Adjustable span tine pallet jack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12103577-B2
Application number	US-202318196135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2023
Priority date	Feb 25, 2019
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A pallet jack includes a base and a pair of tines extending from the base. The pair of tines including a first tine and a second tine. A load wheel supports an outer end of each of the pair of tines. Each load wheel is configured to move toward and away from the respective tine to raise the tine off a floor on which the load wheel is supported. The first tine including a support surface configured to selectively be a lowermost surface of the tine to facilitate lateral displacement of the first tine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pallet jack comprising:
a base;
a pair of tines extending forward from the base, the pair of tines including a first tine and a second tine, wherein the first tine is selectively movable laterally toward and away from the second tine;
a first arm pivotably secured to the first tine and pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the first tine;
a first load wheel mounted at forward end of each of the first arm and supporting an outer end of the first tine;
a second load wheel supporting an outer end of the second tine;
wherein each of the first load wheel and the second load wheel is configured to move toward and away from the respective tine to raise the tine off a floor on which the wheel is supported;
a first push rod in the first tine, the first push rod coupled to the first arm, wherein movement of the first push rod parallel to the first tine causes the first load wheel to move toward or away the first tine; and
the first tine including a first side wheel mounted proximate a rear end of the first arm, the first side wheel configured to selectively be a lowermost surface of the first tine to facilitate lateral displacement of the first tine.

2. The pallet jack of claim 1 wherein movement of the first push rod in the first tine causes the first side wheel to move toward and away from the tine such that the first side wheel contacts the floor.

3. The pallet jack of claim 2 wherein the first side wheel is rotatable on an axis perpendicular to an axis of the first load wheel of the first tine.

4. The pallet jack of claim 3 wherein the first side wheel is pivotable in a plane parallel to a vertical plane through the first tine.

5. The pallet jack of claim 1 further including a tiller arm extending rearward from the base.

6. The pallet jack of claim 5 further including a rear wheel supporting the base.

7. The pallet jack of claim 1 wherein the first side wheel is rotatable about a first axle, wherein the first arm extends rearwardly to form the first axle.

8. A pallet jack comprising:
a base;
a pair of tines extending forward from the base, the pair of tines including a first tine and a second tine, wherein the pair of tines are selectively movable laterally toward and away from one another;
each of the pair of tines including a push rod coupled to an arm pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the respective tine;
a load wheel mounted proximate a forward end of each of the arms, wherein movement of each of the push rods causes the respective load wheel to move toward or away from the respective tine; and
a side wheel mounted proximate a rear end of each arm, the side wheel configured to selectively be a lowermost surface of the respective tine to facilitate lateral displacement of the respective tine.

9. The pallet jack of claim 8 wherein movement of each push rod causes the respective side wheel to move toward or away from the respective tine such that the respective side wheel contacts a floor on which the pallet jack is supported.

10. The pallet jack of claim 9 wherein each side wheel is rotatable on an axis perpendicular to an axis of the load wheel of the respective tine.

11. The pallet jack of claim 8 wherein movement of each push rod in a first direction causes the respective load wheel to move away from the respective tine and causes the respective side wheel to move toward the respective tine, and wherein movement of each push rod in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the respective load wheel to move toward the respective tine and causes the respective side wheel to move away from the respective tine.

12. The pallet jack of claim 8 further including a tiller arm extending from a rear of the base.

13. The pallet jack of claim 12 further including a rear wheel supporting the base.

14. The pallet jack of claim 8 wherein each arm extends rearwardly to form an axle about which the respective side wheel is rotatable.

15. A pallet jack comprising:
a base;
a tiller arm extending from a rear of the base;
a pair of tines extending forward from the base, the pair of tines including a first tine and a second tine;
a tine spacing actuator configured to selectively move the pair of tines laterally toward and away from one another;
each of the pair of tines including a push rod coupled to an arm pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the respective tine;
a load wheel mounted proximate a forward end of each of the arms, wherein movement of each of the push rods causes the respective load wheel to move toward or away from the respective tine; and
a side wheel mounted proximate a rear end of each arm, the side wheel configured to selectively be a lowermost surface of the respective tine to facilitate lateral displacement of the respective tine.

16. The pallet jack of claim 15 wherein the tine spacing actuator includes hydraulics, pneumatics, or an electric motor.

17. The pallet jack of claim 16 wherein movement of each push rod causes the respective side wheel to move toward or away from the respective tine such that the respective side wheel contacts a floor on which the pallet jack is supported.

18. The pallet jack of claim 17 wherein each side wheel is rotatable on an axis perpendicular to an axis of the load wheel of the respective tine.

19. The pallet jack of claim 18 wherein movement of each push rod in a first direction causes the respective load wheel to move away from the respective tine and causes the respective side wheel to move toward the respective tine, and wherein movement of each push rod in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the respective load wheel to move toward the respective tine and causes the respective side wheel to move away from the respective tine.

Assignees

• Rehrig Pacific Co

Inventors

• Kalinowski Dane Gin Mun

Classifications

• B62B3/0618

  using fluid lifting mechanisms · CPC title

• B62B3/0612

  power operated · CPC title

• B62B3/06 Primary

  for simply clearing the load from the ground (masted lift trucks B66F) · CPC title

• B66F9/12

  Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members · CPC title

• B66F7/0641

  Single levers, e.g. parallel links · CPC title