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US 12,668,441 B2Granted
Dock leveler with lip extender
AssigneeOverhead Door Corporation
InventorKeith T. Kee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dock leveler comprises a face plate disposable adjacent a dock wall, a deck plate hingedly connected to the face plate, a lip assembly hingedly connected to the deck plate. The dock leveler further comprises a lip extender support coupled to the face plate, and a lip extender. The lip extender has a first end rotatably coupled to the lip assembly, and a second end selectively engageable with the lip extender support to extend the lip assembly with respect to the deck plate.
Claims18
A dock leveler comprising:
- a face plate disposable adjacent a dock wall, a deck plate hingedly connected to the face plate, a lip assembly hingedly connected to the deck plate;
- a lip extender support coupled to the face plate;
- and
- a lip extender having:
- a first end rotatably coupled to the lip assembly;
- a second end selectively engageable with the lip extender support to extend the lip assembly with respect to the deck plate;
- and
- a proximal side and a distal side on opposing sides of a longitudinal axis of the lip extender, the proximal side forming a belly projecting proximally.
5 more elements
A dock leveler to bridge a gap between a dock and a vehicle, the dock leveler comprising:
- a deck plate movable between a raised and stowed position relative to the dock;
- a lip assembly hingedly connected to the deck plate;
- a lip extender support in a fixed location relative to the dock;
- and
- a lip extender having a longitudinal axis:
- a first end having a through hole therethrough rotatably coupled to the lip assembly;
- a second end selectively engageable with the lip extender support to extend the lip assembly with respect to the deck plate, the second end comprising a hook end having a bearing surface aligned transverse to the longitudinal axis and disposed to engage a top of the lip extender support and also having a capture face disposed to engage a side of the lip extender support;
- and
- a pivot limit structure that limits the rotational range of the lip extender.
6 more elements
A dock leveler comprising:
- a face plate disposable adjacent a dock wall, a deck plate hingedly connected to the face plate, a lip assembly hingedly connected to the deck plate;
- a relief mechanism having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion fixed to the deck plate;
- a lip extender support coupled to the face plate;
- and
- a lip extender having:
- a first end rotatably coupled to the lip assembly;
- and
- a second end selectively engageable with the lip extender support to extend the lip assembly with respect to the deck plate.
5 more elements
A method for operating a dock leveler, the method comprising:
- lifting the dock leveler to a lifted position, the dock leveler comprising:
- a face plate disposable adjacent a dock wall, a deck plate hingedly connected to the face plate, a lip assembly hingedly connected to the deck plate;
- a lip extender support coupled to the face plate;
- and
- a lip extender having:
- a first end rotatably coupled to the lip assembly;
- a second end engageable with the lip extender support;
- and
- a proximal side and a distal side on opposing sides of a longitudinal axis of the lip extender, the proximal side forming a belly projecting proximally;
- and
- extending the lip assembly of the dock leveler with respect to the deck plate, the extending comprising engaging the second end of the lip extender support with the lip extender.
8 more elements
A method for operating a dock leveler, the method comprising:
- lifting the dock leveler to a lifted position, the dock leveler comprising:
- a face plate disposable adjacent a dock wall, a deck plate hingedly connected to the face plate, a lip assembly hingedly connected to the deck plate;
- a relief mechanism having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion fixed to the deck plate;
- a lip extender support coupled to the face plate;
- and
- a lip extender having:
- a first end rotatably coupled to the lip assembly;
- and
- a second end engageable with the lip extender support;
- and
- extending the lip assembly of the dock leveler with respect to the deck plate, the extending comprising engaging the second end of the lip extender support with the lip extender.
8 more elements
A dock leveler to bridge a gap between a dock and a vehicle, the dock leveler comprising:
- a deck plate movable between a raised and stowed position relative to the dock;
- a lip assembly hingedly connected to the deck plate;
- a lip extender support in a fixed location relative to the dock;
- and
- a lip extender having a longitudinal axis:
- a first end having a through hole therethrough rotatably coupled to the lip assembly;
- a second end selectively engageable with the lip extender support to extend the lip assembly with respect to the deck plate, the second end comprising a hook end having a bearing surface aligned transverse to the longitudinal axis and disposed to engage a top of the lip extender support and also having a capture face disposed to engage a side of the lip extender support;
- and
- a proximal side and a distal side on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis of the lip extender, the proximal side forming a belly projecting proximally.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.