Patent ID: 7281736

Claim:
A pothole protection mechanism for a lift vehicle including a lifting section supported on a vehicle frame, the pothole protection mechanism comprising: an actuator attached to the lifting section of the lift vehicle, the actuator being displaced between an extended position and a retracted position based on a position of the lifting section; a crank including an engagement member at an upper end positioned to be engaged by the actuator, the crank farther including a slot between the upper end and a lower end, wherein a connector secured to the vehicle frame and engaged with the crank through the slot movably secures the crank to the vehicle frame; a coupler link pivotally secured at a first end to the lower end of the crank; and a pothole protection bar pivotally secured to a second end of the coupler link and pivotally secured to the vehicle frame, wherein the pothole protection bar is pivotable between a stowed position and a use position based on the position of the lifting section.