Pallet truck with pressed fork structure
AssigneeUnicarriers Americas Corporation
InventorsMark Rusche, Ryan Giovannini, Mark McGee, Ryan Ickes, Steve Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pallet truck has a pressed and non-welded fork structure. The fork structure includes an elongate body portion and an outboard end portion integrally formed with the body portion. The body portion has a top wall and opposing sidewalls integrally formed with the top wall. The outboard end portion projects from the body portion and includes a tip sidewall defining a tip region for guiding entry of a fork assembly beneath a pallet.
Claims20
A pallet truck, comprising:
- a lift assembly;
- and
- a fork assembly having a fork structure extending generally laterally from the lift assembly, the fork structure including—
- an elongate body portion having a top wall and opposing sidewalls integrally formed with the top wall, and
- an outboard end portion integrally formed with the body portion and projecting therefrom, the outboard end portion including a tip sidewall defining a tip region for guiding entry of the fork assembly beneath a pallet.
A method for manufacturing a fork structure for use with a pallet truck, the method comprising:
- cutting a sheet of material to form a first region, a second region, and a seam between the first and second regions;
- bending or pressing the first region to form a body portion of the fork structure;
- pressing the second region to form a tip region that is integral with the body portion.
A pallet truck, comprising:
- a lift assembly;
- and
- a bumper attached to a lower section of the lift assembly, wherein the bumper has lower edges at opposite sides of the bumper, and a medial edge between the lower edges, and wherein—
- each lower edge has a first clearance distance between the corresponding lower edge and a floor surface to protect an operators' feet during operation of the pallet truck, and
- the medial edge has a second clearance distance between the medial edge and the floor surface selected to provide clearance for a drive wheel of the pallet truck.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.