A system for allowing a vehicle or trailer to be secured to a loading dock is provided. The system is capable of being stowed away into the vehicle or trailer when not in use, and moveable to a locking position for interfacing with the dock's restraining system when the vehicle or trailer is to be secured to the loading dock.

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.

A trailer restraining device comprising a portable frame having mounted thereto a tail hook and a king pin receiver that includes at least one of a receiver hydraulic cylinder, a receiver pneumatic cylinder, a receiver electric actuator, and a receiver winch.

Loading dock systems for detecting trailer door status and/or trailer cargo status and operating loading dock equipment accordingly are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a loading dock station can include one or more sensors for detecting whether a trailer door is in an open or closed position, and/or whether trailer cargo is loaded in an end load condition, when the trailer is present at the loading dock station. Sensor targets containing, e.g., QR codes, barcodes, and other machine-readable indicia, etc., as well as reflective targets, can be positioned on trailer doors and/or in trailer cargo areas to facilitate detection and acquisition of related door and/or cargo information. In some embodiments, the systems disclosed herein can activate a sequence of automated dock operations in response to determining the status of the trailer doors and/or the trailer cargo.

A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels and a hitch, the stabilizing device including a repositionable jack.

Example safety systems for use at a loading dock are disclosed. An example safety system includes a first sensor installed at the loading dock to sense the vehicle approaching the loading dock, where the first sensor is to provide a feedback signal in response to sensing the vehicle approaching the loading dock. An alarm device mounted at a lower elevation than a lowermost edge defining an opening that of the doorway. The alarm device being between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the opening defining the doorway. The alarm device to provide an alarm signal to warn to a pedestrian in a path of the approaching vehicle in response to the feedback signal sensing the vehicle approaching the loading dock. The alarm signal being at least one of a visual warning or an audible warning.

Example safety systems for use at a loading dock are disclosed. An example safety system includes a sensor installed at the loading dock. The sensor provides a feedback signal in response to sensing the vehicle. An alarm device is mounted below a lowest elevation of the doorway. The alarm device is positioned between the first lateral plane and the second lateral plane of the doorway. An alarm signal is emitted by the alarm device in response to the feedback signal.

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.