Adjustable dockboard

Claim 1

IN AN ADJUSTABLE DOCKBOARD FOR SPANNING THE GAP BETWEEN A LOADING DOCK AND THE BED OF A CARRIER IN LOADING OR UNLOADING POSITION IN FRONT OF THE DOCK, REGARDLESS OF THE RELATIVE HEIGHTS OF THE DOCK AND CARRIER BED AND WHICH HAS STATIONARY STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN THE DOCK, STRUCTURE DEFINING A RAMP HAVING FRONT AND REAR EDGES, AND MEANS HINGEDLY CONNECTING THE RAMP STRUCTURE AT ITS REAR EDGE WITH A PART OF THE STATIONARY STRUCTURE SO THAT THE RAMP STRUCTURE MAY BE RAISED OR LOWERED FROM A CROSS-TRAFFIC POSITION FLUSH WITH THE FLOOR OF THE DOCK ON WHICH THE DOCKBOARD IS INSTALLED, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES SAFETY MEANS TO LIMIT UNINTENTIONAL DESCENT OF THE RAMP STRUCTURE WHEN ITS FRONT EDGE IS NOT SUPPORTED BY A CARRIER BED, SAID SAFETY MEANS COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST UPPORTING MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID STRUCTURES FACING THE OTHER STRUCTURE AND HAVING EXPOSED ABUTMENT ENGAGING MEANS; (B) A SECOND SUPPORTING MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID OTHER STRUCTURE HAVING AN OUTER AND EXTENDING TOWARDS THE FIRST NAMED STRUCTURE WITH ONE SIDE THEREOF ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID EXPOSED ABUTMENT ENGAGING MEANS OF THE FIRST SUPPORTING MEMBER WHEN THE RAMP STRUCTURE IS AT AN ELEVATION AT WHICH THE OUTER END OF SAID SECOND SUPPORTING MEMBER EXTENDS BEYOND THE EXPOSED ABUTMENT ENGAGING MEANS OF THE FIRST SUPPORTING MEMBER;