IP Library › Granted Patent US 12709499
Granted Patent B2
US 12709499 · App. 18/332,564 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Dock leveler with leg bracket assembly

Inventors: Kirk E. Mellits (Fort Worth, TX); Vincent M. Maggio (Lewistown, PA); Girish Malligere (Frisco, TX); Ruiping Ouyang (Richardson, TX); Philip Sotak (Lewisville, TX)
Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
B65G69/2811
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12709499
App. No.
18/332,564
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dock leveler that fits within a loading dock. In some embodiments, the dock leveler may include a leg bracket assembly couplable to a back wall of the dock and a deck. The leg bracket assembly may include a deck hinge shaft. The deck may include a deck platform having a back end and a front end and a beam coupled to a bottom surface of the deck platform. The deck may include a C-shaped profile, a first end coupled to the bottom surface of the deck platform proximate to the back end, and a second end coupled to the bottom surface of the deck platform proximate to the front end. The first end of the beam may include an extension having a cutout shaped to fit around the deck hinge shaft

Claims (40)

1 . A dock leveler, comprising:

a leg;

a deck hinge bracket coupled to a top portion of the leg, wherein the deck hinge bracket comprises:

a rear plate couplable to a back wall of a dock;

a bottom plate coupled to the rear plate; and

a deck hinge shaft coupled to the bottom plate of the deck hinge bracket; and

wherein the bottom plate of the deck hinge bracket comprises a protrusion, the protrusion being positioned directly below the deck hinge shaft and extending upwardly from the deck hinge bracket toward the deck hinge shaft.

2 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends upwardly from a top surface of the bottom plate, and wherein the deck hinge shaft is coupled to a top surface of the protrusion.

3 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the deck hinge bracket further comprises a C-shaped bracket coupled to the rear plate and the bottom plate, wherein the deck hinge shaft is disposed within the C-shaped bracket.

4 . The dock leveler of claim 3 , wherein the deck hinge shaft is coupled to the C-shaped bracket.

5 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein the rear plate of the deck hinge bracket comprises a weld point.

6 . The dock leveler of claim 1 , wherein an adjustment bracket is coupled to a bottom portion of the leg.

7 . The dock leveler of claim 6 , wherein a support plate is coupled to the leg at least partially between the adjustment bracket and the deck hinge bracket.

8 . A dock leveler for a loading dock, comprising:

a leg bracket assembly, comprising:

a leg;

a deck hinge bracket coupled to a top portion of the leg, wherein the deck hinge bracket comprises:

a rear plate couplable to a back wall of the loading dock;

a bottom plate coupled to the rear plate;

a deck hinge shaft coupled to the bottom plate of the deck hinge bracket; and

a deck rotatably coupled to the deck hinge shaft; and

wherein the bottom plate of the deck hinge bracket comprises a protrusion, the protrusion being positioned directly below the deck hinge shaft and extending upwardly from the deck hinge bracket toward the deck hinge shaft.

9 . The dock leveler of claim 8 , wherein the protrusion extends upwardly from a top surface of the bottom plate, and wherein the deck hinge shaft contacts a top surface of the protrusion.

10 . The dock leveler of claim 8 , wherein the deck hinge bracket further comprises a C-shaped bracket coupled to the rear plate and the bottom plate, wherein the deck hinge shaft is disposed within the C-shaped bracket.

11 . The dock leveler of claim 10 , wherein the deck hinge shaft is coupled to the C-shaped bracket.

12 . The dock leveler of claim 8 , wherein the rear plate of the deck hinge bracket comprises a weld point.

13 . The dock leveler of claim 8 , wherein the back wall of the loading dock comprises a curb angle, and wherein the rear plate of the deck hinge bracket is coupled to the curb angle.

14 . A dock leveler for a loading dock, comprising:

a leg bracket assembly, comprising:

a leg;

a deck hinge bracket coupled to a top portion of the leg and a back wall of the loading dock;

a deck hinge shaft coupled to the deck hinge bracket such that the deck hinge shaft is proximate the back wall of the loading dock; and

a deck rotatably coupled to the deck hinge shaft such that a back end of the deck is proximate a top edge of the back wall of the loading dock; and

wherein a bottom plate of the deck hinge bracket comprises a protrusion, the protrusion being positioned directly below the deck hinge shaft and extending upwardly from the deck hinge bracket toward the deck hinge shaft.

15 . The dock leveler of claim 14 , wherein the deck hinge bracket comprises a rear plate and a bottom plate coupled to the rear plate, and wherein the deck hinge shaft is coupled to the bottom plate.

16 . The dock leveler of claim 15 , wherein the protrusion extends upwardly from a top surface of the bottom plate, and wherein the deck hinge shaft contacts a top surface of the protrusion.

17 . The dock leveler of claim 14 , wherein the deck hinge bracket further comprises a C-shaped bracket coupled to the deck hinge bracket, wherein the deck hinge shaft is disposed within the C-shaped bracket.

18 . The dock leveler of claim 17 , wherein the deck hinge shaft is coupled to the C-shaped bracket.

19 . The dock leveler of claim 14 , wherein the deck hinge bracket comprises a weld point.

20 . The dock leveler of claim 14 , wherein the back wall of the loading dock comprises a curb angle, and wherein a rear plate of the deck hinge bracket is coupled to the curb angle.