Patent ID: 7597522

Claim:
A system comprising in combination a powered hand truck and storage rack for use therewith, the system comprising: a motorized hand truck, having; a chassis having an axle end and an operator end cantilevered opposite the axle end; a single axle extending laterally across the axle end of the chassis, the axle having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; first and second drive wheels disposed upon the first end and second end, respectively, of the axle; a forklift support column extending upwardly from the axle end of the chassis, the forklift support column having an upper end and a base; a forklift mechanism extending from the forklift support column, the forklift mechanism having: upper forklift actuating arms pivotally extending from the upper end of the forklift support column, the upper arms having distal ends; lower forklift actuating arms pivotally extending from the forklift support column parallel to the upper forklift actuating arms, the lower arms having distal ends; a forklift mast pivotally secured to the distal ends of the upper and lower forklift actuating arms, the forklift mast extending parallel to the forklift support column, the forklift mast having an upper end and a lower end; a fork attachment arm disposed laterally across the lower end of the forklift mast; a pair of fork tines extending from the fork attachment arm; and a forklift-actuating cylinder extending between the lower forklift actuating arms to the upper end of the forklift mast; a prime mover disposed generally medially upon the chassis, the prime mover selectively powering the drive wheels and forklift mechanism; an operator console extending from the operator end of the chassis; a motorized hand truck storage rack having: parallel, first and second tracks; and a forklift-engaging dolly disposed upon the tracks, selectively translating therealong and selectively engaging the fork tines of the motorized hand truck for storage of the motorized hand truck upon the storage rack.