Michael T Carr

US Patent:

20010020353, Sep 13, 2001

Filed:

Apr 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/827438

Inventors:

Michael Carr - Comstock Park MI, US

International Classification:

E04H012/00

US Classification:

052/648100, 052/223900, 052/639000, 052/693000, 052/574000

Abstract:

A number of generally tri-lateral truss components or modules are interconnected with truss fasteners to construct a modular truss. Each tri-lateral member has three elongated chords, which may include first and second side chords and a base chord. Each chord has two opposing ends. A first end of the first chord is connected with a second end of the second chord, while a first end of the second chord is connected with a second end of the third chord, and a first end of the third chord is connected with a second end of the first chord. The three chords thereby define a generally tri-lateral member. A parallel chord truss may be built up of tri-lateral truss components by arranging a series of truss components in alternating upright and upside down orientations with adjacent side chords abutting one another. That is, a first truss component may be oriented in a first, upright position, while adjacent truss components are placed in an inverted, second, or upside down orientation. A built up truss is constructed by continuing this sequence of adding truss components. Alternatively, a triangular truss may be built up of the tri-lateral truss modules by orienting the truss components generally uniformly and stacking them upon one another in a pyramid.

US Patent:

56493967, Jul 22, 1997

Filed:

Apr 11, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/420027

Inventors:

Michael J. Carr - Comstock Park MI

International Classification:

E01F 900

US Classification:

52174

Abstract:

A semaphore type loading dock safety barrier for use across a vehicle passageway to prevent accidentally driving a vehicle off the end of the loading dock. A barrier mount is attached to a guidepost inside the loading dock doorway and is horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis. A rigid barrier arm is rotatably affixed to the barrier mount so that the barrier arm raises and lowers vertically in a semaphore arm fashion. The barrier arm is typically constructed from an I-beam or box beam and is of sufficient strength to resist vehicle impact. A receiving rest is attached to an opposite guidepost inside the loading dock doorway and is horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis and positioned to receive the free end of the barrier arm. The receiving rest has locking means on the receiving rest to lock the free end of the barrier arm in the receiving rest so that upon vehicle impact with the barrier arm deformation of the barrier arm and rotation of the barrier mount and receiving rest about their respective vertical rotation axes occurs while retaining the barrier arm in a locked relationship with the receiving rest.