Moveable bumper for a dock leveler
AssigneeRite-Hite Holding Corporation
InventorsNorbert Hahn, Michael A. Swessel, Edward A. Raleigh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dock leveler system includes a pivotal deck whose movement provides the impetus for moving a bumper between an operative position and a retracted position. The bumper is movable relative to the deck, so that after a truck bumps up against the bumper, the bumper can move below the deck to avoid creating an obstacle to a forklift or the like traveling on the deck. The moveable bumper can be disposed within the width of a dock leveler deck that encompasses the full-width of a truck bed. Of the various embodiments, some bumpers pivot underneath the deck, and others move straight up and down. In the operative position, some bumpers are flush with the top of the deck, and others protrude above the deck.
Claims32
A bumper assembly for a dock leveler system having a deck that can pivot, comprising:
- a bumper moveable from an operative position to a retracted position via a contact with the deck during deck movement;
- and
- a mechanism coupleable to the deck and the bumper and having an active mode and a disabled mode, wherein the mechanism in the active mode allows downwared movement of the deck to move the bumper to the retracted position, and wherein the mechanism in the disabled mode allows downward movement of the deck while the bumper remains substantially at the operative position, whereby the disabled mode allows the deck to descend to a cross-traffic position while the bumper remains at the operative position.
A bumper assembly for a dock leveler system having a deck that can pivot, comprising:
- a spring adapted to provide a spring force;
- a bumper coupled to the spring and being movable to a retracted position against the spring force under a downward moving force of the deck, and urged to an operative position by the spring force when said downward moving force is removed;
- and
- a mechanism coupleable to the desk and the bumper and having an active mode and a disabled mode, wherein the mechanism in the active mode allows downward movement of the deck to move the bumper to the retracted position, and wherein the mechanism in the disabled mode allows downward movement of the deck while the bumper remains substantially at the operative position, whereby the disabled mode allows the deck to descend to cross-traffic position while the bumper remains at the operative position.
A bumper assembly for a dock leveler system having a deck that can pivot, comprising:
- a bumper moveable from an operative position to a retracted position via a contact with the deck during deck movement;
- an engagement surface carried by the bumper and being adapted to selectively engage the deck to move the bumper from the operative position toward the retracted position;
- and
- a mechanism coupleable to the deck and the bumper and having an active mode and a disabled mode, wherein the mechanism in the active mode allows downwared movement of the deck to move the bumper to the retracted position, and wherein the mechanism in the disabled mode allows downward movement of the deck while the bumper remains substantially at the operative position, whereby the disabled mode allows the deck to descend to a cross-traffic position while the bumper remains at the operative position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.