Lip lock with release and counterbalance for dock board

A lip lock mechanism for releasable maintaining a lip pivoted to a leading edge of a loading ramp in a projected position comprising

• a lock support suspended from the loading ramp for pivoted movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the leading edge of the ramp, said support displaced a distance rearwardly from the leading edge of the ramp with the horizontal axis being in downwardly spaced relationship to the ramp,
• an elongated connector bar mechanically coupled with said lock support in vertically spaced relationship to the horizontal axis and extending forwardly with a leading end pivotally connected with the lip,
• resilient biasing means interconnecting said bar with said lock support for normaly urging said bar in forwardly extending relationship but permitting relative rearward movement,
• an elongated lock bar coupled with said lock support in vertically spaced relationship to the horizontal axis at a side opposite that to which said connector bar is coupled, said lock bar extending forwardly with a leading end thereof pivotally connected with the lip,
• coupling means releasably connecting said lock bar with said lock support, said coupling means including a lock pin carried by said lock support in horizontally disposed relationship, and a lock plate connected in retained relationship with said lock pin for limited reciprocating movement thereto and engaged with said lock bar for sliding movement longitudinally relative thereto, said lock plate having a notch formed therein for receiving said lock pin, said lock bar having a notch formed therein for receiving said lock pin, said lock bar notch having a surface formed at a forward side which, when said lock pin is received therein, prevents rearward movement of said lock bar and a surface formed at a rearward side which will cam the lock bar out of engagement with said lock pin as the lock bar is moved forwardly, and,
• a lock release member carried by said lock support for engaging said lock bar upon pivoting of said lock support to move the lock bar out of locking engagement with said lock pin.