Patent ID: 6330751
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: B25H

Abstract:
A dock leveler apparatus, comprising:a base member, wherein said base member includes a top wall, a pair of opposed ends and a planar base bottom surface,a ruler member connected to said base member, said ruler member having a first end and a second, remotely opposed end, said ruler member first end being connected to said base member planar base bottom surface proximal to one of said opposed ends of said base member, wherein said ruler member includes a first planar ruler edge and a second planar ruler edge extending parallel to said planar ruler first edge and spaced a predetermined distance from said planar ruler first edge, wherein said ruler member includes a plurality of measurement indicia along its length between said planar ruler first edge and said planar ruler second edge, anda handle attached to said top wall of said base member,wherein said apparatus further includes a pivot assembly interconnected between said ruler member and said base member, said pivot assembly comprising a pivot pin support member and a pivot pin, said pivot pin support member extending downwardly from said base member planar bottom surface proximal to one of said opposed ends of said base member, said pivot pin extending through said ruler member and said pivot pin support member to define a pivot axis located below said bottom surface of said base member, said ruler member being adapted to be rotatable about said pivot axis from a first operative position wherein said ruler first edge and said ruler second edge are oriented perpendicular to said base member planar bottom surface with said ruler member second edge being in alignment with said one of said opposed ends of said base member, and to a second inoperative position wherein said ruler member first edge and said ruler member second edge are oriented parallel to said base member planar bottom surface, said predetermined distance between said ruler member first end and said ruler member second end being greater than the longitudinal distance between said pair of opposed ends of said base member such that said ruler member second end extends beyond the other opposed end of said base member when said ruler member is in said second inoperative position,wherein said pivot pin support member includes a first pivot pin reception aperture,a second pivot pin reception aperture being provided in said ruler member first end, anda pivot pin member received in said first pivot pin reception aperture and said second pivot pin reception aperture when said first pivot pin reception aperture and said second pivot pin reception aperture are placed in registration, andwherein at said base member and said handle member are of material less dense than water such that said apparatus is floatable in water when said ruler member is either in said operative position or said inoperative position.