Dock leveler ramp
US5781953A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G69/287
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A loading dock leveler adapted for being supported for pivotal movement on a loading dock to provide a pathway between the dock and a vehicle being loaded or unloaded includes a ramp formed of a generally flat plate deck member having a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, channel cross section beams welded to the underside of the deck member and extending between a distal side edge of the deck member and a side edge which is disposed adjacent the loading dock. Plural spaced apart pairs of hinge members are welded to the deck member and to the beams at the distal side edge of the deck member and a truss structure including somewhat V-shaped struts extend between the hinge members and are welded to the hinge members and the deck member to provide a lightweight, rigid and durable support structure for minimizing deflection of the deck member and failure of a hinge connection between the ramp and a dock leveler lip member. The lip member has spaced apart pairs of hinge members which may have tapered beam portions welded to the lip member and gussets or a reinforcing plate extending between and welded to the hinge members of each pair.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.