Dockboard support

Claim 2

In a dock leveler having support means, ramp means pivotally connected to said support means for pivotal movement between raised and lowered position, said ramp means being pivotal about a pivot axis adjacent the rear edge thereof, said ramp means having the front edge adapted for engagement with the floor of a carrier disposed in a loading or unloading position adjacent a dock, the combination comprising: safety stop means coacting between said ramp means and said support means for preventing said ramp means for pivoting downwardly below a plurality of selected predetermined positions, said stop means including abutment means mounted on said support means and positioned under the front edge of said ramp means; said stop means including first elongated leg means pivotally supported on said ramp means beneath and near the front edge of said ramp means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a first position engageable with said abutment means, whereby the front edge of said ramp means is supported at a first level, and a second position spaced laterally from said abutment means for permitting said ramp means to swingably move downwardly from said first level; said stop means also including second elongated leg means pivotally supported on said ramp means beneath and near the front edge of said ramp means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a first position engageable with said abutment means, when said first leg means is in its second position, whereby the front edge of the ramp means is supported at a second level below said first level, and a second position spaced laterally from said abutment means for permitting downward swinging movement of said ramp means below said second level; said first and second leg means each having their upper end portions pivotally connected to said ramp means so that said first and second leg means are each suspended downwardly below said ramp means and are biased solely by gravity toward their respective first positions; and actuating means connected to said first and second leg means and operable for individually and selectively swinging said first and second leg means into their respective second positions so that the front edge of said ramp means can move downwardly below said first and second levels as said first and second leg means are respectively swung into their second positions.

Claim 3

In a dock leveler according to claim 1, wherein said ramp means includes a stop member rigidly secured thereto adjacent the front edge thereof, said stop member extending downwardly from said ramp means and being engageable with said abutment means when said first and second leg means are in their second positions for supporting the front edge of said ramp means at a third level which is below said second level.

Claim 4

In a dock leveler according to claim 2, wherein said ramp means includes a main platelike deck, said stop member comprising a front plate fixed to said deck adjacent the front edge thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom, the lowermost edge of said front plate being adapted to engage said abutment means when said ramp means is in said third level, said first and second leg means being swingable about substantially horizontal axes which extend substantially parallel to the front edge of said deck, and said first and second leg means being urged solely by gravity toward and into their respective first positions so that said leg means bear against said front plate when the ramp means is in or near said first level.

Claim 5

In a dock leveler according to claim 3, wherein said first and second leg means respectively comprise first and second elongated leg members each being of a channel-shaped configuration, said first and second leg members having their upper end portions hingedly connected to said ramp means about a common horizontal axis which extends substantially parallel to the front edge of said ramp means, said first and second leg members being nested one within the other when said leg members are in their respective first positions, said first leg member being longer than said second leg member so that the lower end of said first leg member is spaced downwardly from the lower end of said second leg member, whereby the lower end of said first leg member engages said abutment means when said ramp means is at said first level and whereby the lower end of said second leg member engages said abutment means when said ramp means is at said second level.

Claim 6

In a dock leveler according to claim 1, wherein said abutment means includes an upwardly directed abutment surface thereon, wherein said first leg means has a first downwardly directed stop surface on the lower end thereof, wherein said leg means has a second downwardly directed stop surface on the lower end thereof, each of said first and second stop surfaces being adapted for engagement with said abutment surface, and said first stop surface being spaced downwardly a substantial distance below said second stop surface so that said first stop surface engages said abutment surface when said ramp means is at said first level, said second stop surface being spaced upwardly from said abutment surface when the ramp means is at said first level, and said second stop surface engaging said abutment surface when the front edge of said ramp means is at said second level.

Claim 7

In a dock leveler according to claim 1, wherein said first and second leg means are nested one within the other but are independently and individually swingable relative to one another through at least a limited angular extent.

Claim 8

In a dock leveler according to claim 6, wherein each of said first and second elongated leg means are of a channel-shaped cross section so that the first and second leg means can at least partially nest one within the other.

Claim 9

In a dockboard assembly including support means, ramp means hingedly mounted on said support means for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal hinge axis, said ramp means having the front portion thereof adapted for coaction with a carrier for permitting the loading or unloading of the carrier, the combination comprising: safety stop means coacting between said support means and said ramp means for preventing downward pivotal movement of said ramp means from a plurality of predetermined levels, said stop means including abutment means fixedly associated with said support means and disposed below the front portion of said ramp means; said stop means further including a first elongated leg member pivotally supported upon said ramp means beneath and near the front edge portion of said ramp means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a first position engageable with said abutment means, whereby the front edge of said ramp means is supported at a first level, and a second position spaced laterally from said abutment means; said stop means also including a second elongated leg member pivotally supported on said ramp means beneath and near the front edge portion of said ramp means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a first position engageable with said abutment means, when said first leg member is in its second position, whereby the front edge of said ramp means is supported at a second level below said first level, and a second position spaced laterally from said abutment means; said first and second leg members respectively comprising first and second elongated channel-shaped members disposed in nested relationship one within the other when said first and second leg members are disposed in their respeCtive first positions, each of said first and second channel-shaped members being pivotally supported adjacent the upper end thereof, the lower end of said first channel-shaped member being spaced downwardly from the lower end of said second channel-shaped member, and the lower end of said first and second members being engageable with said abutment means for defining said first and second levels, respectively; and actuating means connected to said first and second leg members and operable for swinging said first and second leg members selectively and individually into their second positions so that the front edge of said ramp means can move downwardly below said second level.

Claim 10

In a dockboard assembly including support means, ramp means hingedly mounted on said support means for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal hinge axis, said ramp means having the front portion thereof adapted for coaction with a carrier for permitting the loading or unloading of the carrier, the combination comprising: safety stop means coacting between said support means and said ramp means for preventing downward pivotal movement of said ramp means from a plurality of predetermined levels, said stop means including abutment means fixedly associated with said support means and disposed below the front portion of said ramp means; said stop means further including a first elongated leg member pivotally supported upon said ramp means beneath and near the front edge portion of said ramp means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a first position engageable with said abutment means, whereby the front edge of said ramp means is supported at a first level, and a second position spaced laterally from said abutment means; said stop means also including a second elongated leg member pivotally supported on said ramp means beneath and near the front edge portion of said ramp means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a first position engageable with said abutment means, when said first leg member is in its second position, whereby the front edge of said ramp means is supported at a second level below said first level, and a second position spaced laterally from said abutment means; said first and second leg members respectively comprising first and second elongated channel-shaped members disposed in nested relationship one within the other when said first and second leg members are disposed in their respeCtive first positions, each of said first and second channel-shaped members being pivotally supported adjacent the upper end thereof, the lower end of said first channel-shaped member being spaced downwardly from the lower end of said second channel-shaped member, and the lower end of said first and second members being engageable with said abutment means for defining said first and second levels, respectively; and actuating means connected to said first and second leg members and operable for swinging said first and second leg members selectively and individually into their second positions so that the front edge of said ramp means can move downwardly below said second level.

Claim 11

In a dockboard assembly according to claim 8, wherein said first and second channel-shaped members are pivotally connected to said ramp means about a common horizontal axis which extends substantially parallel to said hinge axis.

Claim 12

In a dockboard assembly according to claim 8, wherein said ramp means includes a substantially planar deck, the hinge axis for said ramp means being positioned adjacent the rear edge of said deck, said first and second leg members being pivotally connected to said deck adjacent the front edge thereof, said ramp means also including a front plate fixedly connected to said deck adjacent the front edge thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom, the lower edge of said front plate being adapted to engage said abutment means for supporting said ramp means at a third level which is spaced downwardly from said second level when said first and second leg members are respectively in their second positions.

Claim 13

In a dockboard assembly according to claim 10, wherein a pair of nested first and second leg members are pivotally mounted on said deck adjacent each front corner thereof, said pair of leg members being normally urged about the pivot axis so as to engage said front plate.