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US 9,403,547 B2Granted
Pallet transportation assembly and processes of transporting pallets using the same
AssigneeCoca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Inc.
InventorStanley Charles Ellington
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a pallet transportation assembly comprising a first and second tine, each having a top, a bottom, a front wheel, a middle wheel, a rear wheel, and a riser; and a body coupled to the first and second tines comprising a tine adjustment system and a vertical backing portion.
Claims13
A pallet transportation assembly comprising:
- a first and second tine, each tine having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a front caster swivel wheel, a middle fixed axle wheel, and a rear caster swivel wheel, and a plurality of adjustable risers comprising a front adjustable riser embedded in the tine between the inner and outer surface of the tine and between the front caster swivel wheel and middle fixed axle wheel and a rear adjustable riser embedded in the tine between the inner and outer surface of the tine and between the rear caster swivel wheel and the middle fixed axle wheel;
- the plurality of adjustable risers each having a top surface and configured to move in synchrony from a first position wherein each top surface of the adjustable risers is below or coplanar to the top surface of the tine to a second position wherein each top surface of the adjustable risers is above and parallel to the top surface of the tine;
- and
- a body coupled to the first and second tines comprising a vertical backing portion.
1 more element
A process for transporting a pallet having a base configuration, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a pallet transportation assembly comprising a first and second tine, each tine having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a front caster swivel wheel, a middle fixed axle wheel, and a rear caster swivel wheel, and a plurality of adjustable risers comprising a front adjustable riser embedded in the tine between the inner and outer surface of the tine and between the front caster swivel wheel and middle fixed axle wheel and a rear adjustable riser embedded in the tine between the inner and outer surface of the tine and between the rear caster swivel wheel and the middle fixed axle wheel;
- the plurality of adjustable risers each having a top surface and configured to move in synchrony from a first position wherein each top surface of the adjustable risers is below or coplanar to the top surface of the tine to a second position wherein each top surface of the adjustable risers is above and parallel to the top surface of the tine;
- and
- a body coupled to the first and second tines comprising a vertical backing portion;
- wherein the front wheel and rear wheel have an aspect ratio less than an aspect ratio of the middle wheel;
- (b) raising the plurality of adjustable risers to engage the base configuration of the pallet thereby lifting the pallet;
- (c) transporting the lifted pallet using the pallet transportation assembly;
- (d) pivoting the pallet transportation assembly about the middle wheel;
- and
- (e) lowering the plurality of adjustable risers to lower the pallet and disengage the pallet transportation assembly from the base configuration of the pallet.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.