US 11,987,458 B2
Curtain assemblies or seals for dock levelers
Bruce Henning, Dubuque, IA (US); Collin Thole, Lancaster, WI (US); and Frank Heim, Platteville, WI (US)
Assigned to Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Jan. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/156,171.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/964,452, filed on Jan. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0221630 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. B65G 69/28 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 69/2876 (2013.01) 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dock leveler apparatus comprising:
a curtain assembly that includes an upper curtain section and a lower curtain section, the curtain assembly movable between a folded configuration and a pendant configuration, the curtain assembly to extend a greater distance in the pendant configuration than in the folded configuration;
a connector to couple the upper curtain section to a deck pivotally coupled to a base frame of a dock leveler, the connector structured to mount to the deck at a position between a first side edge and a second side edge of the deck adjacent a front edge of the deck, the connector to engage the deck without extending therethrough, and wherein the connector is resiliently flexible; and
a releasable coupling between the upper curtain section and the lower curtain section, the releasable coupling to provide a removable connection between the lower curtain section and the upper curtain section.