Cart/pallet system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9809434-B2
Application number	US-201414458485-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2014
Priority date	Aug 14, 2013
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

An improved cart and pallet system and an improved compactly stackable pallet for use in the system are disclosed. The improved pallet has a central support extending beneath the pallet with channels on either side of the support. The support and channels are engaged by a ledged, generally U-shaped deck of a cart or pallet truck of the application.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pallet truck comprising:
a frame supported upon a plurality of wheels and having a front and a rear, the frame comprising a chassis weldment;
a control housing extending upwardly from the rear of the frame;
a mast assembly comprising a lower portion that is mounted within a forward portion of the control housing and an upper portion extending above the control housing;
a deck shaped to receive a corresponding pallet, the deck being cantilever and moveably supported from the mast assembly and extending over the frame from the mast assembly to the front of the frame;
a pair of generally L-shaped control handles extending generally vertically upward from a rear of the control housing and then generally horizontally toward the mast assembly, one control handle located on either side of the pallet truck, wherein a lower end of each of the control handles is connected to the control housing and an upper end of each of the control handles is connected to the chassis weldment of the frame; and
a control bar extending between the control handles, wherein the control bar is mounted at the upper end of the control handles.

2. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each control handle comprises a longer leg that extends vertically upward from the rear of the control housing and a shorter leg that extends generally horizontally toward the mast assembly.

3. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a deck lift and lower control housing coupled to the control bar, wherein the deck lift and lower control housing is centered on the control bar.

4. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a brake control mounted in at least one of the control handles, wherein the brake control extends vertically along at least a portion of the at least one of the control handles.

5. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control bar is mounted in and extends between portions of the control handles extending generally horizontally toward the mast assembly.

6. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the deck has a rear and a front, with at least a portion of the front of the deck being angled toward the rear of the deck to facilitate entry into the corresponding pallet.

7. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the deck is raised and lowered by a single hydraulic cylinder mounted within the control housing.

8. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the control housing defines one or more storage compartments for work items and items personal to an operator.

9. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the deck is generally U-shaped and the corresponding pallet includes a central support extending beneath the corresponding pallet sized to be received within the U-shaped deck.

10. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the U-shaped deck has ledges extending outwardly along upper edges of the U-shaped deck and the corresponding pallet defines channels that extend on either side of the central support, wherein the ledges of the U-shaped deck are received within the channels of the corresponding pallet.

11. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wheels comprises a front pair of wheels, a center pair of wheels, and a rear pair of wheels, the center pair of wheels comprising a larger diameter than the front and rear pairs of wheels.

12. A pallet truck comprising:
a frame supported upon a plurality of wheels and having a front and a rear, the frame comprising a chassis weldment;
a control housing extending upwardly from the rear of the frame;
a mast assembly comprising a lower portion that is mounted within a forward portion of the control housing and an upper portion extending above the control housing;
a deck shaped to receive a corresponding pallet, the deck being cantilever and moveably supported from the mast assembly and extending over the frame from the mast assembly to the front of the frame;
a pair of generally L-shaped control handles extending generally vertically upward from a rear of the control housing and then generally horizontally toward the mast assembly, one control handle located on either side of the pallet truck, wherein a lower end of each of the control handles is connected to the control housing and an upper end of each of the control handles is connected to the chassis weldment of the frame;
a control bar extending between the control handles, wherein the control bar is mounted at the upper end of the control handles;
a deck lift and lower control housing coupled to the control bar, wherein the deck lift and lower control housing is centered on the control bar; and
a brake control mounted in at least one of the control handles, wherein the brake control extends vertically along at least a portion of the at least one of the control handles.

13. The pallet truck as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the plurality of wheels comprises a front pair of wheels, a center pair of wheels, and a rear pair of wheels, the center pair of wheels comprising a larger diameter than the front and rear pairs of wheels.

Assignees

• Crown Equip Corp

Inventors

• Magoto Daniel C
• Kahlig Daniel W
• Pulskamp Steven R
• Purrenhage Benjamin J
• Sherman Mark J

Classifications

• B66F9/12

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

• B65D2519/0096

  when empty · CPC title

• B62B3/0618 Primary

  using fluid lifting mechanisms · CPC title

• B65D2519/00338

  contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape · CPC title

• B66F9/087 Primary

  Monomasts · CPC title