Vehicle leveler with safety features

{
  "publication_number": "US11273998B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Vehicle leveler with safety features",
  "abstract": "A vehicle leveler with a first portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The vehicle leveler also includes a second portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The second portion also includes an extension portion. The vehicle leveler also includes opposing side portions which extend the length of and contact the second portion and extension portion. The opposing side portions have a top surface which forms a walkway.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A vehicle leveler for use with a driveway comprising: a first portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge wherein the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge and forms a ramp section, a second portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge wherein the leading edge of the second portion is attached to the trailing edge of the first portion and the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion, the second portion also including an extension portion which extends from the trailing edge of the second portion toward a rear of the leveler and includes a substantially flat section disposed about parallel with the substantially flat driveway; opposing side portions which extend the length of and contact the first portion, second portion and extension portion, the opposing side portions having a top surface which forms a walkway; and an extended walkway surface extended above the driveway, the extended walkway surface being separate from and adjacent to the opposing side portions and top surface.",
    "2. The vehicle leveler of claim 1 wherein the vehicle leveler can be installed adjacent to a second, identical vehicle leveler and the extended walkway surface and top surface form a large walkway surface for a vehicle driver to use.",
    "3. The vehicle leveler of claim 1 wherein each vehicle leveler has two, opposing side portions each with a top surface, an opposing side portion and top surface together each form a separate walkway.",
    "4. The vehicle leveler of claim 1 wherein the walkway can extend the complete length of both the second portion and extension portion, or alternatively, the walkway can extend only a portion of the length of the second portion and extension portion.",
    "5. The vehicle leveler of claim 1 wherein the first portion and second portion are each unitary structures which are separate from each other until they are removably attached together by a connection apparatus.",
    "6. The vehicle leveler of claim 1 wherein the second portion including the extension portion can be moved between a lowered position and a raised position to accommodate varying dock heights for loading and unloading of cargo from vehicles.",
    "7. The vehicle leveler of claim 1 wherein the walkway and extended walkway surface include metal grating.",
    "8. A vehicle leveler for use with a substantially flat driveway, the leveler capable of movement between a lowered position and a raised position, the leveler in the lowered position comprising: a first portion having a leading edge at a front of the leveler and a substantially flat section wherein the substantially flat section is inclined from the substantially flat driveway at between about 1 and 15 degrees from parallel with the substantially flat driveway; a second portion extending from the incline portion toward a rear of the leveler including a substantially flat section wherein the substantially flat section is declined toward the substantially flat driveway at between about 1 and 15 degrees from parallel with the substantially flat driveway; an extension portion extending from the second portion toward a rear of the leveler and including a substantially flat section disposed about parallel with the substantially flat driveway; opposing side portions which extend the length of and contact the first portion, second portion and extension portion, the opposing side portions having a top surface which forms a walkway; and an extended walkway surface extended above the driveway, the extended walkway surface being separate from and adjacent to the opposing side portions and top surface."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to vehicle levelers and more particularly to a vehicle leveler having multiple surface angles as well as safety features.\n\nA variety of truck levelers have been devised to adjust the height of different trailers to properly match the deck of the trailer to the height of the dock. By aligning the height of the trailer and the dock the loading and unloading of cargo is facilitated.\n\nOne such device is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,446 to Gould which discloses a reinforced platform pivotally mounted to the ground at one end and includes a support assembly having hydraulic cylinders. In operation the rear wheels of a truck trailer are backed onto the platform and then the non-mounted end of the platform is lifted by the hydraulic cylinders until the deck of the trailer is equal to the height of the dock.\n\nA similar device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,792 to Cherry, et al. which also discloses a pivotally-mounted and hydraulically-raised platform. In addition to the disclosure of Gould, the device includes mounting the hydraulics inwardly from the non-mounted end of the platform and an aperture in the non-mounted end of the platform to accommodate a truck restraining device.\n\nAnother design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,043 to Leum, et al. which teaches a low-profile truck leveler. In this design a low-profile leveler is enabled through the use of a raised rear beam and two lateral beams that extend above the upper surface of the platform. In addition, a central beam adds further to the strength and rigidity of the leveler.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65G 69/006",
    "B65G 69/003"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 69/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Leum Engineering Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Grant Leum",
    "Eric Demerath"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-09-21",
  "publication_date": "2022-03-15",
  "grant_date": "2022-03-15",
  "priority_date": "2019-04-05",
  "application_number": "US-202017026642-A",
  "family_id": "74065175",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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  ]
}