Vertically storing dock leveler

• US 5,396,676 A
• Filed: 11/19/1992
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3894576 Canada, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Serco Limited (Serco Group PLC)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Vincent, Alexander, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULCARE, NANCY C
• Application Number:
  US07/978,725
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 14/69.5-71.5, 52/172-173 DS, 49/475
• US Class Current: 14/71.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/2876 Safety or protection means, e.g. skirts

Abstract

A seal for a vertically storing dock leveler employs a foam pad connected to the underside of the deck. As the leveler is lowered, the pad contacts the shelf on to which the leveler is mounted and deflects inward and compresses to seal the space between the underside of the leveler and the shelf. The pad is a tapered foam with a fabric covering.

Claims

1. A seal mountable on a vertically storing dock leveler at an underside of the outward end of a deck thereof along the width of said deck, the vertically storing sock leveler having a horizontal operative position above a floor said seal comprising;

a pad member having a widthwise length sufficient to close a space existing between said deck and a floor when said vertically storing dock leveler is horizontal but allowing said seal separate from the floor when said dock leveler is raised, said pad member covered with a wear resistant material, means for attaching said pad member rigidly to said underside of said deck whereby said pad member projects from the underside of said deck and a rigid strip mountable adjacent said pad member to anchor said pad member to said deck.

2. The seal of claim 1, wherein said wear resistant material comprises a fabric enclosing said pad member, said fabric having at least one end portion formed with a pocket, said rigid strip insertable into said pocket.

3. A seal mountable on a vertically storing dock leveler at an underside of the outward end of a deck thereof along the width of said deck, the vertically storing dock leveler having a horizontal operative position above a floor said seal comprising;

a pad member having a widthwise length to close a space between said deck and a floor when said vertically storing dock leveler is horizontal but allowing said seal separate from the floor when said dock leveler is raised, said pad member covered with a wear resistant material, said pad member being tapered having a base portion wider than a tip portion, said tip portion having a flat surface to contact said floor, and means for attaching said pad member rigidly to said underside of a deck whereby said pad member projects from the underside of a deck when mounted.

4. The seal of claim 3, wherein said wear resistant material covers said pad member, said wear resistant material comprising a fabric having end portions formed to provide a pair of anchoring strips extending substantially the length of said pad member and, a plurality of anchors passing through said strips to fixedly secure said seal to the underside of said deck.

5. The seal of claim 4, wherein each of said pair of anchoring strips are formed with pockets, rigid members inserted into said pockets.