Dock leveler safety supports

A method for operating a dock leveler, the dock leveler having a deck installed within a pit defined by a platform that faces upward and a side wall that faces in a lateral direction, the method comprising:

• moving an obstruction actuator between a stored position and a activated position to cause a deck obstruction to move between a retracted position and an extended position;
• urging, via a spring, a deck obstruction laterally against the side wall of the pit, wherein the spring urging the deck obstruction laterally against the side wall of the pit is performed in response to manually manipulating the obstruction actuator;
• raising the deck while the spring urges the deck obstruction laterally against the side wall of the pit and the actuator is in the activated position;
• moving the deck obstruction above the platform via the deck;
• moving, via the spring and in response to the deck obstruction rising above the platform, the deck obstruction laterally outward beyond the side wall of the pit;
• descending the deck and thereby lowering the deck obstruction onto the platform;
• and
• supporting at least a portion of a weight of the deck via engagement between the deck obstruction and the platform.

A dock leveler apparatus comprising:

• a deck having an outer perimeter defined by a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the rear edge being proximate a platform and the front edge being movable relative to the platform between a raised position and a lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a working configuration, the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge being proximate the platform when the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position, the deck residing at least partially in a pit when the front edge of the deck is in the lowered cross-traffic position, the front edge being inhibited from descending toward the lowered cross-traffic position when the dock leveler is in a service configuration, the deck includes a lip proximate a front edge of the deck and being movable relative to the deck between an extended position and a retracted position when the dock leveler is in the working configuration;
• the deck obstruction in the secured position is to extend beyond the outer perimeter of the deck and the deck obstruction in the unrestrained position is to be positioned within the outer perimeter of the deck,
• a deck obstruction movable relative to the deck between a secured position and an unrestrained position, the deck obstruction in the secured position configures the dock leveler in the service configuration, the deck obstruction in the unrestrained position configures the dock leveler in the working configuration;
• a lip obstruction being movable relative to the deck obstruction between a support position and a release position, the lip obstruction in the support position to prevent the lip from moving to the retracted position, the lip obstruction in the release position to permit movement of the lip toward the retracted position;
• and
• an actuator operatively coupled to the deck obstruction and the lip obstruction, the actuator to move the deck obstruction between the secured position and the unrestrained position and the actuator to move the lip obstruction between the support position and the release position.