Abstract A load cap for use in combination with a lifting skid pallet to permit decking and undecking of unitized sheeted material. The load cap is suitable for use in cooperating relationship with a push-pull attachment found on forklift apparatus. The load cap comprises a planar main body portion, the main body portion having a plurality of linear edges, at least two of the linear edges being substantially parallel to each other. The load cap further comprises a pair of scored side flaps attached to opposite parallel edges of the main body portion, a portion of each of the side flaps is adaptable to be inserted between abutting sheets of the sheeted material. The load cap further comprises a front flap, the front flap being attached to the frontmost edge of the main body portion, the front flap being partially arcuately rotatable about the axis as defined by the intersection of the front flaps with the main body portion. The front flap can be used in cooperating relationship with the platen of forklift apparatus to maintain a stationary pressure on a portion of the sheeted material when the front flap is aligned in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the main body portion.
A method for undecking stacked, unitized sheeted material, a portion of the bottom stacked deck of said stacked sheeted material having a load cap inserted therein comprising: (a) positioning the platen of conventional forklift apparatus in abutting relationship with the front flap of said load cap; (b) gripping the lifting skid pallet on which the upper stacked deck of sheeted material is resting with gripping means attached to said forklift apparatus; and (c) pulling said lifting skid pallet on which the upper stacked deck of sheeted material is resting onto the platen of said forklift apparatus without removing said platen from their original abutting relationship with the front flap of said load cap, said load cap preventing movement of said sheeted material contained in said lower stacked portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for undecking stacked, unitized sheeted material, a portion of the bottom stacked deck of said stacked sheeted material having a load cap inserted therein comprising: (a) positioning the platen of conventional forklift apparatus in abutting relationship with the front flap of said load cap; (b) gripping the lifting skid pallet on which the upper stacked deck of sheeted material is resting with gripping means attached to said forklift apparatus; and (c) pulling said lifting skid pallet on which the upper stacked deck of sheeted material is resting onto the platen of said forklift apparatus without removing said platen from their original abutting relationship with the front flap of said load cap, said load cap preventing movement of said sheeted material contained in said lower stacked portion.