A fork-accepting mount for use with an item having an elongated load-supporting member through which the weight of the item can be supported and further includes a side and an end, and wherein the elongated load-supporting member includes a planar surface having two opposite side edges, the mount comprising:
- a channel-shaped body having two opposite ends and a hollow interior which opens out of the two opposite ends of the channel-shaped body, and wherein the channel-shaped body includes two substantially planar faces which are directed away from the channel-shaped body on the opposite sides thereof;
- a first means for securing the channel-shaped body to the elongated load-supporting member of the item so that the hollow interior of the channel-shaped body is capable of accepting the fork of a forklift directed therein along a first horizontal path, wherein the first means for securing includes a first channel member having two opposite ends and which is substantially U-shaped in cross section having two legs and a base which extends between the two legs, and the first channel member provides a linear channel which extends between the two opposite ends of the first channel member and is secured to the channel-shaped body so that the base of the first channel member engages one of the planar faces of the channel-shaped body and the two legs of the first channel member extend away from said one of the two planar faces of the channel-shaped body;
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- a second means for securing the channel-shaped body to the load-supporting member of the item so that the hollow interior of the channel-shaped body is capable of accepting the fork of a forklift directed therein along a second horizontal path which is arranged substantially normal to the first horizontal path, wherein the second means for securing includes a second channel member having two opposite ends and which is substantially U-shaped in cross section having two legs and a base which extends between the two legs, the legs including two sets of through-openings, the legs and base extending outboard beyond the channel-shaped body, and the second channel member provides a linear channel which extends between the two ends of the second channel member and is secured to the channel-shaped body so that the base of the second channel member engages the other of the planar faces of the channel-shaped body and the two legs of the second channel member extend away from said other of the two planar faces of the channel-shaped body so that by positioning the first channel member about the elongated load-supporting member so that the base of the first channel member engages the planar surface of the elongated load-supporting member and the two legs of the first channel member are disposed outboard of the two opposite sides edges of the planar surface of the elongated load-supporting member and thereafter securing the channel-shaped body to the elongated load-supporting member of the item by way of the first channel member permits the channel-shaped body to accept the fork of a forklift when approached by the fork along the first horizontal path and so that by alternatively positioning the second channel member about the elongated load-supporting member so that the base of the second channel member engages the planar surface of the elongated load-supporting member and the two legs of the second channel member are disposed outboard of the two opposite side edges of the planar surface of the elongated load-supporting member and thereafter securing the channel-shaped body to the elongated load-supporting member of the item by way of the second channel member permits the channel-shaped body to accept the fork of a forklift when approached by the fork along the second horizontal path.