Fork rack and associated systems and methods
AssigneeTarget Brands, Inc.
InventorJerry C. Tyree
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rack, which is configured to selectively maintain at least one fork of a lift truck, includes a back, a front opposite the back, a supporting member extending between the back and the front of the rack, and a wedge member. The wedge member extends between the back and the front of the rack such that the wedge member is positioned substantially nearer the supporting member at the back of the rack than at the front of the rack. The supporting member and the wedge member collectively define a storage space for receiving the at least one fork. Fork rack systems and methods for removing, replacing, and/or storing forks provide additional advantages.
Claims19
A rack having a front and a back and being configured to selectively maintain at least one fork of a forklift, the rack comprising:
- a back;
- a front opposite the back;
- a supporting member extending between the back and the front of the rack;
- a wedge member extending between the back and the front of the rack such that the wedge member is positioned substantially nearer the supporting member at the back of the rack than at the front of the rack;
- and
- an intermediate support member positioned between the front and the back of the rack, wherein the intermediate support member is substantially vertical, the wedge member extends between the back and the intermediate support member, and a front edge of the wedge member is aligned with the intermediate support member such that the front of the rack is spaced from and positioned in front of the front edge of the wedge member;
- wherein the supporting member and the wedge member collectively define a storage space for receiving the at least one fork, and the supporting member extends from the back of the rack, beyond the front edge of the wedge member to the front of the rack.
A fork holder having a front and a back comprising:
- means for selectively receiving and maintaining a fork from a forklift including means for supporting the fork above and entirely spaced from a supporting surface, the means for supporting extending from the front of the fork holder to the back of the fork holder;
- means for applying a resistive force to the fork to increase a removal force needed to remove the fork from the means for selectively receiving and maintaining the fork, wherein the means for applying a resistive force extends directly over the means for supporting and is angled to be spaced above the means for supporting a smaller distance near the back of the fork holder as compared to near the front of the fork holder such that the means for applying a resistive force applies the force near the back of the fork holder;
- and
- an intermediate support spaced from each of the front and the back of the fork holder, wherein the means for applying the resistive force to the fork extends from a back of the folk holder to the intermediate support terminating at the intermediate support such that the means for applying the resistive force is spaced from the front of the fork holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.