Dock leveler blanket apparatus and methods

A thermal barrier system for a dock leveling system, comprising:

• a ramp plate associated with the dock leveling system, the ramp plate substantially flush to a floor of a storage facility when in a stowed position;
• a door near the dock leveling system, the door further having a closed position and an open position, the door in the closed position when not in use and liftable to the open position over the dock leveling system when using the dock leveling system;
• an insulative blanket, the insulative blanket dimensioned to be larger than the ramp plate, the insulative blanket covering the ramp plate and a gap between the ramp plate and the floor of the storage facility near a depression in which the dock leveling system is housed, the insulative blanket removably attached to at least a portion of the door when positioned over the ramp plate such that the insulative blanket automatically disengages from the door without damaging either the insulative blanket or the door when a weight over a weight threshold is present on the blanket as the door is lifted to the open position, wherein the insulative blanket is removably attached to the door adjacent a bottom edge of the door to define a first point of attachment between the insulative blanket and the door;
• and
• at least one hook attached directly to the door, wherein the hook is positioned a distance above the bottom edge of the door and a portion of the insulative blanket displaced from an edge removably attached to the door includes at least a first opening dimensioned to receive the hook to provide a second point of attachment of the insulative blanket to the door that positions a portion of the insulative blanket adjacent the door at a different height than the first point of attachment for lifting the door to the open position.