Vertically-storing dock leveler apparatus and method

Abstract

A dock leveler for bridging the gap between a loading dock and the bed of a vehicle parked at the loading dock. The dock leveler is configured for installation on the top of the dock and is designed to rotate from a vertically-stored raised position to at least one lowered, operative position. In some embodiments, the dock leveler can be lowered either for normal operation so that the deck rests on the bed of the vehicle or it can be lowered to accommodate an end-loading condition.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A dock leveler, comprising: 
 (a) base means for securing the dock leveler to a top surface of a dock; and,    (b) vertically-storing means for bridging the gap between a dock and a vehicle parked at a dock; and,    (c) a means for pivotally attaching the vertically-storing means to the base means.    
   
   
       16 . A dock leveler according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for pivotally attaching comprises a shaft and a pivot shaft engagement mechanism configured to receive the shaft, wherein the pivot shaft engagement mechanism is attached to or integral with the base means, and the shaft is attached to or integral with the vertically-storing means.  
   
   
       17 . A dock leveler according to  claim 16 , wherein the base assembly has a forward end and a rear end, the forward end being closer to a vehicle backed against a dock when the dock leveler is installed, and wherein the shaft and pivot shaft engagement mechanism together form a moveable pivot axis, and further wherein moveable pivot axis is moveable from a first position toward the forward end of the base assembly to a second position closer to the rear end of the base assembly.  
   
   
       18 . A dock leveler according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the base means comprises a base plate assembly and a ramp assembly, the ramp assembly is optionally moveably attached to the base plate assembly;    the dock leveler has a length measured from the rear end of the base plate assembly to the forward end of the means for bridging; and,    wherein the dock leveler further comprises a means for varying the length of the dock leveler.    
   
   
       19 . A dock leveler according to  claim 18 , wherein the length-varying means is a lip assembly pivotally attached to the means for bridging.  
   
   
       20 . A dock leveler according to  claim 18 , wherein the length-varying means is a means for shifting the pivotally-attaching means from a first position to a second position.  
   
   
       21 . A method for bridging the gap between a dock and a vehicle parked at a dock, comprising: operating a vertically-storing, top-of-dock leveler by moving the top-of-dock leveler between a vertically-stored and a lowered operative position.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the dock leveler comprises a base assembly and a vertically-storing deck assembly pivotally attached at a pivot axis to the base assembly, the deck assembly having a vertically-stored position and at least one lowered operative position, wherein moving the top-of-dock leveler comprises pivoting the deck assembly from the vertically-stored position to the at least one operative position.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein, 
 either the base assembly is configured to permit the pivot axis to shift from a first position to a second position resulting in the deck assembly shifting from a first position wherein moving the deck assembly to the at least one operative position results in the deck assembly resting on a vehicle backed against a loading dock to a second position wherein moving the deck assembly to the at least one operative position results in the deck assembly not resting on a vehicle backed against a loading dock to accommodate an end-loading condition;    or the dock leveler further comprises a lip assembly pivotally connected to the deck assembly, which lip assembly is configured to rotate between an extended position for resting on a vehicle backed against a loading dock and a pendant position for end-loading.