Human-powered pallet carrier
First Claim
1. A human powered vehicle for loading a pallet in a loading position and transporting the pallet in a transporting position, the vehicle comprising:
- a front frame, the front frame including a pair of rearward extending pallet forks, a rear frame, the rear frame including a pair of forward extending beams, each beam configured to releasably accept a region of one of the pair of rearward extending pallet forks distal to the front frame, a total of three driving wheels, the front frame rotatably retaining two front driving wheels and the rear frame rotatably retaining one rear driving wheel, at least one seat mounted on the front frame, a drive mechanism for propelling the vehicle, a steering mechanism located on the front frame for steering the vehicle, a braking mechanism for stopping the vehicle, a front lowering and raising mechanism attached to the front frame, a rear lowering and raising mechanism attached to the rear frame, a dolly wheel rotatably disposed in a vicinity of the region of each pallet fork, and a pair of dolly wheels rotatably disposed on each beam, such that in use, the front and rear frames are lowered and the front frame is detached from the rear frame in a loading position and the front and rear frames are raised and the front frame is attached to the rear frame in a traveling position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-loading, human-powered pallet carrier is provided, the pallet carrier comprising: a first frame; a second frame; a drive train; a handlebar; a seat; and a braking system, one of the first frame or the second frame supported by a pair of driving wheels, the other of the first frame or the second frame supported by an at least one driving wheel, one of the pair of driving wheels or the single driving wheel pivotally mounted to the second frame with an at least one actuator, the other of the pair of driving wheels or the single driving wheel directly mounted to the first frame with an at least one actuator, the first frame including a pair of pallet forks, the second frame including a pair of beams, which, when mated, form a pallet loading zone, each pallet fork and each beam having an at least one dolly wheel, the drive train, the handlebar, the seat and the braking system mounted on the first frame. A method of using the self-loading pallet carrier is also provided.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A human powered vehicle for loading a pallet in a loading position and transporting the pallet in a transporting position, the vehicle comprising:
- a front frame, the front frame including a pair of rearward extending pallet forks, a rear frame, the rear frame including a pair of forward extending beams, each beam configured to releasably accept a region of one of the pair of rearward extending pallet forks distal to the front frame, a total of three driving wheels, the front frame rotatably retaining two front driving wheels and the rear frame rotatably retaining one rear driving wheel, at least one seat mounted on the front frame, a drive mechanism for propelling the vehicle, a steering mechanism located on the front frame for steering the vehicle, a braking mechanism for stopping the vehicle, a front lowering and raising mechanism attached to the front frame, a rear lowering and raising mechanism attached to the rear frame, a dolly wheel rotatably disposed in a vicinity of the region of each pallet fork, and a pair of dolly wheels rotatably disposed on each beam, such that in use, the front and rear frames are lowered and the front frame is detached from the rear frame in a loading position and the front and rear frames are raised and the front frame is attached to the rear frame in a traveling position.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A pallet carrier operable to be powered by a human, the pallet carrier comprising:
- a front frame;
a rear frame;
a first linear actuator;
a second linear actuator;
a drive train;
a handlebar;
a seat; and
a braking system, the front frame supported by a pair of front driving wheels, the rear frame supported by a rear driving wheel, the rear driving wheel pivotally mounted to the rear frame with the first actuator, the pair of front driving wheels mounted to the front frame, the front frame including a pair of pallet forks, the pallet forks attached to the second linear actuator, the rear frame including a pair of beams, which, when mated with the pair of pallet forks, together, form a pallet loading zone, each pallet fork and each beam having at least one dolly wheel, the drive train, the handlebar, the seat and the braking system mounted on the front frame. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- a front frame;
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16. A method of loading a pallet using a human powered pallet carrier, the pallet carrier including:
- a front frame;
a rear frame;
a first linear actuator;
a second linear actuator;
a drive train;
a handlebar;
a seat; and
a braking system, the front frame supported by a pair of front driving wheels, the rear frame supported by a rear driving wheel, the rear driving wheel pivotally mounted to the rear frame with the first actuator, the pair of front driving wheels mounted to the front frame, the front frame including a pair of pallet forks, the pallet forks attached to the second linear actuator, the rear frame including a pair of beams, which, when mated with the pair of pallet forks, together, form a pallet loading zone, each pallet fork and each beam having at least one dolly wheel, the drive train, the handlebar, the seat and the braking system mounted on the front frame, the method comprising;
lowering the carrier to a loading position, thereby engaging the dolly wheels;
releasing each pallet fork from each beam;
aligning the pallet forks with the pallet;
driving the front frame to locate the pallet forks in the pallet;
mating each pallet fork with each beam; and
actuating the linear actuators to raise the carrier from the loading position into a transporting position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
- a front frame;
Specification