Dock leveler insulation

Abstract

The bottom surface of a dock leveler is insulated by attaching sheets of insulative material between adjacent support beams. Attachment is by way of magnet attached to the bottom surface of the deck to hold downwardly projecting spikes that penetrate the insulative material, with a self locking washer then being placed over the spike in order to secure the sheet of material in place. Installation with variable widths between adjacent support beams is facilitated by pre-perforating the sheets of insulative material along longitudinal lines to thereby allow easy separation and width adjustment to match the variable widths between the support beams.

1 . A method of thermally insulating the deck of a dock leveler having a plurality of transversely spaced support beams extending longitudinally along its bottom surface, comprising the steps of:
 providing a sheet of insulative material having a width that is greater than the distance between adjacent support beams;   longitudinally perforating said sheets in discontinuous laterally spaced lines;   measuring the distance between adjacent support beams and tearing off, along a line of perforations, a portion of said sheet that is substantially equal in width to the distance between adjacent support beams; and   securing said portion to a bottom surface of the deck between adjacent support beams.   
   
   
       2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said securing step includes the attachment of a plurality of magnets to the bottom surface of said deck. 
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said securing step includes the step of piercing the sheet of insulative material with a plurality of spikes that extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the deck. 
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said securing step includes the step of installing a plate over the ends of each of the spikes and the insulative sheet in order to secure the insulative sheet in place. 
   
   
       5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  and including a further step of attaching a vinyl sheet to one side of said sheet of insulative material. 
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said vinyl sheet is attached to said sheet of insulative material by way of a glue. 
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said vinyl sheet is attached to the side of said sheet of insulative material that is away from the side which is adjacent to said plate. 
   
   
       8 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  and including the step of, simultaneous with a step of tearing off a portion of said sheet, cutting said vinyl sheet along a line of perforation. 
   
   
       9 . An insulative cover for a bottom surface of a dock leveler having a plurality of transversely spaced support beams extending longitudinally along its bottom surface, comprising:
 a sheet of insulative material placed between each pair of adjacent support beams;   a plurality of spikes attached to the bottom surface of said deck, between adjacent support beams and extending downwardly to penetrate said sheet of insulative material; and   a fastener secured over the ends of each of said spikes and the insulative material to secure the sheet of insulative material in place.   
   
   
       10 . A cover as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said plurality of spikes are secured to said bottom surface by way of magnets. 
   
   
       11 . A cover as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said fasteners comprise perforated plates that are placed over said spikes to act as a self locking washer. 
   
   
       12 . A cover as set forth in  claim 9  and including a vinyl sheet that is attached to one side of said sheet of insulative material. 
   
   
       13 . A cover as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said vinyl sheet is attached to said sheet of insulative material by a glue. 
   
   
       14 . A cover as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said vinyl sheet is attached to the side of said sheet of insulative material which is opposite the side which is placed against the bottom surface of the deck.