Abstract:
An actuator adapted to remotely actuate a hitching mechanism attaches a towed vehicle such as a trailer to a forklift fork. The actuator is adapted to allow an operator of the forklift to remotely engage and disengage the hitch pin from the connection device of the towed vehicle without dismounting the forklift.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/047,259 filed Sep. 8, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an actuator adapted to remotely actuate a hitching mechanism attaching a towed vehicle to the fork of a forklift. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The common forklift is a very useful piece of equipment that receives constant and ubiquitous use daily around the world. It is used to transport multiple small objects, bulky objects, and even heavy objects weighing several tons with ease. Although not an intended use, it is often seen moving trailers or totes short distances, or jockeying them into tight locations. Such instances occur where a conventional tow vehicle cannot fit, or is not readily available. In these unconventional a trailer or tote is secured to the top of the fork by use of a drop-in pin. 
     When a forklift is put to this use, an operator of the fork lift must dismount the vehicle every time a trailer or tote is hitched or unhitched. This necessarily translates into much lost time over the course of a day, and also subjects the operator to safety hazards such as slips, falls, pinch points, etc. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a trailers and totes can be easily hitched and unhitched to a forklift without the disadvantages as described above. The use of the remote hitch pin actuator allows for movement of trailers via a forklift in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a remote hitch pin actuator. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an actuator comprising a base weldment configured to be affixed to a fork portion of a forklift, an arm weldment pivotally attached to the base weldment, a hitch pin rotatingly attached to the arm weldment and a cable which has a first end attached to a handle and a second end attached to the arm weldment. The cable operably controls the arm weldment to guide the hitch pin through the aligned apertures of the fork portion and a vehicle to secure the vehicle to the forklift. The cable is routed so as to locate the handle adjacent to an operator cab of the forklift. 
     The base weldment further comprises a base member having a fork aperture capable of being aligned with the fork portion, first post upstanding from a first side of the base member, a second post upstanding from a second side of the base member, a stop plate affixed to distal ends of the first and second posts and a fastening means for mounting the base member to the fork portion. The base weldment may also comprise a hollow base member. 
     The first and second posts are spaced apart to allow positioning of the arm weldment there between and the stop plate which provides a mechanical limitation to maintain the arm weldment in a forwardly biased state out and away from a center line of the forklift. The fastening means is a plurality of “T”-bolts and a plurality of welded nut fasteners. The hitch pin is rotatingly guided through a first pin aperture of the forklift and through an aligned second pin aperture portion of the vehicle. The base is sized and shaped to be aligned onto a standard OSHA recognized fork classes (1-7). 
     The first post and the second post are arranged in a mirror-image and a parallel manner and the arm weldment is positioned between the first post and the second post. A threaded fastener is configured to pass through the fastener apertures when aligned within the arm weldment, the first post and the second post and secured thereto. 
     The stop plate is shaped as an inverted “U”-shape and is welded to the first post and the second post. The stop plate includes an inner slot portion and provides a clearance for the arm weldment to pivot upwardly when the hitch pin is engaged. The cable is routed through at least one (1) guiding eyelet mounted to the forklift and attached to a cable bracket portion of the arm weldment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a remote hitch pin actuator  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the actuator  10  depicting an in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 a    is another environmental view of the actuator  10  depicting an engaged state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 b    is yet another environmental view of the actuator  10  depicting a released state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the actuator  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a hitch pin portion  46  of the remote hitch pin actuator  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  remote hitch pin actuator 
               20  base weldment 
               22  base 
               23  fork aperture 
               25   a  first post 
               25   b  second post 
               27   a  stop plate 
               27   b  slot 
               29  welded nut fastener 
               40  arm weldment 
               42  cable bracket 
               44  pin opening 
               46  hitch pin 
               47  point 
               50  cable 
               52  eyelet 
               54  handle 
               80  “T”-bolt 
               82  threaded fastener 
               83  nut fastener 
               84  fastener aperture 
               100  fork 
               101  first pin aperture 
               102  receiver aperture 
               105  towed vehicle 
               106  second pin aperture 
               110  forklift 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a device and method for a remote hitch pin actuator (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means of rapid hitching and unhitching of a towed vehicle  105 , such as a trailer or a tote, by an operator of a forklift  110  for subsequent pulling or pushing. The apparatus  10  is mounted to a tip of a fork portion  100  of the forklift  110  and is held in place by a base weldment  20  which is fastened to the fork  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  includes a base weldment  20  having a pivotally attached arm weldment  40 . The base weldment  20  secures the apparatus  10  to a fork portion  100  of a forklift  110 , and the pivoting arm weldment  40  guides a rotatingly attached hitch pin  46  downward through a first pin aperture portion  101  of a forklift  110 , and through an aligned second pin aperture portion  106  of a towed vehicle  105  to join the vehicles  110 ,  105  together. 
     The base weldment  20  includes a hollow rectangular base  22 , a first post  25   a , a second post  25   b , and a plurality of “T”-bolts  80 . The base  22  is made using a section of rectangular structural tubing approximately one foot (1 ft.) long, having a central rectangular fork aperture  23  extending therethrough. The fork aperture  23  is to be sized and shaped so as to be capable of aligning onto a standard OSHA recognized fork  100  classes one (1) through seven (7). An embodiment of the posts  25   a ,  25   b  is shown here utilizing a pair of welded and upwardly extending lengths of angle iron, being arranged in a mirror-image and parallel manner, and spaced apart to allow positioning of the arm weldment  40  in between. A threaded fastener  82  such as a bolt passes through aligned fastener apertures  84  formed or machined within the arm weldment  40  and the post  25   a ,  25   b  portions, and is secured using a nut fastener  83 . It is understood however, that the posts  25   a ,  25   b  may be made using other linear metal forms such as channel or rectangular tube shapes, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . 
     The posts  25   a ,  25   b  are connected along rearward top portions by an inverted “U”-shaped stop plate  27   a  welded therebetween. The stop plate  27   a  includes an inner slot portion  27   b . The stop plate  27   a  acts as a mechanical limitation to maintain the arm weldment  40  in a forwardly biased state out and away from the center line of the forklift  110 . When disengaging the hitch pin  46  from the fork  100  a user releases the arm weldment  40  and engages the hitch pin  46  by applying slack to an attached cable  50 . The slot  27   b  provides clearance for the arm weldment to pivot upwardly during engagement of the hitch pin  46  (also see  FIGS. 2, 3   a , and  3   b ). 
     The apparatus  10  provides secure and repeatable positioning when mounted to the fork  100  via a plurality of “T”-bolts  80  and welded nut fasteners  29  mounted to a top surface of the base  22  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2, 3   a ,  3   b , environmental views of the apparatus  10  depicting including engaged and released in-use states, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  includes a cable  50  having a permanently attached handle portion  54  at a proximal end preferably positioned at the driver&#39;s area of the forklift  110 . A distal end of the cable  50  is routed through at least one (1) guiding eyelet  52  mounted to the forklift  110  and attached to a cable bracket portion  42  of the arm weldment portion  40  of the apparatus  10 . 
     The hitching process is accomplished by manipulating the forklift  110  to align the first  101  and second  106  pin apertures, and then inserting the hitch pin  46  therethrough by simply releasing the handle  54  to extend the cable  50  and lower the arm weldment  40  and hitch pin  46  portions. The towed vehicle  105  can then be moved as needed using the forklift  110 . To release the towed vehicle  105 , the operator pulls on the handle  54  to disengage the hitch pin  46  and drives away from the towed vehicle  105  without having had to dismount from the forklift  110 . When not in use, the apparatus  10  may be quickly removed from the fork  100  by loosening the “T”-bolts  80  and sliding the base  22  off of the fork  100 —as found on OSHA forklift classes one (1) through seven (7), thereby allowing the forklift  110  to be restored to its original functionality. OSHA forklift classes being defined as Class 1: Electric Motor Rider Trucks; Class 2: Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks; Class 3: Electric Motor Hand Trucks or Hand/Rider Trucks; Class 4: Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (Solid/Cushion Tires); Class 5: Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (Pneumatic Tires); Class 6: Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors; and, Class 7: Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an exploded view of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  works in conjunction with previously machined features upon the fork  100  to provide secure and repeatable positioning of the apparatus  10  upon the fork  100 . The base  22  includes a plurality of welded nut fasteners  29  and subjacent fastener apertures  84  along a top surface being correspondingly positioned with receiver aperture portions  102  on the fork  100  so as to provide repeatable installation of the apparatus  10  upon the fork  100 . The receiver apertures  102  are formed or machined along a top surface of the fork  100 , each having a sufficient diameter to receive a bottom end portion of the “T”-bolt  80  within, and being approximately one-half of an inch (½ in.) in depth. The receiver apertures  102  are envisioned to be partially or shallowly drilled, formed, or cut holes having similar diameters as the “T”-bolts  80 , thereby providing a snug accurate fit. 
     Finally, the receiver apertures  102  are to be positioned with respect to the first pin aperture  101  so as to result in coincidental alignment of the hitch pin portion  46  during insertion into the first pin aperture  101  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the hitch pin portion  46  of the apparatus  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The hitch pin  46  is pivotally attached to the arm weldment  40  via a threaded fastener  82  which passes through fastener aperture portions  84  of the hitch pin  46  and side portions of the arm weldment  40 . The threaded fastener  82  and is then secured using a nut fastener  83 . The arm weldment  40  is envisioned to be made using a length of rectangular structural tubing and providing a pin opening  44  along a bottom surface. The pin opening  44  and threaded fastener  82  allow the hitch pin  46  to swing freely in a longitudinal direction with respect to the fork  100  to provide a self-centering effect during engagement with the pin apertures  101 ,  106 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The method of installing and preparing the apparatus  10  for use may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the apparatus  10 ; preparing the existing forklift  110  to receive the apparatus  10  by machining or cutting a first pin aperture  101  completely through a tip portion of the fork  100 ; machining or cutting the receiver apertures  102  approximately one-half inch (½ in.) deep into a top surface of the fork  100  at locations which correspond to the position of the “T”-bolt portions  80  of the apparatus  10 ; installing the “T”-bolts  80  into the welded nut fasteners  29  and corresponding fastener apertures  84 , if not previously installed; installing the apparatus  10  onto a fork portion  100  of the existing forklift  110  by inserting a tip portion of the fork  100  through the fork aperture portion  23  of the base weldment  20  until the “T”-bolts  80  are aligned with the receiver aperture portions  102  of the forks  100 ; tightening the “T”-bolts  80  to secure the apparatus  10  to the fork  100 ; installing eyelets  52  upon the existing forklift  110  as needed to route the cable  50  between the operator position upon the forklift  110  to the mounted apparatus  10  using appropriate hardware and brackets, resulting in the handle  54  being conveniently located with regards to the operator; routing the free-end of the cable  50  through the aforementioned eyelets  52  to the apparatus  10 ; and, fastening or tying the end of the cable  50  to the cable bracket portion  42  of the arm weldment  40 . The apparatus  10  is now ready for use. 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: hitching the existing forklift  110  to a towed vehicle  105  such as a trailer or tote, by motioning the forklift  110  toward the towed vehicle  105 ; pulling on the handle  54  to extend the cable  50  and raise the hitch pin portion  46  up out of the first pin aperture  101 ; aligning the first pin aperture portion  101  of the fork  100  with the second pin aperture portion  106  of the towed vehicle  105 ; motioning the handle  54  to supply slack to the cable  50  causing the hitch pin  46  to drop through the first pin aperture  101  and second pin aperture  106 ; using the forklift  110  to move the towed vehicle  105  as needed; releasing the towed vehicle  105  by grasping the handle  54  to disengage the hitch pin  46  from the pin apertures  101 ,  106 ; and allowing the fork lift operator to drive away from the towed vehicle  105  without having to get off of the forklift  110 . 
     When not needed, the apparatus  10  may be quickly removed from the fork  100  by performing the following steps: loosening the “T”-bolts  80  by hand; raising the hitch pin  46 ; sliding the base assembly  20  off an end of the fork  100 ; and, restoring the forklift  110  to its original functionality. 
     The previously described hitching process represents an improvement over the normal hitching process which requires the operator of the forklift  110  to exit the forklift  110  for both the hitching and unhitching operations. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.