Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a load protector for attachment to a fork
back of a fork lift truck or for attachment to a wheel plate of a reach truck. Such
fork lift truck or reach truck are used to replace loads. The invention more particularly
concerns a device protecting a load or the packaging of the load from being damaged
by the fork back or by the reach truck.
Background of the Invention
[0002] It is known that the vertical parts of forks, the so called fork back of fork lifts
used to place loads in trucks, storage facilities, etc., and the vertical parts of
reach trucks used in stores to lift and/or replace loads, often damage the load or
its packaging. The reason is the limited visibility the driver of a lift truck or
reach truck has on the load and the vertical surface of the fork back or reach truck
that may damage the load. Also, drivers of such lift truck or reach truck tend to
move their truck until they feel some resistance exercised by the load touching the
fork back.
[0003] Load protectors for a fork lift that attempt to mitigate damage to loads resulting
from fork lifts are known. UK patent application
GB2478410A entitled "Load Protector for a Fork Lift Truck" for instance describes a load protector
that consists of a resilient body with C-shaped cross section designed and dimensioned
to encircle the vertical part of a fork arm. The load protector known from
GB2478410A is held in position through straps that pass through apertures in the resilient body.
[0004] The load protector known from
GB2478410A is made of a single body of hard rubber and therefore insufficiently protects a load
from being damaged. The single body of hard rubber typically does not protect the
packaging of a load, e.g. made out of paper or cardboard, from being damaged. In order
to reduce this problem,
GB2478410A suggests to provide some enhanced cushioning effect by relieving the surface of the
load protector facing inward against the fork arm, e.g. through two or more grooves.
The grooves improve the resiliency of the load protector slightly but still do not
prevent the load protector from damaging sensitive loads or load packaging. Moreover,
the load protector known from
GB247841A is complex to attach to, to remove from or to replace along the fork arm because
it requires opening and/or tensioning of straps. Further, the apertures required in
the resilient body for the straps, are vulnerable to cracks or rifts, particularly
when the straps are opened or tensioned frequently, hence reducing the lifetime of
the load protector.
[0005] Further, anti-slip mats exist for forks. Such anti-slip mat is described for instance
in United States patent application
US 2013/0277151A1 entitled "Anti-Scratch and Anti-Slip Device for Lifting Loads, Preferably Through
the Use of a Lift Fork". The anti-slip mat is a rather thin device, typically designed
to cover the horizontal part of a fork arm, and having a rubber top layer. The rubber
top layer has a high friction coefficient and therefore prevents a load that is picked-up
by the fork lift from slipping off the fork. Since the top layer is made of rubber,
the anti-slip mat also has anti-scratch properties, albeit limited.
US 2013/0277151A1 describes embodiments of such anti-slip mat with magnetic bottom layer that enables
to removably attach the anti-slip mat to the horizontal part of the fork. Japanese
patent application
JP10-291793 on the other hand describes embodiments of such anti-slip mat that are pressed onto
the fork arm and consequently are not intended to be removed from the fork arm. Both,
US 2013/0277151A1 (Fig. 9) and
JP10-291793 (Fig. 3) show embodiments where the anti-slip mat is extended to also cover the lower
vertical part of the fork arm.
JP10-291793 (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) also suggest to provide grooves or short protrusions, i.e. knobs,
in the upper surface of the anti-slip mat to further improve the friction and consequently
the anti-slip behaviour between fork arm and load.
[0006] Although anti-scratch properties are associated with the anti-slip mats known from
US 2013/0277151A1 and
JP10-291793, these devices are disadvantageous as load protectors in many aspects. Firstly, these
anti-slip mats remain thin devices with an even thinner rubber top layer that remains
hard, even if grooves or knobs are foreseen. The hardness of these anti-slip mats
makes them unsuitable to prevent damage to load packaging. Secondly, anti-slip mats
are designed to cover the horizontal part of the fork arm (where the load can slip
off) and at best the lower vertical part of the fork arm. A load that extends beyond
the pallet however typically is damaged by the higher part of the fork arm. The vertical
part of the fork arm that most likely will damage the load or load packaging in order
words is left uncovered through the known anti-slip / anti-scratch mats. Yet another
drawback of the known anti-slip mats, is that although they may be attached magnetically
to the fork arm, the magnetic force obtained from a thin magnetic layer in the mat
is limited. As a consequence, touching a pallet while moving the fork into pallet
openings may be sufficient to displace or fold the anti-slip mat.
[0007] A straightforward solution to prevent a load or load packaging from being damaged
by fork arms resides in putting the load into a metal container and replacing the
metal container with a fork lift. The fork arms may damage the metal container but
will not touch or damage the load. This however requires metal containers and additional
handling of the load to put it in the container and take it out of the container afterwards.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] It is an objective of the present invention to disclose an improved load protector,
i.e. a device that enables to protect a load or its packaging from being damaged by
the upright parts, e.g. the vertical or nearly vertical parts of a fork or reach truck,
and that overcomes one or several of the above described shortcomings of existing
devices. More particularly, it is an objective of the present invention to describe
a load protector that also protects fragile loads and/or the packaging of loads in
paper or cardboard from being damaged, and/or that protects loads that exceed the
pallet size from being damaged by the higher vertical parts of the fork arm or reach
truck, and/or that is more durable, and/or that is easily removable or displaceable,
and/or that does not affect the load diagram of the fork.
[0009] According to the present invention, the above objective is realized by the load protector,
adapted for attachment to a fork back of a fork used for replacing a load or to a
wheel plate of a reach truck, defined by claim 1, the load protector comprising:
- a solid base made out of polymer or rubber; and
- a fibre structure, also made out of said polymer or rubber and comprising plural fibres
having a height of at least 10 millimetres, preferably at least 15 millimetres, the
plural fibres extending from a top surface of the solid base.
[0010] Thus, the load protector according to the present invention has a fibre structure
extending from the top surface of the solid base, i.e. a resilient body made of natural
or synthetic rubber. The fibre structure consists of (natural or synthetic) rubber
fibres with a length of at least 1 centimetre. The fibre structure will not damage
an approaching load or the packaging thereof while the driver of the fork lift truck
or reach truck will experience increased resistance while the fibres are pressed and/or
bended by the approaching load. With a length of at least 10 millimetres, the rubber
fibres provide sufficient flexibility to slow down the approaching load without damaging
it, while the driver gets sufficient time to notice the increasing resistance and
anticipate thereon. In preferred embodiments of the load protector according to the
present invention, the fibres have a length of at least 15 millimetres. The longer
the fibres are, the more flexible they are as a consequence the risk they damage fragile
loads or packaging of loads is further reduced. Longer fibres however provide less
resistance as a result of which their signalling function to the driver of the fork
lift truck or reach truck decreases.
[0011] Embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined by
claim 2, further comprise:
- one or more magnets incorporated in the solid base.
[0012] One or more magnets incorporated in the bottom surface of the resilient rubber body,
i.e. the surface opposite of the fibre structure, enable to take benefit of the magnetic
properties of the fork back. Thanks to such magnets, the load protector can be attached
to and detached from the fork back manually by the driver of the fork lift truck.
The driver hence can remove the load protector, for instance if additional fork space
is required to lift a certain load, and keep the load protector in or near the fork
lift truck without having to store the load protector centrally. As soon as the driver
desires to use the load protector again to avoid damage to new loads to be lifted,
he can manually attach the load protector to the fork back without any tools.
[0013] According to an optional aspect of the load protector according to the present invention,
defined by claim 3, a bottom surface of the solid base has an amount of openings provided
with screw thread, each opening of which is dimensioned to hold one of the magnets.
[0014] Indeed, to ensure that magnets with sufficient magnetic power can be used, the bottom
surface of the rubber body preferably is provided with openings foreseen with screw
thread at their inner surface. Powerful magnets can then be screwed into the rubber
body, enabling to attach the load protector to the fork back without risk for being
displaced while driving or while picking up a load.
[0015] Embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined by
claim 4, further comprise:
- a U-profile, mounted onto a back surface of the solid base and adapted to attach the
load protector to the wheel plate of a reach truck.
[0016] Indeed, embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention that
are destined to be attached to the wheel plate of a reach truck preferably rely on
mechanical attachment rather than on magnetism because the wheel plate is too small
to rigidly attach a load protector thereon via magnets. A U-profile, turned upside
down and mounted onto the bottom surface of the rubber body may enable to attach the
load protector to the wheel plate, provided the width of the U-profile is sized to
correspond with the thickness of the wheel plate.
[0017] Alternate embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined
by claim 5, further comprise:
- a first plate, mounted onto a back surface of the solid base;
- a second plate connected to the first plate via screws, the first plate, second plate
and screws being configured to clamp the load protector onto the wheel plate of a
reach truck.
[0018] Indeed, as an alternative to the U-profile, a first plate may be mounted on the bottom
surface of the rubber body. A second plate, for instance identical to the first plate,
and held substantially parallel to the first plate, may be connected to the first
plate through screws and bolts such that the wheel plate of the reach truck becomes
clamped in between the first plate and second plate. Such embodiment of the load protector
according to the present invention has the advantage that it can be used on any reach
truck, independent of the thickness or height of the wheel plate, whereas the above
described embodiment with U-profile can be used only on reach trucks with certain
thickness of the wheel plate. Preferably, the lower ends of the first plate and second
plate are provided with grooves such that one of the screws and bolts can be height
adjusted to fit the height of the wheel plate whereon the load protector is mounted.
[0019] In embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined
by claim 6, the plural fibres each have a diameter in the range from 1 millimetre
to 7 millimetres.
[0020] Indeed, the preferred diameter for the fibres extending from the top surface of the
rubber body, preferably lies in the range from 3 to 7 millimetres, and is chosen as
a trade-off between flexibility, i.e. reduced risk for damaging the load, and resistance,
i.e. feedback to the driver that the load is approaching the fork back. For delicate
loads, e.g. glasses, it may however be preferred to use load protectors whose fibres
have even smaller diameters, in the range between 1 millimetre and 3 millimetres.
[0021] In embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined
by claim 7, the plural fibres are arranged in a pattern such that neighbouring fibres
have an inter distance in the range from 3 millimetres to 10 millimetres.
[0022] Also the number of fibres and their inter distance is chosen as a trade-off between
flexibility and resistance. A regular diamond pattern is preferred wherein fibres
of a row are equidistantly spaced in between fibres of the previous row. The inter
distance between two neighbouring fibres in a single row preferably is selected in
the range from 3 millimetres to 10 millimetres, giving fibres sufficient space to
bend when pressed by a load without damaging the load, while providing sufficient
resistance to the load to signal the driver that the load is approaching the fork
back or reach truck.
[0023] In embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined
by claim 8, the said solid base has a height of at most 30 millimetres.
[0024] Indeed, existing standards specify that the load diagram of fork lifts does not change
when the load is positioned at 30 millimetres distance from the fork back. When the
solid base of the load protector has a height of at most 30 millimetres, the driver
can be instructed to drive against any load up to the point where the fibres are pressed
completely and the load reaches the solid base. The load diagram of the fork lift
will not change since the load will be at a distance of at most 30 millimetres of
the fork back in such circumstances, and the driver can thus safely tilt any load
up to the maximum load of the fork lift truck. Obviously, the solid base of the load
protector according to the present invention may be higher than 30 millimetres when
used on fork lifts that are over-dimensioned, i.e. fork lifts whose maximum capacity
exceeds the loads that will be tilted.
[0025] In embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined
by claim 9, a bottom surface of the solid base is provided with a pair of side rims
adapted to hold the load protector in position in case a force is applied with a horizontal
component.
[0026] Thus, preferably, the bottom surface of the rubber body, i.e. the surface that is
in touch with the fork back of the fork or that is in touch with the wheel plate,
has side rims that avoid a horizontal displacement of the load protector when a horizontal
force is applied to the fork, to the reach truck or to the load protector, or avoid
a horizontal displacement of the load protector while the lift truck or reach truck
moves.
[0027] In embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined
by claim 10, the side rims have a height in the range from 3 millimetres to 10 millimetres,
preferably 5 millimetres.
[0028] Indeed, the height of the side rims must be sufficient to keep the load protector
in position when a horizontal force is applied. For smaller load protectors, like
for instance the ones used on wheel plates of reach trucks, a height of 3 millimetres
may be sufficient. For bigger and heavier load protectors, like for instance the ones
used on the fork back of fork lifts, a rim height of 5 millimetres up to 10 millimetres
is preferred.
[0029] In embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined
by claim 11, the solid base has a width in the range from 50 millimetres to 145 millimetres.
[0030] Preferably, the rubber body with fibre structure has a width that slightly exceeds
the width of the fork back or the width of the wheel plate whereon it will be used.
The width of the load protector preferably corresponds to the width of the fork back
(or wheel plate) plus twice the width of the side rim if side rims are foreseen at
the bottom surface. For typical forks, this means that widths in the range from 50
millimetres to 145 millimetres are preferred. However, load protectors having a smaller
width may also be manufactured. On wheel plates of reach trucks, it may for instance
be desirable to have two smaller load protectors side by side.
[0031] In embodiments of the load protector according to the present invention, defined
by claim 12, the solid base has a length in the range from 150 millimetres to 700
millimetres, preferably in the range of 400 millimetres to 600 millimetres.
[0032] Indeed, for fork lifts, it is desirable to produce load protectors having a length
in the range from 400 millimetres to 600 millimetres to cover the entire part of the
fork back that may possibly damage the load. Embodiments of the load protector that
are used on wheel plates of reach trucks however must be smaller and shall have typical
lengths of 150 millimetres to 300 millimetres, required to cover the wheel plate over
its entire height.
[0033] According to a further aspect of the load protector according to the present invention,
as defined by claim 13, the solid base and the fibre structure are integrally formed
through injection moulding.
Indeed, an advantageous way to produce the rubber body with top fibre structure relies
on injection moulding. Elements positioned in the mould will enable to create the
fibre structure such that the fibre structure integrally forms part of a single rubber
piece integrating the solid body and the fibres.
[0034] According to a further aspect of the load protector according to the present invention,
as defined by claim 14, the openings with screw thread are formed in the solid base
through vulcanisation.
[0035] Indeed, in order to create the openings, dimensioned to fit the magnets, and the
screw thread, needed to fix the magnets in the rubber body, a vulcanisation technique
may be applied. Since screw thread cannot be realized through injection moulding,
an additional vulcanisation step may be required to create the openings for the magnets
and form the screw thread therein.
[0036] Optionally, as defined by claim 15, the polymer or rubber in the load protector according
to the present invention is reinforced through fiberglass.
[0037] This way, the strength and durability of the load protector are further improved.
[0038] In addition to a load protector as defined by claim 1, the present invention also
concerns a related manufacturing method for a load protector adapted for attachment
to a fork back of a fork used for replacing a load or to a wheel plate of a reach
truck, the manufacturing method being defined by claim 16, comprising:
- obtaining through injection moulding a solid base of polymer or rubber with top fibre
structure of polymer or rubber comprising plural fibres having a height of at least
10 millimetres, preferably at least 15 millimetres, the plural fibres extending from
a top surface of the solid base.
[0039] Embodiments of the manufacturing method according to the present invention, defined
by claim 17, further comprise:
- providing through vulcanisation one or more openings in a bottom surface of the solid
base for incorporation of one or more magnets in the solid base.
[0040] Embodiments of the manufacturing method according to the present invention, defined
by claim 18, further comprise:
- mounting a U profile onto a back surface of the solid base for attaching the load
protector to the wheel plate of a reach truck.
[0041] Embodiments of the manufacturing method according to the present invention, defined
by claim 19, further comprise:
- mounting a first plate onto a back surface of the solid base;
- connecting a second plate to the first plate via screws, the first plate, second plate
and screws being configured to clamp the load protector onto the wheel plate of a
reach truck.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0042]
Fig. 1 illustrates a fork lift truck 100 equipped with a first embodiment 200 of the
load protector according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the first embodiment 200 of the load protector according to
the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the first embodiment 200 of the load protector according
to the present invention;
Fig. 4 illustrates in detail the presence of magnets 400 in the first embodiment 200
of the load protector according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 illustrates a reach truck 500 equipped with a second embodiment 600 of the
load protector according to the present invention;
Fig. 6 shows in more detail attachment of the second embodiment 600 of the load protector
according to the present invention to a wheel plate of the reach truck;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the second embodiment 600 of the load protector according
to the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a side view of a variant 800 for the second embodiment of the load protector
according to the present invention;
Fig. 9 shows in more detail attachment of a third embodiment 900 of the load protector
according to the present invention to a wheel plate of a reach truck; and
Fig. 10 is a top view of the third embodiment 900 of the load protector according
to the present invention.
Detailed Description of Embodiment(s)
[0043] Fig. 1 shows a fork lift truck 100 that is used to tilt and replace loads, for instance
from a storage space towards the trailer of a truck. The fork lift truck 100 has a
fork with two fork arms 101 and 102. The fork arms 101 and 102 have horizontal parts
that are dimensioned to fit into openings of a standard pallet whereon the load is
placed, and vertical parts, also called fork backs. To avoid that the fork backs damage
the load or packaging of a load that extends beyond the edges of the pallet, a load
protector 200 is attached to each of the fork backs.
[0044] Fig. 2 shows in more detail the load protector 200 that is attached to the fork backs
of the fork lift truck 100 of Fig. 1. The load protector 200 has a rubber cuboid base
201 with length of 600 millimetres, width of 120 millimetres and height of 30 millimetres.
The load protector 200 further has a top fibre structure 202 that consists of rubber
fibres, extending from the top surface of the rubber base 201. Each of the rubber
fibres has a length (or height) of 20 millimetres and a diameter of 5 millimetres.
The rubber fibres are positioned in a pattern of rows. The fibres on each row are
positioned in the middle between the fibres of the previous row and consequently also
in the middle between the fibres of the next row. The distance between neighbouring
fibres in a row is 10 millimetres. The base 201 and fibre structure 202 are integrally
formed via a single injection moulding step. Thereto a hole-pierced block is positioned
in the mould during the polymer or natural rubber injection, to shape the fibres.
[0045] Fig. 3 shows the bottom surface of the rubber base 201 of load protector 200. Two
side rims 204 are provided along the edges of the base 201. These side rims 204 have
a height of 5 millimetres. The side rims 204 constitute a border that keeps the load
protector 200 in horizontal position when attached to the fork back. The side rims
204 in other words avoid that the load protector 200 slides horizontally when forces
are applied with a horizontal component, for instance as a result of movements made
by the fork lift truck. The bottom surface of the base 201 further has five openings
203 for magnets. These openings have a diameter of 33 millimetres and are made in
the solid rubber base 201 through a vulcanisation technique.
[0046] Fig. 4 shows in more detail a part of the bottom surface of the rubber base 201 of
load protector 200. This drawing again shows the side rims 204 and one of the openings
203 sized to fit a magnet 400 with diameter of 32 millimetres. The depth of the opening
203 coincides with the thickness of the magnet 400. The magnet 400 further has a pin
401 with screw thread and the bottom surface of the magnet opening 203 further has
a hole 205 the inner surface of which is provided with M6 screw thread enabling to
fix the magnet 400 therein. The magnets 400 hence are tightened into the bottom surface
of the rubber base 201 such that the top surface of the magnets 400 and the bottom
surface of the base 201 form an integral fat surface that will be in touch with the
surface of the fork back. The magnets 400 are preferably screwed into the base 201
because temperatures in the range of 300°C would damage the magnetic properties of
the magnets 400 should one integrate the magnets in the base through a baking process.
The magnets 400 are selected and dimensioned to enable attachment of the load protector
200 to the fork back and prevent vertical sliding thereof along the fork back when
certain forces with vertical component are applied. Five magnets, each having a force
of 40 kg, may for instance be adequate.
[0047] Fig. 5 shows a reach truck 500. Such reach truck 500 is used in shops to fill racks
with pallets that carry a load. The reach truck has a fork to lift the pallets and
has horizontal beams running parallel with the horizontal parts of the fork arms.
On these horizontal beams, front wheels are mounted protected with respective wheel
plates 501 and 502. When placing a lifted pallet high up in a rack, the horizontal
beams extend into the lower region of the rack with risk of damaging loads that are
stored in this lower region of the rack. To avoid damaging loads stored in the lower
region of the rack, the wheel plates 501 and 502 of the reach truck 500 shown in Fig.
5 are each equipped with two identical load protectors 600.
[0048] Fig. 6 shows a single front wheel of the reach truck 500. The front wheel has a wheel
plate 501 whereon two identical load protectors are mounted. Each of these load protectors
comprises a solid, cuboid rubber base 601 with length of 50 millimetres, width of
25 millimetres and height of 20 millimetres. The load protector further comprises
a rubber fibre structure 602 of fibres that each have a diameter of 1 millimetre and
a length of 15 millimetres, extending from the top surface of the solid base 601.
The distance between neighbouring fibres in a row is 3 millimetres. The load protector
further comprises a metal U-profile 603, one leg of which is fixedly mounted onto
the bottom surface of the rubber base 601 such that the U-profile 603 enables to attach
the load protector to the wheel plate 501 by sliding the U-profile downward over the
top edge of the wheel plate 501.
[0049] Fig. 7 represents a side view of the load protector 600, two samples of which are
attached to a single wheel plate 501 in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 again shows the cuboid rubber
base 601 and top fibre structure 602. Fig. 7 further shows the U-profile 603, the
legs of which may have different lengths. One leg is mounted onto the bottom surface
of the cuboid base 601, e.g. through two screws. The U-profile 603 is turned upside-down,
i.e. with its base positioned near the upper edge of the base 601. The base of the
U-profile 603 is dimensioned to fit the thickness of the wheel plate 503 whereto it
will be attached through sliding the U-profile downward over the wheel plate 501.
The load protector 600 can easily be placed onto and removed from the wheel plate
501 of the reach truck 500, and brings the advantage that it avoids damaging loads
or packaging of loads that are stored in the lower region of racks while providing
feedback to the driver of the reach truck through increased resistance.
[0050] Fig. 8 shows a variant 800 for the load protector 600 of Fig. 7 that is used on wheel
plates of reach trucks. The variant load protector 800 depicted in Fig. 8 has a cuboid
rubber base 801 and fibre structure 802 that are identical to the base 601 and fibre
structure 602 of the load protector 600. The load protector 800 further comprises
a U-profile 803 that differs from the U-profile 603 in that the base of the U-profile
803 is provided with a hole enabling a screw 804 to fixedly mount the load protector
800 onto a wheel plate that is provided with screw thread in its upper edge.
[0051] Fig. 9 shows the wheel plate 501 of reach truck 500, this time equipped with two
samples of a third embodiment 900 of the load protector according to the present invention.
The load protector 900 comprises a cuboid rubber base 901 and fibre structure 902
that are identical to the base 601 and fibre structure 602 of the above described
second embodiment 600. The load protector 900 further comprises a first metal plate
903, a second metal plate 904, a first screw and bolt 905 and a second screw and bolt
906. The metal plates 903, 904, the first screw and bolt 905 and the second screw
and bolt 906 enable to more rigidly attach the load protector 900 to the wheel plate
501.
[0052] Fig. 10 represents a side view of the third embodiment 900. The third embodiment
comprises a solid rubber base 901 and rubber fibre structure 902, extending from the
top surface of the solid base 901 and integrally formed with this solid base 901.
A first metal plate 903 is attached to the bottom surface of the rubber base 901,
for instance with two screws. This first metal plate 903 has an upper end that extends
beyond the upper edge of the rubber base 901, and a lower end that extends beyond
the lower edge of the rubber base 901. The upper end of the metal plate 903 is provided
with a hole such that a first screw 905 can be inserted. The lower end of the metal
plate 903 is provided with a groove in the length direction of the plate 903 such
that a second screw 906 can be inserted and can be positioned at different heights.
The third embodiment 900 further comprises a second metal plate 904 that is identical
to the first metal plate 903. The second metal plate 904 is connected to the first
metal plate 903 via the first screw 905 that engages with a first bolt, and the second
screw 906 that engages with a second bolt. When mounted on the wheel plate 501, the
upper ends of the first plate 903 and second plate 904, and the first screw and bolt
905 will be located above the wheel plate 501. Similarly, the lower ends of the first
plate 903 and second plate 904, and the second screw and bolt 906 will be located
below the wheel plate. The wheel plate 501 will be clamped between the first plate
903 and the second plate 904 to secure attachment of the load protector 900. The groove
in the lower end of the first plate 903 and second plate 904 enables to adjust the
height of the second screw and bolt 906 to the height of the wheel plate 501. This
way, the third embodiment 900 can be tightly secured onto wheel plates of reach trucks,
irrespective of the thickness and height of the wheel plates. Depending on the width
of the wheel plate, one or several samples of the load protector 900 can be mounted
on the wheel plate to cover its front surface.
[0053] Although the present invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments,
it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited
to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention
may be embodied with various changes and modifications without departing from the
scope thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by
the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended
to be embraced therein. In other words, it is contemplated to cover any and all modifications,
variations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the basic underlying principles
and whose essential attributes are claimed in this patent application. It will furthermore
be understood by the reader of this patent application that the words "comprising"
or "comprise" do not exclude other elements or steps, that the words "a" or "an" do
not exclude a plurality, and that a single element or an integrated unit may fulfil
the functions of several means recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims
shall not be construed as limiting the respective claims concerned. The terms "first",
"second", third", "a", "b", "c", and the like, when used in the description or in
the claims are introduced to distinguish between similar elements or steps and are
not necessarily describing a sequential or chronological order. Similarly, the terms
"top", "bottom", "over", "under", and the like are introduced for descriptive purposes
and not necessarily to denote relative positions. It is to be understood that the
terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and embodiments
of the invention are capable of operating according to the present invention in other
sequences, or in orientations different from the one(s) described or illustrated above.
1. A load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) adapted for attachment to a fork back of a fork
(101, 102) used for replacing a load or to a wheel plate (501) of a reach truck (500),
said load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) comprising:
- a solid base (201; 601; 801; 901) made out of polymer or rubber; and
- a fibre structure (202; 602; 802; 902), also made out of said polymer or rubber
and comprising plural fibres having a height of at least 10 millimetres, preferably
at least 15 millimetres, said plural fibres extending from a top surface of said solid
base (201; 601; 801; 901).
2. A load protector (200) according to claim 1, further comprising:
- one or more magnets (400) incorporated in said solid base (201).
3. A load protector (200) according to claim 2, wherein a bottom surface of said solid
base (201) has an amount of openings (203) provided with screw thread (205), each
opening (205) of which is dimensioned to hold one of said magnets (400).
4. A load protector (600; 800) according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a U-profile (603; 803), mounted onto a back surface of said solid base (601; 801)
and adapted to attach said load protector (600; 800) to said wheel plate (501) of
a reach truck (500).
5. A load protector (900) according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a first plate (903), mounted onto a back surface of said solid base (901);
- a second plate (904) connected to said first plate (903) via screws (905, 906),
said first plate (903), second plate (904) and screws (905, 906) being configured
to clamp said load protector (900) onto said wheel plate (501) of a reach truck (500).
6. A load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein
said plural fibres each have a diameter in the range from 1 millimetre to 7 millimetres.
7. A load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein
said plural fibres are arranged in a pattern such that neighbouring fibres have an
inter distance in the range from 3 millimetres to 10 millimetres.
8. A load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein
said solid base (201; 601; 801; 901) has a height of at most 30 millimetres.
9. A load protector (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a bottom
surface of said solid base (201) is provided with a pair of side rims (204) adapted
to hold said load protector (200) in position in case a force is applied with a horizontal
component.
10. A load protector (200) according to claim 9, wherein said side rims (204) have a height
in the range from 3 millimetres to 10 millimetres, preferably 5 millimetres.
11. A load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein
said solid base has a width in the range from 50 millimetres to 145 millimetres.
12. A load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein
said solid base has a length in the range from 150 millimetres to 700 millimetres,
preferably in the range of 400 millimetres to 600 millimetres.
13. A load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein
said solid base (201; 601; 801; 901) and said fibre structure (202; 602; 802; 902)
are integrally formed through injection moulding.
14. A load protector (200) according to claim 13 and claim 3, wherein said openings (203)
with screw thread (205) are formed in said solid base (201) through vulcanisation.
15. A load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein
said polymer or rubber is reinforced through fiberglass.
16. A manufacturing method for a load protector (200; 600; 800; 900) adapted for attachment
to a fork back of a fork (101, 102) used for replacing a load or to a wheel plate
(501) of a reach truck (500), said manufacturing method comprising:
- obtaining through injection moulding a solid base (201; 601; 801; 901) of polymer
or rubber with top fibre structure (202; 602; 802; 902) of polymer or rubber comprising
plural fibres having a height of at least 10 millimetres, preferably at least 15 millimetres,
said plural fibres extending from a top surface of said solid base (201; 601; 801;
901).
17. A manufacturing method according to claim 16, further comprising:
- providing through vulcanisation one or more openings (203) in a bottom surface of
said solid base (201) for incorporation of one or more magnets (400) in said solid
base.
18. A manufacturing method according to claim 16, further comprising:
- mounting a U profile (603; 803) onto a back surface of said solid base (601; 801)
for attaching said load protector (600; 800) to said wheel plate (501) of a reach
truck (500).
19. A manufacturing method according to claim 16, further comprising:
- mounting a first plate (903) onto a back surface of said solid base (901);
- connecting a second plate (904) to said first plate (903) via screws (905, 906),
said first plate (903), second plate (904) and screws (905, 906) being configured
to clamp said load protector (900) onto said wheel plate (501) of a reach truck (500).