Illuminating dock leveler
AssigneeRite-Hite Holding Corporation
InventorsAl Hochstein, Kyle Nelson, Matt Sveum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dock leveler for a truck loading dock includes a lighting system mounted to the deck of the leveler. The lighting system can be used for illuminating the interior of a trailer, illuminating the deck of the dock leveler, and/or providing a warning signal that alerts nearby pedestrians and others in the area that work is being done at the loading dock. In some cases, the light is protected by a raised curb of the dock leveler's deck. In other cases, the lighting system is pivotally coupled to the deck so that the light can continue pointing toward the trailer regardless of whether the deck is in a horizontal operative position or a vertical stored position.
Claims18
An illuminating dock leveler for supporting material-handling traffic near a doorway at a loading dock, the illuminating dock leveler comprising:
- a deck pivotably mountable to the loading dock about a rear edge of the deck such that a front edge of the deck is vertically adjustable, and the deck includes a traffic surface adapted to support the material-handling traffic;
- and
- a lighting system supported by the deck.
A method of operating a dock leveler at a dock position, comprising:
- providing the leveler with a lighting system mounted to a deck of the dock leveler;
- monitoring conditions at the dock position and/or its surroundings;
- and
- in response to a change in conditions at the dock position, actuating the lighting system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.