Dock leveler with deck hinge

A dock leveler sized to fit in a pit of a loading dock, comprising:

• a leg bracket including two or more legs and a bracket connecting the two or more legs, the bracket including two or more C-shaped brackets and having a first width;
• a shaft extending along the bracket within the C-shaped brackets, the C-shaped brackets supporting the shaft;
• and,
• a deck having a bottom surface, a front edge, and an opposing rear edge, the rear edge of the deck configured to be supported by the shaft, configured to be positioned adjacent a rear wall of the pit when the deck is installed in the pit, and configured to be disposed so that only a vertical plate of the leg bracket is disposed between the rear edge of the deck and a loading dock floor.

A method of forming a connection on a dock leveler sized to fit in a pit of a loading dock, the method comprising:

• providing a deck attachable about a cylindrical shaft;
• placing the deck above a bracket including a plurality of C-shaped brackets, the deck having a rear portion configured to be positioned adjacent a rear wall of the pit when the deck is installed in the pit, the rear portion being disposed so that only a vertical plate of the bracket is disposed between the rear portion of the deck and a loading dock floor;
• inserting the cylindrical shaft into an opening of the C-shaped brackets so that the deck is supported by the C-shaped brackets;
• and,
• securing the cylindrical shaft to the C-shaped brackets.