement.

Fender assemblies of the type referred to in this application are described in earlier Australian Patent Application Nos. 2003265715, 2006246507 and PCT/AU03/01204. The entire content of these earlier applications are hereby incorporated to this specification by reference.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The fender assemblies described in the above mentioned patent applications generally provide for the vertical movement of a fender where the fender has a resilient front rubber component. The fender assemblies are used for protecting vehicle loading docks against damage during the loading or unloading of trailers. For each assembly, the fender is required to move vertically both up and down. The downward movement is resisted by a spring which will act to return the fender to its normal rest position. However, in an unrestrained manner, the fender is able to move upwards and fall to its normal rest position once the load is removed.

Fender assemblies described in the earlier patent applications have the support mounted to a support surface and the fender, which slidably mounts to the support, is dropped into place.

However, it has become apparent that it is not desirable for the fender to be so easily removed from the support. In use, it is possible for the fender to be removed by simply lifting it up and away from the support. Although this is desirable for ease of maintenance of the fender assembly, it would be obviously undesirable to allow unauthorised removal of the fender.

It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present invention has been developed.

Certain objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, there is provided a fender assembly adapted for attachment to a fixed support surface, the fender assembly comprising: a support that in use is fixed with respect to the support surface; a fender mounted on the support and guided thereon for slidable movement in a vertical direction from a normal rest position; a fender restraining means adapted to resist movement of the fender when displaced downwards from its normal rest position by an externally applied force; and a means for preventing the fender from disengaging from the support but which allows the required range of movement of the fender with respect to the support.

In one form, the support has a guide track upon which the fender is located.

In one form, the fender comprises a t-shaped key-way which engages with the guide track of the support.

In one form, the means for preventing the fender from disengaging from the support comprises a retaining element mounted on the fender, which abuts against a stop surface on the support when the fender slides upwards, thereby limiting upward movement of the fender.

In one form, the position of the retaining element relative to the fender is adjustable, such that when not in use the fender may be either positioned onto or removed from the support without the retaining element abutting against the stop surface on the support.

In one form, the retaining element is a grub screw.

In one form, the stop surface on the support is formed by cutting away a portion of the guide track.

In one form, the stop surface on the support is an upper extremity of an elongate slot formed in the guide track.

In one form, the fender restraining means comprises a spring loaded platform.

In one form, the spring may comprise any suitable elastic device.

In one form, the fender in a normal rest position sits on the spring loaded platform.

In one form, the spring loaded platform resists downward movement of the fender relative to the support and thereby prevents disengagement of the fender from the support in a downwards direction.

In another form, the means for preventing the fender from disengaging from the support comprises a flexible member secured between the fender and the support, said flexible member restricting the extent of the movement of the fender with respect to the support.

In one form, the flexible member restricts the extent of the vertical up and down movement of the fender with respect to the support.

In one form, the flexible member is a cable.

In one form, the flexible member is a chain.

In another aspect, there is provided a fender assembly adapted for attachment to a fixed support surface, the fender assembly comprising: a support that in use is fixed with respect to the support surface; a fender mounted on the support and guided thereon for slidable movement in a vertical direction; a fender restraining means adapted to resist movement of the fender when displaced downwards from its normal rest position by an externally applied force; and a retaining element mounted on the fender such that when the fender is moved upwards relative to the support from a normal rest position, the retaining element engages a stop surface on the support, thereby limiting the upward movement of the fender and preventing separation of the fender from the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

In order to fully understand the invention, a preferred embodiment will be described but it should be realised that the invention is not to be confined or restricted to a combination of elements described in this embodiment.

The embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a fender assembly,

Figure 2 shows a front view of fender assembly with the fender extended to its maximum upward position,

Figure 3 shows a cross-section view of Figure 1,

Figure 4 shows a cross-section view of Figure 2,

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a fender assembly,

Figure 6 shows a front view of a fender assembly,

Figure 7 shows a cross-section view of Figure 6,

Figure 8a shows a perspective view of a support according to one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 8b shows a perspective view of a support according to another embodiment of the invention,

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a fender assembly in its normal rest position,

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a fender assembly with the fender in its upper most position,

Figures 11 shows an alternative embodiment of a fender assembly in its normal rest position; and

Figure 12 shows the fender assembly of Figure 11 in its uppermost position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fender assembly 10 shown in the accompanying drawings is the same configuration as a fender shown in Patent Application No. PCT/AU03/01204. A complete description of the fender assembly can be found in that specification. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the fender assembly 10 comprises a fender 11 and a support 12. The support 12 has a base 14 and a guide track 15. The fender 11 has a t-shaped key-way (best seen in Figure 5) which enables the fender 11 to be slidably located with respect to the guide track 15. The guide track 15 includes a pair of side flanges 17.

As seen in Figure 1, the fender 11, in its normal rest position sits on a fender support 19 at a predetermined height above the ground, where the fender support 19 is a spring loaded platform. The fender 11 can slide downwardly with respect to the support 12 but in doing so compresses a spring (not drawn) which will then act to return the fender 11 to its rest position when load is removed. The resistance to downward movement by the spring loaded platform acts as a restraining means and prevents the fender 11 from disengaging from the support 12 when the fender 11 is displaced vertically downwards with respect to the support 12.

The fender assembly as described in the previous patent applications do not prevent the fender 11 from being removed fully from the support 12 when the fender 11 is slid in an upwards direction.

The means for preventing the fender 11 from disengaging from the support 12 while at the same time still allowing the required range of movement of the fender 11 with respect to the support 12 comprises a retaining element which in this embodiment is a grub screw 20 best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The fender 11 comprises an aluminium extrusion 21 with a rubber block 22 moulded onto it. The aluminium extrusion 21 incorporates the key-way 16 which comprises channels 23 that are formed between a wall 24 and flanges 25. There is an opening 26 between the flanges 25. The side flanges 17 locate in the channels 23.

The grub screw 20 threadably engages with both the wall 24 and one of the flanges 25. An aperture 28 is formed in the rubber block 22 and provides access to the grub screw via an Allen key or similar tool to allow positioning of the grub screw 20. A stop surface 30 is formed in a portion of one of the side flanges 17 of the guide track 15.

The grub screw 20 is positioned so that it engages the stop surface 30 to thereby limit the upward movement of the fender 11.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8a, a portion of one of the side flanges 17 of the guide track 15 is cut away to allow free movement of the fender 11 between its upper most position where the grub screw 20 abuts against the stop surface 30 and its normal rest position.

In order to attach the fender 11 to the support 12, the grub screw 20 is wound out into the aperture 28 so that the grub screw 20 does not extend across the channel 23. This then enables the fender to be either positioned onto or removed from the support 12. When the fender 11 is in position, the grub screw 20 can then be screwed into position so that it extends across the channel 23 and threadably engages with the flange 25. This then fully engages the grub screw 20 and therefore puts in place the means for preventing the fender 11 from disengaging from the support 12.

Although this embodiment shows a portion of the guide track 15 cut away, as an alternative, an elongate slot 31 may be formed in one of the side flanges 17 of the guide track 15 within which the grub screw 20 locates, as shown in Figure 8b. The upper extremity of the slot would form the stop surface 30.

Figures 9 and 10 provide perspective views of the fender assembly, showing the retaining element operatively engaged and the fender 11 displaced from a normal rest position (Figure 9) to its uppermost position (Figure 10) relative to the support 12. When the retaining element abuts against the stop surface 30 of the support 12, the fender 11 is physically prevented from further upward movement.

In an alternative embodiment there is a flexible member such as either a cable or a chain secured between the fender 11 and support 12. For example, a chain may have one end welded to the support 12 with the other end being secured to the fender 11. Preferably, the attachment of the chain to the fender 11 is in a manner which enables detachment of the chain while at the same time making it difficult for unauthorised removal of the chain from the fender 11. As an alternative to the chain, a cable such as a steel cable 32 may also be used as shown in Figures 11 and 12. Clearly, sufficient length of either cable 32 or chain is required to enable the extent of movement of the fender 11 in both the upward and downward direction.

As will be seen from the above description, the invention provides a fender assembly 10 which allows normal operation of the fender 11 in relation to the support 12 while at the same time preventing easy or unauthorised removal of the fender 11 from the support 12.

In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not to be construed as an admission the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the description of the invention contained in this specification is concerned.

It will be understood that the term “comprise” and any of its derivatives (e.g. comprises, comprising) as used in this specification is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which it refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied.

Although the disclosure has been hereinshown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not limited to the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the invention that is described herein so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A fender assembly adapted for attachment to a fixed support surface, the fender assembly comprising: a support that in use is fixed with respect to the support surface; a fender mounted on the support and guided thereon for slidable movement in a vertical direction from a normal rest position; a fender restraining means adapted to resist movement of the fender when displaced downwards from its normal at rest position by an externally applied force; and a means for preventing the fender from disengaging from the support but which allows the required range of movement of the fender with respect to the support.
2. The fender assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support has a guide track upon which the fender is located.
3. The fender assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fender has a t-shaped key-way which engages with the guide track of the support.
4. The fender assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for preventing the fender from disengaging from the support comprises a retaining element mounted on the fender, which abuts against a stop surface on the support when the fender slides upwards, thereby limiting upward movement of the fender.
5. The fender assembly according to claim 4, wherein the position of the retaining element relative to the fender is adjustable, such that when not in use the fender may be either positioned onto or removed from the support without the retaining element abutting against the stop surface on the support.
6. The fender assembly according to claim 4, wherein the retaining element is a grub screw.
7. The fender assembly of claim 4, wherein the stop surface on the support is formed by cutting away a portion of the guide track.
8. The fender assembly of claim 4, wherein the stop surface on the support is an upper extremity of an elongate slot formed in the guide track.
9. The fender assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fender restraining means comprises a spring loaded platform.
10. The fender assembly of claim 9, wherein the fender in a normal at rest position sits on the spring loaded platform.
11. The fender assembly of claim 10, wherein the spring loaded platform resists downward movement of the fender relative to the support and thereby prevents disengagement of the fender from the support when the fender is displaced downwards relative to the support.
12. The fender assembly of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for preventing the fender from disengaging from the support comprises a flexible member secured between the fender and the support, said flexible member restricting the extent of the movement of the fender with respect to the support.
13. The fender assembly of claim 12, wherein the flexible member restricts the extent of the vertical up and down movement of the fender with respect to the support.
14. The fender assembly of claim 12, wherein the flexible member is a cable.
15. The fender assembly of claim 12, wherein the flexible member is a chain.
16. A fender assembly adapted for attachment to a fixed support surface, the fender assembly comprising: a support that in use is fixed with respect to the support surface; a fender mounted on the support and guided thereon for slidable movement in a vertical direction; a fender restraining means adapted to resist movement of the fender when displaced downwards from its normal rest position by an externally applied force; and a retaining element mounted on the fender such that when the fender is moved upwards relative to the support from a normal rest position, the retaining element engages a stop surface on the support, thereby limiting the upward movement of the fender and preventing separation of the fender from the support.