Safety systems for vertically storing dock levelers
First Claim
1. A dock leveler safety system for use at a dock platform in a pit having a pit floor, the pit floor being at a lower elevation than the dock platform, the dock platform and the pit floor defining the pit, the dock leveler safety system comprising:
- a deck to pivot relative to the dock platform between an upright position and a lowered position, the deck extending farther over the pit floor when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the upright position; and
a sensor to monitor a sensed region within the pit when the deck is in the upright position, the sensor to provide a reaction signal in response to a body being detected within the sensed region prior to moving the deck toward the lowered position and without the deck having to approach the body, the deck to enter a state of restricted movement in response only to the reaction signal provided by the sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example dock leveler safety systems for vertically storing dock levelers are disclosed herein. An example dock leveler safety system disclosed herein may be used at a dock platform in a pit having a pit floor, where the pit floor is at a lower elevation than the dock platform and the dock platform and the pit floor define the pit. The dock leveler safety system comprises a deck to pivot relative to the dock platform between an upright position and a lowered position such that the deck extends farther over the pit floor when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the stored upright position. A sensor monitors a sensed region within the pit when the deck is in the upright position and the sensor provides a reaction signal in response to a body being detected within the sensed region. The deck enters a state of restricted movement in response to the reaction signal.
28 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A dock leveler safety system for use at a dock platform in a pit having a pit floor, the pit floor being at a lower elevation than the dock platform, the dock platform and the pit floor defining the pit, the dock leveler safety system comprising:
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a deck to pivot relative to the dock platform between an upright position and a lowered position, the deck extending farther over the pit floor when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the upright position; and a sensor to monitor a sensed region within the pit when the deck is in the upright position, the sensor to provide a reaction signal in response to a body being detected within the sensed region prior to moving the deck toward the lowered position and without the deck having to approach the body, the deck to enter a state of restricted movement in response only to the reaction signal provided by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A dock leveler safety system for use at a dock platform in a pit having a pit floor, the pit floor being at a lower elevation than the dock platform, the dock platform and the pit floor defining the pit, the dock leveler safety system comprising:
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a deck to pivot relative to the dock platform between an upright position and a lowered position, the deck extending farther over the pit floor when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the upright position; and a first sensor and a second sensor to monitor a sensed region within the pit when the deck is in the upright position, the at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor to provide independently a reaction signal in response to a body being detected by the at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor within the sensed region prior to moving the deck toward the lowered position, the deck to enter a state of restricted movement in response only to the reaction signal provided by the at least the first sensor or the sensor signal, wherein each of the first and second sensors comprises a body sensor mounted to a structure that remains substantially stationary relative to the dock platform as the deck moves between the upright position and the lowered position.
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20. A dock leveler safety system comprising:
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a dock platform; a pit floor being at a lower elevation than the dock platform, the dock platform and the pit floor defining a pit; a deck to pivot relative to the dock platform between a stored upright position and a lowered position, the deck extending farther into the pit and over the pit floor when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the stored upright position; and a sensor system having a sensed region within the pit when the deck is in the stored upright position, the sensed region covering substantially an entire area of the pit floor, the sensed region being stationary relative to the dock platform as the deck moves between the stored upright position and the lowered position, the sensor system providing a reaction signal in response to a body being detected within the sensed region, the sensor system to detect the body within the sensed region without the deck having to approach the body, the deck being in a state of restricted movement in response to the sensor system providing only the reaction signal indicative of a presence of the body in the sensed region while the deck is in the stored upright position. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A dock leveler safety system comprising:
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a dock platform; a pit floor being at a lower elevation than the dock platform, the dock platform and the pit floor defining a pit; a deck to pivot relative to the dock platform between a stored upright position and a lowered position, the deck extending farther into the pit when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the stored upright position, the deck extending farther over the pit floor when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the stored upright position; and a sensor system having a sensed region within the pit when the deck is in the stored upright position, an area defining the sensed region decreases as the deck moves from the stored upright position to the lowered position, solely the sensor system providing a reaction signal in response to a body being detected within the sensed region, the sensor system to sense the body without the deck having to approach the body and while the deck is in the upright position, the deck being in a state of restricted movement in response to the sensor system sensing the body in the sensed region and providing the reaction signal while the deck is in the stored upright position and prior to the deck moving toward the lowered position. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification