Toe guard for a dockboard

Claim 2

A toe guard for a dockboard having a ramp hinged at its rear edge to the dock and movable from a horizontal cross traffic position to an upwardly inclined position and to a downwardly inclined below dock level position, said ramp having a side surface, said toe guard comprising a plate disposed generally flatwise to said side surface, pivotal means for pivotally mounting the rear end of the plate for movement in a vertical plane relative to the ramp, first abutment means on the ramp, second abutment means connected to said plate and disposed to be engaged by said first abutment means on upward movement of the ramp, said first abutment means being spaced a substantial distance below second abutment means when the ramp is at a horizontal dock level position, said abutments being disposed with respect to each other so that on initial upward movement of the ramp the plate will not move with the ramp and on furthEr upward movement of the ramp said first abutment means will engage said second abutment to thereby pivot the plate upwardly with the ramp, and stop means disposed to be engaged by the plate as the ramp moves downwardly toward the horizontal position to limit further downward movement of the plate, said ramp being movable relative to said plate to said below dock level position.

Claim 3

The toe guard of claim 1, and including third abutment means on said plate and disposed to engage said stop means to limit downward movement of the plate.

Claim 4

The toe guard of claim 2, wherein said third abutment comprises a flange extending outwardly from the upper edge of said plate.

Claim 5

The toe guard of claim 3, wherein said flange extends continuously the length of the plate.

Claim 6

The toe guard of claim 1, wherein said first abutment means comprises a generally U-shaped bracket connected to the ramp and having an open end facing rearwardly, the forward edge of said plate being slidably received within said U-shaped bracket.

Claim 7

The toe guard of claim 5, wherein the forward edge of the plate extends rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the upper edge of the plate.

Claim 8

The toe guard of claim 1, wherein said pivotal means includes a slotted connection disposed to permit the rear end of the plate to move vertically relative to the ramp.

Claim 9

A toe guard for a dockboard having a ramp hinged at its rear edge to the dock and movable from a horizontal cross traffic position to an upwardly inclined position and to a downwardly inclined below dock level position, said ramp having a side surface, said toe guard comprising a generally vertical plate disposed generally flatwise to said side surface, pivotal means connected to the rear end of the plate for mounting the plate for vertical pivotal movement, flange means on the upper edge of the plate and extending laterally outward from the ramp and disposed to rest on the upper surface of the dock when the ramp is at the dock level position, a bracket secured to said side surface and having an open end facing rearwardly, the forward edge of said plate being slidably received within said bracket, upward movement of said ramp causing said bracket to engage said flange to thereby pivot the plate upwardly in accordance with upward movement of the ramp, downward movement of the ramp to a below dock level position causing said flange to engage the upper surface of the dock to limit further downward movement of the plate, the sliding connection of said bracket for the forward edge of the plate enabling the ramp to move to a below dock level position relative to said plate.

Claim 10

A toe guard for a dockboard having a ramp hinged at its rear edge to the dock and movable from a horizontal cross traffic position to an upwardly inclined position and to a downwardly inclined below dock level position, said ramp having a side surface, said toe guard comprising a generally vertical plate disposed generally flatwise to said side surface, pivotal means connected to the rear end of the plate for mounting the plate for vertical pivotal movement, flange means on the upper edge of the plate and extending laterally outward from the ramp and disposed to rest on the upper surface of the dock when the ramp is at the dock level position, a bracket secured to said side surface and having an open end facing rearwardly, the forward edge of said plate being slidably received within said bracket, upward movement of said ramp causing said bracket to engage said flange to thereby pivot the plate upwardly in accordance with upward movement of the ramp, downward movement of the ramp to a below dock level position causing said flange to engage the upper surface of the dock to limit further downward movement of the plate, the sliding connection of said bracket for the forward edge of the plate enabling the ramp to move to a below dock level position relative to said plate.

Claim 11

The toe guard of claim 8, wherein said bracket is connected to the lower edge portion of the side surface.

Claim 12

The toe guard of claim 8, wherein the flange extends continuously the length of the plate.

Claim 13

In combination, a loading dock having an upper loading surface and a forward vertical surface, said dock having a pit located at the junction of the upper surface and vertical surface, a dockboard mounted in the pit and including a supporting structure and a ramp structure hinged at its rear edge to the supporting structure and movable from a generally horizontal dock level position to an upwardly inclined position and to a downwardly inclined below dock level position, said ramp structure having a generally vertical side surface, a toe guard plate disposed generally flatwise to said side surface, pivotal means for pivotally mounting the rear end portion of the toe guard to one of said structures, first abutment means on said ramp structure, sedond abutment means on said plate disposed to be engaged by said first abutment means on upward elevation of said ramp structure, said first abutment means being spaced a substantial distance below the second abutment means when the ramp structure is at the horizontal dock level position, said first and second abutment means being arranged so that on initial upward movement of the ramp structure, the plate will not be moved upwArdly with the ramp structure, and on continued upward movement of the ramp structure the first abutment means will engage the second abutment means to thereby pivot the plate upwardly with upward movement of the ramp structure, third abutment means on said plate, and stop means disposed to be engaged by said third abutment means as the ramp structure is lowered toward a dock level position, engagement of said third abutment means with said stop means preventing further downward movement of the plate and enabling the ramp structure to move to a below dock level position relative to said plate.

Claim 14

In combination, a loading dock having an upper loading surface and a forward vertical surface, said dock having a pit located at the junction of the upper surface and vertical surface, a dockboard mounted in the pit and including a supporting structure and a ramp structure hinged at its rear edge to the supporting structure and movable from a generally horizontal dock level position to an upwardly inclined position and to a downwardly inclined below dock level position, said ramp structure having a generally vertical side surface, a toe guard plate disposed generally flatwise to said side surface, pivotal means for pivotally mounting the rear end portion of the toe guard to one of said structures, first abutment means on said ramp structure, sedond abutment means on said plate disposed to be engaged by said first abutment means on upward elevation of said ramp structure, said first abutment means being spaced a substantial distance below the second abutment means when the ramp structure is at the horizontal dock level position, said first and second abutment means being arranged so that on initial upward movement of the ramp structure, the plate will not be moved upwArdly with the ramp structure, and on continued upward movement of the ramp structure the first abutment means will engage the second abutment means to thereby pivot the plate upwardly with upward movement of the ramp structure, third abutment means on said plate, and stop means disposed to be engaged by said third abutment means as the ramp structure is lowered toward a dock level position, engagement of said third abutment means with said stop means preventing further downward movement of the plate and enabling the ramp structure to move to a below dock level position relative to said plate.

Claim 15

In combination, a loading dock having an upper loading surface and a forward vertical surface, said dock having a pit located at the junction of the upper surface and vertical surface, a dockboard mounted in the pit and including a supporting structure and a ramp structure hinged at its rear edge to the supporting structure and movable from a generally horizontal dock level position to an upwardly inclined position and to a downwardly inclined below dock level position, said ramp structure having a generally vertical side surface, a toe guard plate disposed generally flatwise to said side surface, pivotal means for pivotally mounting the rear end portion of the toe guard to one of said structures, first abutment means on said ramp structure, sedond abutment means on said plate disposed to be engaged by said first abutment means on upward elevation of said ramp structure, said first abutment means being spaced a substantial distance below the second abutment means when the ramp structure is at the horizontal dock level position, said first and second abutment means being arranged so that on initial upward movement of the ramp structure, the plate will not be moved upwArdly with the ramp structure, and on continued upward movement of the ramp structure the first abutment means will engage the second abutment means to thereby pivot the plate upwardly with upward movement of the ramp structure, third abutment means on said plate, and stop means disposed to be engaged by said third abutment means as the ramp structure is lowered toward a dock level position, engagement of said third abutment means with said stop means preventing further downward movement of the plate and enabling the ramp structure to move to a below dock level position relative to said plate.

Claim 16

In combination, a loading dock having an upper loading surface and a forward vertical surface, said dock having a pit located at the junction of the upper surface and vertical surface, a dockboard mounted in the pit and including a supporting structure and a ramp structure hinged at its rear edge to the supporting structure and movable from a generally horizontal dock level position to an upwardly inclined position and to a downwardly inclined below dock level position, said ramp structure having a generally vertical side surface, a toe guard plate disposed generally flatwise to said side surface, pivotal means for pivotally mounting the rear end portion of the toe guard to one of said structures, first abutment means on said ramp structure, sedond abutment means on said plate disposed to be engaged by said first abutment means on upward elevation of said ramp structure, said first abutment means being spaced a substantial distance below the second abutment means when the ramp structure is at the horizontal dock level position, said first and second abutment means being arranged so that on initial upward movement of the ramp structure, the plate will not be moved upwArdly with the ramp structure, and on continued upward movement of the ramp structure the first abutment means will engage the second abutment means to thereby pivot the plate upwardly with upward movement of the ramp structure, third abutment means on said plate, and stop means disposed to be engaged by said third abutment means as the ramp structure is lowered toward a dock level position, engagement of said third abutment means with said stop means preventing further downward movement of the plate and enabling the ramp structure to move to a below dock level position relative to said plate.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 11, wherein said second abutment means comprises a flange extending laterally from the upper edge of said plate.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 11, wherein said stop means comprises the upper surface of the dock and said third abutment means comprises an outwardly extending flange on the upper edge of said plate.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 11, wherein said pivotal means is disposed adjacent the upper edge of the side surface and said first abutment means is disposed adjacent the lower edge of said side surface.