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. 28, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 11, 1991
Martin P Hageman, Mequon, WI (US);
Kelley Company, Inc., Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A dockboard includes a ramp which is hinged at its rear edge to a loading dock and a lip is hinged to the front edge of the ramp and can be pivoted from a downwardly hanging pendant position to an extended position generally flush with the ramp surface. The ramp is moved from a horizontal position to an upwardly inclined position by a counterbalancing spring assembly and a hydraulic holddown prevents upward movement of the ramp unless manually released. A return-to-dock-level mechanism includes a link that is pivotally connected to the underside of the ramp and an arm interconnects the link with the lip. If the ramp is at a below-dock-level position when a truck pulls away from the dock after loading operation is completed, the lip will fall to its pendant position and the downward movement of the lip is transmitted through the link and arm to pivot the arm into engagement with the release lever of the holddown, thereby releasing the holddown to enable the ramp to be elevated through the counterbalancing spring assembly. As the ramp is elevated to dock-level, the link rides out of contact with the release lever causing the holddown to be re-engaged and prevent further upward movement of the ramp.