FORKLIFT FORK GRABBER MECHANSIM FOR SECURING ATTACHMENTS TO FORKLIFT FORKS

• US 20180072547A1
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig Richard Hokanson
• Original Assignee: Craig Richard Hokanson
• Inventors: Hokanson, Craig Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,442,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/18 Load gripping or retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/183 Coplanar side clamps

Abstract

A forklift fork grabber mechanism is provided for clamping forks to a load by applying tensile or compressive force between a forklift attachment and the forks using a binder, bolts, motor, latch, or other means.

Claims

1. A forklift fork grabber for securing attachments to a forklift, forklift fork grabber comprising:

a fork attachment base comprising two fork tubes for receiving forks, each of the fork tubes defining an aperture on an interior surface of the fork tube for facilitating engagement between a fork and the forklift fork grabber;

two fulcrum mounts, each of the two fulcrum mounts affixed to an interior surface of a fork tube;

a binder for applying tensile force with ratcheting of a handle;

two levers, each lever hingedly affixed at a midpoint to a fulcrum mount, each lever hingedly affixed at a proximal end to the binder; and

wherein each lever is adapted to apply tensile force at a distal end through an aperture to a fork inserted into a fork tube when the binder is ratcheted such that the fork becomes frictionally bound to the fork attachment base.

2. The forklift fork grabber of claim 1, further comprising a tapered engagement protrusion affixed to a distal end of a lever.

3. The forklift fork grabber of claim 1, wherein each of the fulcrum mounts is welded to an interior surface of the fork attachment base.

4. A forklift fork grabber for securing attachments to a forklift, forklift fork grabber comprising:

a fork attachment base comprising two fork tubes for receiving forks, each of the fork tubes defining an aperture on an interior surface of the fork tube for facilitating engagement between a fork and a hydraulically-actuated cylinder; and

the hydraulically-actuated cylinder for applying tensile force to the forks.

5. A method for securing attachments to a forklift, steps of the method comprising:

defining an aperture on an inside surface of a fork tube; and

applying pressure to a fork within the fork tube.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the force is tensile force.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the force is compressive force.