Abstract:
A dock leveler frame includes a pit supported portion; a deck supporting portion configured to provide support to a deck portion of the dock leveler; and a fastener configured to contact corresponding structure on the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion, the corresponding structure configured to allow the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion to be fastened to each other via the fastener at multiple positions with respect to each other. A method of configuring a dock leveler frame to install a dock leveler in a pit and have a level deck without the use of shims includes: providing a pit supported portion of a dock lever frame; placing a deck supporting portion of the frame is a desired position with respect to the pit supported portion; and fastening the pit supported portion to the deck supporting portion with a fastener inserted into a hole and a slot.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to leveling systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system to level a dock leveler. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Dock levelers are used in warehouses to provide a bridge between the floor of the warehouse and a motor vehicle such as a semitrailer. In a typical application the vehicle is backed up to a warehouse for loading or unloading. At least two problems exist in providing a bridge between the bed of the truck and the loading dock. 
         [0003]    One problem is that the trailer bed may be of a different height than the floor of the loading dock. The second problem is that there is a gap between the end of the trailer bed and the floor of the loading dock. To solve both of these problems, dock levelers are used. 
         [0004]    The dock leveler can be raised or lowered to the level of the vehicle bed. A portion of the dock leveler, typically the lip, is inserted in the vehicle and rests the bed of the vehicle to provide a bridge between the bed of the vehicle and the loading dock. 
         [0005]    One type of dock leveler, sometimes referred to as a pit leveler, is located in a pit that is sunken below the surface of the floor of the loading dock. When the dock leveler is mounted into a pit, a deck portion of the dock leveler is typically stored at a location that is level with the surrounding loading dock floor. Because of the desirability of having the dock leveler deck stored level with the loading dock floor, installation of the dock leveler into a pit should account for variances often associated with manufacturing tolerances in the dock leveler and/or in the depth of the pit. 
         [0006]    Often, when installing dock levelers into pits, a dock leveler frame is placed on the floor of the pit and then the dock leveler frame is shimmed at various places in order to ensure that the deck of the dock leveler is level with the surrounding dock floor when the deck is in a stored position. 
         [0007]    Shimming the frame when installing a dock leveler is one way to address the problem of ensuring that the dock leveler deck is level with the surrounding dock floor in view of variances of pit floor depth associated with different pits and manufacturing tolerances of the dock leveler itself. However, installing shims beneath the frame of a dock leveler to level the leveler can time and labor intensive. In addition, it is often imprecise. 
         [0008]    For example, when an installer installs a dock leveler, the installer must bring many shims of various thickness to in order to be prepared to attempt to level a dock lever under a wide range of variances in pit depth and dock leveler height. 
         [0009]    An additional problem in using shims to level a dock leveler is that shims are of a discrete thickness. As such, there is a limitation as to how level a dock leveler deck can be with the surrounding dock floor. In some situations, a dock leveler deck can be slightly below the level of the surrounding dock floor, however, adding even the thinnest shim, can put the dock leveler deck slightly above the level of the surrounding dock floor. Thus, shims can be limited in how level they can make a dock leveler deck with the surrounding dock floor. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus to install a dock leveler into a pit and to provide for a way to level the deck of the dock leveler when the deck is in a stored position to be level with the surrounding warehouse floor in a simple, efficient and more precise manner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus and method is provided that in some embodiments provide a way to level the deck of a dock leveler installed in a pit in a simple, efficient and more precise manner. 
         [0012]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a dock leveler frame is provided. The dock leveler frame includes a pit supported portion; a deck supporting portion configured to provide support to a deck portion of the dock leveler; and a fastener configured to contact corresponding structure on the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion, the corresponding structure configured to allow the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion to be fastened to each other via the fastener at multiple positions with respect to each other. 
         [0013]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a dock leveler frame is provided. The dock leveler frame includes: a pit supported portion; a deck supporting portion configured to provide support to a deck portion of the dock leveler; and means for connecting the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion, the means for connecting configured to allow the pit supported portion and deck supporting portion to be connected to each other at multiple positions with respect to each other. 
         [0014]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of configuring a dock leveler frame to install a dock leveler in a pit and have a level deck without the use of shims is provided. The method includes: providing a pit supported portion of a dock lever frame; placing a deck supporting portion of the frame in a desired position with respect to the pit supported portion; and fastening the pit supported portion to the deck supporting portion with a fastener inserted in to a hole and a slot. 
         [0015]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0016]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0017]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dock leveler installed at a loading dock in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the portion indicated by detail “A” in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a dock leveler frame in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the dock leveler frame in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a portion of the dock leveler frame illustrating a range of motion that a portion of the frame can achieve with respect to a longitudinal frame member. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a deck supporting portion of a dock leveler frame in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the deck supporting portion shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a deck supporting portion of a dock leveler frame in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a deck supporting portion in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame including the deck supporting portion of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame including the deck supporting portion of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame including the deck supporting portion of  FIGS. 7-8 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is an illustration of a deck supporting portion and a pit supported portion of a dock leveler frame. The deck supporting portion is illustrated at extreme high and extreme low positions with respect to the base portion in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the portion of the dock leveler frame illustrated in  FIG. 14  and illustrates an extreme high and extreme low position of the deck supporting portion with respect to the base portion of the dock leveler frame. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the portion of the dock leveler frame illustrated in  FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  17 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is an assembled perspective view of the portion of the dock leveler frame illustrated in  FIGS. 14-16 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a portion of a dock leveler frame in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is a perspective rear view of the dock leveler frame shown in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the portion of the dock leveler frame shown in  FIG. 18  with the deck supporting portion at an extreme low with respect to the pit supported portion of the frame. 
           [0038]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the portion of the dock leveler frame shown in  FIG. 19  with the deck supporting portion at an extreme low with respect to the connection portion of the frame. 
           [0039]      FIG. 22  is a cross section side view of a deck supporting portion of a dock leveler frame attached to a pit supported portion of a dock leveler frame where the deck supporting portion is at a lowered position with respect to the pit supported portion. 
           [0040]      FIG. 23  is a cross section side view of a deck supporting portion of a dock leveler frame attached to a pit supported portion of a dock leveler frame where the deck supporting portion is at a raised position with respect to the pit supported portion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. In  FIG. 1  a loading dock  1  having a dock floor  2  is shown. A dock leveler  3  is installed in a pit  4  in the floor  2  of the loading dock  1 . The dock lever  3  includes a deck  5 , a lip  6  and a frame  10 . The deck  5  and lip  6  are drawn in a see through manner to show more detail.  FIG. 2  is an enlarged drawing of a portion of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  shows the lip  6  (also drawn in a see-through manner) having a lower end  7  resting in a lip keeper  24 .  FIG. 2  also shows portions of the frame  10  rest on the pit floor  9 . In some embodiments of the invention, and as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lip  6 , when supported by the lip keeper  24 , supports the free end  8  of the deck  5 . 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a dock leveler  3  frame  10  is shown with the deck  5  and lip  6  removed. The dock leveler frame  10  has a front portion  12  of the frame  10 . The front portion  12  of the frame  10  is the portion of the frame  10  located at the end of the dock leveler  3  where a truck or other vehicle will approach to be on or offloaded. A rear portion  14  of the frame  10  is the portion of the frame  10  that the deck  5  is pivotally attached. In the rear portion  14  of the frame  10 , a shimless leveling system  16  is illustrated for allowing adjustment and leveling of the rear portion  14  of the frame  10  as shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/347,206, hereby included by reference in its entirety. 
         [0043]    The leveling system  16  also includes adjustment heads  18 , which provide a way for a tool to attach to the adjustment system  16  and twist the adjustment heads  18  to level the rear portion  14  of the dock leveler frame  10  as described in the aforementioned patent application. 
         [0044]    The front portion  12  of the dock leveler frame  10  is attached to the rear portion  14  of the dock leveler frame  10  by longitudinal frame members  20 . The longitudinal frame members  20  terminate at their front ends with a dock leveler leveling system  23 . 
         [0045]    The dock leveler leveling system  23  includes a pit supported portion  21  and a deck supporting portion  22 . The pit supported portion  21  is supported by the pit floor  9 . In some embodiments, the pit supported portion  21  includes the end of longitudinal frame members  20  and a hole  31  (see  FIG. 4  for example) in the longitudinal frame member  20 . In other embodiments of the invention, the pit supported portion  21  includes other parts of the frame  10 . The deck supporting portion  22  supplies structural support to the free end  8  of the deck  5  (see  FIG. 1 ). In accordance with the invention, the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting portion  22  of the frame  10  can move with respect to each other during the installation of the dock leveler  3  before being fixed to each other. 
         [0046]    In some embodiments of the invention, the deck supporting portion  22  includes a lip keeper  24 . The lip keeper  24  will support the deck  5  of the dock leveler  3  when the lip  6  is in a retracted position and placed in the lip keeper  24 . In some embodiments of the invention, the pit supported portion  21  includes a perpendicular member  26 . The perpendicular member  26  is attached to the U-shaped shoe  28  and is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal frame members  20 . In other embodiments of the invention as shown in  FIGS. 14-17 , the deck supporting portion  22  supports the deck by supporting support legs mounted to the deck as described in more detail below. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a leveling system  23 , similar to the leveling system shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the leveling system  23 . The following description will be relevant to  FIGS. 3-6 . The deck leveling system  23  also includes a U-shaped shoe  28 . The U-shaped shoe  28  is attached to the perpendicular member  26 . The U-shaped shoe  28  is configured to receive longitudinal frame member  20  in the hollow portion of the U-shaped shoe  28 . 
         [0048]    In order to provide adjustment between the relative position of the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting portion  22 , a slot  30  is provided in the U-shaped shoe  28 . A hole  31  is provided in the longitudinal frame member  20  (sometimes referred to as a longitudinal beam  20 ). The U-shaped shoe  28  and the longitudinal beam  20  are aligned so that a fastener such as a bolt  34  is placed in the slot  30  in the U-shaped shoe  28  and hole  31  of the longitudinal beam  20  as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 . 
         [0049]    The hole  31  in the beam  20  is dimensioned to not provide much room for the bolt  34  to move radially within it. However, the slot  30  does provide allowance for relative movement between the bolt  34  and slot  30 . 
         [0050]    The fastener system  32  includes a bolt  34 , a nut  36  (see  FIG. 6 ) and one or more washers  37 . Once the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting position  22  are in a desired location relative to one another, the fastener system  32  is tightened to avoid movement between the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting position  22 . Once the fastener system  32  has tightened, the two frame portions  21  and  22  can be fixed relative to each other using any suitable method. In some embodiments welding the pit supported portion  21  to the supporting portion  22  is done to fix the two portions to each other. 
         [0051]    In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the longitudinal frame member  20  can optionally be welded to the U-shaped shoe  28 . The welding is done in embodiments where it is anticipated that during the operation of the dock leveler more stress will be placed on the connection between the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting portion  22  then can be resisted by the fastener system  32 . Thus, in some embodiments, the fastener system  32  provides a method for fastening the pit supported portion  21  to the deck supporting portion  22  long enough (such as during installation of the dock leveler) for a more sure method of attaching the pit supported portion  21  to the deck supporting portion  22  together. 
         [0052]    In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the lip keeper  24  is positioned at a different place than the substantially centered position as identified in  FIG. 3 . For example,  FIG. 4  illustrates a lip keeper  24  attached to a lip keeper plate  38  at a position below the longitudinal frame members  20 . In some embodiments of the invention, the lip keeper  24  and the lip keeper plate  28  will be located outside of the pit and thus able to extend to positions below the pit floor  9 . It is anticipated that one skilled in the art, after reviewing this disclosure, will be able to select a lip keeper plate  28  and a lip keeper  24  dimensioned to provide the lip keeper  24  at a desired location. 
         [0053]      FIG. 5  illustrates the extreme positions that the deck supporting portion  22  can be with respect to the pit supported portion  21 . As shown in dashed lines, the U-shaped shoe  28  and the perpendicular member  26  are in extreme low positions where the fastener  32  is located at a top portion of the slot  30 . As shown in solid lines, the U-shaped system shoe  28  and the perpendicular member  26  are shown in extreme upper position where the fastener system  32  is shown in a bottom portion of the slot  30 . The drawing of  FIG. 5  shows the two extreme relative positions of the U-shaped shoe  28  and the longitudinal frame member  20 . In some embodiments of the invention, and as shown in  FIG. 5 , once the dock leveler is installed, the U-shaped shoe  28  rests on the pit floor  9 . 
         [0054]    In some embodiments of the invention, the dock leveler  3  is installed in the following way. The dock leveler  3  is lifted by a crane, hoist, or other suitable apparatus to a position in the pit  4  where the deck  5  is level with the surrounding dock floor  2  and the lip  6  is supported by the lip keepers  24 . In some embodiments of the invention, the dock leveler  3  may be equipped with contact points to provide attachment points to facilitate the dock leveler  3  being suspended by a crane or hoist. 
         [0055]    Initially the U-shaped shoe  28  and perpendicular member  26  are in a raised position (as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 5 ). When the deck  5  is level with the surrounding dock floor  2 , the fastening system  32  is loosened and allows the U-shaped shoe  28  and perpendicular member  26  to drop or be moved to a lowered position and contact the pit floor  9 . Once the U-shaped shoe  28  and perpendicular member  26  are in contact with the pit floor  9 , the fastening system  32  is tightened. The dock leveler  3  is released from the crane or hoist and the dock leveler  3  remains in position, with some of its weight being supported by the U-shaped shoe  28  and the perpendicular member  26 . In many embodiments, the U-shaped shoe  28  is welded to the longitudinal member  20  once a desired relative position between the U-shaped shoe  28  and the longitudinal member  20  has been identified as mentioned above. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments of the invention, the longitudinal frame member  20  does not necessarily contact the pit floor  9  when the dock leveler  3  is installed into the pit  4 . 
         [0056]    Other methods of installing the dock leveler  3  can also be employed. For example, the dock leveler  3  can be placed into the pit  4 . The fastener system  32  may be loosened, and the deck  5  may be raised using any suitable means (for example, using manual means such as levers or using mechanical means) to a position level with the surrounding dock floor  2 . The deck supporting portion  22  is moved with respect to the pit supported portion  21  to where the deck supporting portion  22  supports the deck  5  in a position level with the surrounding dock floor  2 . The fastening system  32  is then tightened to keep the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting portion  22  from moving relative to each other. The pit supported portion  21  and deck supporting portion  22  may then be welded or otherwise fixed to each other. 
         [0057]    In short, there are at least two primary ways of installing a dock leveler in accordance with the invention. Either starting with a deck  5  level with the surrounding dock floor  2  and adjusting the pit supported portion  21  to rest on the dock floor, or start with the pit supported portion  21  resting on the pit floor  9  and adjusting the deck  5  and deck supporting portion  22  to move cause the deck  5  to be level with the surrounding dock floor  2 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 7-13  show alternative embodiments of the invention having a lip keeper  24  integrated with a lip keeper frame  42 . The lip keeper frame  24  includes slots  30 . 
         [0059]    In some embodiments of the invention, the lip keeper frame  42  further includes a notch  44  that fits into a corresponding notch  46  in a perpendicular member  26  as shown in  FIGS. 11-13 . In  FIGS. 7-13 , the lip keeper  24  may be of various geometry, which in some embodiments as shown in  FIG. 9 , may include a hook  40 . The hook  40  helps to hold a plate  41  welded to the hook  40  as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0060]    One feature of the embodiments shown in  FIG. 7-13  is that by having two slots  30  with two fastening systems  32 , the lip keeper frame  42  can be skewed right and left for providing a desirable orientation by moving the fastening systems  32  in slightly different positions in the slots  30  as explained in more reference to  FIGS. 11-13 . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 11-13  illustrate another embodiment of the invention where the deck supporting portion  22  includes a lip keeper frame  42  similar to those shown in  FIGS. 7-10 . The lip keeper frame  42  has a slot  44 , which is inserted to a corresponding lip keeper receiving slot  46  located on the perpendicular member  26 . The pit supported portion  21  includes a longitudinal frame member  20 . The lip keeper frame  42  connects to the longitudinal frame member  20  with two fastener systems  32 . The fastener systems  32  include a bolt  34 , a nut  36  and one or more washers  37 . The bolts  34  are inserted through the slots  30  in the lip keeper frame  42  and holes  31  (See  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) located in the longitudinal frame members  20 . 
         [0062]    The pit supported portion  21  and the lip keeper frame  42  are adjusted relative to each other along the slots  30  until they achieve a desired position with respect to each other. Then the bolts  34  and the nuts  36  are tightened in order to hold the lip keeper frame  42  snug to the longitudinal frame member  20  until the lip keeper frame  42  can be welded or otherwise fixed to the longitudinal frame member  20 . 
         [0063]    In some cases, the pit floor  9  may be slanted from back to front. The deck  5  of the dock leveler  3  (see  FIG. 1 ) can be kept level with respect to the dock floor  2  by compensating for the slope of the pit floor  9 . The slope of the pit floor  9  can be compensated for by adjusting the attitude of the lip keeper frame  42 . The pit supported portion  21  can be adjusted by being twisted with respect to the lip keeper frame  42  to cause the pit supported portion  21  to point slightly up or down before tightening the fastener system  32 . 
         [0064]    In instances where the dock floor  9  is sloped from right to left or vise versa, this slope may be compensated for by having the one pit supported portion  21  to be adjusted higher or lower that the opposite pit supported portion  21  mounted to the same frame  10 . In this manner the deck  5  may be made level with the surrounding dock floor  2 . 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , the lip keeper frame  42  is fastened to the longitudinal members  20 . As described with respect to other embodiments, the bolts  34  are inserted through the slots  30  in the lip keeper frame  42  through holes  31  in the longitudinal frame members  20  allowing the lip keeper frame  42  to be attached to the longitudinal frame member  20 . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 14-17  illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In the embodiments shown  FIGS. 14-17 , the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting portion  22  are moved relative to each other until the pit supported portion  21  contacts the pit floor  9  and the deck  5  is level with the surrounding dock floor  2  (see  FIG. 1 ). Once in place, the pit supported portion  21  supports the deck supporting portion  22 . 
         [0067]      FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate an extreme high and low position that the deck supporting portion  22  can achieve with respect to the pit supported portion  21 . In  FIGS. 14 and 15 , relative positions of the deck supporting portion  22  with respect to the pit supported portion  21  are shown. The deck supporting portion  22  is shown in the extreme low position with solid lines and in an extreme high position with broken lines. 
         [0068]    In some embodiments of the invention using the apparatus as shown in  FIGS. 14-17 , the dock leveler  3  (see  FIG. 1 ) is installed into a pit  4  as follows. The dock leveler  3  is suspended from a hoist, crane or other suitable apparatus and positioned so the deck  5  is level with the surrounding dock floor  2 . The bolts  34  are loosened and the pit supported portion  21  is lowered to the pit floor  9 . The fastening system  32  is then tightened and the deck supporting portion  22  and the pit supported portion  21  are wielded together. 
         [0069]    Other methods of installing the dock leveler  3  can also be employed. For example, the dock leveler  3  can be placed into the pit  4 . The fastener system  32  may be loosened, and the deck  5  may be raised using any suitable means (for example, using manual means such as levers or using mechanical means) to a position level with the surrounding dock floor  2 . The deck supporting portion  22  is moved with respect to the pit supported portion  21  to where the deck supporting portion  22  supports the deck  5  in a position level with the surrounding dock floor  2 . The fastening system  32  is then tightened to keep the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting portion  22  from moving relative to each other. The pit supported portion  21  and deck supporting portion  22  may then be welded or otherwise fixed to each other. 
         [0070]      FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the pit supported portion  21 , the deck supporting portion  22  and the fastener system  32 . Similar to the embodiments already described, the fastener system  32  includes a bolt  34  with washers  37 . The bolt  34  is inserted into the slots  30  and also into the fastener holes  50  located in the deck supporting portion  22 . In some embodiments of the invention, the fastener holes  50  are threaded to allow the bolts  34  to attach to the deck supporting portion  22 . In other embodiments of the invention, the bolts  34  pass through the holes  50  and nuts attach to the bolts  34 . 
         [0071]    The pit supported portion  21  can be moved as dictated by the geometry of the slots  30  until the pit supported portion  21  achieves a desired position with respect to the deck supporting portion  22 . In most embodiments a desired position is when the pit supported portion  21  is resting on the pit floor  9  and the deck  5  is level with the surrounding dock floor  2 . Then the fastener system  32  is tightened and the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting portion are fixed to each other. 
         [0072]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14-17 , the pit supported portion  21  sits on the pit floor  9  and may be attached to longitudinal frame members  20  in any suitable manner. In  FIG. 17  an angle  20  is the longitudinal frame member  20  is shown welded to a support plate  47  of the deck pit supported portion  21 . 
         [0073]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14-17  the deck supporting portion  22  includes a support saddle  48 . The support saddle  48  is configured to support legs attached to the bottom of a dock leveler deck. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,686, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a support leg system using a support leg support system  48  similar to that shown in  FIGS. 14-15 . 
         [0074]    The support leg may be retracted via a camming surface  52 , which in some embodiments of the invention, is part of the deck supporting portion  22 . A support leg ramp  54  may also be included as part of deck supporting portion  22  which aids in allowing a support leg to be retracted when the dock leveler deck  5  is in a below dock position as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,686. 
         [0075]      FIG. 17  illustrates the pit supported portion  21  and the deck supporting portion  22  in an exemplary final position where the fastener system  32  is tightened and the pit supported portion  21  has been welded to the deck supporting portion  22 . 
         [0076]    In some embodiments of the invention, a dock leveler will have two (or in some embodiments more) sets of deck supporting portions  22  of the frame  10  and pit supported portions  21  of the frame  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . One deck supporting portion  22  and one pit supported portion  21  is located on each side of the frame  10 . In some embodiments of the invention, each longitudinal frame member  20  will be terminated with a corresponding pit supported portion  21  and deck supporting portion  22  with the frame  10 . 
         [0077]    In embodiments in accordance with the invention, having a support leg retracting system, each of the deck supporting portions  22  may include the camming surface  52  and support leg ramp  54  as shown in  FIGS. 14-17 . Although an example of the leveling system is shown using a dock leveler, it will be appreciated that other items can be leveled using the described system. 
         [0078]      FIGS. 18-23  illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 18 , a dock leveler frame  200  is located in a pit  201  having a floor,  202 . The frame  200  includes longitudinal beams  204  which connect to a rear portion of the dock leveler frame  200  and a pivoting deck assembly (not shown in  FIG. 18 ). 
         [0079]    The longitudinal beams  204  connect to a cross angle  206 . The cross angle  206  can be considered to be a pit supported portion or at least part of a pit supported portion of the dock leveler frame  200 . In some embodiments of the invention, the cross angle  206  is secured to the pit floor  202 . 
         [0080]    As shown in  FIG. 22 , an embedded angle  232  may be embedded into the concrete  234  at one end of the pit floor  202 . The embedded angle  232 , may be sunk into the concrete  234  sufficiently so that the angle  232  and the pit floor  202  are substantially a contiguous surface as shown in  FIG. 22 . In some embodiments of the invention, the cross angle  206  is fixed to the embedded angle  232 . The fixing of the cross angle  206  to the embedded angle  232  can be done by welding, bolting or any other suitable way. 
         [0081]    A doubler  208  is adjustably attached to the cross angle  206  with a fastener system  210 . The doubler  208  may be made of folded steel as shown in  FIGS. 18-22 , be comprised of several parts, or be made in any suitable matter. The doubler  208  supports, and is connected to, lip keepers  212 . The lip keepers  212  support the lip which in turn supports the free end of the dock leveler deck when the lip is in a pendant position and engaged with the lip keepers  212 . The doubler  208  can be considered the deck supporting, or at least part of the deck supporting portion, of the dock leveler frame  200 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 19  shows the back side of the view shown in  FIG. 18 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , stop blocks  214  are mounted to the cross angle  206 . The stop blocks  214  are used to support the deck of the dock leveler under certain conditions. The stop blocks  214  are supported by stop block legs  215 . The stop block legs  215  are fastened to the doubler  208 . The stop block legs  215  may be fastened to the doubler  208  by welding, bolts, or any suitable means of fastening. 
         [0083]    Support blocks  216  are mounted to the cross angle  206 . The support blocks  216  provide support to the stop block legs  215  by providing a surface for the stop block legs to  215  to be secured to. For example, the stop block legs  215  may be wielded, bolted or otherwise secured (by any suitable means) to the support blocks  216 . 
         [0084]    When a dock leveler in accordance with the invention and as shown in  FIGS. 18-23  is installed, the cross angle  206  is installed and may be secured to the embedded angle  232  (see  FIG. 22 ). The doubler  208  is fit over the cross angle  206  as shown in  FIGS. 18-23 . The cross angle  206  and doubler  208  are moved with respect to each other until the cross angle  206  contacts the pit floor  202  or embedded angle  232  and the lip keepers  212  will support the lip when stored in the lip keepers  212  at a height to cause the deck to be level with the surrounding dock floor. 
         [0085]    In many embodiments of the invention, a desired position is one where: when the deck is in a stored position (a position where the front of the deck is supported, at least in part, by the deck supporting portion of the dock leveler frame  200 ), the deck is level with the surrounding dock floor. If need be, the cross angle  206  can be canted to make either the right or left side higher than the other side in order to make the cross angle  206  lay flat on the dock floor  202  or embedded angle  323 . 
         [0086]    Once the cross angle  206  is in a desired position, the doubler  208  is secured to the cross angle  206  by the fastening system  210 .  FIGS. 18 and 19  show the doubler  208  in a raised position with respect to the cross angle  206 .  FIGS. 20 and 21  show the doubler  208  in an extreme low position with respect to the cross angle  206 . Once the doubler  208  is fastened to the cross angle  206  by the fastening system  210 , the doubler  208  may be welded to the cross angle  206 . 
         [0087]      FIGS. 22 and 23  are cross sections of dock leveler frames  200  in accordance with the invention. The view shown in  FIG. 22  shows the doubler  208  in a lowered position with respect to the cross angle  206  similar to as shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . In  FIG. 23 , the doubler  208  is shown in a raised position with respect to the cross angle  206  similar to as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . 
         [0088]    Similar to the other embodiments described above, the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 18-23  uses a hole and slot system to permit one portion of the frame to be adjusted with respect to another portion of the frame. In  FIGS. 22 and 23  the holes  224  and  225  in the doubler  208  and the slot  226  in the cross angle  206  are seen. As shown in  FIG. 22  a fastener system  210  which in some embodiments may include a bolt  218 , washers  220 , and a nut  222  is used to fasten the doubler  208  to the cross angle  206 . The bolt  218  is located in the holes  224  and  225  and slot  226 . The washer  220  and nut  222  are located on the bolt  218  adjacent to hole  225 . 
         [0089]    The doubler  208  is fit over the cross angle  206  so that the holes  224  and  225  are aligned with the slot  226  in the cross angle  206 . The bolt  218  is fit through the hole  224  in the doubler  208  and through the slot  226  in the cross angle  206  and though the other hole  225  in the doubler  208 . The cross angle  206  and doubler  208  can then be moved up and down with respect to each other as limited by the bolt  218  contacting the sides of the slot and top end  228  and bottom end  230  of the cross angle  206 . 
         [0090]    Because the stop blocks  214  and the lip keepers  212  are connected to the doubler  208 , the stop blocks  214  and the lip keepers  212  move as a unit with the doubler  208  as it moves along the cross angle  206  as permitted by the geometry of the slot  226 . Once the cross angle  206  has achieved a desired position with respect to the doubler  208 , the fastener system  210  is tightened to secure the doubler  208  to the cross angle  206 . 
         [0091]    In some embodiments of the invention, the doubler  208  is welded to the cross angle  206 . The fastener system  210  is used to hold the doubler  208  in place during the welding process. In some embodiments of the invention, the stop block legs  215  (see  FIG. 19  for example) are welded to the support blocks  216 . 
         [0092]    It is appreciated that the gap  236  (See  FIG. 19 ) between the doubler  208  and the cross angle  206 , and the size of the gap  238  between the stop block legs  215  and the cross angle  206  varies depending where the cross angle  206  is moved along the doubler  208 . For example, the gaps  236  and  238  are absent in  FIGS. 20 and 21  when the doubler  208  is fully lowered with respect to the cross angle  206 . 
         [0093]    It will be appreciated that some embodiments of the invention can reverse parts. For example, the slot can occur in either the pit supported portion of the frame or the deck supporting portion and the hole can occur in either the pit supported portion or the deck supporting portion of the frame in accordance with the invention as evident by comparing the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-13 ,  14 - 17  and  18 - 23 . 
         [0094]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.