Abstract: A frame of a dock leveler that positions a deck portion of the dock leveler so that the deck portion is level with a surrounding dock floor at a driveway end when mounted in a pit in the dock floor includes a pit supported portion placed on a floor of the pit, a deck supporting portion providing support to the deck portion, and an adjusting assembly connected to the pit supported portion and to the deck supporting portion and operable to move and hold the deck supporting portion so that the deck portion of the dock leveler is at a selected position with respect to the surrounding dock floor.

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.

Abstract: Dock leveler seals and associated methods and systems are described herein. A dock leveler having a rear hinge seal configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a rear support frame and a movable deck. The rear support frame includes a plurality of first support members extending therefrom, and the aft edge portion of the deck includes a plurality of second support members pivotally coupled to the first support members along an axis. The seal of this embodiment includes a first edge portion extending outwardly from a medial portion in a first direction, and a second edge portion extending outwardly from the medial portion in a second direction. The medial portion urges the first edge portion against the support frame and the second edge portion against the aft edge portion of the deck as the deck pivots about the axis in operation.

Abstract: A frame of a dock leveler that positions a deck portion of the dock leveler so that the deck portion is level with a surrounding dock floor at a driveway end when mounted in a pit in the dock floor includes a pit supported portion placed on a floor of the pit, a deck supporting portion providing support to the deck portion, and an adjusting assembly connected to the pit supported portion and to the deck supporting portion and operable to move and hold the deck supporting portion so that the deck portion of the dock leveler is at a selected position with respect to the surrounding dock floor.

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.

Abstract: A dock leveler support frame includes an upper frame member and a substantially vertical frame member connected thereto. The substantially vertical frame member includes both a structural member and a height-adjusting leg assembly. The leg assembly is adjustable via a drive member proximate the upper frame member. Rotating the drive member raises or lowers the upper frame member by altering the distance between the upper frame member and a foot at the lower end of the leg assembly. Ramp attachment points are also provided proximate the upper frame member. The support frame is installed by placing it in a pit with the upper frame member adjacent the curb, and adjusting the leg assembly to level the upper frame member to the curb. Once level, the back frame is secured to the dock, and the drive member may be secured to the upper frame member to prevent counter-rotation.

Abstract: A method of assembling a sectional upward acting door comprising plural generally planar door panels adapted to be guided between opposed guide tracks. The door panels are provided with hinge assemblies including a hinge plate mounted on the upper edge of one door panel with a pin receiving bore and a cooperating hinge plate with a hinge pin formed thereon mounted on the lower edge of the adjacent panel. One panel may be placed between the guide tracks and suitably supported while the next panel is assembled to the already positioned panel by placing the next panel between the guide tracks and moving it vertically downward to engage the hinge plates on the respective panels. The cooperating hinge plates are configured for snap together engagement which may only be released by intentional manipulation of the hinge plate with the pin receiving bore.

Abstract: A sectional garage door panel includes a skin part formed of a rolled metal sheet forming an outer wall and opposed top and bottom edges which may form a pinch resistant joint when adjacent panels are interconnected. Elongated prefabricated insulation parts are inserted in cavities formed by the top and bottom edges and a generally rectangular planar insulation part is insertable in a cavity formed between the top and bottom edges and between the first mentioned insulation parts. Channel shaped brackets are insertable in cavities formed by the top and bottom edges for reinforcing the skin part at a point of attachment of end stiles and hinge parts. A metal backer sheet forms an inner wall to protect the insulation parts. The brackets and one or more of the insulation parts may be secured to the skin part by an adhesive.

Abstract: A sectional garage door panel includes a skin part formed of a rolled metal sheet forming an outer wall and opposed top and bottom edges which may form a pinch resistant joint when adjacent panels are interconnected. Elongated prefabricated insulation parts are inserted in cavities formed by the top and bottom edges and a generally rectangular planar insulation part is insertable in a cavity formed between the top and bottom edges and between the first mentioned insulation parts. Channel shaped brackets are insertable in cavities formed by the top and bottom edges for reinforcing the skin part at a point of attachment of end stiles and hinge parts. A metal backer sheet forms an inner wall to protect the insulation parts. The brackets and one or more of the insulation parts may be secured to the skin part by an adhesive.

Abstract: Track guided doors, such as upward acting multipanel garage doors are provided with roller guide member support brackets on opposite side edges of the panels for supporting guide rollers disposed in the opposed guide tracks. The support brackets include bearing bores formed by bore walls of the support brackets for supporting elongated stem or shaft portions of the roller guide members. The roller guide members may include leaf springs mounted in grooves on the guide member shaft portions or the support bracket may include elastically deflectable clips mounted thereon, the leaf springs and clips providing resilient members for engagement with the stem parts, respectively, to bias them into engagement with the bore walls of the support brackets to minimize noise generated by the guide members during movement of the door.

Abstract: A sectional upward acting door includes interconnected door panels which are formed with generally planar outer and inner wall parts and upper and lower edges which cooperate to provide a pinch resistant joint between door panels when they are pivoted relative to each other. Spaced apart snap together hinge assemblies and snap in place guide roller support brackets may be used to assemble the door by moving the panels into assembly with each other between the door guide tracks. The panel edge profiles are formed by a convex surface on an upper edge of one panel and a cooperating concave multiple planar segment surface on the lower edge of the adjacent panel. An elongated seal strip may be secured in a groove in the lower edge of one panel and engageable with the apex of the upper edge of the adjacent panel.

Abstract: Track guided doors, such as upward acting multipanel garage doors are provided with roller guide member support brackets on opposite side edges of the panels for supporting guide rollers disposed in the opposed guide tracks. The support brackets include bearing bores formed by bore walls of the support brackets for supporting elongated stem or shaft portions of the roller guide members. The roller guide members may include leaf springs mounted in grooves on the guide member shaft portions or the support bracket may include elastically deflectable clips mounted thereon, the leaf springs and clips providing resilient members for engagement with the stem parts, respectively, to bias them into engagement with the bore walls of the support brackets to minimize noise generated by the guide members during movement of the door.

Abstract: Sectional door panels include formed metal or plastic skin parts with opposed upper and lower edges configured to form pinch resistant connections between adjacent panels. The skin part edges include spaced-apart slots for receiving locating flanges formed on opposed end stiles and one or more intermediate stiles to provide for the stiles to be positively located with respect to the panel skin part during assembly thereof. Snap together hinge parts are provided with bosses cooperating with slots formed in the stiles for positively locating the hinge parts with respect to the stiles and the skin part. Mechanical fasteners connect the hinge parts and the stiles to the skin parts. The hinge parts include cooperating pin and pin receiving bore portions with the bore portions being formed in part by elastically deflectable fingers whereby the hinge parts may be snapped together during assembly of the door by stacking one panel on top of another.

Abstract: A sectional upward acting door includes interconnected door panels which are formed with generally planar outer and inner wall parts and upper and lower edges which cooperate to provide a pinch resistant joint between door panels when they are pivoted relative to each other. Spaced apart snap together hinge assemblies and snap in place guide roller support brackets may be used to assemble the door by moving the panels into assembly with each other between the door guide tracks. The panel edge profiles are formed by a convex surface on an upper edge of one panel and a cooperating concave multiple planar segment surface on the lower edge of the adjacent panel. An elongated seal strip may be secured in a groove in the lower edge of one panel and engageable with the apex of the upper edge of the adjacent panel.

Abstract: Guide rollers for upward-acting track guided doors are formed of dual durometer plastic materials wherein a hub portion of the guide roller is formed of a relatively hard moldable plastic material having a durometer of about Rockwell R 120. A tire or tread is preferably molded over the hub and is characterized by a thermoplastic elastomer material, such as urethane, having a durometer of about 70 to 90 Shore A. A circumferential recess may be formed in the rim of the roller hub to receive a tread which is not molded over the full extent of the rim. The tire or tread may have an arcuate thin-walled, a somewhat elliptical or a circular segment shape in cross section. The guide roller provides for quiet long-lasting operation in guiding upward-acting sectional and one-piece garage doors and the like.

Abstract: Sectional door panels include formed metal or plastic skin parts with opposed upper and lower edges configured to form pinch resistant connections between adjacent panels. The skin part edges include spaced-apart slots for receiving locating flanges formed on opposed end stiles and one or more intermediate stiles to provide for the stiles to be positively located with respect to the panel skin part during assembly thereof. Snap together hinge parts are provided with bosses cooperating with slots formed in the stiles for positively locating the hinge parts with respect to the stiles and the skin part. Mechanical fasteners connect the hinge parts and the stiles to the skin parts. The hinge parts include cooperating pin and pin receiving bore portions with the bore portions being formed in part by elastically deflectable fingers whereby the hinge parts may be snapped together during assembly of the door by stacking one panel on top of another.

Abstract: Guide rollers for upward-acting track guided doors are formed of dual durometer plastic materials wherein a hub portion of the guide roller is formed of a relatively hard moldable plastic material having a durometer of about Rockwell R 120. A tire or tread is preferably molded over the hub and is characterized by a thermoplastic elastomer material, such as urethane, having a durometer of about 70 to 90 Shore A. A circumferential recess may be formed in the rim of the roller hub to receive a tread which is not molded over the full extent of the rim. The tire or tread may have an arcuate thin-walled, a somewhat elliptical or a circular segment shape in cross section. The improved guide roller provides for quiet long-lasting operation in guiding upward-acting sectional and one-piece garage doors and the like.

Abstract: A sectional upward acting door includes interconnected door panels which are formed with generally planar outer and inner wall parts and upper and lower edges which cooperate to provide a pinch resistant joint between door panels when they are pivoted relative to each other. Spaced apart snap together hinge assemblies and snap in place guide roller support brackets may be used to assemble the door by moving the panels into assembly with each other between the door guide tracks. The panel edge profiles are formed by a convex surface on an upper edge of one panel and a cooperating concave multiple planar segment surface on the lower edge of the adjacent panel. An elongated seal strip may be secured in a groove in the lower edge of one panel and engageable with the apex of the upper edge of the adjacent panel.

Abstract: A sectional upward acting door includes interconnected door panels which are formed with generally planar outer and inner wall parts and upper and lower edges which cooperate to provide a pinch resistant joint between door panels when they are pivoted relative to each other. Spaced apart snap together hinge assemblies and snap in place guide roller support brackets may be used to assemble the door by moving the panels into assembly with each other between the door guide tracks. The panel edge profiles are formed by a convex surface on an upper edge of one panel and a cooperating concave multiple planar segment surface on the lower edge of the adjacent panel. An elongated seal strip may be secured in a groove in the lower edge of one panel and engageable with the apex of the upper edge of the adjacent panel.

Abstract: Bottom edge brackets for an upward acting door each include a base part including fastener receiving bores for securing the brackets to the bottom edge of the door, a flange projecting substantially normal to the base part including a connecting lug mounted for connection to a becket or loop of a door lifting cable and an integral rolled tubular guide roller support portion for supporting the shaft of a door guide roller. Each of the brackets also includes a hook portion projecting from the base part and adapted to be received in an opening formed in the bottom edge of the door for retaining the brackets connected to the door when door lifting forces are being applied thereto if one or more fasteners is loose or removed from the bracket.