US Patent 7213285 Pivotal and vertically translatable dock leveler lip

A dock leveler includes a lip that not only pivots between an extended operative position and a pendant position relative to a deck but also translates in its pendant position between blocking and non-blocking positions. A fastener connects the lip to a hinge in such a way as to minimize the stress between the fastener and the lip. The hinge includes a lip-facing surface into which the fastener is anchored, wherein the fastener is tilted out of perpendicularity to the lip-facing surface. The head of the fastener is held parallel to the lip even though an angled gap may exist between the lip and the lip-facing surface of the hinge.