Finger-mounted apparatus for remotely controlling a materials handling vehicle

• US 9,207,673 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Pulskamp, Steven R., Green, Matthew M., Horvath, Eugene P., Schloemer, James F., Siefring, Vernon W., Snodgrass, Ryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fei, Jordan S
• Application Number:
  US12/649,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,169 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07581 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices

Abstract

A finger-mounted remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to a materials handling vehicle. The finger-mounted remote control device includes a rigid mounting structure adapted to be mounted over at least one finger of an operator'"'"'s hand; a mounting strap coupled to said rigid mounting structure for securing said rigid mounting structure to the at least one finger; a wireless transmitter/power pack unit coupled to said rigid mounting structure; and control structure coupled to said mounting structure and comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by an operator'"'"'s thumb so as to cause said wireless transmitter/power pack unit to generate a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle.

Claims

1. A finger-mounted remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to a materials handling vehicle comprising:

a mounting structure adapted to be mounted to at least one finger of an operator'"'"'s hand;

a mounting strap coupled to said mounting structure for securing said mounting structure to the

at least one finger;

a wireless transmitter/power pack unit coupled to said mounting structure; and

control structure coupled to said mounting structure and comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by an operator'"'"'s thumb of the hand on which the mounting structure is to be mounted so as to cause said wireless transmitter/power pack unit to generate a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein said mounting strap contacts the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein said mounting structure is formed from a rigid polymeric material.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein substantially the entirety of said control device is mounted and positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein approximately 60% or more of said wireless transmitter/power pack unit is positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the operator'"'"'s index finger is adapted to be received in a first finger receiving area of the control device; and

the operator'"'"'s middle finger is adapted to be received in a second finger receiving area of the control device.

7. A finger-mounted remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to a materials handling vehicle comprising:

a mounting structure adapted to be mounted over at least one finger of an operator'"'"'s hand;

a mounting strap coupled to said mounting structure for securing the mounting structure to the at least one finger;

a wireless transmitter/power pack unit coupled to said mounting structure; and

control structure coupled to said mounting structure and comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by an operator'"'"'s thumb of the hand on which the mounting structure is to be mounted so as to cause said wireless transmitter/power pack unit to generate a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle;

wherein substantially the entirety of said control device is mounted and positioned directly over the operator'"'"'s hand.

8. The control device of claim 7, wherein approximately 60% or more of said wireless transmitter/power pack unit is positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein substantially the entirety of said control device is mounted and positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

10. The control device of claim 7, wherein:

the operator'"'"'s index finger is adapted to be received in a first finger receiving area of the control device; and

the operator'"'"'s middle finger is adapted to be received in a second finger receiving area of the control device.

11. A materials handling vehicle in combination with a finger-mounted remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle comprising:

the materials handling vehicle comprising a load handling assembly;

the control device comprising;

a mounting structure adapted to be mounted to at least one finger of an operator'"'"'s hand;

a mounting strap coupled to said mounting structure for securing said mounting structure to the at least one finger;

a wireless transmitter/power pack unit coupled to said mounting structure; and

control structure coupled to said mounting structure and comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by an operator'"'"'s thumb of the hand on which the mounting structure is to be mounted so as to cause said wireless transmitter/power pack unit to generate a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle.

12. The materials handling vehicle in combination with the control device of claim 11, wherein said mounting strap contacts the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

13. The materials handling vehicle in combination with the control device of claim 11, wherein said mounting structure is formed from a rigid polymeric material.

14. The materials handling vehicle in combination with the control device of claim 11, wherein substantially the entirety of said control device is mounted and positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

15. The materials handling vehicle in combination with the control device of claim 11, wherein approximately 60% or more of said wireless transmitter/power pack unit is positioned directly over the at least one finger of the operator'"'"'s hand.

16. The materials handling vehicle in combination with the control device of claim 15, wherein:

the operator'"'"'s index finger is adapted to be received in a first finger receiving area of the control device; and

the operator'"'"'s middle finger is adapted to be received in a second finger receiving area of the control device.

17. The materials handling vehicle in combination with the control device of claim 11, wherein the materials handling vehicle further comprises a controller for evaluating at least one vehicle condition, the at least one vehicle condition being used by the controller to determine whether to implement a remote travel request from the remote control device.

18. The materials handling vehicle in combination with the control device of claim 17, wherein:

the materials handling vehicle further comprises at least one obstacle sensor for scanning for objects located in a path of travel of the materials handling vehicle;

a signal from the at least one obstacle sensor comprises the at least one vehicle condition; and

the controller is configured to not implement a remote travel request from the remote control device if the signal from at least one obstacle sensor is indicative of the presence of an object in the path of travel.

19. A finger-mounted remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to a materials handling vehicle comprising:

a mounting structure adapted to be mounted to two or more fingers of an operator'"'"'s hand;

a mounting strap coupled to said mounting structure for securing said mounting structure to the two or more fingers;

a wireless transmitter/power pack unit coupled to said mounting structure; and

control structure coupled to said mounting structure and comprising a switch adapted to be actuated by an operator'"'"'s thumb of the hand on which the mounting structure is to be mounted so as to cause said wireless transmitter/power pack unit to generate a travel request signal to the materials handling vehicle.

20. The control device of claim 19, wherein said mounting strap contacts the two or more fingers of the operator'"'"'s hand.

21. The control device of claim 19, wherein substantially the entirety of said control device is mounted and positioned directly over the two or more fingers of the operator'"'"'s hand.

22. The control device of claim 19, wherein approximately 60% or more of said wireless transmitter/power pack unit is positioned directly over the two or more fingers of the operator'"'"'s hand.

23. The control device of claim 19, wherein:

the operator'"'"'s index finger is adapted to be received in a first finger receiving area of the control device; and

the operator'"'"'s middle finger is adapted to be received in a second finger receiving area of the control device.