Abstract:
A lift truck that includes a motorized mover and a front end assembly movably coupled to the motorized mover. The front end assembly is positionable in a safety configuration and a working configuration. The front end assembly includes at least one vertical member having a bottom end and a top end and at least one horizontal member having a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally coupled to the bottom end and is moveable between a safety configuration and a working configuration. When the front end assembly is positioned in the working configuration, the horizontal member is oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the vertical member and extends in a direction away from the motorized mover.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional application of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 12/949,550, entitled “Lift Truck Safety System,” filed Nov. 18, 2010, which is a divisional application of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 12/799,721, entitled “Lift Truck Safety System,” filed May 1, 2010, the entirety of both is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates in general to lift trucks, forklifts, front-end loaders, pallet jacks, and the like, that use a movable assembly to maneuver a load. Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a fail-safe system whereby a load-bearing portion of a lift truck is placed in a safe position, and/or the lift truck is inoperable when a load is not present on the load-bearing portion. Other embodiments pertain to a safety system that defaults a configuration of a lift truck to a safety configuration. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    It has long been known to employ a lift truck (e.g., a forklift), for the movement of loads and other objects found in industrial locations, warehouse settings, and other various applications. Although lift trucks are available in a multitude of sizes, types, and configurations, nearly all are characterized by a movable assembly and/or “mast” upon which an attached fork or other load-bearing member is supported. Elevational movement of the assembly is often achieved by controlled operation of an hydraulic ram and/or a piston-cylinder mechanism. Thus, typical use of a lift truck not only includes movement of loads between various locations, but various heights as well. 
         [0006]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a conventional lift truck  100  is shown. The lift truck  100  includes a frame or body  136  connected with a motorized mover  102 , and there is an operator&#39;s workspace  152  that may include features such as a seat and steering wheel. A plurality of rails or guides  138  are usually connected to the frame  136  and/or motorized mover  102 , with a corresponding front-end assembly  103  movably connected to the rails  138  in such a way that the front-end assembly  103  may move up, down, sideways, etc. 
         [0007]    The front-end assembly  103  may include a mast  103   a , as well as a lifter element  118 . The lifter element  118  may take a number of configurations, but typically includes L-shaped forks  139  (i.e., tines, etc.) that are coupled to the mast  103   a . The fork usually has a vertical portion  113  that abuts and/or is attached to the mast  103   a . The fork  139  also includes a forwardly extending, generally horizontal leg  112  that constitutes the load-bearing portion of a lifter element  118 . Together the forwardly extending forks  139  are used to lift load(s)  140  vertically relative to the motorized mover  102 . 
         [0008]    A typical lift truck  100  has at least one ram cylinder-piston mechanism  146  for lifting and lowering a fork and/or the mast assembly, such that movement of the front-end assembly  103  may be controlled by the ram cylinder-piston mechanism  146 . As is known in the art, the lift truck has a working configuration  105 , whereby the forks  139  may be inserted within a pallet  144  which supports the load  140  and/or  144 , and the forks  139  may thereafter be lifted to raise the pallet  144  and load  140  for movement. Hence, as the mast  103   a  moves, so may the load  140  disposed on the lifting element  118 . The front-end assembly  103  may move, for example, up or down with respect to the motorized mover  102 . 
         [0009]    However, the use of the lift truck may be problematic and inherently dangerous. For example, whether stationary or in transit, fork(s) or other lifter members extend awkwardly outward into open space. This is extremely dangerous and has resulted in serious injury and death as a result of impact with operators, other workers, passersby, etc. The danger of the forks is exacerbated by the fact that the forks can be elevated. The extended forks also require a wide turn radius in order to not inadvertently run into people and objects. The need for improved safety in lift truck operation(s) is exemplified by the following description. 
         [0010]    Even more problematic is that an operator has to focus on the task of operating and driving the lift truck (with or without load) often forgetting about, or losing track of, the elevation of the forks, such that the forks impact people or other items. Lift trucks are an essential part of most industrial and supply chains around the world. However, statistics indicate that lift trucks also present significant hazards to people occupying the same workspace, and lift truck induced injuries may be severe or fatal. While lift trucks are a major cause of industrial deaths and accidents, little has changed in lift truck operations to reduce the rate of incidents that occur as a result of lift truck usage. 
         [0011]    As presented by a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) report, lift trucks strike people everyday, resulting in 100 deaths and over 20,000 injuries annually in the United States Alone. The NIOSH report shows that approximately every 3 days, someone in the US is killed in a lift truck related accident. Each year, an additional 94,750 injuries related to forklift accidents are reported. Besides workman&#39;s compensation and/or lost time at the job, there are huge lawsuits awarded for lift truck accidents. The costs incurred as a result of lift truck accidents are estimated to be in excess of $100 million dollars US annually. 
         [0012]    Additionally, lift trucks cause damage to material. Recent events include the shut down of a busy North Carolina port after a lift truck operator accidentally punctured containers of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), the same chemical used in a Christmas Day airline bombing attempt. Not only is there an expenditure of a massive amount of resources to clean up spilled materials, but accidents such as these cause concern about acts of domestic terrorism. This leads to additional expenditure of resources, like involvement by the Department of Homeland Security, increased security at airports, etc., each of which having an unrelenting domino effect on an entire portion of the national economy. 
         [0013]    The use of conventional lift trucks is problematic, and as a consequence, the use of lift trucks, especially in small or tight spaces, is difficult, inconvenient, and dangerous. As such, there has long been a chronic need in the use of lift trucks (or other comparable material handling equipment) for a safety system that can be used to reduce or eliminate the risk of serious injury and death to people. There is a need for a safety system that may be employed rapidly and dependably, and even automatically, that includes moving the front-end assembly to an out-of-the-way position. These needs are prevalent on new and existing lift trucks, such that there is a need to retrofit existing lift trucks with a safety system. 
         [0014]    There are additional needs for a lift truck capable of a smaller turning radius that results from the forks/blades being retracted/stored/moved to an out-of-the-way position. There is also a need for a lift truck that has a considerably smaller “footprint” during storage and non-load bearing travel. There is a chronic need for the prevention of injuries and loss of life associated with load and non-load bearing travel. There is a comparable need for the prevention of loss of material and property damage associated with non-load bearing travel. 
       SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0015]    In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of operating a lift vehicle that can include providing a lift truck. The lift truck can include a motorized mover and a front end assembly movably attached to the motorized mover. The front end assembly can include at least one vertical member and at least one horizontal member pivotally coupled to the vertical member at a pivot point. The horizontal member can be capable of carrying a load. The method also can include pivoting the horizontal member about the pivot point to position the front end assembly in a safety configuration. The method also can include pivoting the horizontal member about the pivot point to position the front end assembly in a working configuration. When the front end assembly is in the working configuration, the horizontal member can be oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the vertical member and can be extending in a direction away from the motorized mover. 
         [0016]    In other aspects, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lift truck safety system that can include a motorized mover and a front end assembly movably attached to the motorized mover. The front end assembly can include at least one vertical member and at least one horizontal member. Each vertical member can include a top end and a bottom end. The top end can be positioned elevationally higher than the bottom end. Each horizontal member can include a first end and a second end. The first end can be pivotally coupled to the bottom end at a pivot point. The horizontal member can be pivotally moveable to position the front end assembly between a safety configuration and a working configuration. When the front end assembly is in the working configuration, the horizontal member can be oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the vertical member and can be extending in a direction away from the motorized mover. 
         [0017]    In yet further aspects, embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a front end assembly for a motorized mover that can include at least one support member movably coupled to the motorized mover and at least one lifter element. Each support member can include a top end and a bottom end. The top end can be positioned elevationally higher than the bottom end. Each lifter element can include a first end and a second end. The first end can be pivotally coupled to the bottom end of the support member at a pivot point. The lifter element can be pivotally moveable to position the lifter element between a safety configuration and a working configuration. When the front end assembly is coupled to the motorized mover and is in the working configuration, the lifter element can be oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the support member and can be extending in a direction away from the motorized mover. 
         [0018]    Other aspects and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a conventional lift truck. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a perspective view of a lift truck in a working configuration, and a corresponding operator workspace, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C,  3 D,  3 E,  3 F,  3 G,  3 H,  3 J, and  3 K show multiple perspective views of several lift trucks comparable to each other positioned in various safety configurations, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C show multiple views of a front-end assembly in various positions, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5A and 5B  show various functional block diagrams of a safety system, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a comparison of a turn radius of a lift truck, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying Figures. Like elements in the various figures may be denoted by like reference numerals for consistency. Further, in the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a perspective view of a lift truck  200  in a working configuration according to embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown. The lift truck  200 , which may resemble the previously described lift truck  100 , may include standard features, such as a motorized mover  202  with one or more wheels  232  operatively attached thereto. Instead of wheels  232 , lift truck  200  may have tracks, rollers, etc. 
         [0027]    Although the mover  202  may use a combustion engine (not shown) to provide mechanical motion of the mover  202 , the engine does not have to require gasoline. For example, the engine may run on natural gas or propane. Alternatively, the motorized mover  202  may also use a pneumatic or hydraulic motor; however, the type of motor and motorized motion is not meant to be limited for the embodiments of the disclosure described herein. For example, the lift truck  200  may include other movers, such as an electrically powered mover. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  together show a safety system  201  of the present disclosure may include one or more of the following operatively connected to the lift truck  200 . There may be various sensors, such as a load sensor  204  and a position sensor  207 , as well as an interactive display panel  248 . Any of the sensors of the present disclosure may include a number of well known sensor types, such as a tape reel, a Murphy-type switch, a rotary encoder, or Hall-effect transistors, the description and operation of which are all known to one of skill in the art. 
         [0029]    The safety system  201  may include appropriate electrical wiring and/or other operatively connectable (e.g., hydraulic pressurized lines) devices  206  to provide the system  201  with power and/or other utilities as may be needed. The interactive display panel  248  may allow an operator to interact (i.e., interface, etc.) with systems (automated or otherwise) of the present disclosure. For example, the operator may touch the panel  248  to actuate a cylinder-piston mechanism  246 , which in turn may lift the front-end assembly  203  to a desired position. 
         [0030]    As another example, the operator may touch the panel  248  to actuate an override device  210 . Actuation of the override device  210  may, for example, allow the lift truck  200  to operate even though the lift truck  200  may be moved into a safety configuration  308  (e.g.,  308   a ,  FIG. 3A ). There may be corresponding indicators on the panel  248  to indicate various statuses of the lift truck  200 , such as the presence of a load (not shown), the position of the front-end assembly  203 , and/or the configuration of the lift truck  200 . The override  210  may include, but is not meant to be limited by, a switch, a key, a lever, etc., or any other kind of device known to one of ordinary skill in the art used to provide override capability. 
         [0031]    The override  210  may be enabled and/or disabled, as may be necessary. For example, once the override  210  is enabled, the lift truck  200  may be moved to the working configuration  205 . Once in the working configuration  205  and a load is detected (not shown), the override  210  may be disabled, such that when the load is removed and/or no longer detected, the safety system  201  may automatically move the front end assembly  203  to a safety configuration (not shown here). 
         [0032]    The sensors  204 ,  207  and display panel  248  may be in operative communication with a controller (not shown), which may include a CPU, a processor, a memory, etc., the operation of which is known to one of skill in the art. The controller may be used to control any of the lift truck  200  operations, such as operating, moving, driving, lifting, etc. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C,  3 D,  3 E,  3 F,  3 G,  3 H,  3 J, and  3 K, multiple perspective views of a lift truck  300  in various safety configurations according to embodiments of the present disclosure, are shown. The lift truck  300 , which may resemble the aforementioned lift truck  200 , may include a motorized mover  302  with one or more wheels  332  attached thereto. 
         [0034]    Embodiments of lift truck  300  shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and/or  3 C may each include a safety system  301  like that of the safety system  201  that was previously described. As such, the safety system  301  may include a controller (not shown) configured to receive signals from sensors  304  and/or  307 . If a certain signal is not detected and/or the signal is associated with a ‘NOGO’ situation (e.g., the lack of a load on lifter element  318 ), the safety system  301  may configure the lift truck  300  into a safety configuration  308 . In one embodiment, the safety system  301  may automatically default the configuration of the lift truck  300  into the safety configuration  308 . 
         [0035]    As an example of the safety system  301  operation, the presence of the load (not shown) may be detected by load (i.e., weight, etc.) sensor  304 , and the sensor  304  may send a signal to the controller, which may communicate with an interlock circuit  320 . The interlock circuit  320  of the safety system  301  may be used for automatic lock-out to ensure safe operation of the lift truck  300 . 
         [0036]    Referring briefly to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , these functional block diagrams illustrate the operational relationship between the sensor(s), the controller, the interlock, and the lift truck  300 . 
         [0037]    The safety system  301  may be used configure the lift truck  300  accordingly. For example, the safety system  301  may affect the configuration of the lift truck  300  ignition &amp; gear system, or the safety system  301  may affect the overall position of the lift truck  300  and/or front-end assembly  303 . Hence, whether the load sensor  304  detects the presence of a load (or lack thereof) may have a direct impact on the configuration of the lift truck  300 . 
         [0038]    Referring again to  FIG. 3A , although illustrated as being disposed in (or on) one of the forks  339 , the load sensor(s)  304  may be located in other areas of the lift truck  300 , such as the mast  303   a , the vertical member  312 , etc. The sensor(s)  304  may be electrically connected to the controller (not shown) and/or the interlock circuit  320 . The controller operation may, for example, compare the measured sensor signal with a pre-determined and/or programmed threshold value thereby judging whether the presence of the load is detected. 
         [0039]    When the sensor(s)  304  sends the applicable signal to the controller, movement and/or operation of the front-end assembly  303  and/or the lift truck  300  may be controlled. This is especially important in places where people are present, spatial constraints exist, and/or damageable goods are in the vicinity. In an exemplary embodiment, the safety system  301  may include the load sensor  304  connected to the front-end assembly  303 , such that the load sensor  304  may detect whether the load on one or more of the forks  339  is greater than a predetermined threshold value. 
         [0040]    If the load does not exceed the threshold value, the safety system  301  may automatically move the lift truck  300  into a safety configuration  308 . If the load exceeds the threshold value, the safety system  301  may maintain the lift truck  300  in a working configuration ( 205 ,  FIG. 2A ). In an embodiment, the threshold value may be one pound, such that when a load of more than one pound is detected, the lift truck  300  may operate in the working configuration  305  without the need to use the override device  310 . If one pound or more is not detected, the safety system  301 , without actuation of the override  310  and/or if the override  310  is disabled, may automatically default the lift truck  300  to any of the safety configurations as desired. 
         [0041]    The safety system  301  may also include the use of other sensors, such as position sensors, which may communicate with the controller and/or control panel to display or indicate whether the front-end assembly  303  is at a proper/desired height, position, configuration, etc. For example, the position sensor may be a tilt sensor  399 , which may be mounted upon the cylinder-piston mechanism  346   a  in order to provide sensor information related to the tilt/position of the front-end assembly  303 , the operation of which would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0042]    The configuration or position of the lift truck  300  may readily be seen by indicators provided on the control panel ( 248 ,  FIG. 2B ). Additionally, there may be a number of other visual and/or audible indicators, such as blinking lights and buzzers, any of which may be located in the work space or on the control panel. 
         [0043]    The provision of an interlock circuit  320  between the front-end assembly  303 , the controller, and/or the ignition &amp; gear system is beneficial. If the interlock  320  receives a GO signal that corresponds to the presence of the load, the front-end assembly  303  may be maintained in, and/or automatically moved to, the working configuration ( 205 ,  FIG. 2A ). 
         [0044]    However, if the controller and/or interlock receive a NOGO signal, which may correspond to a lack of a load (i.e., no load is detected by load sensor  304 ), the controller and interlock  320  may function to place the lift truck  300  into a safety configuration  308 . In one embodiment, the safety system  301  may default the configuration of the lift truck  300  to a safety configuration  308 . In a further embodiment, the safety system  301  may default the configuration of the lift truck  300  to the safety configuration  308  until the load is detected and/or until the actuation of an override  310 . In order to move to a working configuration  305 , the override circuit  310  may require actuation or enabling. This may be accomplished, for example, by the turn of a key, the push of a button, the movement of a lever, etc. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3H  together, which illustrate one embodiment of the safety configuration  308  that includes retraction of the load-bearing members  318  into sleeves  351  that may be disposed within the lift truck  300  or under the lift truck  300 . Alternatively, sleeves  351  may not be necessary, and the members  318  may simply be retracted by mechanical and/or hydraulic linkage  380 . The linkage  380  and/or sleeve(s)  351  may also include, for example, rollers  381  or other comparable devices (not shown) that engage the members  318  in order to further facilitate the retraction, extension, and/or movement of the member(s)  318 . This may also include other forms of power operated lift members  318  with, for example, a particular mechanical linkage and hydraulic cylinder means to effect the extension/retraction of the members  318 , such as, for example, a gear assembly (e.g., worm gear (not shown)). 
         [0046]    There may be a locking mechanism  350  used to securely fasten the members  318  to the front-end assembly  303  after the members  318  are extended outward. The mechanism  350  may be an electronic locking mechanism that may be configured to raise and lower a fastener  355 , such as a pin or a latch. The fastener  355  may be facilitated by an energized spring/coil  352 . The locking mechanism  350  may be configured to provide sufficient support between the members  318  and the front-end assembly  303 , such that the assembly  303  may lift any sized loads, as may be necessary. Although the clearance or space  353  between the sleeve  351  and the members  318  is not meant to be limited, a tighter clearance may provide for stronger lifting capability. 
         [0047]    The sleeves/tubes  351 , and thus the load-bearing member  318 , may be movable along a horizontal  356 , such that the distance (e.g., width) between at least two of the load-bearing members  318  may be adjusted. 
         [0048]    A hydraulic ram cylinder-piston mechanism  346  may be mounted between the motorized mover  302  and the front end assembly  303 . The cylinder-piston mechanism  346  may be operable in a conventional fashion to raise, lower, and/or otherwise maneuver the front-end assembly  303  in any desired manner. The operation of the cylinder-piston mechanism  346  is not meant to be limited, and mechanism  346  may be configured to place the front-end assembly  303  into other positions and configurations, which may include various “out-of-the-way” positions. 
         [0049]    For example,  FIG. 3J  illustrates the cylinder-piston mechanism  346  may be configured to lift the front-end assembly  303 , at least partially, to an elevation greater than the top of the frame  336 . The reverse facing direction of the forks  339  may reduce the footprint of the lift truck  300 , and may also provide a safety configuration  308   b  that keeps the forks  339  from impacting people and/or other items that may be in the vicinity of the lift truck  300 . 
         [0050]    Referring briefly to  FIG. 6 , the lift truck  300  in safety configuration  308  may be compared to lift truck  300  in a working configuration. As illustrated, the working configuration  305  includes a larger footprint, as well as a larger turn radius represented by overall length L 1 . In contrast, the safety configuration  308 , which may include any of the safety configurations described herein, has a smaller footprint, and a smaller turn radius, as represented by the smaller overall length L 2 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 3K  represents an example of how the cylinder-piston mechanism  346  may be configured to move the front-end assembly  303  rotationally away from a forward position associated with the working configuration  305 . For example, the front-end assembly  303  may be rotated at least 25 degrees from the position associated with the working configuration ( 205 ,  FIG. 2A ). Although shown as rotated to the left, the front-end assembly  303  may just as easily be rotated at least 25 degrees to the right. In embodiment, the rotation may be between 75 and 90 degrees to the right and/or left. 
         [0052]    To move the front end assembly  303  to the side, the lift truck  300  may be configured with additional rails or guides  338   a  disposed in a horizontal fashion along the front and/or the side of the lift truck  300 . As would be apparent to one of skill in the art, the guides or rails  338   a  may enable the front end  303  to move laterally, horizontally, sideways, rotatively, etc. in a comparable manner as to how vertical guides/rails ( 138 ,  FIG. 1 ) facilitate vertical movement. As such, the hydraulic actuator  346  may be configured to move the front end assembly  303  along the rails  338   a . In an embodiment, there may be more than one hydraulic actuator  346  disposed on the lift truck  300  in order to move and/or rotate the front end assembly  303  from away from the working configuration  305 . 
         [0053]    Thus, the front end assembly  303  may have features (not shown), such as connectors, etc., operatively and/or movingly engaged with the rails  338   a . These features may be telescopingly, or otherwise slidingly engaged, and may include, for example, rollers, or any other mechanism or device that may allow the front end assembly  303  to be moved along rails  338   a . In one embodiment, the front end assembly  303  and the rails  338   a  may be configured to allow the front end assembly  303  and mast  303   a  to rotate at least a portion of the front end assembly  303  at least 75 degrees from a position associated with the working configuration  305 . 
         [0054]    There may be a conventional power operator (not shown), as known to one of skill in the art, that provides the actuation of the cylinder-piston mechanism  346 . The power operator may be powered by electricity, hydraulics, or air pressure to extend and/or retract the piston element (not shown) movably disposed within the mechanism  346 . When these components of mechanism  346  extend, move, etc., the operation and/or actuation of the mechanism  346  may cause the front-end assembly  303  to move. 
         [0055]    Although a number of configurations are described, the safety configuration  308  may include a number of other arrangements, features, etc., not otherwise mentioned and is not meant to be limited by the description here. The safety configuration  308  may include, for example, the prevention of the motorized mover  302  from starting and/or the prevention of the motorized mover  302  to switch into a drive gear. In one embodiment, the safety configuration  308  may include an inoperable lift truck  300 . In another embodiment, the safety configuration  308  may include the front-end assembly  303  moved to a safe position or an ‘out-of-the-way’ position like that of the embodiments previously described. 
         [0056]    The safety system  301  may further comprise a sensor whereby the lift truck  300  will not be capable of shifting out of park and into a moving gear (e.g., drive or reverse) until the forks/blades are placed in a safe position. Thus, any safety configuration of the lift truck  300  may include other arrangements and features not otherwise illustrated or described herein that would be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C, multiple views of a front-end assembly  403  in various positions according to embodiments of the present disclosure, are shown.  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C together show a close-up view of a front-assembly  403 , which may be operatively connected with a lift truck (not shown), as previously described. As shown, lifter element  418  may include at least one tine or fork  439 . In one embodiment, there may be a plurality of forks  439 . The working configuration of the lifter element  418  may include a general L-shape that includes a vertical member  412  and a load-bearing or otherwise horizontal member  413 . 
         [0058]    In an embodiment, the lifter element  418  may include the vertical member  412  pivotably connected with the load-bearing member  413 . Thus, as shown by  FIG. 4C , the load-bearing member  413  may pivot with respect to the vertical member  412  around pivot point  416 . Additionally, front-end assembly  403  and/or mast (not shown) may pivot with respect to the motorized mover (not shown) about a pivot point  417 . The pivoting may be controlled by a cylinder-piston mechanism  446 , the operation of which may be comparable to the previously described mechanism  346 . 
         [0059]    The hydraulically operable cylinder-piston mechanism  446  may be movably attached to the mast  403   a  and/or other portion of the front-end assembly  403  by connector  440 . The cylinder-piston mechanism  446  may also be movably connected to a portion of the front-send assembly  403  by connector  441 . The connector  441  may be fixedly attached to a horizontal member  414 . The connectors  440  and  441  may be any connector known in the art, such as a pivotable bracket assembly. One of the connectors  440  or  441  may be connected to a horizontal member  414 . 
         [0060]    The cylinder-piston mechanism  446  may be, for example, a two-way cylinder in which a piston disposed within the cylinder may be pushed, or otherwise moved, one way or the other as may be desired in order to increase or decrease the overall length of the cylinder-piston mechanism and corresponding connector rods  443  to their connectors  440 ,  441 . 
         [0061]    The safety system may thus include forks or blades that are capable of pivotally folding inward, upwards, or away from each other or into the sides of the lift truck for safe storage during non-load bearing travel. In one embodiment, there may be a set of forks whereby the forks are adjoined by a plate with a piston in order to elevate and/or rotate the forks above the cab and/or operator and away from pedestrians. Another aspect of the system may include the capability of the forks to retract into the body of the lift truck for safe storage. 
         [0062]    Embodiments of the disclosure may provide for a method of operating a lift truck. The method may include various steps, such as actuating an override to move the lift truck from a safety configuration into a working configuration, positioning a load onto a front end assembly movably attached to the lift vehicle, and automatically moving the lift truck into the safety configuration once the load is removed from the front end assembly. 
         [0063]    In addition, the step of automatically moving to the safety configuration may further include moving the front end assembly to an out-of-the-way position, rendering an engine of the lift truck inoperable, preventing a gear assembly of the lift truck from changing between gears, and combinations thereof. 
         [0064]    The out-of-the-way position may include at least one of moving the front end assembly to a height at least partially above the fork lift, retracting at least a portion of the front end assembly underneath the lift truck, rotating at least a portion of the front end assembly at least 75 degrees from a position associated with the working configuration, and combinations thereof. 
         [0065]    Embodiments disclosed herein may provide for one or more of the following advantages. Of significant importance, the safety system of the disclosure may prevent injures and the loss of life. The safety system may also prevent the loss of material and property damage. Second, embodiments disclosed herein may provide for a smaller turning radius. The smaller turn radius means that more space may be used to store more material, or that more aisles may be used to provide goods to a consumer. Additionally, the “footprint” of the lift truck may be considerably smaller than current existing models during transit and non-transit (e.g., storage, etc.). 
         [0066]    Additional advantages include a safety system that may expeditiously and conveniently be installed on lift trucks and material handlers of any type. The ability to retrofit may be beneficial because there will not be a need to purchase a new lift truck. The safety system may beneficially default the configuration of the lift truck to a safety configuration, whereby the safety feature requires a specific act or event to occur in order to place the lift truck in a working configuration. Without the act or event, the system beneficially prevents the lift truck from going into the working configuration. The safety system of the present disclosure may advantageously be applied to any number of other types of vehicles or movers, and is not limited to lift trucks, forklifts, etc. 
         [0067]    While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as described herein. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should be limited only by the attached claims.