Control module and palm rest for a materials handling vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053346-B2
Application number	US-201615007590-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2016
Priority date	Jan 29, 2015
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A materials handling vehicle includes a frame defining a main structural component of the vehicle, a load handling assembly, and an operator's compartment provided within the frame. The operator's compartment includes a control module including structure for controlling at least one vehicle function. The control module may include a fin-shaped handhold element extending generally vertically upward from an upper surface defined by the upper surface. The fin-shaped handhold element may include structure for controlling at least one vehicle function. Further, a moveable palm rest may be provided to allow an operator to position their hand at a desired position relative to the control module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A materials handling vehicle comprising:
a frame defining a main structural component of the vehicle;
a load handling assembly; and
an operator's compartment provided within the frame and comprising a control module including structure for controlling at least one vehicle function, the control module defining an upper surface and a fin-shaped handhold element extending generally vertically upward from the upper surface, the fin-shaped handhold element including an upper portion distal from the upper surface of the control module that is oriented at an angle of about 45°-75° relative to the upper surface in a lateral direction defined between a first side of the control module located proximate to an operator working position within the operator's compartment and a second side of the control module located distal from the operator working position so as to form an undercut area between the upper surface and the upper portion of the fin-shaped handhold element.

2. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element is sized and shaped to be received by the joint between an operator's thumb and index finger.

3. The materials handling vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element is no more than about 2.5 inches wide as measured in the lateral direction at a junction of the fin-shaped handhold element that receives the joint between the operator's thumb and index finger.

4. The materials handling vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the width of the fin-shaped handhold element tapers in the lateral direction from the base to the upper portion.

5. The materials handling vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element comprises a continuously curved member from the base to the outer portion.

6. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element includes structure for controlling at least one vehicle function via the thumb of an operator using the control module.

7. The materials handling vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element includes structure for controlling at least one of: a travel direction of the vehicle; at least one load handling assembly function; or a vehicle horn.

8. The materials handling vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element includes a horn structure for sounding a vehicle horn and at least one additional structure for controlling at least one other vehicle function, wherein the horn structure is located forward from the additional structure toward a front portion of the operator's compartment.

9. The materials handling vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the control module includes at least one additional structure extending upwardly from the upper surface of the control module for controlling at least one vehicle function via at least one of the operator's fingers.

10. The materials handling vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the control module includes a plurality of additional structures extending upwardly from the upper surface of the control module for controlling a plurality of load handling assembly functions via the operator's fingers.

11. The materials handling vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle further comprises an armrest in the operator's compartment proximate to the control module, the armrest for receiving the arm of an operator using the control module.

12. The materials handling vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle further includes a palm rest in the operator's compartment proximate to the armrest, the palm rest for receiving the palm of the operator.

13. The materials handling vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the palm rest is adjustable such that the operator can position their hand at a desired location with respect to the structure for controlling the at least one vehicle function.

14. The materials handling vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the palm rest is adjustable in both the lateral direction and a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction defined between a first end of the control module located proximate to the armrest and a second end of the control module located distal from the armrest.

15. The materials handling vehicle of claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the lateral direction and is defined between a first end of the control module located proximate to the armrest and a second end of the control module located distal from the armrest.

16. A materials handling vehicle comprising:
a frame defining a main structural component of the vehicle;
a load handling assembly; and
an operator's compartment provided within the frame and comprising:
a control module including structure for controlling at least one vehicle function;
an armrest proximate to the control module, the armrest for receiving the arm of an operator using the control module; and
a palm rest proximate to the armrest, the palm rest for receiving the palm of the operator, wherein the palm rest is adjustable in both a lateral direction and longitudinal direction such that the operator can position their hand at a desired location with respect to the structure for controlling the at least one vehicle function, the lateral direction defined between a first side of the control module located proximate to an operator working position within the operator's compartment and a second side of the control module located distal from the operator working position, and the longitudinal direction defined between a first end of the control module located proximate to the armrest and a second end of the control module located distal from the armrest.

17. The materials handling vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the structure of the control module for controlling the at least one vehicle function comprises structure extending upwardly from an upper surface of the control module for being implemented via at least one of the operator's fingers.

18. The materials handling vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the control module includes a plurality of structures extending upwardly from the upper surface of the control module for controlling a plurality of load handling assembly functions via the operator's fingers.

19. The materials handling vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the control module defines an upper surface and includes a fin-shaped handhold element extending generally vertically upward from the upper surface, the fin-shaped handhold element including an upper portion distal from the upper surface of the control module that is oriented at an angle of about 45°-75° relative to the upper surface so as to form an undercut area between the upper surface of the control module and the upper portion of the fin-shaped handhold element.

20. The materials handling vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element is oriented at the angle of about 45°-75° relative to the upper surface in the lateral direction toward the second side of the control module.

21. The materials handling vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element is sized and shaped to be received by the joint between the operator's thumb and index finger.

22. The materials handling vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element includes the structure for controlling the at least one vehicle function via the thumb of the operator.

23. The materials handling vehicle of claim 22 , wherein the fin-shaped handhold element includes structure for controlling at least one of: a travel direction of the vehicle; at least one lo

Assignees

• Crown Equip Corp

Inventors

• Babel Christoph
• Kraimer James V

Classifications

• G05G1/01

  Arrangements of two or more controlling members with respect to one another (double foot control, e.g. for instruction vehicles G05G1/34; mounting units comprising an assembly with two or more pedals G05G1/36) · CPC title

• B66F9/0759 Primary

  Details of operating station, e.g. seats, levers, operator platforms, cabin suspension · CPC title

• B66F9/20

  Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks (power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K) · CPC title

• B66F9/06

  movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks (vehicle aspects B60 - B62; vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading or unloading B60P1/00; low-lift hand trucks for transporting goods B62B3/06) · CPC title

• B62D33/06

  Drivers' cabs {(overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13)} · CPC title