Patent ID: 7278242

Claim:
A method for constructing a dock pit for supporting a dock leveler mechanism in a building construction, in which the building includes a building wall defining a dock opening and a ledge wall at the base of the dock opening, and further in which the ground inside the building has been prepared for laying a building slab therein, the method comprising the steps of: providing a pre-cast dock pit including formed side panels, a rear panel and a front panel, the panels forming a closed perimeter defining an opening therethrough, the perimeter sized to receive the load leveler mechanism therein; positioning the pre-cast dock pit within an excavation inside the building immediately adjacent the dock opening with the front panel resting on the ledge wall of the building wall; pouring a slab within the excavation with the pre-cast dock pit positioned therein to fill the opening defined by the perimeter of the pre-cast dock pit, thereby forming a slab for supporting the dock leveling mechanism.