Dock leveler safety supports

US9376274B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Rite-Hite Holding Corporation · US

Inventors

• Bradley J. Stone · Port Washington, US
• David Holm · Idaho Falls, US
• Leonard Kikstra · Sparta, US
• Matthew Sveum · Wauwatosa, US
• Norbert Hahn · Franklin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 9, 2014
• Grant date: Jun 28, 2016
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

A dock leveler having safety supports includes a deck movable relative to a platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration, where a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the deck are proximate the platform when the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position and the deck residing at least partially in a pit when the front edge of the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position. A front edge of the deck is above at least one of the lowered cross-traffic position or the raised position and inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration. A first deck obstruction is movable relative to a deck between a secured position and an unrestrained position, where the first deck obstruction in the secured position configures the dock leveler in the service configuration and the first deck obstruction in the unrestrained position configures the dock leveler in the working configuration. The first deck obstruction extends farther beyond the outer perimeter of the deck when the first deck obstruction is in the secured position than when …