Rite-hite Holding Corporation

Jack T Droullard

Charles J Digmann

Timothy J Schmidt

Greg J Thill

A dock leveler comprising a vehicle-engaging lip pivotally coupled to the vertically adjustable front edge of a deck includes a seal or series of seal segments that close one or more air gaps that exist in the area where the lip is hinged to the deck. Such gaps are particularly large when the lip hinge comprises a hinge pin that couples a series of lugs extending from underneath the deck to a series of lugs extending from the lip, wherein the lugs are spaced apart along the length of the hinge pin. The seal or seal segments could be above the deck, below the deck, or interposed between the adjoining edges of the deck and the lip. In some cases, the seal is provided by an air curtain or by a tube that is inflatable or hermetically sealed.

Seal for dock leveler lip hinge

A windstrap assembly for a dock seal mounted on a building wall and which includes a fabric encased foam side pad mounted to the wall, and a vertically hanging curtain. The assembly includes a resilient member with two ends--one mountable to the curtain, and the other mountable to the side pad adjacent the wall. A friction reducing member is disposable between the resilient member and the pad fabric such that it frictionally engages and moves with the resilient member related to the side pad.

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Epworth, IA, United States of America

Jack T Droullard