# US 11,305,974 B2 · Fork runners > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,974 B2 - Document ID: US11305974B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/211,677 - Filed: 2021-03-24 - Published: 2021-07-08 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-10 - Assignees: Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. - Applicants: Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. - Inventors: Tim Cherry; Kevin Butler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305974B2 ## CPC - B66F 9/12: Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) ## Abstract Fork runners removably secured to a fork optionally permit fork runners to be of a different material from the fork and to be readily replaced. The fork includes an upper surface and a downward depending portion extending therefrom, and the fork runner includes an elongated fastening plate that is releasably secured to the downward depending portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pallet truck fork comprising: an elongated member configured to engage a pallet, wherein the elongated member comprises a top surface and a downward depending portion extending therefrom; and a fork runner releasably secured to the elongated member, wherein; the fork runner comprises a fastening portion sized and shaped to be releasably secured to the downward depending portion of the elongated member; the fork runner further comprises a pallet engaging surface shaped and sized to engage a surface of a pallet when the pallet truck fork is inserted into a pocket of a pallet; and the pallet engaging surface has a coefficient of friction that is lower than a coefficient of friction of the downward depending portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, further comprising a releasable fastener releasably securing the fastening portion to the downward depending portion of the elongated member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pallet truck fork of claim 2, wherein the releasable fastener comprises a bolt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the pallet engaging surface is made from a material having a kinetic coefficient of friction when engaging a wood pallet that is less than 0.25. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the pallet engaging surface is made from an ultra-high molecular weight plastic, a high-density polyethylene, or an ultra high-density polyethylene. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the downward depending portion of the elongated member comprises a recess, and at least a portion of the fork runner fits within the recess when releasably secured to the downward depending portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pallet truck fork of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the fork runner is flush with an outer surface of the downward depending portion when the fork runner is fit into the recess. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the pallet engaging surface extends from the fastening portion in a substantially perpendicular plane, and is sized and shaped to align and mate with a bottom surface of the downward depending portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the pallet engaging surface extends beyond a bottom surface of the downward depending portion when the fork runner is releasably secured to the downward depending portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the pallet engaging surface comprises at least one ramp. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pallet truck fork of claim 10, wherein the at least one ramp varies in steepness to form a curved ramp surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is a first elongated member, and the pallet truck fork comprises a second elongated member; and wherein the fork runner is a first fork runner, and the pallet truck fork comprises a second fork runner releasably secured to the second elongated member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is made from steel, and the fork runner is made from a material with a lower coefficient of friction than steel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The pallet truck fork of claim 13, wherein the fork runner is made from a material that is not capable of being welded to steel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the fork runner comprises a groove formed into a top surface of the fork runner, and the fork runner is retained to the elongated member by an interference fit between the groove and a portion of the downward depending portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein the fork runner is releasably secured to the downward depending portion of the elongated member via one or more fasteners that pass through an aperture in the fastening portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The pallet truck fork of claim 1, wherein: the downward extending portion extending from the top surface of the elongated member comprises a first downward extension extending from a first elongated side of the elongated member and a second downward extension extending from a second elongated side that is opposite of the first elongated side of the elongated member; and the fork runner comprises a first fork runner releasably secured to the first downward extension and a second fork runner releasably secured to the second downward extension.