Patent ID: 7730599

Claim:
A method of removing at least one fork from a forklift carriage, the method comprising: placing a guard on the forklift carriage to interpose the at least one fork between the forklift carriage and the guard, wherein the guard comprises: a first member configured to be coupled to the forklift carriage, a second member configured to be coupled to the forklift carriage opposite the first member, and a fork interface member extending between the first member and the second member, wherein placing the guard on the forklift carriage to interpose the at least one fork between the forklift carriage and the guard includes interposing the at least one fork between the forklift carriage and the fork interface member; uncoupling the at least one fork from the forklift carriage at a first coupling location; positioning the at least one fork uncoupled from the forklift carriage at the first coupling location in a fork rack; removing the guard from the forklift carriage; and removing the at least one fork from the forklift carriage.