Angular Detachable Extensions to the Forks of Fork Lift Trucks

In most warehouses the dock level or elevation of the floor above ground is approximately 50 inches. This level corresponds to that of trucks and trailers from which fork lifts unload and into which they load merchandise. When the level of a large truck or trailer varies by a few inches from that of the warehouse floor, so-called dock boards of steel or other metal are used to form a temporary bridge between the two surfaces so that fork lifts, which may be powered or manually operated, can enter the vehicles. But it is often necessary to load or unload pickup and other small trucks, or low trailers, whose beds may be several feet below the level of the warehouse floor. Dock boards are useless in such cases because the fork lifts cannot climb the steep grades which would be involved, nor could the vehicles withstand the weight of the fork lift, which is usually measured in tons. As a result the loads must be manhandled, with ever present danger to personnel. My invention makes it unnecessary ever to handle loads manually, resulting in both speed and safety for the operation. This is accomplished by the provision of angular extensions to the forks, which, then attached to the forks and lowered to the desired level, can be placed under a pallet or other load, and then elevated to the level of the warehouse floor.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional fork lift truck for use with the invention.

FIGS. 2 through 5 show the successive positions of the fork lift truck with the detachable extensions attached which are invlved in the lifting of a load from a level beneath that of the flor on which the truck is operating.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the angular fork extensions when detached from the fork lift truck.

FIG. 1 shows a typical fork lift truck resting on warehouse floor D. It is obvious from the construction that the forks cannot be lowered below the level of the floor. FIG. 6 shows a detailed construction of the invention, in which 3 is a horizontal member, preferably a channel, which is slideable into horizontal member 4, a rectangular tube snugly fitting both member 3 and F the forks of the fork lift, over which it is also slideable. It is obvious that mgmber 4 may be of a length which will enable the operator to handle loads at any reasopable distance from thg edge of the dock, subject only to the loss of capacity as the forks are further extended from the lift. All members may be of steel, or of alloys of lighter metals. Welded to horizontal member 3 at its outer end is vertical member 2, of a length sufficient to allow the handling of a load from ground level. Member 1, which is also preferably made of a channel, is welded or otherwise attached to the lower end of vertical member 2 at an angle of 90 degrees, and extending forward from the lift. Its nose may be beveled as shown, to facilitate entry into a pallet.

FIGS. 2 through 5 show the invention in use op a fork lift truck. In FIG. 2 the extensions are in place held by bolts or set screws 6 and the truck is resting at a distance from the edge of the dock. In FIG. 3 the truck has advanced somewhat so that the extension forks can be lowered, in this case, to ground level. In FIG. 4 the truck has advanced so that the extension forks have entered pallet C resting on the ground G. It is obvious that the pallet might equally well be resting on the bed of a pick up or trailer at some level intermediate between the ground and the warehouse floor. In FIG. 5 the load B on pallet C has been elevated, and in the dotted lines of the same figure the truck has pulled away from the dock, and pallet C with its load B can now be delivered to any desired location in the warehouse. When placing a load on the bed of a truck or low trailer, or on the ground, the above operation is repeated in reverse order.

When not in use, the entire assembly may be removed from the forks of the lift by loosening screws 6, and stored until needed further.