Crown Equipment Corporation

Princeton Technology Corporation

Leif A Norland

Michael P Gallagher

Kevin Anthony Gilliland

Harold A Stammen

John F McClusky

Steven R Pulskamp

Thomas L Bidwell

Michael S Hemry

Douglas E Goodner

Donald E Luebrecht

Joseph H Knapschaefer

Robert J Stauffer

James V Kraimer

Ronald A Grisez

William J Heidemann

David B Smith

Baron C Brandt

Thomas W Linn

Jeffrey R Burger

Pieter C Kruithof, Jr

Rick A Anderson

Craig J Rekow

Ned E Dammeyer

Bradley A Burns

Timothy S Quellhorst

Matthew P Ranly

Paul J Leasor

Forrest A Haverfield

Daniel L Sherman

Rob J Stauffer

Joe H Knapschaefer

Ellen M Mach

John F Mcclusky

Thomas C Bidwell

Pieter C Kruithof Jr

Materials handling vehicle

A personnel carrying vehicle comprises a self propelled, steerable body, a telescoping mast attached to and extending upwardly from the body, and a personnel compartment attached to the mast. Two control handles are mounted within the personnel compartment, with one handle including a rocker mechanism mounted therein for pivotal movement within a generally horizontal plane to control steering and the other handle being rotated to controlling traction. Sensors ensure that the operator's hands are on both control handles and both feet are properly positioned on a floor of the operator's compartment before the vehicle can be moved or the platform raised; this ensures a four point stance, providing for operator stability and that the operator's hands and feet are within the operator's compartment anytime the vehicle is being moved or during lifting or lowering operations.

Personnel carrying vehicle

Counterbalance lift truck

Control console for counterbalance lift truck

A multi-task capable work assist vehicle is designed for transporting an operator and items to be handled by the operator and for elevating the operator with such items supported upon a load tray elevated with the operator. Preferably the load tray is mounted for positioning along a telescoping mast which supports and elevates the operator. A load deck or load platform is provided on a body of the vehicle in addition to the load tray so that items such as packages, tools, parts, merchandise and the like can be carried by the vehicle. Load shelves may also be provided adjacent the load deck to add flexibility and capacity to the load carrying capability of the vehicle. Uses of the vehicle include order picking, in-house service maintenance, stock management, cargo delivery and the like. It is designed to be compact in size and highly maneuverable for use in narrow storage aisles and tight quarters.

Load trays for personnel carrying vehicles

A tray assembly for a vehicle, having an anchor member, a tray member, a first link pivotally mounted to the anchor member and pivotally secured to the tray member, and a second link pivotally mounted to the anchor member and pivotally secured to the tray member. The first and second links cooperate to guide the tray member during a deployment of the tray member from a stored position to a use position. The tray assembly also includes a stop member having a pin coupled with the tray member and a cam with a notch coupled to one of the first and second links. The two portions of the stop member engage each other and retain the tray member in a use position after the deployment of the tray member. In one embodiment of the invention, the location of the pin of the stop member is selectively adjustable thereby allowing adjustment of the angle of the tray member relative to the anchor member. In another embodiment of the invention, the stop member allows further deployment of the tray member from the use position to a collapsed position during an application of an excessive force.

Growing community of inventors

Holland, MI, United States of America

Leif A Norland