Forklift accessory

Abstract

The present invention relates to an accessory (2) for a forklift (1) comprising two sleeves (20), each sleeve being tubular for inserting into a branch of a fork (3) of the forklift, each sleeve comprises at least one jaw (22) so that at least two jaws of two different sleeves form at least one pair, this pair of jaws being able to cooperate when the two sleeves approach each other. Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: Forklift accessory

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of forklift accessories. prior art

[0002] Forklifts are commonly used lifting and handling devices. These trucks are vehicles equipped with a lifting system comprising at least one fork mounted movable in vertical translation. Preferably, two forks are present. This or these forks are preferably arranged to slide into the openings of the pallets on which the materials are arranged for transport. The forklift is mainly used for transporting products from manufacturing or storage lines to other manufacturing or storage locations, for loading and unloading trucks, wagons, ships and other means of transport.

[0003] However, the forklift has a flexibility of use that enables other applications.

[0004] Indeed, the forks are also used as an anchoring point to suspend heavy loads. For this purpose, said loads can be attached to a chain, or a strap, which itself is wrapped around the forks to suspend said load.

[0005] The drawback of this "method" is that it is not very safe and efficient because it does not prevent the occurrence of a swaying phenomenon. This swaying phenomenon is dangerous and limits precision.

[0006] It would be possible to design a specific vehicle for this purpose but such a vehicle, with a single use, would not be cost-effective.

[0007] There is therefore a need to find a solution to be able to use a forklift safely for the transport of any type of object outside a pallet. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention seeks to resolve the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an accessory enabling a forklift to be able to carry various loads in a safer manner for the drivers of the forklifts and their environment while limiting the risks of breakage / damage to the equipment / products transported.

[0009] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a forklift accessory comprising two sleeves, each sleeve being tubular for inserting into a branch of a fork of the forklift, each sleeve comprises at least one jaw so that at least two jaws of two different sleeves form at least one pair, this pair of jaws being able to cooperate when the two sleeves approach each other.

[0010] This accessory is advantageous in that the jaws allow for gripping objects such as beams or machines that normal forks are unable to do.

[0011] According to one example, each jaw comprises two parallel or diverging arms.

[0012] According to one example, the two arms of a jaw are made of materials or attached to the sleeve.

[0013] According to one example, the two arms of a jaw are distinct or form a single piece.

[0014] According to one example, each sleeve comprises at least one hook for hanging an object.

[0015] According to one example, each sleeve comprises locking means for locking the position of the sleeve relative to the fork.

[0016] According to one example, the jaws are made integral by a telescopic guide system.

[0017] According to one example, the telescopic guidance system comprises return means. Description of the drawings

[0018] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, for informational purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0019] - [Fig.l] represents a forklift fork.

[0020] - Figures 2 and 3 show an accessory for a forklift fork.

[0021] - Figures 4 and 5 show jaw arm shapes of an accessory for a forklift fork according to the invention.

[0022] - Figures 6 and 12 show variants of placement of the sleeve arms different from an accessory according to the invention.

[0023] - [Fig.7] represents jaws of closed sleeves of an accessory according to the invention.

[0024] - [Fig.8] represents a sleeve of an accessory according to the invention provided with means locking.

[0025] - [Fig.9] represents a sleeve of an accessory according to the invention provided with a hook.

[0026] - [Fig. 10] represents an accessory according to the invention provided with a system of guidance.

[0027] - [Fig.l 1] represents an accessory according to the invention provided with a system of reception. Detailed description

[0028] [Fig.l] represents a fork 3 of a forklift truck 1, said fork 3 comprising fork branches. In Figures 2 and 3, an accessory 2 for this fork is shown. This accessory 2 comprises sleeves 20. Each sleeve 20 comprises a tubular part 21, of circular, oval or parallelepipedal section. Each sleeve 20 is then arranged to be inserted into one of the branches of the fork 3 of the forklift truck 1. Each sleeve 20 then comprises an upper face and a lower face, the lower face being opposite the ground and the upper face being the face opposite the lower face.

[0029] According to the invention, each sleeve 20 comprises at least one jaw 22. Each jaw 22 comprises two arms 220. These two arms 220 extend to have their ends extending in a parallel manner or in a divergent manner as visible in Figures 4 and 5. The jaws 22 of two sleeves 20 are arranged to form at least one pair, each pair therefore comprising a jaw of a sleeve 20. The jaws 22 of a pair face each other or are offset, preferably by a distance equal to the thickness of the arms as visible in [Fig.6].

[0030] In one embodiment, the two arms 220 of the jaw 22 belong to the same part which is attached to said sleeve 20. This part can be a profile or a tubular part.

[0031] In a second embodiment, the jaw 22 is formed by two separate parts extending from the sleeve 20. These arms 220 are attached to said sleeve 20. These two parts are profiles or a tubular part.

[0032] In a third embodiment, the arms 220 forming the jaw are made of the same material as the sleeve 20. The arms are profiles or tubular pieces.

[0033] In the embodiments, the jaw 22 is formed by two identical, symmetrical arms 220 or is formed by two arms 220, identical or not, symmetrical or not. The jaws 22 are then made of materials with the sleeve 20 or attached to said sleeve 20.

[0034] In the embodiments with arms 220 attached to the sleeve 20, these are welded or screwed or bolted to the sleeve.

[0035] The jaws 22 are associated in at least one pair to grip an object. Indeed, each sleeve 20 is mounted on one of the branches of the fork 3 of the forklift 1. These fork branches are able to move laterally to move closer or further apart. When the two fork branches move closer together, the jaws 22 of a pair also move closer together. This moving together of the jaws 22 allows the jaws to form a clamp which can grip objects. The arms 220 of two jaws 22 form, when they approach each other, a space into which an object can be inserted to be transported as seen in [Fig.7].

[0036] It is then understood that the jaws 22 can be associated in threes. In this case, the jaws of the same group of three are positioned in a staggered fashion, also called alternating.

[0037] In a preferred version, the accessory 2 comprises at least two pairs of jaws 22. The presence of at least two pairs allows for better gripping, in particular for large objects such as beams. Indeed, having two pairs of jaws 22 allows said jaws to be better distributed over the sleeve 22.

[0038] In an alternative version, the accessory 2 comprises a single group of three jaws 22 as seen in [Fig. 12]. In this case, the spacing between the jaws is greater than the spacing between the three jaws in a group in the case of an accessory comprising several groups of three jaws.

[0039] In a variant, each sleeve 20 is equipped with locking means 222 for firmly fixing the sleeve 20 to the fork branch as shown in [Fig.8]. These locking means 222 include, for example, at least one screw. This screw is used to press against the fork and block the position of the sleeve.

[0040] In a variant, the accessory 2 includes at least one hook or lug 224 as shown in [Fig.9]. This hook or lug 224 extends from one of the sleeves 20. More particularly, this hook or lug 224 extends towards the ground once the sleeve is placed on the fork branch, that is to say from the lower face. This hook or lug 224 allows objects such as big bag-type bags to be suspended or objects to be suspended via a chain.

[0041] Preferably, each sleeve 20 comprises at least one hook 224. These hooks are aligned. This makes it possible to use each hook 224 to suspend an object or to use both hooks to suspend a single object while ensuring better balance. Indeed, by suspending an object using two hooks 224 located on two sleeves, the force exerted by said object is distributed over the two sleeves and therefore over the two fork branches of the forklift, making transport easier because it does not have to compensate for an imbalance.

[0042] In a variant visible in [Fig.l 1], each sleeve 20 further comprises receiving means 26. These receiving means are used so that an object can rest there for the transport of this object. These receiving means are arranged on the upper face of the sleeve. These receiving means comprise at least one wing 260, preferably two, delimiting a zone 262 called the receiving zone. This wing extends on the upper face, orthogonally to the sleeve. This wing is made of material with the sleeve or attached to it. In the case of two wings, these can be integral and be a U-shaped profile attached to the sleeve.

[0043] In a variant, the sleeves are connected by a guiding system 24 as can be seen in [Fig. 10]. The guiding system 24 makes it possible to secure the two sleeves together and to ensure that they are aligned. The guiding system 24 is telescopic or articulated. It is then understood that the guiding system comprises at least two articulated (visible at A) or telescopic (visible at B) portions 240 such as tubes or rails. The guiding system 24 is then able to articulate or slide to adapt to the approaching (visible at C) or the separation of the fork branches on which the sleeves are installed.

[0044] Optionally, the sliding tubes or rails are provided with return means such as springs or jacks. These return means are tensioned when the sleeves are moved apart. The return means are then released when the fork branches move closer to each other. These return means provide additional force to tighten the jaws and grip the object to be lifted.

[0045] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will appear to those skilled in the art.

[0046] Thus, it is conceivable that, in the case of jaws formed by arms attached to the sleeve, that said sleeve is arranged to allow the jaws to be placed in different positions as required. It is then understood that the sleeve comprises predefined positions at which the arms are fixed. In the case of arms fixed by screwing, each sleeve then comprises at least one series of aligned holes, allowing the arms to be screwed into different positions.

Claims

Claims

1. Accessory (2) for forklift (1) comprising two sleeves (20), each sleeve being tubular for inserting into a branch of a fork (3) of the forklift, each sleeve comprises at least one jaw (22) so that at least two jaws of two different sleeves form at least one pair, this pair of jaws being able to cooperate when the two sleeves approach each other.

2. Accessory according to claim 1, in which each jaw (22) comprises two parallel or diverging arms (220).

3. Accessory according to claim 2, in which the two arms (220) of a jaw (22) are made of materials or attached to the sleeve.

4. Accessory according to claims 2 or 3, in which the two arms (220) of a jaw (22) are separate or form a single piece.

5. Accessory according to one of the preceding claims, in which each sleeve (20) comprises at least one hook (224) for hanging an object.

6. Accessory according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each sleeve (20) comprises locking means (222) for locking the position of the sleeve relative to the fork.

7. Accessory according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sleeves are made integral by a telescopic guide system (24).

8. Accessory according to the preceding claim, in which the telescopic guide system (24) comprises return means.

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