Pallet transportation assembly and processes of transporting pallets using the same
AssigneeCoca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Inc.
InventorsStanley Charles Ellington, Nicholas Elsworth Petroff, Jr., Melvin D. Reeves, II, John P. Barry, Ira Donavan Youmans, Jr.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a pallet transportation assembly comprising a first tine, a second tine, and a body coupled to the first and second tines comprising a tine adjustment system, a wheel, and a vertical backing portion, wherein the first or second tine further comprises a riser hinged to the first or second tine.
Claims11
A pallet transportation assembly comprising:
- a first tine having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge surface;
- a second tine having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge surface;
- and
- a body coupled to the first and second tines comprising an tine adjustment system, a wheel, and a vertical backing portion;
- the first and second tine further comprising a riser coupled to the tine by a hinge configured to rotate the riser 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the tine from a first position wherein a side surface of the riser is substantially parallel to the edge surface of the tine to a second position wherein the side surface of the riser is substantially coplanar to the edge surface of the tine.
A process for transporting a first pallet having a first base configuration and a second pallet having a second base configuration, the process comprising the step of:
- (a) providing a pallet transportation assembly comprising:
- a first tine having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge surface;
- a second tine having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge surface;
- and
- a body coupled to the first and second tines comprising an tine adjustment system, a wheel, and a vertical backing portion;
- the first and second tine further comprising a riser coupled to the tine by a hinge configured to rotate the riser 180 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the tine from a first position wherein a side of the riser is substantially parallel to the edge surface of the tine to a second position wherein the side surface is substantially coplanar to the edge surface of the tine;
- (b) adjusting each riser to the first position;
- (c) transporting the first pallet having a first base configuration with the pallet transportation assembly;
- (d) adjusting each riser to the second position;
- and
- (e) transporting the second pallet having a second base configuration with the pallet transportation assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.