Patent ID: 7435047

Claim:
A load transportation device for transporting a load above a ground surface, comprising: at least one fork in the form of a support frame configured to be raised and lowered and including a first edge, a second edge, and an upper surface and a lower surface, each extending substantially between the first edge and the second edge and defining a support frame length, wherein the upper surface includes at least one slot extending therethrough, the second edge forming a nose that tapers to a point for engagement with and under the load, such that it can be effectively pushed under the load to be carried; at least one contiguous first row of vertically displaceable roller elements having a rolling surface extendable and retractable through the at least one slot and the upper surface of the support frame in and out of contact with at least a portion of the load; at least one contiguous second row of vertically displaceable roller elements having a rolling surface configured to contact the rolling surface of at least one roller element of the first row of roller elements; wherein a diameter of the roller elements of at least one of the first row and second row of roller elements decreases along the length of the support frame in a direction towards the nose at the second edge of the support frame; wherein at least one of the at least one first row of roller elements and at least one second row of roller elements extends substantially the length of the support frame, such that during loading or unloading of the loads, the load is held in the same position relative to the ground surface; wherein the support frame includes a plurality of slots extending through a side surface thereof, each of the roller elements of the second row of roller elements rotatably attached to the support frame via a shaft extending through a respective slot, wherein each shaft is vertically displaceable in the slot, thereby allowing the first and second row of roller elements to move vertically; and wherein said first row defines a loading surface in contact with said load.