Abstract: A pit dock leveler having a base frame secured to a loading dock pit and a dock platform pivotally connected at one of its ends to the base frame and pivotally connected at its opposite end to a dock platform lip that pivots between a downward hanging position when the dock leveler is not in use and an extended position substantially co-planar with the dock platform when the dock leveler is in use, whereby the dock platform lip spans and compensates for the space and height differentials between the loading dock and a transport vehicle, the dock leveler having a counterbalancing mechanism that pivots the dock platform upwardly and a hold down mechanism preventing the dock platform from pivoting upwardly; wherein the improved hold down mechanism includes a hold down bar pivotally connected at one end to the underside of the dock platform with its other end slideably received through a clasp and within a spring under compression against the clasp, the clasp and spring being mounted within a housing that is pivo

Abstract: A dock leveler with run-off barrier configuration is disclosed in two embodiments. In a first embodiment, the dock leveler includes a faceplate, a deck, and a lip with the faceplate mounted on the end of a dock, the deck pivotably mounted to the faceplate and the lip pivotably mounted to the deck. The deck is pivotably mounted to the faceplate via a first linkage including two legs pivotably mounted to each other as well as to each of the faceplate and the deck. The faceplate and the lip are interconnected with a second linkage including two arms pivotably connected together and pivotably connected to each of the faceplate and the deck, respectively. Gussets are provided on a portion of the faceplate and include recesses terminating in upwardly turned detents. In one configuration of the dock leveler, the termination edge of the lip may be received within the recesses in the gussets so that the deck portion acts as a sturdy barrier.