Patent ID: 7213285
Filing Date: 2007-05-08
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A dock leveler comprising: a deck that is movable between a raised position and a cross-traffic position; a lip defining a slot and being coupled to the deck such that the lip is pivotal between an extended operative position and a pendant position; a deck-hinge member attached to the deck; a lip-hinge member that includes a lip-facing surface; a hinge pin pivotally coupling the deck-hinge member to the lip-hinge member; and a fastener that comprises a shank and a head disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the fastener, wherein the fastener extends from the lip-hinge member into the slot, such that a head of the fastener is disposed within the slot to connect the lip to the lip-hinge member such that the fastener and the slot permit relative sliding motion between the lip and the lip-hinge member, and the fastener's longitudinal centerline is tilted out of perpendicularity to the lip-facing surface, such that the fastener head is closer to the hinge pin than it would be were the longitudinal centerline perpendicular to the lip-facing surface.