A bumper apparatus comprising a mounting structure attachable to a surface, and a bumper assembly slidably and removably engaged with the mounting structure. The mounting structure comprises a bumper assembly engagement structure. The bumper assembly comprises: a mount engagement structure for longitudinal slidable engagement with the bumper assembly engagement structure, a bumper attached to the mount engagement structure, and a biasing mechanism. In use, the removeable bumper assembly rests upon a biasing mechanism retaining structure attached generally to a bottom end of the mounting structure, in a neutral position when no unbalanced external force is applied at least partially longitudinally to the bumper assembly. When the bumper assembly is acted upon by such force applied toward the biasing mechanism retaining structure to move the bumper assembly into a lowered position, the biasing mechanism biases the bumper assembly upward, toward the neutral position.

There is provided herein an endoscope assembly comprising at least one front-pointing viewing element on a front end of a distal section of the endoscope assembly, at least one side-looking viewing element on at least one side wall of the distal section of the endoscope assembly, a working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool towards the distal section, and a system for regulating the direction of exit of medical device wherein said system enables the medical device to exit at multiple angles to the long dimension of the endoscope device either from the front end or through side walls of the distal section of the device.

The present invention is a pivoting pit seal assembly that forms a continuous seal with the rear bumper of a trailer parked in the bay of a loading dock, and which combines with the side and top seals of the loading dock to provide a 360 degree seal around a trailer. The pit seal assembly has a compression pad mounted to a rigid base. The pad has a resilient, compressible core material wrapped by a durable cover. One side of the base is pivotally held by brackets and corresponding releasable latches anchored to the front wall adjacent the pit floor or directly to the pit floor. During use, the pit seal is held in an upwardly angled position to compressingly engage the rear bumper of the trailer and form a continuous seal with the bumper. Each side end of the pit seal sealingly engages the vertical side seals located along the sides of the door opening to form a continuous seal between the pit seal and the side seals. To clean or access the pit, the releasable fastener is unfastened and the pit seal is rotated to a reclined position.

Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment, such as in response to a trailer approaching and docking at a docking station, are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide scanning devices and scanning operations which assist with, for example, properly aligning a trailer at a docking station and/or checking an interior area in front of the dock door for obstructions. The systems and methods can also transmit messages between components of the system and/or to users of the system regarding the status of components of the systems and/or the status of the overall docking process.

Provided is an elevating platform assembly comprising: a pair of spaced linkage arms having a platform end and a frame end; wherein each pair of spaced linkage arms comprise an upper-arm and lower-arm; the upper-arm consisting of a platform link hingedly connected to a frame link; adjustable platform stops adjustably connected to bottom portions of the frame links and adapted to engage a bottom edge of the platform links; wherein the adjustable platform stop is capable of adjusting a connection angle between the hingedly connected platform link and frame link resulting in a leveling adjustment for an attached horizontal platform extending between and connected to the platform ends of the spaced linkage arms; and wherein the horizontal platform is capable of moving between a lowered position on the ground to a raised position in substantial alignment with a loading platform.

There is provided herein an endoscope assembly comprising at least one front-pointing viewing element on a front end of a distal section of the endoscope assembly, at least one side-looking viewing element on at least one side wall of the distal section of the endoscope assembly, a working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool towards the distal section, and a system for regulating the direction of exit of medical device wherein said system enables the medical device to exit at multiple angles to the long dimension of the endoscope device either from the front end or through side walls of the distal section of the device.

The present invention is a pivoting pit seal assembly that forms a continuous seal with the rear bumper of a trailer parked in the bay of a loading dock, and which combines with the side and top seals of the loading dock to provide a 360 degree seal around a trailer. The pit seal assembly has a compression pad mounted to a rigid base. The pad has a resilient, compressible core material wrapped by a durable cover. One side of the base is pivotally held by brackets and corresponding releasable latches anchored to the front wall adjacent the pit floor or directly to the pit floor. During use, the pit seal is held in an upwardly angled position to compressingly engage the rear bumper of the trailer and form a continuous seal with the bumper. Each side end of the pit seal sealingly engages the vertical side seals located along the sides of the door opening to form a continuous seal between the pit seal and the side seals. To clean or access the pit, the releasable fastener is unfastened and the pit seal is rotated to a reclined position.

Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment, such as in response to a trailer approaching and docking at a docking station, are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide scanning devices and scanning operations which assist with, for example, properly aligning a trailer at a docking station and/or checking an interior area in front of the dock door for obstructions. The systems and methods can also transmit messages between components of the system and/or to users of the system regarding the status of components of the systems and/or the status of the overall docking process.

Bumpers for use at loading docks include a housing defining a lip-engaging surface to engage a lip of a deck when the lip is in a retracted position, and a RIG-engaging surface positioned adjacent the lip-engaging surface. The RIG-engaging surface is movable relative to the lip-engaging surface. The RIG-engaging surface is to move relative to the lip-engaging surface when a RIG of a vehicle imparts a force to the RIG-engaging surface when the vehicle is at a loading dock.

Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment, such as in response to a trailer approaching and docking at a docking station, are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide scanning devices and scanning operations which assist with, for example, properly aligning a trailer at a docking station and/or checking an interior area in front of the dock door for obstructions. The systems and methods can also transmit messages between components of the system and/or to users of the system regarding the status of components of the systems and/or the status of the overall docking process.