Patent ID: 8454037

Claim:
An outrigger assembly for a materials handling vehicle comprising: a frame supporting a straddle arm; an outrigger box coupled to said straddle arm and comprising: a pair of bearing plates laterally spaced from each other and defining a load wheel opening therebetween; and a transverse bar spanning across said load wheel opening between said bearing plates; a load wheel assembly comprising: first and second side support members spaced laterally from one another; at least one roller mounted for rotation between said first and second side support members to define at least one load wheel; an axle supporting said at least one roller to said first and second side support members; and an interface structure spanning between and coupled to said first and second side support members; said interface structure having at least a portion that engages and mates with said transverse bar to provide a substantially rigid connection between said interface structure and said transverse bar and thereby to said materials handling vehicle.