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US 11,235,963 B2Granted
Forks for industrial vehicles and method of making same
AssigneeHyster-Yale Group, Inc.
InventorRobert C. Dunigan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fork for an industrial vehicle such as a forklift, and a method of making the same. The fork includes an elongate body portion, a toe portion, and, optionally, a heel portion. The elongate body portion may be formed in any length and coupled to the toe portion (and optionally, to the heel portion) to form a fork.
Claims21
A fork for a forklift truck comprising:
- a toe portion;
- and
- an elongate body portion coupled to the toe portion, the elongate body portion comprising a load portion and a truss portion coupled to the load portion;
- wherein the truss portion comprises a first strut coupled to the load portion and extending away from the load portion, a first cross beam coupled to the first strut and extending away from the first strut, a second strut extending away from the first cross beam towards the load portion, a third strut extending away from the load portion, a second cross beam coupled to the third strut and extending away from the third strut, a fourth strut coupled to the second cross beam and extending towards the load portion and coupled to the load portion, and a third cross beam coupled to the second strut and the third strut;
- and
- wherein the load portion and the truss portion of the elongate body portion are formed as a single piece.
3 more elements
A fork for a forklift truck comprising:
- a toe portion;
- and
- an elongate body portion coupled to the toe portion, the elongate body portion comprising a load portion and a truss portion coupled to the load portion;
- wherein the truss portion comprises a first strut coupled to the load portion and extending away from the load portion, a first cross beam coupled to the first strut and extending away from the first strut, a second strut extending away from the first cross beam towards the load portion, a third strut extending away from the load portion, a second cross beam coupled to the third strut and extending away from the third strut, a fourth strut coupled to the second cross beam and extending towards the load portion and coupled to the load portion, and a third cross beam coupled to the second strut and the fourth strut;
- and
- wherein the third cross beam is further coupled to the load portion via spot welds.
3 more elements
A fork for a forklift truck comprising:
- a toe portion;
- and
- an elongate body portion coupled to the toe portion, the elongate body portion comprising a load portion and a truss portion coupled to the load portion;
- wherein the truss portion comprises a first strut coupled to the load portion and extending away from the load portion, a first cross beam coupled to the first strut and extending away from the first strut, a second strut extending away from the first cross beam towards the load portion, a third strut extending away from the load portion, a second cross beam coupled to the third strut and extending away from the third strut, a fourth strut coupled to the second cross beam and extending towards the load portion and coupled to the load portion, and a third cross beam coupled to the second strut and the fourth strut;
- wherein the elongate body portion comprises no more than two longitudinal weldments;
- and
- wherein one or more longitudinal weldments are positioned to couple:
- (a) the load portion and the first strut;
- (b) the load portion and the second strut;
- (c) the load portion and the third strut;
- (d) the load portion and the fourth strut;
- or
- (e) a combination thereof.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.