A dockboard to span the gap between a loading dock and the bed of a carrier. The ramp of the dockboard is stored vertically along the front wall of the dock and the side edges of the ramp are pivotally connected to guide members which are movable in vertical guideways mounted on the front surface of the dock. The ramp is raised upwardly from its vertical storage position to a location generally above the height of the dock, pivoted to a generally horizontal position and then lowered downwardly to span the gap between the loading dock and the carrier. The weight of the ramp is counterbalanced by a series of springs connected through a pair of scissors-type arms to the ramp. The combined force of the springs is slightly less than the weight of the ramp, so that the ramp is biased downwardly, and the springs are arranged so that the maximum spring force is exerted against the ramp when the ramp is initially moved up from its vertical storage position and a lesser spring force is applied to the ramp when the ramp has been elevated to an above dock position.
A dockboard having a dock plate that is supported flat on a dock top in an unobstructing disposition when in an inoperative position and can be raised to an operative position in which the outer end is elevated and the inner end remains supported on the dock top and slides horizontally there along during vertical movement of the outer end. Guide means is mounted on the vertical face of the dock and engages the outer end of the dock plate to guide it in substantially vertical movement while allowing pivoting to maintain the inner end on the dock top. A lip plate is hinged to the outer end of the dock plate and depends therefrom while being upwardly pivotable to a limited position at which the dock plate and lip plate engage to form a continuous load supporting span throughout their combined extent from a vehicle platform to the dock top.
