Forklift attachments

Claim 1

An attachment for use in lifting container loads with a power-operated lifting apparatus employing fork load raising means supported on a carriage movable along a vertically extending mast, said attachment comprising: a frame having spaced longitudinal members for disposition horizontally over a load container; hollow transoms secured to the longitudinal members, said transoms being shaped to receive horizontal arms of said fork means; rollers on said transoms to engage said fork means in said transoms to facilitate translation of said transoms along said fork means; power-operated means to effect said translational movements, said frame having a shape to provide at spaced positions in its length on opposite sides thereof means to embrace a container load; said embracing means each comprising a downwarDly extending elongated load-engaging arm; a load-engaging member extending inwardly from the lower end of said arm, whereby said arm and said load engaging member extend from the frame downwardly over the full height of the container and engage under the container respectively; said arms on at least one side of said frame being pivotable about a horizontal axis to engage over and be brought into engagement with the container; power-operated means operable to pivot said arms; and separate power-operated means operable to adjust the relative position of at least one of said frame and said arms to said lifting apparatus for accurately engaging said load and supporting said load in a raised position.