Low profile material handling platform

A material handling support platform comprising:

• a load support deck having a top surface which extends horizontally and faces upwardly, wherein the deck has a front edge, a rear edge spaced rearwardly from the front edge, and two spaced side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge;
• a front wall extending downwardly from the front edge;
• a rear wall extending downwardly from the rear edge;
• side walls extending downwardly from each of the two side edges;
• portions of the support deck which are spaced below the top surface and which define lower engagement regions;
• at least two tine access openings defined in the front wall, a tine access opening being defined between two ground engagement regions;
• at least two tine access openings defined in the rear wall opposite the front wall tine access openings;
• at least two downwardly opening channels defined by portions of the support deck, wherein a first channel extends between one of the two tine access openings on the front wall and the opposite tine access opening on the rear wall, and a second channel extends between the other of the two tine access openings and the opposite tine access opening on the rear wall, wherein each channel has a tine engagement surface which faces downwardly and which is spaced above the deck lower engagement regions and below the deck top surface;
• and
• a lip which extends upwardly and outwardly from the deck adjacent the front wall, the lip extending at a level below the tine engagement surfaces of the channels, wherein portions of the lip define a clearance opening adjacent each tine access opening in the front wall, to thereby permit two forklift tines to pass through the lip, into the front wall tine access openings and into engagement with the tine engagement surfaces of the first channel and the second channel.

A material handling support platform comprising:

• a load support deck having a top surface which extends horizontally and faces upwardly, wherein the deck has a front edge, a rear edge spaced rearwardly from the front edge, and two spaced side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge;
• a front wall extending downwardly from the front edge;
• a rear wall extending downwardly from the rear edge;
• side walls extending downwardly from each of the two side edges;
• portions of the support deck which are spaced below the top surface and which define lower engagement regions;
• at least two tine access openings defined in the front wall, a tine access opening being defined between two ground engagement regions;
• at least two tine access openings defined in the rear wall opposite the front wall tine access openings;
• and
• at least two downwardly opening channels defined by portions of the support deck, wherein a first channel extends between one of the two tine access openings on the front wall and the opposite tine access opening on the rear wall, and a second channel extends between the other of the two tine access openings and the opposite tine access opening on the rear wall, wherein each channel has a tine engagement surface which faces downwardly and which is spaced above the deck lower engagement regions and below the deck top surface, wherein the distance between the lower engagement regions and the tine engagement surfaces is less than two inches, and less than the height of a forklift tine which is to be interposed into the channels, such that the platform deck lower engagement regions are spaced above a support surface when forklift tines are engaged with the deck lower engagement regions and the support surface.