Patent ID: 7976032
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: B62B

Abstract:
1. A pallet jack apparatus, comprising, in combination: a header having a front spaced apart from a rear, a top spaced apart from a bottom; a gear housing within the header; a pair of spaced apart slots within the header front, the slots adjacent to the header bottom, the slots comprising a first slot and a second slot; a motor vertically disposed within the gear housing, the motor proximal to the header bottom; a motor shaft extended vertically downward from the motor; a pinion gear affixed to the shaft; a pair of spaced apart forks comprising a first fork and a second fork; a first fork neck disposed rearwardly on a first fork first end, the first fork neck slideably disposed within the first slot of the header; a first fork gear disposed horizontally and medially on the first fork neck within the gear housing, the first fork gear engaged with the pinion gear in selective lateral adjustment of the first fork; a first fork rounded end disposed on the first fork, the first fork rounded end opposite the first fork first end; a second fork neck disposed rearwardly on a second fork first end, the second fork neck slideably disposed within the second slot of the header; a second fork gear disposed horizontally and medially on the second fork neck, the second fork gear engaged with the pinion gear in selective lateral adjustment of the second fork; a second fork rounded end disposed on the second fork, the second fork rounded end opposite the second fork first end; a pivot disposed on each fork, each pivot disposed rearwardly from each fork recess, the pivots comprising a first pivot on the first fork and a second pivot on the second fork; a pivot arm pivotally affixed to each pivot, comprising a first pivot arm affixed to the first pivot, a second pivot arm affixed to the second pivot; a first fork wheel disposed on an end of the first pivot arm opposite the first pivot; a second fork wheel disposed on an end of the second pivot arm opposite the second pivot; a header cap disposed atop the header, the header cap having a cap bottom, the header cap further comprising a rearwardly extended cap extension; a pair of spaced apart horizontally disposed platform supports slideably disposed against the rear of the header, the supports comprising a first support and a second support; a rear platform disposed between the platform supports; a battery disposed atop the rear platform, the battery adjacent to the header rear, the battery in electrical communication with the motor; a hydraulic cylinder assembly disposed atop the rear platform, the cylinder assembly rearward of the battery, the cylinder assembly further comprising a piston selectively driven upwardly, the piston engaged with the cap bottom of the cap extension; a wheel support affixed downwardly to the rear platform; a pair of spaced apart wheels affixed to the wheel support, the wheels comprising a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel; a stem support affixed rearwardly to the rear platform; a tubular stem disposed vertically within the stem support, the stem having a first side spaced apart from a second side; a handle disposed upwardly on the stem support, the handle disposed laterally beyond each side of the stem, the handle having a handle interior; a pair of movable control levers disposed on the stem within the handle interior, the levers comprising a horizontal control lever and a vertical control lever, the horizontal control lever in communication with the motor, the vertical control lever in communication with the hydraulic assembly, the horizontal control lever having an up position moving the forks laterally, a center neutral position, a down position moving the forks medially, the vertical control lever in communication with the hydraulic cylinder assembly, the vertical control lever having an up position moving the header and forks upwardly, a center neutral position, a down position moving the header and forks downwardly.