Methods and apparatus to generate loading dock visual indicators

{
  "publication_number": "US9564072B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Methods and apparatus to generate loading dock visual indicators",
  "abstract": "Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein includes determining a state of a device of a loading dock and, based on the state, generating via a display a first directional indicator having a first orientation and a first color. The first orientation and the first color are to cooperate to indicate first directional information.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus, comprising: a controller in communication with a vehicle restraint of a loading dock; and a display in communication with the controller, the display having: a first directional indicator and a first graphic adjacent the first directional indicator, in relation to the first graphic the first directional indicator to indicate a first direction, the display to display the first directional indicator in a first orientation relative to the first graphic and a first color if a vehicle is restrained via the vehicle restraint; and a second directional indicator and a second graphic adjacent the second directional indicator, in relation to the second graphic the second directional indicator to indicate a second direction, the display to display the second directional indicator in a second orientation relative to the second graphic and a second color if the vehicle is not restrained via the vehicle restraint the first characteristic of the first directional indicator including first pointers and second pointers positioned in a row.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a face of the housing includes the first portion, and wherein a side of the housing includes at least one of a transparent or translucent second portion to be illuminated when at least one of the first directional indicator or the second directional indicator is displayed.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a substantially opaque cover disposed on the housing, the cover including a first window to be illuminated to display the first directional indicator.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cover includes a second window to be illuminated to display the second directional indicator, the first window having a first shape, the second window having a second shape being a mirror image of the first shape.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first directional indicator comprises first pointers having the first orientation, and the second directional indicator comprises second pointers having the second orientation.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input device in communication with the controller, wherein the display is to display the first directional indicator and the second directional indicator if the controller detects operation of the input device.",
    "7. An apparatus, comprising: a controller in communication with a device of a loading dock, the controller to determine a state of the device; and a display in communication with the controller, the display including a first directional indicator and a first graphic adjacent the first directional indicator, the display to display the first directional indicator based on the state of the device, the first directional indicator having a first characteristic to indicate a direction and a second characteristic to indicate at least one of permissiveness or nonpermissiveness the first characteristic of the first directional indicator including first pointers and second pointers positioned in a row.",
    "8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a housing including the display, wherein the controller is disposed inside the housing.",
    "9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the housing includes an input device in communication with the controller, the display to display a visual indicator if the controller detects operation of the input device.",
    "10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the display is disposed on a face of the housing, and the housing includes a side to be illuminated when the first directional indicator is displayed.",
    "11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a light fixture of the loading dock in communication with the controller, the light fixture to generate a second visual indicator having at least one of the first characteristic or the second characteristic.",
    "12. A method, comprising: determining a state of a device of a loading dock; and based on the state, generating via a display a graphic and a first directional indicator having a first orientation and a first color, the graphic adjacent the first directional indicator, the first orientation and the first color to cooperate to indicate first directional information relative to the graphic.",
    "13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying the graphic between the first pointers and the second pointers.",
    "14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first pointers and the second pointers indicate a direction relative to the graphic.",
    "15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first pointers point toward the second pointers, and the second pointers point toward the first pointers.",
    "16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first pointers point away from the second pointers, and the second pointers point away from the first pointers.",
    "17. An apparatus, comprising: a controller in communication with a vehicle restraint of a loading dock; and a display in communication with the controller, the display having: a first directional indicator and a first graphic adjacent the first directional indicator, in relation to the first graphic the first directional indicator to indicate a first direction, the display to display the first directional indicator in a first orientation relative to the first graphic and a first color if a vehicle is restrained via the vehicle restraint, the first directional indicator including first pointers having the first orientation; and a second directional indicator and a second graphic adjacent the second directional indicator, in relation to the second graphic the second directional indicator to indicate a second direction, the display to display the second directional indicator in a second orientation relative to the second graphic and a second color if the vehicle is not restrained via the vehicle restraint, the second directional indicator including second pointers having the second orientation, the first graphic is positioned between the first pointers and the second pointers.",
    "18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a housing having at least one of a transparent or translucent first portion, the first portion to be illuminated to display the first directional indicator.",
    "19. An apparatus, comprising: a controller in communication with a vehicle restraint of a loading dock; and a display in communication with the controller, the display having: a first directional indicator and a first graphic adjacent the first directional indicator, in relation to the first graphic the first directional indicator to indicate a first direction, the display to display the first directional indicator in a first orientation relative to the first graphic and a first color if a vehicle is restrained via the vehicle restraint, the first directional indicator includes green pointers pointing toward the first graphic to indicate that the vehicle is restrained, and; a second directional indicator and a second graphic adjacent the second directional indicator, in relation to the second graphic the second directional indicator to indicate a second direction, the display to display the second directional indicator in a second orientation relative to the second graphic and a second color if the vehicle is not restrained via the vehicle restraint, the second directional indicator includes red pointers pointing away from the second graphic to indicate that the vehicle is not restrained."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates generally to loading docks and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus to generate loading dock visual indicators.\n\nA loading dock typically includes a vehicle restraint to restrain a vehicle docked at the loading dock. The loading dock may also include a traffic signal having a red light and a green light to indicate if personnel should enter a trailer of the vehicle via the loading dock or if the vehicle can depart from the loading dock.\n\nFIG. 1 is an exterior, perspective view of a vehicle and an example loading dock disclosed herein including a first display.\n\nFIG. 2 illustrates an interior facility view of the example vehicle of FIG. 1 docked at the example loading dock of FIG. 2 and an example control box having a controller and a second display displaying an example first visual indicator.\n\nFIG. 3 illustrates the example second display of FIG. 2 displaying an example second visual indicator.\n\nFIG. 4 is illustrates the example second display of FIGS. 2-3 displaying an example third visual indicator.\n\nFIG. 5 illustrates the example control box of FIGS. 2-4.\n\nFIG. 6 illustrates an example display disclosed herein, which may be used to implement the example first display of FIG. 1 and/or the example second display of FIGS. 2-4.\n\nFIG. 7 illustrates another example display disclosed herein, which may be used to implement the example first display of FIG. 1 and/or the example second display of FIGS. 2-4.\n\nFIG. 8 illustrates yet another example display disclosed herein, which may be used to implement the example first display of FIG. 1 and/or the example second display of FIGS. 2-4.",
  "cpc": [
    "G09F 21/04",
    "B65G 69/005",
    "G09F 2013/227"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 69/00",
    "G08G 1/00",
    "G09F 13/22",
    "G09F 21/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Rite Hite Holding Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jason Senfleben",
    "Jeffrey Budoff",
    "Nicholas Klotz",
    "Bradley J. Stone"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-07-03",
  "publication_date": "2017-02-07",
  "grant_date": "2017-02-07",
  "priority_date": "2013-07-03",
  "application_number": "US-201313935006-A",
  "family_id": "52132411",
  "cited_by_count": 36,
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}