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:
Mar. 27, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 29, 1999
Michael A. Zibella, Hudson, NY (US);
Mark S. Lounsbury, Wassaic, NY (US);
George D. Quinlan, Valatie, NY (US);
Overhead Door Corporation, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A vertically storable dock leveler apparatus includes a generally planar ramp member mounted on a frame by a hinge connection which includes spaced apart hinge plates secured to the frame, each having hinge pin receiving bores formed therein. An elongated cylindrical hinge pin is secured to the ramp and extends through the receiving bores of the hinge plates. The ramp is provided with elongated clearance slots formed therein providing clearance for the hinge plates when the ramp is assembled to the frame. Linearly extensible gas springs are interconnected between the ramp and the frame for biasing the ramp toward a vertically oriented stored position. An elongated actuating member is adapted to be releasably connected to a member mounted on one lateral edge of the ramp and also disposed in a socket member mounted on the frame for use in moving the ramp between working and stored positions and for retaining the ramp in its stored position, respectively. The ramp and actuating member may be secured together with a padlock to lock the ramp in the stored position.