Dock leveler with maintenance strut
AssigneeOverhead Door Corporation
InventorKeith T. Kee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dock leveler comprises a maintenance strut rotatable between a maintenance position and a stowed position, the maintenance strut being configured to secure the dock leveler in an accessible position when in the maintenance position. The maintenance strut has a latch hole and a pivot hole formed therein. The dock leveler further comprises a latch configured to selectively maintain the maintenance strut in the maintenance position or the stowed position. The latch comprises a pin selectively extendable through the latch hole, the pin having a first end and a second end, and a retainer having a first end fixedly attached to the first end of the pin and a second end selectively attachable to the second end of the pin.
Claims20
A dock leveler comprising:
- a maintenance strut rotatable between a maintenance position and a stowed position, the maintenance strut being configured to secure the dock leveler in an accessible position when in the maintenance position, the maintenance strut having a latch hole and a pivot hole formed therein, wherein the latch hole is located above the pivot hole when in the maintenance position;
- and
- a latch configured to selectively maintain the maintenance strut in the maintenance position or the stowed position, the latch comprising:
- a pin selectively extendable through the latch hole, the pin having a first end and a second end;
- and
- a retainer having a first end fixedly attached to the first end of the pin and a second end selectively attachable to the second end of the pin.
A method comprising:
- rotatably coupling a maintenance strut to a dock leveler between a maintenance position and a stowed position, the maintenance strut being configured to secure the dock leveler in an accessible position when in the maintenance position, the maintenance strut having a latch hole and a pivot hole formed therein, wherein the latch hole is located above the pivot hole when in the maintenance position;
- and
- selectively maintaining the maintenance strut in the maintenance position or the stowed position using a latch, the latch comprising:
- a pin extendable through the latch hole, the pin having a first end and a second end;
- and
- a retainer having a first end fixedly attached to the first end of the pin and a second end selectively attachable to the second end of the pin.
A dock leveler comprising:
- a face plate disposable adjacent a dock wall;
- a gusset plate extending from the face plate, the gusset plate comprising a pivot hole and a latch hole;
- a maintenance strut rotatable between a maintenance position and a stowed position, the maintenance strut being in an upright position configured to secure the dock leveler in an accessible position, the maintenance strut having a pivot hole and a latch hole formed therein;
- a pivot shaft extending through the pivot hole in the gusset plate and the pivot hole in the maintenance strut, the maintenance strut being rotatable about the pivot shaft;
- and
- a latch configured to selectively maintain the maintenance strut in the maintenance position, the latch comprising a pin extendable through the latch hole in the gusset plate and the latch hole in the maintenance strut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.