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:
Apr. 25, 2006
Filed:
May. 11, 2004
Michael Mitchell, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Timothy Muhl, Slinger, WI (US);
Matthew Tourdot, Whitewater, WI (US);
Reinhard E. Sander, Wauwatosa, WI (US);
Norbert Hahn, Franklin, WI (US);
Michael Mitchell, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Timothy Muhl, Slinger, WI (US);
Matthew Tourdot, Whitewater, WI (US);
Reinhard E. Sander, Wauwatosa, WI (US);
Norbert Hahn, Franklin, WI (US);
Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
To permit below-dock level end-loading operations and to limit accidental freefalling of a dock leveler's deck, a dock leveler includes a unique support mechanism that employs one or more safety legs with an integral or operatively connected lip deflector. The support mechanism can be selectively moved to a deck-supporting position for freefall protection or moved to a lip-deflecting position for below dock level end-loading operations. In the deck-supporting position, the safety leg prevents the deck from falling an unsafe distance. In the lip-deflecting position, the lip deflector guides the descending motion of the dock leveler's lip extension plate so that the lip, while hanging pendant, can bypass and descend below a set of lip keepers.