Dock Leveler With Spring Anchor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024409334-A1
Application number	US-202318332406-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2023
Priority date	Jun 9, 2023
Publication date	Dec 12, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dock leveler comprises a counterbalancing assembly comprising a spring and an anchor plate. The anchor plate spans a width of the spring to permit coupling of the counterbalancing assembly and a linkage system. The anchor plate comprises a first end portion wrapped around a first outer surface of a spring of the dock leveler to secure the anchor plate to the spring, a middle portion adjacent the first end portion, and a second end portion adjacent the middle portion, the second end portion wrapped around a second outer surface of the spring to secure the anchor plate to the spring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dock leveler comprising:
a counterbalancing assembly comprising a spring; and an anchor plate spanning a width of the spring to permit coupling of the counterbalancing assembly and a linkage system, the anchor plate comprising:
a first end portion wrapped around a first outer surface of a spring of the dock leveler to secure the anchor plate to the spring;
a middle portion adjacent the first end portion; and
a second end portion adjacent the middle portion, the second end portion wrapped around a second outer surface of the spring to secure the anchor plate to the spring.

2 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate and the spring forcibly secure themselves to one another.

3 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion has a first curved inner surface that extends greater than 90 degrees, but less than 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the first end portion.

4 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion has a first curved inner surface that extends equal to or greater than 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the first end portion.

5 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion has a second curved inner surface that extends greater than 90 degrees, but less than 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the second end portion.

6 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion has a second curved inner surface that extends equal to or greater than 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the second end portion.

7 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate is configured to couple to the linkage system through a hole defined in the middle portion.

8 . The dock leveler of claim 7 , wherein the hole is threaded and configured to receive a threaded connection member of the linkage system.

9 . The dock leveler of claim 8 , wherein a tension of the spring can be manipulated by rotating the threaded connection member in and out of the hole.

10 . A dock leveler comprising:
at least one spring having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to a face plate of the dock leveler; and at least one anchor plate spanning a width of the second end of the at least one spring to permit coupling of the at least one spring and a linkage system of the dock leveler, the at least one anchor plate comprising:
a first end portion wrapped around a first outer surface of the second end of the at least one spring to secure the at least one anchor plate to the at least one spring;
a middle portion adjacent the first end portion; and
a second end portion adjacent the middle portion, the second end portion wrapped around a second outer surface of the second end of the at least one spring to secure the at least one anchor plate to the at least one spring.

11 . The dock leveler of claim 10 , wherein the at least one anchor plate and the at least one spring forcibly secure themselves to one another, respectively.

12 . The dock leveler of claim 10 , wherein the first end portion has a first curved inner surface that extends greater than 90 degrees, but less than 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the first end portion.

13 . The dock leveler of claim 10 , wherein the first end portion has a first curved inner surface that extends equal to or greater than 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the first end portion.

14 . The dock leveler of claim 10 , wherein the second end portion has a second curved inner surface that extends greater than 90 degrees, but less than 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the second end portion.

15 . The dock leveler of claim 10 , wherein the second end portion has a second curved inner surface that extends equal to or greater than 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the second end portion.

16 . The dock leveler of claim 10 , wherein the at least one anchor plate is configured to couple to the linkage system through a hole defined in the middle portion.

17 . The dock leveler of claim 16 , wherein the hole is threaded and configured to receive a threaded connection member of the linkage system.

18 . The dock leveler of claim 17 , wherein a tension of the at least one spring can be manipulated by rotating the threaded connection member in and out of the hole.

19 . A spring anchor comprising:
an anchor plate configured to span a width of a spring of a dock leveler to permit coupling of a counterbalancing assembly and a linkage system of the dock leveler, the anchor plate comprising:
a first end portion configured to wrap around a first outer surface of a spring of the dock leveler to secure the anchor plate to the spring;
a middle portion adjacent the first end portion; and
a second end portion adjacent the middle portion, the second end portion configured to wrap around a second outer surface of the spring to secure the anchor plate to the spring.

20 . The spring anchor of claim 19 , wherein the anchor plate and the spring are configured to forcibly secure themselves to one another.

Assignees

• Overhead Door Corp

Inventors

• Kee Keith T

Classifications

• B65G69/2841 Primary

  extensible by pivoting parts · CPC title