The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 26, 1985
Filed:
Oct. 13, 1981
Mark A DiFonzo, Brookfield, WI (US);
Kelley Company, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A dockboard to be attached to the front of a loading dock. The dockboard includes a deck plate, the side edges of which are pivotally connected to guide bars that are movable vertically within guideways formed in the upper portion of a rectangular frame. The frame is mounted for vertical movement within guides mounted on the front face of the loading dock, and the frame and deck plate are partially counterbalanced to an upper position by a counterweight mechanism that is connected to the frame through a synchronized chain drive. The deck plate is stored in a vertical position below deck level and, in use, is lifted to a raised position above dock level, pivoted to a substantially horizontal position and then lowered into engagement with the bed of a carrier located in front of the dock. The pivotal connection between the deck plate and the guide bars enables the deck plate to tilt diagonally as a load moves across the deck plate in the event that the bed of the carrier is not parallel to the upper surface of the dock. When the carrier moves from the dock, the deck plate will swing to a vertical position and the frame will lower by gravity to move the deck plate to the vertical storage position.