Inflatable column assembly for a dock leveler

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an inflatable column assembly disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable column assembly includes a pliable tube having an upper perimetric seam defining an upper end adjacent the deck and moveable therewith, a lower perimetric seam defining a lower end disposed below the upper end, and a longitudinal seam running from the upper perimetric seam to the lower perimetric seam;
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the inflatable column assembly such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable column assembly, thereby forcing the upper end to push the deck upward;
• and
• a deck hinge adapted to pivotally couple the rear edge of the deck to the loading dock, wherein the source of pressurized air is pivotally connected to the deck hinge, such that the source of pressurized air is pivotal independent of the deck.

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an inflatable column assembly disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable column assembly includes a pliable tube having an upper perimetric seam defining an upper end adjacent the deck and moveable therewith, a lower perimetric seam defining a lower end disposed below the upper end, and a longitudinal seam running from the upper perimetric seam to the lower perimetric seam;
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the inflatable column assembly such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable column assembly, thereby forcing the upper end to push the deck upward;
• and
• an upper pliable sheet lying underneath and substantially parallel to the deck and having an outer perimeter that is larger than the upper perimetric seam, wherein the upper pliable sheet couples the pliable tube to the deck.

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an inflatable column assembly disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable column assembly includes a pliable tube having an upper perimetric seam defining an upper end adjacent the deck and moveable therewith, a lower perimetric seam defining a lower end disposed below the upper end, and a longitudinal seam running from the upper perimetric seam to the lower perimetric seam;
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the inflatable column assembly such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable column assembly, thereby forcing the upper end to push the deck upward;
• and
• a footed pallet coupled to the pliable tube and being adapted to slideably rest upon a fixed surface underneath the deck.

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an inflatable column assembly disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable column assembly includes a pliable tube having an upper perimetric seam defining an upper end adjacent the deck and moveable therewith, a lower perimetric seam defining a lower end disposed below the upper end, and a longitudinal seam running from the upper perimetric seam to the lower perimetric seam;
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the inflatable column assembly such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable column assembly, thereby forcing the upper end to push the deck upward;
• and
• a lower pliable sheet that the lower perimetric seam connects to the pliable tube.

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising;

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an upper pliable sheet disposed underneath the deck and attached thereto such that the upper pliable sheet is held in tension;
• a pliable tube attached to the upper pliable sheet along an upper perimetric seam, wherein the upper perimetric seam has a length that is less than an outer peripheral length of the upper pliable sheet;
• and
• a source of pressurized air in fluid communication with an interior of the pliable tube such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the pliable tube to push the deck upward.

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an inflatable column assembly disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable column assembly includes a pliable tube that is substantially cylindrical when expanded, an upper surface that is substantially elliptical, and a lower surface that is substantially round, wherein the upper surface is on an upper pliable sheet that couples the pliable tube to the deck;
• and
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the inflatable column assembly such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable column assembly to push the deck upward.

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an inflatable column assembly disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable column assembly includes a pliable tube that is substantially cylindrical when expanded, an upper surface that is substantially elliptical, and a lower surface that is substantially round, wherein the upper surface is on an upper pliable sheet that couples the pliable tube to the deck;
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the inflatable column assembly such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable column assembly to push the deck upward;
• and
• a deck hinge adapted to pivotally couple the rear edge of the deck to the loading dock, wherein the source of pressurized air is pivotally connected to the deck hinge, such that the source of pressurized air is pivotal independent of the deck.

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an inflatable column assembly disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable column assembly includes a pliable tube that is substantially cylindrical when expanded, an upper surface that is substantially elliptical, and a lower surface that is substantially round, wherein the upper surface is on an upper pliable sheet that couples the pliable tube to the deck;
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the inflatable column assembly such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable column assembly to push the deck upward;
• and
• a footed pallet coupled to the pliable tube and being adapted to slideably rest upon a fixed surface underneath the deck.

A dock leveler adapted to engage a vehicle at a loading dock, comprising:

• a deck having a rear edge and a forward edge, wherein the rear edge is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the loading dock to enable vertical movement of the forward edge relative to the loading dock;
• a lip extension adjacent the forward edge of the deck and being moveable relative thereto, the lip extension being adapted to engage the vehicle;
• an inflatable column assembly disposed underneath the deck, wherein the inflatable column assembly includes a pliable tube that is substantially cylindrical when expanded, an upper surface that is substantially elliptical, and a lower surface that is substantially round, wherein the lower surface is on a lower pliable sheet that connects the pliable tube to a footed pallet;
• and
• a source of pressurized air coupled to the inflatable column assembly such that air discharged from the source of pressurized air expands the inflatable column assembly to push the deck upward.