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, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2009
Michael Mitchell, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Timothy Muhl, Slinger, WI (US);
Matthew Tourdot, Whitewater, WI (US);
Jack Morehart, Janesville, WI (US);
Michael A. Swessel, Memphis, TN (US);
Grant Leum, Excelsior, MN (US);
Henri Van Meurs, Tiel, NL;
Brian Bender, Kenosha, WI (US);
Lisa Bender, Legal Representative, Kenosha, WI (US);
Michael Mitchell, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Timothy Muhl, Slinger, WI (US);
Matthew Tourdot, Whitewater, WI (US);
Jack Morehart, Janesville, WI (US);
Michael A. Swessel, Memphis, TN (US);
Grant Leum, Excelsior, MN (US);
Henri Van Meurs, Tiel, NL;
Brian Bender, Kenosha, WI (US);
Lisa Bender, legal representative, Kenosha, WI (US);
Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A dock leveler includes a pivotally extendable lip coupled to a pivotal deck by way of a front hinge, wherein the structure in the area of the front hinge optimizes the torsional flexibility of the deck; provides a well supported, durable crown (apex angle between an extended lip and the deck); and reduces the part count of the dock leveler. The front hinge includes a deck-hinge member that extends approximately the full width of the deck and is preferably formed from a single sheet of material. A particularly narrow front header or flange disposed along the front edge of the deck reinforces the relatively thin deck plate so that the plate's rigidity more closely matches that of the thicker lip, yet the flange is sufficiently small to allow the deck to twist so that the deck can place the tip of the lip squarely upon a sideways inclined truck bed.