Patent Publication Number: US-6702122-B2

Title: Rack for fork lift extensions

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to storage racks. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a storage rack for fork lift extensions. 
     2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     The use of fork lifts for loading, unloading and moving crates and the like is a common occurrence in the freight industry. There are many instances when the size of the crate is such that standard-sized (length) fork lifts are not sufficient to carry the oversized crate without causing damage thereto. In such instances fork lift extensions are required. 
     As currently practiced, extensions must be manually positioned on the forks. An example of this is disclosed in the BFS, VETTER reference. To install an extension, the driver must get off the fork lift, select an extension and manually lift and position the extension on the fork tine. Besides contributing to a loss of time, the above procedure also risks injury (back strain, pinched fingers, etc.). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,363 (Conley, III et al.) discloses a fork extension system which utilizes a hydraulic system to automatically extend and retract the forks of a stockpicker. This system is complicated and initially costly. The system also requires expensive maintenance procedures. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,239,122 (Klein), 5,526,945 (Clark et al.) and 6,073,786 (McCorkle, Jr.) are drawn to storage rack structure which is not particularly adaptable to support fork extensions. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to disclose fork lift, extensions and a storage rack therefor as will be subsequently described and claimed in the instant invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is drawn to a rack for storing unique fork lift extension members. The rack and extension members are designed and arranged in a manner which permits the extension members to be easily positioned on and removed from the tines of the fork lift without manual involvement. 
     The storage rack is preferably constructed of rugged metal to withstand the rigors of the warehouse or loading dock environment. The rack may be built to meet the user&#39;s needs and may be designed to hold one set or any number of extension members. The rack may be disassembled and/or folded for shipment. 
     The extension members are also preferably constructed of metal and are fashioned with a unique U-shaped end or heel whose function will be explained below. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a storage rack for fork lift extension members. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a fork lift extension member, which member may be easily removed from a storage rack and positioned on a fork lift tine. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a fork lift extension member, which member may be easily removed from a fork lift tine and positioned on a storage rack. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a storage rack for fork lift extension members wherein positioning and removal of the extension members on and from fork lift tines requires no direct manual involvement. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes. 
    
    
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial, perspective view of a rack and fork lift extension members according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of a rack and fork lift extension members according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a rack and fork lift extension members according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fork lift extension member according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial, environmental, perspective view of a fork lift vehicle in the initial phase of adding extension members according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial, environmental, perspective view of a fork lift vehicle in the intermediate phase of adding extension members according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial, environmental, perspective view of a fork lift vehicle in the final phase of adding extension members according to the present invention. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1-3 wherein the storage rack and extension members which comprise the present invention are generally indicated at  10 . The storage rack includes a rectangular member  12  which defines the base of the storage rack. At least the long sides of base  12  are constructed from members having a coextensive channel  12   a  therein. I-beams  14  are vertically disposed at each end of base  12  and are attached at their lower ends to base  12 . A beam  16  spans the distance between and is attached to the top end of each member  14 . Braces  18  provide structural support for the beams  14  and  16 . Cross members  20  are evenly spaced along beam  16  and are attached thereto. Any of the conventional, well known construction techniques (welds, bolts, etc.) may be employed to attach the beams, base, braces and cross members. No-skid pads  22  are disposed at each corner of base  12 . The dimensions of the storage rack are preferably forty-seven inches wide, sixty inches high and seventy-two inches long. The length may be varied to hold more or fewer extension members  20 . The rack is constructed from standard channel iron stock or the like. 
     Extension members  24  are elongate members having a U-shaped cross-section (FIG.  4 ). An open heel  24   a  defines the proximate end of each extension member. The heel  24   a  is adapted to be positioned in channel  12   a  for reasons that will be explained below. Each extension members  24  is preferably six inches wide and seventy-two inches long. The open heel  24   a  will add another three inches to the length of the extension member making a total length of seventy-five and one-half inches. Extension members  24  are positioned on either side of the storage rack. Cross members  20  function to keep the extension members in place on the rack. 
     FIGS. 5-7 are illustrative of the technique employed to position the extension members on the tines of a fork lift without the need for manual intervention. FIG. 5 shows the initial phase wherein the fork lift is driven to position the fork lift tines T through the openings in heel  24   a . The intermediate phase (FIG. 6) requires the driver to raise the mast M of the fork lift to allow the extensions to slide onto the tines while still resting on beam  16 . When the driver backs away from the rack, the extensions will fall into position on the tines (FIG.  7 ). To replace the extensions on the rack, the driver simply adjusts the mast to position the distal ends of the extensions on the beam  16 . The driver then lowers the mast to drop the heels in the channel  12   a  as the fork lift is slowly backed away. The driver does not have to leave the fork lift for any manual intervention either in positioning the extensions on the tines or in putting the extensions back on the storage rack. The extension members may be accessed from either side of the rack. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.