Overhead guard

Claim 2

Overhead guard apparatus for liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for swinging movement between an operative protective position above the support means and over the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform and at a side of the support means.

Claim 3

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical suppoRt means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, and laterally extending means for engaging a surface of the mast means when the guard means is moved between operative and inoperative positions.

Claim 4

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical suppoRt means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, and laterally extending means for engaging a surface of the mast means when the guard means is moved between operative and inoperative positions.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the laterally extending means remains in contact with the mast means as the carriage means and operator''s platform are moved upward along the mast means while the guard means is protectively inoperative.

Claim 6

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, and limit means connected between the vertical support means and the guard means for limiting downward movement of the guard means on the support means to a horizontal operative protective position and for limiting movement of the guard means about the support means to a horizontal protectively inoperative position which is displaced from the operative position.

Claim 7

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, and limit means connected between the vertical support means and the guard means for limiting downward movement of the guard means on the support means to a horizontal operative protective position and for limiting movement of the guard means about the support means to a horizontal protectively inoperative position which is displaced from the operative position.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising surface means on the guard means for engaging a surface of the mast means when the guard means is moved to an intermediate position toward an inoperative position and for remaining in contact with the mast means until the guard means is in the full inoperative position permitted by the limit means.

Claim 9

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, and hinge means having first ends rotatably connected to the upright support means and having second ends rotatably connected to the guard means, and having a surface means intermediate the first and second ends for resting on a surface of the mast means when the guard means is moved between operative and inoperative positions.

Claim 10

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, and hinge means having first ends rotatably connected to the upright support means and having second ends rotatably connected to the guard means, and having a surface means intermediate the first and second ends for resting on a surface of the mast means when the guard means is moved between operative and inoperative positions.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the hinge means comprises first and second hinge bars connected at the first ends thereof to the upright support means and connected at second ends thereof to the guard means, and wherein the first and second hinge bars have substantially equal lengths between connection points, whereby movement of the guard means is constrained for maintaining the guard means parallel to its operative position.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising first limit means connected to the upright support means for engaging the first hinge bar and preventing movement past a position of the first hinge bar which corresponds with the operative position of the guard means, and second limit means connected to the guard means for contacting the first hinge bar and preventing movement of the first hinge bar beyond a position which corresponds with the inoperative position of the guard means.

Claim 13

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platfoRm on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, and motive power means connected to the mounting means, to the mast means, and to the carriage means for moving the carriage means vertically along the mast means, first switch means connected between the carriage means and an upper portion of the mast means for actuation when the carriage means reaches a predetermined height on the mast means, and second switch means connected between the guard means and the vertical support means for actuation when the guard means is moved into and out of operative position, the first and second switch means being connected to the power means, whereby actuation of the first switch means during upward movement of the carriage interrupts the power means, and wherein actuation of the second switch means by moving the guard toward an inoperative position completes the power means, and whereby actuation of the first switch means by downward movement of the carriage means interrupts the power means, and actuation of the second switch means by moving the guard into an operative position completes the power means.

Claim 14

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platfoRm on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, and motive power means connected to the mounting means, to the mast means, and to the carriage means for moving the carriage means vertically along the mast means, first switch means connected between the carriage means and an upper portion of the mast means for actuation when the carriage means reaches a predetermined height on the mast means, and second switch means connected between the guard means and the vertical support means for actuation when the guard means is moved into and out of operative position, the first and second switch means being connected to the power means, whereby actuation of the first switch means during upward movement of the carriage interrupts the power means, and wherein actuation of the second switch means by moving the guard toward an inoperative position completes the power means, and whereby actuation of the first switch means by downward movement of the carriage means interrupts the power means, and actuation of the second switch means by moving the guard into an operative position completes the power means.

Claim 15

Overhead guard apparatus for liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, wherein the mast is mounted on a truck body, and wherein the mast means has an upper surface which receives a horizontally extending surface on the guard means for supporting the guard means in movement between a position slightly displaced from the operative position to the inoperative position.

Claim 16

Overhead guard apparatus for liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, wherein the mast is mounted on a truck body, and wherein the mast means has an upper surface which receives a horizontally extending surface on the guard means for supporting the guard means in movement between a position slightly displaced from the operative position to the inoperative position.

Claim 17

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, wherein the mounting means further comprises a truck body connected to a lower end of the mast means, and wherein the mast means comprises first and second parallel vertical beams, wherein the vertical support means comprise spaced parallel vertical supports and wherein the apparatus further comprises first parallel hinge bars having first ends connected to upper ends of the vertical supports and having second ends connected to the guard means, first stops mounted forward on the vertical supports adjacent the first hinge bars for preventing forward motion of the first hinge bars beyoNd positions which correspond with an operative position of the guard means, second stops mounted laterally on the guard means near and slightly forward of the first hinge bars for preventing motion of the first hinge bars beyond positions which correspond with the inoperative position of the guard means, and second hinge bars connected to the first and second stops parallel to the first hinge bars, the first and second hinge bars having substantially equal distances between connection points, whereby the hinge bars maintain parallel relation throughout movement, and whereby the guard means remains generally horizontal throughout movement, and further comprising a horizontal roller means interconnecting the first hinge bars near the vertical supports for engaging upper surfaces of the mast beams when the guard means is initially moved toward an inoperative position, whereby the roller rests on the upper surfaces, and whereby continued upward movement of the carriage means permits relative downward movement of the roller means, thus permitting further movement of the guard means toward the inoperative position, whereby the roller means is positioned above the mast means in the inoperative position of the guard means, and whereby downward movement of the carriage means with the guard means in the inoperative position causes the contact of roller means with the upper surfaces of the mast beams, and continued downward movement of the carriage means causes the movement of the roller means upward with respect to the vertical supports which causes movement of the guard means toward the operative position.

Claim 18

Overhead guard apparatus for a liftable operator''s platform on a materials-handling equipment comprising a mounting means for horizontal movement adjacent a storage rack, mast means connected to the mounting means and extending generally vertically therefrom, carriage means mounted on the mast means for moving vertically therealong, the carriage means including an operator''s platform, vertical support means positioned on the carriage means adjacent operator''s platform and extending upward therefrom, guard means hingedly connected to the vertical support means for movement between an operative protective position above the operator''s platform and an inoperative position along the operator''s platform, wherein the mounting means further comprises a truck body connected to a lower end of the mast means, and wherein the mast means comprises first and second parallel vertical beams, wherein the vertical support means comprise spaced parallel vertical supports and wherein the apparatus further comprises first parallel hinge bars having first ends connected to upper ends of the vertical supports and having second ends connected to the guard means, first stops mounted forward on the vertical supports adjacent the first hinge bars for preventing forward motion of the first hinge bars beyoNd positions which correspond with an operative position of the guard means, second stops mounted laterally on the guard means near and slightly forward of the first hinge bars for preventing motion of the first hinge bars beyond positions which correspond with the inoperative position of the guard means, and second hinge bars connected to the first and second stops parallel to the first hinge bars, the first and second hinge bars having substantially equal distances between connection points, whereby the hinge bars maintain parallel relation throughout movement, and whereby the guard means remains generally horizontal throughout movement, and further comprising a horizontal roller means interconnecting the first hinge bars near the vertical supports for engaging upper surfaces of the mast beams when the guard means is initially moved toward an inoperative position, whereby the roller rests on the upper surfaces, and whereby continued upward movement of the carriage means permits relative downward movement of the roller means, thus permitting further movement of the guard means toward the inoperative position, whereby the roller means is positioned above the mast means in the inoperative position of the guard means, and whereby downward movement of the carriage means with the guard means in the inoperative position causes the contact of roller means with the upper surfaces of the mast beams, and continued downward movement of the carriage means causes the movement of the roller means upward with respect to the vertical supports which causes movement of the guard means toward the operative position.

Claim 21

The method of claim 12 wherein the moving step comprises moving the guard from the operative position to an intermediate position and leaning the guard on a portion of the mast, whereby the continuing upward movement of the carriage with respect to the mast effects downward moving the guard with respect to the carriage, and wherein lowering the carriage with respect to the mast effects raising the guard with respect to the carriage, and whereby stopping the carriage lowering is effected concurrently with returning of the guard to the intermediate position.