Dock leveler with folding barrier lip

A dock leveler comprising:

• a frame mounted at a dock, a deck pivoted at one end to said frame, a lip pivotally attached to said deck at the other end thereof, said deck movable between an operable position where said deck is substantially horizontal and said lip extended and an inoperative position where said deck is substantially horizontal and said lip hangs pendant, a barrier mounted to have a raised operative position protruding above said deck and an inoperative position flush with said deck, means to automatically raise said barrier when said deck is substantially horizontal dependent on the position of said lip, comprising a control arm attached to said barrier, a push rod operably connected to said deck and responsive to movement of said deck and, a latch arm operably connected to said control arm and responsive to movement of said push rod to elevate said barrier as said deck is placed in said inoperative position and further comprising a crank assembly interposed between said push rod and said latch arm, said crank assembly having a plurality of slots, said push rod in operable contact with said crank assembly and engaging one of said slots to rotate said crank assembly in a first direction and said latch arm selectively engaging another of said slots and movable in response to said rotation of said crank assembly to raise said barrier.

A dock leveler comprising:

• a frame mounted at a dock, a deck pivoted at one end to said frame, a lip pivotally attached to said deck at the other end thereof, said deck movable between an operable position where said deck is substantially horizontal and said lip extended and an inoperative position where said deck is substantially horizontal and said lip hangs pendant, a barrier mounted to have a raised operative position protruding above said deck and an inoperative position flush with said deck, means to automatically raise said barrier when said deck is substantially horizontal dependent on the position of said lip, comprising a control arm attached to said barrier, a push rod operably connected to said deck and responsive to movement of said deck and, a latch arm operably connected to said control arm and responsive to movement of said push rod to elevate said barrier as said deck is placed in said inoperative position and a bracket mounted to the underside of said deck, a slot in said bracket, said push rod engaging said slot and movable therein, said push rod having the other end thereof coupled to said frame.