Abstract:
The present invention discloses either an apparatus that is adapted for selective mounting to and demounting from a pallet jack for use therewith or a transport vehicle having an apparatus permanently mounted thereto, which can effectively and efficiently transport articles or stacks of objects, such as boxes, furniture, trays, or the like from one location to another. The apparatus comprises a housing and an article engaging and lifting member, which includes a base and a back support member for supporting the article or stacks of objects. The article engaging and lifting member is pivotally mounted to the housing, preferably adjacent the bottom of the back support member. In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a first clamp member for maintaining the article adjacent the back support member. In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes an upper displacement member which can engage and displace an upper object from the stack of objects to reduce the effective height of the tilted stack for transport. In another embodiment of the present invention, the base is linearly moveable along the back support member for raising and lowering articles along the length of the back support member. The base comprises a plurality of laminated forks or a laminated platen projecting outwardly from the back support member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is entitled to the benefit of, and claims priority to, and is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/257,712, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,887, filed Feb. 25, 2001 by Springston et al. and entitled “APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates broadly to devices for handling articles and, more particularly, to an apparatus that is removeably mountable onto a pallet jack for use therewith in lifting, tilting, transporting, and relocating articles, such as stacks of trays, boxes, furniture or the like from one location to another. A motorized truck having the maneuverability of a pallet jack and upon which the apparatus is permanently mounted is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. 
     Many different types of material handling devices or trucks are known in the art. Such devices range from a simple hand truck to a more complex fork lift device. A hand truck requires the manual strength of the operator to assist in lifting, tilting, and maneuvering the load, which is supported on the hand truck on a relatively short platen base. Generally, a hand truck and operator are only capable of maneuvering a load of up to several hundred pounds. In contrast, a fork lift device is generally motorized, has a place for the operator to stand or sit, and is capable of lifting and transporting extremely heavy loads weighing up to several thousand pounds or more. In addition, a standard fork lift usually has fairly long and thick forks for lifting, supporting, and maneuvering heavy or bulky loads, such as palletized loads, industrial machines or equipment. 
     Specialized material handling trucks having capabilities falling somewhere between hand trucks and fork lifts are also known in the art. One example of such a device is shown in Avitan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,196, which discloses a small truck that is designed for loading, tilting, and transporting two stacks of interlocking bread trays in side-by-side fashion. Although most of the bread industry still uses hand trucks to load and unload stacks of bread trays from a truck trailer, the device in Avitan offers some benefits. 
     The device disclosed in Avitan, however, has numerous disadvantages, which, as will be seen, are overcome by the apparatus of the present invention. For example, in order to move stacks of bread as disclosed in Avitan, a bread manufacturer only has the option of purchasing the entire apparatus or truck described in the Avitan patent. Since most bread manufacturers own pallet jacks, there is a need to provide a material handling apparatus that can be mounted onto a pallet jack, which obviates the need for purchasing an entirely new transport vehicle upon which an apparatus is permanently mounted. In addition, the truck disclosed in Avitan has the operator facing away from the stacks of bread trays being loaded onto the truck—while this allows the operator to see clearly when driving the loaded truck in a forward direction, it is quite difficult for the operator to see while backing the truck into correct loading and unloading position. Further, the Avitan patent discloses a standard platen (solid or divided) for disposition beneath the stacks of bread trays to be moved. To fit beneath stacks of bread trays, the standard platen must be fairly thin, which tends to bend easily especially after repeated use. Another disadvantage of the Avitan design is having the pivot point of the tiltable upright approximately halfway up the height of the upright. The high pivot point creates at least two problems: first, since the lower half of the tilted stacks must tilt away from the truck, the operator must ensure that there is sufficient space on the other side of the stacks before the load is tilted; second, the high pivot point places the center of gravity of the load further toward the rear of the truck which decreases the stability of the loaded truck during transport. In addition, the Avitan device does not disclose a means or method for maintaining the stacks of bread trays in abutment with or adjacent to the tiltable upright during tilting or transport. In practice, when being tilted, the stacks of trays may actually lean away from the upright. Such leaning not only increases the lateral instability of the load being carried, but also increases the amount of force exerted on the platen during the tilting process, which, in turn, increases the likelihood that the platen will bend. Further, the truck disclosed in Avitan can only carry as many bread trays as will fit, while tilted, through the height of the opening of a truck trailer into which the stacks of bread trays are being loaded or unloaded. Further, the truck in the Avitan patent is limited to the handling of stacks of bread trays. There is no disclosure or suggestion to use the truck to transport other types of articles, such as furniture, boxes, or similar uniformly-shaped articles. Finally, there is no disclosure or suggestion that the truck have the capability of raising and lowering the articles being moved along the height of the upright to allow the articles to be loaded onto or unloaded from a raised platform or stack, nor is there any disclosure or suggestion that the platen or base have the capability of being adjusted in a side to side fashion to allow the base to be properly centered before loading the article or to allow the article to be side shifted relative to the upright after it has been loaded. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of present invention to provide an apparatus having a base and a back support member that can be selectively mounted and demounted to and from a pallet jack for use therewith in moving articles from one location to another. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a mountable apparatus with a pivot location generally at the bottom of the back support member. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a mountable apparatus with a first clamp member disposed along the upper half of the back support member for maintaining the articles in abutment with or adjacent the back support member during tilting and/or movement of the articles from one location to another. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such a mountable apparatus for use in moving stacks of objects that is capable of displacing at least one of the objects off of the stack whereby the vertical height of the tilted stack is reduced, which allows a stack of objects exceeding the vertical height restrictions of the opening of a truck trailer to be successfully loaded onto the truck trailer. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a mountable apparatus wherein the base may be raised and lowered along the height of the back support member to allow the articles being moved to be raised and lowered for loading onto or unloading from a raised platform. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a mountable apparatus wherein the base may be adjusted in side to side fashion relative to the back support member whereby the base may be properly centered below a load prior to loading and/or whereby the load may be properly adjusted across to the back support member after being loaded. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a mountable apparatus with a base comprising a plurality of laminated forks, each of such forks being selectively mountable and demountable onto the back support member and being tapered at one end for sliding under the articles to be moved. 
     Alternatively, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a mountable apparatus with a base comprising a laminated platen, mountable and demountable onto the back support member and being tapered at one end for sliding under the articles to be moved. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a mountable apparatus having each of and/or varying combinations of the above-mentioned novel features. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a transport vehicle having each of and/or varying combinations of the above-mentioned novel features. 
     To that end, the present invention provides an apparatus for moving an article from one location to another, comprising a housing adapted for selective mounting to and demounting from a pallet jack, and an article engaging and lifting member attached to the housing and comprising a base for disposition beneath the article to be moved for bottom support thereof and a back support member extending from the base at a generally perpendicular orientation for side support of the article. The article engaging and lifting member is pivotally attached to the housing adjacent the bottom of the back support member to define a first pivot location. The apparatus further comprises means associated with the article engaging member and with the housing for tilting the article engaging and lifting member about the first pivot location. The tilting means comprises a force application member that either extends between and is connected to the housing and the back support member at a spacing from the first pivot location or connects to the housing and the article engaging and lifting member generally at the first pivot location whereby a force applied to the back support member by the force application member results in tilting movement of the article engaging and lifting member about the first pivot location. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a first clamp member disposed on the back support member at a spacing from the first pivot location for engaging the article to be moved and maintaining the article adjacent the back support member. The first clamp member comprises at least one hook member pivotally mounted to the back support member for pivotal movement into and out of clamping engagement with the article to be moved. In addition, the first clamp member may be vertically adjusted along the back support member to accommodate different types or sizes of articles or objects being moved. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, when the article being moved is a stack of objects, the apparatus further comprises an upper displacement member mounted to the back support member which engages an upper object of the stack and displaces the upper object off of the stack over the back support member whereby the vertical height of the tilted stack is reduced. The upper displacement member comprises a rack mounted at a top of the back support member and having a length extending generally perpendicular to the back support member in a direction opposite that of the base; and an upper engagement member moveably mounted on the rack for engaging, lifting, and moving the upper object along the length of the rack. The upper engagement member comprises a beam member movably mounted along the length of the rack, an engagement plate defining a plurality of openings therein and moveably mounted to the beam member for vertical and horizontal movement relative to the upper object, a second clamp member mounted to the beam member and adapted to project through one of the plurality of openings of the engagement plate and to engage and stabilize the upper object relative to the engagement plate, and a plurality of lifting fingers mounted to the engagement plate and projecting through others of the openings in the engagement plate, the lifting fingers engaging a side of the upper object during vertical movement of the engagement plate for lifting the upper object from the stack and pulling the upper object along the length of the rack in response to movement of the beam member. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the base is linearly moveable along the back support member for raising and lowering of the article relative to the back support member. In addition, the base may also be adjustable in side to side or horizontal fashion relative to the back support member. 
     In one embodiment, the base comprises a plurality of forks projecting outwardly in side by side, spaced relation from the back support member for disposition beneath the article for support thereof Preferably, the forks are laminated for increased strength and the thickness of each fork tapers on the end furthestmost from the back support member to more easily slide beneath an article being loaded. Alternatively, the base comprises a platen projecting outwardly from the back support member for disposition beneath the article for support thereof. Preferably, the platen is laminated for increased strength and the thickness of the platen tapers on the end furthestmost from the back support member to more easily slide beneath an article being loaded. 
     It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that any of the above features may be used singly or in combination with each other. Further, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention, that any one or combination of the above features could be permanently or fixedly mounted on a transport vehicle, which would provide the same functionality as an apparatus selectively mounted to and demountable from the pallet jack. 
     By the above, the present invention provides either an apparatus that is adapted for selective mounting to and demounting from a pallet jack for use therewith or a transport vehicle having an apparatus described herein permanently mounted thereto, either of which can effectively and efficiently transport articles or stacks of objects, such as boxes, furniture, trays, or the like from one location to another. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a rear, perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the apparatus is mounted to a pallet jack. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus and pallet jack shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear, perspective view of the internal components of the housing portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3A is a rear, perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3B is a rear, perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3C is a rear, perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front, partial perspective view of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.  3 B. 
     FIG. 5 is a front, partial perspective view of the lower portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.  3 C. 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  3 A. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  3 B. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a partial top view of the lower portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 11 is a partial top view of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 12 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  3 C. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a device for handling articles, and in this embodiment a stack of objects such as bread trays, is illustrated generally at  20 . The device  20  consists of an apparatus  40  mounted onto a standard pallet jack  22 . The pallet jack  22  is conventional and will, therefore, be described only in limited detail. The pallet jack  22  has wheels  24 , a power unit  26 , operator controls  28 , and two pallet forks  30  for carrying a load of pallets (not shown). Each pallet fork  30  has wheels  32  at one end thereof and is usually capable of being raised and lowered a limited distance from the floor for raising and lowering a load of pallets. Conveniently, the pallet jack  22  also has an area  34  for the operator to stand or sit in sideways fashion, which makes it easy for the operator to see when driving the pallet jack  22  in either direction and when loading material onto or unloading material from the apparatus  40 . 
     Rather than being used to carry a load of pallets, the pallet jack  22  may be used, as disclosed in the present invention, as a transport vehicle upon which the apparatus  40  may be mounted and which, in conjunction with the apparatus  40 , may be used to engage, lift, tilt, transport, and otherwise relocate articles, such as boxes, trays, furniture, or the like. 
     The apparatus  40  includes a housing  42  adapted for selective mounting and demounting onto the pallet jack  22 . More specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the housing  42  is mounted onto the pallet forks  30  of the pallet jack using C-shaped or L-shaped clamps  44  (see FIGS. 7,  9 , and  13 ) or similar vise-like devices that may be screwed or bolted into locking contact with the pallet forks  30 . Alternatively, any other suitable means for detachably clamping or mounting the housing  42  to the pallet forks  30  may be used. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C, the apparatus  40  also includes an article engaging and lifting member  46 , which in its simplest configuration, includes a base  48  and a back support member  50 , which are positioned in generally perpendicular relation to one another. The base  48  is used to support the bottom of the stack of objects and the back support member  50  is used to support one side of the stack when tilted. As shown, the article engaging and lifting member  46  is pivotally attached to the housing  42  in conventional manner using pivot brackets  54 . In the preferred embodiment, the pivot location  56  is generally at or adjacent the bottom or base of the back support member  50 ; however, a higher pivot location could also be used. 
     The article engaging and lifting member  46  is tilted about the pivot location  56  in response to force applied by a force application member  58 . In the preferred embodiment, the force application member  58  is a hydraulically-driven piston/cylinder combination. Alternatively, the force application member  58  could be a pneumatically-driven piston/cylinder combination, a geared crank, or any other type of mechanical assembly that performs a similar function. One end of the force application member  58  connects with a pivot bracket  62  along the height of the back support member  50 . Preferably, the pivot bracket  62  is spaced a predetermined distance above the pivot location  56  on the back side of the back support member  50 . As shown more fully in FIGS. 7,  9 , and  13 , the other end of the force application member  58  mounts to a pivot bracket  64  within the housing  42 . 
     Although not shown in any of the drawings, the force application member  58  could alternatively be in the form of a hydraulic or electric rotator, which is known in the art. In such a case, the rotator could be positioned generally at or near the pivot location  56 . 
     Referring back to FIG. 2, a first clamp member  66  is disposed on the back support member  50  at a predetermined distance above the pivot location  56 . As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, the first clamp member  66  is used to engage one or more articles and to maintain the article or stack of objects  52  in abutment with or adjacent to the back support member  50 . The first clamp member  66  assists in stabilizing the load not only during tilting but also during transport, including turning maneuvers. 
     An upper displacement member  76  is mounted at the top of the back support member  50 . As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, the upper displacement member  76  engages at least one of the upper objects  53  in the stack of objects  52  and displaces the upper object  53  and any objects resting on top of the upper object a predetermined distance off of the stack. As shown graphically in FIG. 2, and for reasons that will be discussed hereinafter, displacing one or more of the upper objects  53  off of the stack  52  reduces the effective height of the tilted stack of articles from a height of h+h′ to a height of only h. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the main components contained within housing  42  and FIGS. 3A,  3 B, and  3 C illustrate three embodiments of the article engaging and lifting member  46 . The housing  42  contains the piston/cylinder combination  58 , controls  100  which are used by the operator to maneuver the article engaging and lifting member  46 , a control line  102  which connects the controls  100  electrically with the article engaging and lifting member  46 , and pivot mounting members  104  for connecting to pivot brackets  54  on the article engaging and lifting member  46 . The housing  42  also contains a power splice block  106 , which provides electrical power from the pallet jack battery (not shown) to the apparatus power pack  110 . The apparatus power pack  110  includes a DC motor  108 , which drives a hydraulic pump  112 . In response to input at controls  100 , the DC motor  108 , the hydraulic pump  112 , and a plurality of selector solenoid valves  114  control the hydraulics used by the article engaging and lifting member. The hydraulics include the force application member  58  and the other piston/cylinder combinations described herein. 
     FIGS. 3A,  6 , and  7  illustrate one embodiment of the article engaging and lifting member  46 . Preferably, the back support member  50  is rectangularly-shaped and, for ease of reference, has four horizontal beams: a top  116 , a bottom  118 , a first middle  120  and a second middle  122 , and several vertical beams: two side  124  and one middle  126 , extending between the bottom  118  and first middle horizontal  120  beams. The pivot brackets  54  are mounted in spaced relation on the back side of the bottom horizontal beam  118 . The force application member pivot bracket  62  is mounted on the back side at the intersection of the second middle horizontal beam  122  and the middle vertical beam  126 . 
     The first clamp member  66 , as illustrated best in FIGS. 4,  8 ,  9 , and  11  (which refer to another embodiment), is mounted between the top beam  116  and first middle horizontal beam  120 . The first clamp member  66  includes at least one hook member  68 , which is pivotally mounted to a post  70  mounted on the first middle horizontal beam  120 . In the preferred embodiment, two hook members  68  are pivotally mounted in facing relation. The hook members  68  pivot into and out of clamping engagement with the article being moved in response to the extension and retraction of a hydraulically-driven piston/cylinder combination  72 . The piston/cylinder combination  72  is controlled by solenoid valves  114  when activated by the operator using controls  100 . The first clamp member  66  is vertically adjustable along post  70  to enable it to accommodate different sized or types of articles being moved. In addition, the first clamp member  66  is vertically spring-loaded to give it some flexibility when engaging the article being moved. The first clamp member  66  maintains the article being moved in abutment with or adjacent the front side of the back support member  50 . 
     Referring also to FIG. 5, the base  48  is mounted on the front side of the bottom horizontal beam  118 . The base  48  consists of a plurality of laminated forks  94  projecting outwardly in side-by-side, spaced relation. Each laminated fork  94  is separately mounted to the bottom horizontal beam  118  using bolts  96  or other appropriate fastening means. The tip  98  of each laminated fork  94  is tapered for ease in sliding under the article or stack of objects being moved. Alternatively, the base  48  may include one or more laminated platens  158  mounted in similar fashion to the laminated forks  94  and having a similar taper at the tip  160  of each platen  158  for ease in sliding under the article to be moved. Being laminated increases the strength and load capability of the forks  94  or platens  158  and having the tapered tip allows the forks  94  or platens  158  to slide more easily beneath the article or stack of objects  52 , even when they are lying flat on the floor or other work surface. 
     FIGS. 3B,  8 ,  9 ,  10 , and  11  illustrate another embodiment of the article engaging and lifting member  46 . This embodiment is essentially the same as the embodiment described in FIG. 3A with the addition of the upper displacement member  76 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  4 . The upper displacement member  76  includes a substantially rectangular rack  78  mounted to top horizontal beam  116 . The rack  78  has a length that extends generally perpendicularly from the back side of the back support member  50  in a direction opposite that of the base  48 . The upper displacement member  76  also includes an upper engagement member  80  which is moveably mounted on the rack  78 . The upper engagement member  80  is shown in engagement position in FIGS. 3B and 4 and in displacement position in FIG.  9 . 
     The upper engagement member  80  includes a beam member  82  that spans across the width of the rack  78  and which is moveably mounted within channels  84  along the outside length of the rack  78 . The beam member  82  is driven by a motorized sprocket and chain assembly  86 , which is connected to the apparatus power pack  10  and which is controlled by the operator using the controls  100 . A rack and pinion gear or similar assembly known in the art could be substituted for the sprocket and chain assembly  86 . 
     The upper engagement member  80  further includes an engagement plate  88 , which is mounted to the beam member  82 . When in engagement position, the front surface  128  of the engagement plate  88  is substantially in alignment with and an extension of the front side of the back support member. The engagement plate  88  is moveably mounted on the beam member  82  and moves vertically in response to the extension and retraction of a lift piston/cylinder combination  90  and moves horizontally in response to the extension and retraction of side shift piston/cylinder combination  92 . In combination, rack and pinion gears and a sprocket and chain assembly ensure that the engagement plate  88  moves uniformly in the vertical and horizontal directions when driven by the piston/cylinder combinations  90 ,  92 . As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 8, the engagement plate  88  has a number of openings therein, including a large rectangular opening  132  near the center of the engagement plate and a plurality of round openings  130  arranged in two horizontal rows. 
     The upper engagement member  80  further includes a second clamp member  136 , functionally and structurally similar to the first clamp member  66 , which is mounted to the beam member  82  behind the engagement plate  88 . The hook members  138  of the second clamp member  136  are adapted to pivot through the rectangular opening  132  in the engagement plate  88  and into and out of clamping engagement with the upper object  53  being moved in response to the extension and retraction of a hydraulically-driven piston/cylinder combination  140 . Like piston/cylinder combination  72  of the first clamp member  66 , the piston/cylinder combination  140  of the second clamp member  136  is controlled by solenoid valves  114  when activated by the operator using controls  100 . The second clamp member  136  is vertically adjustable on beam member  82  to enable it to accommodate different sized or types of articles being moved. In addition, the second clamp member  136  is vertically spring-loaded to give it some flexibility when engaging the article being moved. The second clamp member  136  maintains the article being displaced in abutment with or adjacent the front side of the engagement plate  88 . 
     The upper engagement member  80  also includes a plurality of lifting fingers  142 , which are mounted to and through the plurality of round openings  130  in the engagement plate  88 . The projecting end  144  of each lifting finger  142  preferably has an upwardly-disposed lip (not shown) for engaging a side of the upper object  53  when the engagement plate  88  is moved vertically upwards. In addition, each lifting finger  142  is separately spring-biased not only to maintain each lifting finger  142  in a fully-extended position through the openings  130  prior to engagement with the side of the upper object  53  but also to allow each lifting finger  142  to retract as necessary when engaging the side of the upper object. In this manner, the lifting fingers  142  may engage a side of the upper object  53  that has an uneven surface or a surface that is not uniformly distant from the engagement plate  88 . 
     The engagement plate  88  may be shifted horizontally in either direction by the operator, if necessary, to facilitate engagement with the upper object  53  by the second clamp member  136  or by the lifting fingers  142 . 
     FIGS. 3C,  12 , and  13 , illustrate another embodiment of the article engaging and lifting member  46 , with some modifications that allow the base  48  of the article engaging and lifting member  46  to raise and lower along the length of the back support member  50 . This, in turn, allows articles to be loaded onto or unloaded from a raised platform. In addition, because the base  48  in this embodiment actually extends a slight distance in front of the back support member  50 , it is necessary to mount a backguard slide  147  onto the front surface of the back support member  50  to create a substantially flat abutment surface for the article being moved. 
     In this embodiment, the laminated forks  94  or laminated platen  158  are mounted onto carriage  148 . Carriage  148  is moveably mounted to the back support member  50  for vertical movement along a portion of the height of the back support member  50 . The carriage  148  moves in response to force applied by carriage lift piston/cylinder combination  156 , which causes the carriage  148  and, correspondingly, the base  48  to raise and lower as desired by the operator. 
     Load equalization is achieved by attaching the carriage  148  to a rack and pinion system. More specifically, the carriage is mounted to an equalization rod  150 . On both ends of the equalization rod  150  are mounted pinions  149 , which are aligned with each other and welded or otherwise permanently attached to rod  150 . Each pinion  149  travels along its own rack  151 , which are also aligned with each other. Finally, two pair of rollers  153  are mounted to the carriage  148  and placed within guide rails or channels  154 . The pair of rollers  153  maintain the base  48  in perpendicular relationship with the back support member  50  and the rack and pinion system maintains load equalization even when the load is not centered or equally balanced on the base  48 . 
     Although not shown, a piston/cylinder combination may be easily added to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3C to allow the carriage  148 , and thus the base  48 , to have the capability of being adjusted in a side to side fashion by the operator. Side to side adjustment would allow the operator to shift the base  48  slightly as necessary to center the base  48  beneath an article being loaded. In addition, side to side shift would also allow the operator to adjust the base and the loaded article relative to the back support member  50  after the article has been loaded onto the base  48 . 
     In addition, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the features described in FIGS. 3A,  3 B, and  3 C may be used singly or in any combination together as dictated by the needs of different industries and applications. 
     In practice, with each of the embodiments described herein, the apparatus  40  is first mounted to the forks  30  of the pallet jack  22 . The apparatus power pack  108  is then connected to the battery of the pallet jack using the power splice block  106 . Next, the operator maneuvers the pallet jack  22  with the mounted apparatus  40  into position for engagement of the articles or stack of objects to be moved. The pallet jack forks  30  are lowered completely and the article engaging and lifting member  46  is tilted slightly forward (a few degrees only) toward the article or stack of objects by the force application member  58  causing the base  48  to be in sliding contact with the floor. The pallet jack  22  then moves forward until the base  48  has slid under the article or stack of objects and the back support member  50  is adjacent or in close proximity with the article or stack of objects. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the first clamp member  66  engages the article or stack of objects. The article engaging and lifting member  46  is then tilted back toward the housing  42  approximately 20 degrees. With the load secure, the operator drives the pallet jack to the necessary unloading location and reverses the above process to unload the article or stack of objects. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, the first clamp member  66  engages the stack of objects to be moved. The upper engagement member  80  of the upper displacement member  76  is then brought into engagement position adjacent the stack of objects whereby the lifting fingers  142  are substantially in contact with the side of the upper object  53 . The engagement plate  88  is then raised vertically, which causes the lifting fingers  142  to slightly lift the upper object  53  from the stack of objects  52 . The second clamp member  136  next engages the upper object  53  to maintain the upper object  53  adjacent the engagement plate  88 . The article engaging and lifting member  46  is the tilted back toward the housing  42  approximately 20 degrees. With the load secure, the operator drives the pallet jack to the necessary unloading location and reverses the above process to unload the article or stack of objects. The act of displacing the upper objects  53  reduces the effective height of the tilted load sufficiently to allow the operator to place the load onto a truck having an opening clearance of a height only slightly greater than h but with a storage area of at least h+h′. When reversing the unloading process, the engagement plate may be shifted slightly in either horizontal direction to accommodate any lateral displacement between the stack of objects  52  supported by the base  48  and the upper objects  53  supported by the upper displacement member  76 ; thus, allowing the upper objects to be properly stacked back on the stack of objects. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3C, the base  48  may be raised or lowered or side shifted as necessary when loading or unloading the article or stack of objects being moved. The base  48  may be raised or lowered or side shifted before or after the article and engaging member  46  has been tilted for transport. 
     With all of the above embodiments, the operator riding on the pallet jack in area  34  controls the pallet jack using controls  28  and controls the various functions of the apparatus  40  using controls  100 . 
     It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.