Storage device for use with a pallet jack

A pallet jack assembly includes a pallet jack having a frame assembly. An attachment includes a shell having a bottom wall and at least one side wall. The bottom wall and the at least one side wall define a storage cavity. The bottom wall is supported by the frame assembly.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

This invention relates generally to pallet jacks, and, more particularly, to a storage device for use with a pallet jack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A pallet is a portable platform used for supporting a load of cargo or freight. Pallet jacks, also known as “pallet trucks,” are wheeled vehicles used to latch onto pallets, raise the pallets above ground level, and transport the pallets and any items stored thereon. A pallet jack may be powered by a motor or engine, or may be manually driven.

Conventional pallet jacks provide no convenient way to transport tools, writing utensils, clipboards, and other miscellaneous items along with the pallet and its cargo. If the pallet jack operator would like to transport such miscellaneous items, he may place them on the pallet or cargo where they are subject to, among other things, falling off during transport. Alternatively, the operator may carry whatever items he is able to in one hand while he tries to operate the pallet jack with the other hand. This is a difficult task for the operator and presents safety concerns. Another option is for the operator to place the items in some type of container, such as a bag with a handle, that he must carry on his person. Carrying a bag is not particularly convenient for the operator and may present other safety concerns if some part of the bag becomes caught in machinery while the handle of the bag is draped over the operator's limb or torso.

What is needed in the art is an apparatus that enables an operator of a pallet jack to conveniently and safely transport miscellaneous items along with the pallet jack itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pallet jack assembly including a container attachment that is securely fastened to the frame assembly of the pallet jack. The attachment may include a top storage tray that is disposed some distance directly above the top surface of the frame assembly such that the tray and its contents are within convenient arms length of the operator. The body of the attachment may be in the form of a shell having an interior storage cavity that may be suitable for storing bulky items which do not fit in the tray. On a side of the body facing the operator there may be provided an opening into the cavity. The lateral sides of the body may also include openings into the cavity.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a pallet jack assembly includes a pallet jack having a frame assembly. An attachment includes a shell having a bottom wall and at least one side wall. The bottom wall and the at least one side wall define a storage cavity. The bottom wall is supported by the frame assembly.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a storage device for use with a pallet jack includes a base supported by the frame assembly of the pallet jack. The base has a first width. A tray includes at least one upstanding wall. The tray has a second width that is greater than the first width. A tapered body interconnects the base and the tray. An attachment mechanism attaches the storage device to the frame assembly of the pallet jack.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a pallet jack assembly includes a pallet jack having a frame assembly. An attachment includes a bottom surface in engagement with the frame assembly. A storage device is operably disposed directly above the frame assembly and the bottom surface.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly toFIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of a pallet jack assembly10of the present invention, including a pallet jack12and an attachment14. Pallet jack12includes a pallet-engaging device in the form of tines16,18, and a frame assembly20interconnecting tines16,18. Tines16,18extend in a forward direction21from frame assembly20.

Frame assembly20includes a triangular housing22that may be attached to or integral with each of tines16,18. Housing22includes a front surface23that may be vertically oriented.

A housing cap24(FIG. 2) may be provided at a peak of the triangular housing22. Housing cap24may be coupled to a pivot shaft26that enables a handle28and a pair of rollers30to be pivoted about a vertical axis32of pivot shaft26relative to tines16,18and housing22. Housing cap24includes a top wall33having a flat upper surface34that may be horizontally oriented. That is, surface34may be parallel to tines16,18and to a floor surface36(FIG. 3) on which rollers30rest. Surface34may support attachment14, as described in more detail below.

Housing cap24may also include one or more side walls35extending downward from the outer edge of top wall33. Top wall33and side wall(s)35may define an interior recess37.

Attachment14may include, or be in the form of, one or more storage devices. The storage device(s) may be used by an operator of pallet jack12to store tools or other implements that the operator would like to keep handy or accessible while operating pallet jack12. Attachment14may be attached to pallet jack12such that attachment14rests upon upper surface34of housing cap24and is thus within convenient arms length of the operator. The operator would typically stand or walk behind handle28.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-3, attachment14generally includes a base38(FIG. 2), a stabilizing device40, a body42and a storage tray44. Base38may be in the form of a bottom wall having a flat bottom surface46that rests upon the flat upper surface34of housing cap24. Base38may include throughholes48,50through which the threaded shafts of hooks52,54may extend. Nuts56,58may be each attached to a respective one of the threaded shafts above base38to thereby fasten hooks52,54to base38. Nuts56,58may each have a width greater than the width of a respective throughhole48,50. Washers (not shown) may be provided between nuts56,58and base38.

At a front edge60of base38, a downwardly extending ridge62may be provided. Ridge62may latch onto a front edge64of top wall33to thereby limit or prevent any sliding of attachment14in a rearward direction66relative to pallet jack12. Rearward direction66is opposite forward direction21.

During assembly, attachment14may be slid in rearward direction66until ridge62engages front edge64. Hooks52,54may be used as an attachment mechanism for attaching attachment14to frame assembly20of pallet jack12. The curved ends of hooks52,54may then be latched over a distal, bottom end of side wall(s)35such that the tips of the curved ends of hooks52,54are received in recess37. Nuts56,58may then be tightened on the threaded shafts of hooks52,54to thereby securely fasten attachment14to housing cap24.

Attachment14may also be easily disassembled or removed from pallet jack12. More particularly, nuts56,58may be loosened on the threaded shafts of hooks52,54until there is enough play to enable the curved ends of hooks52,54to be removed from recess37.

Stabilizing device40is shown in the form of a foot-like device having a bottom surface68that may be substantially coplanar with bottom surface46of base38such that bottom surfaces46,68conjointly form a continuous, flat bottom surface of attachment14. This continuous, flat bottom surface formed by surfaces46,68rests upon the flat upper surface34of housing cap24. It is possible for the continuous surface formed by surfaces46,68to completely cover and thereby make maximum use of upper surface34in a supporting capacity. That is, the continuous surface formed by surfaces46,68may be approximately the same size as upper surface34.

In another embodiment (not shown), the bottom surface of the attachment is provided with some concavity or arch along directions21,66and possibly along transverse directions70. Such concavity may provide the attachment with stable footing on upper surface24and may reduce any possible rocking of the attachment on upper surface24.

Body42may have four side walls, including a front wall72, a rear wall74, and two opposite lateral walls76,78, and a top wall80. Walls72,74,76,78,80in conjunction with a bottom wall in the form of base38may form a hollow shell defining an interior storage cavity82that is operably disposed directly above both housing cap24and base38. The term “operably disposed” as used herein indicates that the storage device is operable to function in a storage capacity in the position in which the device is disposed. The term “directly above” is used herein to indicate that an object is offset or displaced in a vertical direction from the other object, but is not substantially offset or displaced in a horizontal direction from the other object. Thus, storage cavity82may be offset or displaced from housing cap24and base38in a vertical direction, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to floor surface36, and might not be substantially offset or displaced from housing cap24and base38in a horizontal direction, i.e., in a direction parallel to floor surface36. For example, it may be possible for an imaginary vertical line to pass through each of storage cavity82, housing cap24and base38. Further, cavity82may be operable in a storage capacity when disposed in such a position.

Cavity82provides a covered storage device in that top wall80covers cavity82. Thus, cavity82may be sheltered from air currents and/or precipitation when pallet jack assembly10is disposed outdoors.

Extending upwardly from an upper surface84of top wall80are four upstanding walls86,88,90,92. Upper surface84and upstanding walls86,88,90,92may conjointly define a horizontally-oriented storage tray94that is operably disposed directly above both housing cap24and base38. Tray94may have a width in transverse directions70that is greater than the width of base38in transverse directions70. Thus, the storage area on tray94may be relatively large while the space occupied by the lower section of attachment14, and by base38in particular, remains relatively small.

Body42may be generally tapered to provide a smooth transition between base38and the relatively larger tray94. More particularly, each of front wall72and rear wall74may have a width in transverse directions70that generally increases from base38to tray94.

In one embodiment, tray94has a width in transverse directions70of approximately sixteen inches, and base38has a width in transverse directions70of approximately seven inches. Tray94may be disposed approximately eighteen inches above base38.

Tray94may have a depth in directions21,66that is approximately equal to the depth of base38in directions21,66. Further, body42may have a constant depth in directions21,66that is approximately equal to the depths of tray94and base38. In one embodiment, body42, tray94and base38each have a depth in directions21,66of approximately six inches.

As best shown inFIG. 3, a front surface96of attachment14, conjointly formed by a front edge or surface98of tray94, a front surface100of front wall72, front edge60of base38and a front surface102of ridge62, may be planar and vertically oriented. That is, front surfaces98,100,102and front edge60may be vertically coplanar such that each of front surfaces98,100,102and front edge60is directly above or directly below each of the other ones of front surfaces98,100,102and front edge60. Front surface96may face in forward direction21. In one embodiment, front surface96extends a maximum of six inches past front surface23of housing22in forward direction21. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-3, front surface96extends less than one inch past front surface23in forward direction21.

Due to front surface96of attachment14being planar and vertically oriented, any possible interference by attachment14with the space above tines16,18is advantageously reduced to a low level. Thus, attachment14is not likely to interfere with objects (not shown) carried on a pallet (not shown) that is engaged by tines16,18.

Similarly, as best shown inFIG. 3, the surface of rear wall74may be planar and vertically oriented. Thus, any possible interference by attachment14with the space around handle28is also advantageously reduced to a low level. Thus, attachment14is not likely to interfere with the movements of handle28and its operator.

Rear wall74of body42may include a generally trapezoidally-shaped opening104into cavity82. Opening104is in communication with cavity82and faces in rearward direction66. The generally trapezoidal shape of opening104may correspond to the generally trapezoidal shape of attachment14. Opposite side edges106,108of opening104may include respective semi-crescent-shaped notches110,112which may also be used as storage devices.

Lateral walls76,78may each include a respective opening114,116into cavity82. Each of openings114,116is in communication with cavity82and may face in a respective upward or lateral direction perpendicular to forward direction21and rearward direction66. In the embodiment shown, each of openings114,116faces in a respective direction that is about 30° from vertical and about 60° from horizontal. In order to accommodate openings114,116, each of lateral walls76,78may include a respective V-shaped notch118,120extending into each of front wall72and rear wall74. Openings114,116are each disposed in a lower leg of a respective one of notches118,120.

During use, an operator of pallet jack assembly10may store tools, implements, utensils, clipboards and any other desired objects in cavity82, tray94and/or notches110,112. Items may be placed in cavity82through any of openings104,114and116. Longer items may be inserted into cavity82through one of openings114,116until an end of the item rests upon base38. The opposite end of the item may be allowed to protrude through opening114,116. As one example, a hammer (not shown) may be inserted into opening114such that a claw, i.e., cleft end, of the hammerhead hangs on an outer edge122of opening114. Bulkier items may be inserted into cavity82through opening104. Other hangable objects may be hung in notches110,112. For example, strings, ropes or rolls of tape may be hung in notches110,112. Small items, or items that are needed by the operator with greater frequency, may be placed on upper surface84of tray94, i.e., stored in tray94, for particularly convenient access by the operator.

FIG. 4illustrates another embodiment of an attachment214that is suitable for use in a pallet jack assembly of the present invention. Attachment214includes a base238, stabilizing device240, a body242, and a storage tray244. Body242includes four vertically oriented side walls, including a front wall272, a rear wall274, and lateral walls276,278. Body242may have a constant width280and a constant depth282throughout its height in vertical directions284. Each of walls272,274,276,278may be in the form of, or may be covered by, a storage device including rows and/or columns of spaced throughholes286. Storage hooks288may be inserted into throughholes286to thereby secure hooks288to body242. Tools and other items, such as a wrench290, may be hung on hooks288. Other aspects of attachment214are substantially similar to those of attachment14, and thus are not described in detail herein in order to avoid needless repetition.

FIG. 5illustrates yet another embodiment of an attachment314that is suitable for use in a pallet jack assembly of the present invention. Attachment314includes a base338, stabilizing device340, and a storage device342disposed directly above both base338and housing cap24. In this embodiment, stabilizing device340is a planar extension of base338. Storage device342is in the form of a hollow post having four vertically oriented side walls, including a front wall372, a rear wall374, and lateral walls376,378. Post342may have a constant, square-shaped cross section throughout its height in vertical directions384. Each of walls372,374,376,378may have a column or multiple columns of spaced throughholes386. Storage hooks388may be inserted into throughholes386to thereby secure hooks388to post342. Tools and other items may be hung on hooks388. Other aspects of attachment314are substantially similar to those of attachment14, and thus are not described in detail herein in order to avoid needless repetition.

The embodiments disclosed above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the detailed description. Rather, the embodiments have been chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

Although described in the exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that various modifications may be made to the subject matter without departing from the intended and proper scope of the invention.