Vertically stored dock leveler

A vertically storable dock leveler apparatus comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted at a loading dock;
• a ramp mounted for pivotal movement on said frame between a substantially horizontal working position and a substantially vertically extending stored position;
• an actuating member for moving said ramp with respect to said frame;
• a receiver member secured to said ramp for receiving said actuating member in a first position of said actuating member with respect to said frame for moving said ramp with respect to said frame;
• and
• said actuating member being operable to be removed from said receiving member and moved to a second position in engagement with said ramp and said frame in a stored position of said ramp for retaining said ramp in said stored position.

A vertically storable dock leveler apparatus comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted on a loading dock;
• a ramp mounted for pivotal movement on said frame between a substantially horizontal working position and a substantially vertically extending stored position;
• gas spring means operably connected to said ramp and said frame for biasing said ramp toward said stored position;
• an actuating member for moving said ramp with respect to said frame;
• a first receiver member secured to said ramp for releasably receiving said actuating member;
• and
• a second receiver member mounted on said frame for releasably receiving said actuating member in a stored position of said ramp for retaining said ramp in said stored position.

A vertically storable dock leveler apparatus comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted on a loading dock;
• a ramp mounted for pivotal movement on said frame between a substantially horizontal working position and a substantially vertically extending stored position;
• spring means operably connected to said ramp and said frame for biasing said ramp toward said stored position;
• an actuating member for moving said ramp with respect to said frame between said working and stored positions;
• a hinge for connecting said ramp to said frame comprising a plurality of hinge plates secured to said frame at spaced apart points thereon, said hinge plates including hinge pin receiving bores formed therein, and a hinge pin secured to said ramp and extendable through said bores in said hinge plates to form a pivot connection between said ramp and said frame;
• and
• said ramp includes a section having a plurality of spaced apart elongated slots formed therein for receiving at least portions of respective ones of said hinge plates to provide clearance between said ramp and said hinge plates when said ramp is moved between its working and stored positions, respectively.

A vertically storable dock leveler apparatus comprising:

• a frame adapted to be mounted on a loading dock;
• a ramp mounted for pivotal movement on said frame between a substantially horizontal working position and a substantially vertically extending stored position;
• spring means operably connected to said ramp for biasing said ramp toward said stored position;
• an actuating member for moving said ramp with respect to said frame;
• receiver member secured to said ramp for receiving said actuating member;
• a hinge for connecting said ramp to said frame comprising a plurality of hinge plates secured to said frame at spaced apart points thereon, said hinge plates including hinge pin receiving bores formed therein, and a hinge pin secured directly to said ramp and extendable through said bores in said hinge plates to form a pivot connection between said ramp and said frame;
• and
• said ramp includes a section having a plurality of spaced apart elongated slots formed therein for receiving at least portions of respective ones of said hinge plates to provide clearance between said ramp and said hinge plates when said ramp is moved between its working and stored positions, respectively.