US4243354A — Drum lifter for fork lift truck

Claim 1

Independent Claim 193 words

A drum lifter comprising a base including a pair of parallel spaced fork tubes adapted for receiving at one end and positioning over a pair of vertically adjustable forks of a fork lift truck, and a support plate spanning and secured to the other ends of said tubes; an upright mount plate supported upon and secured to said support plate; means fixedly securing said mount plate to said fork tubes; an upright drum support plate parallel to and arranged forwardly of said mount plate, pivotally mounted intermediate the ends upon said mount plate; a first arcuate drum grip at the lower end of said drum support plate; a second arcuate drum grip adjacent the upper end of said drum support plate, said first and second drum grips adapted to operatively engage the exterior of a drum to be lifted and transported; a forwardly extending latch link pivotally supported upon said mount plate adjacent its upper end, loosely and pivotally mounting said drum support plate; and a third arcuate drum grip depending from the forward end of said latch link adapted to operatively and retainingly engage over and against the interior of said drum.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 193 words

A drum lifter comprising a base including a pair of parallel spaced fork tubes adapted for receiving at one end and positioning over a pair of vertically adjustable forks of a fork lift truck, and a support plate spanning and secured to the other ends of said tubes; an upright mount plate supported upon and secured to said support plate; means fixedly securing said mount plate to said fork tubes; an upright drum support plate parallel to and arranged forwardly of said mount plate, pivotally mounted intermediate the ends upon said mount plate; a first arcuate drum grip at the lower end of said drum support plate; a second arcuate drum grip adjacent the upper end of said drum support plate, said first and second drum grips adapted to operatively engage the exterior of a drum to be lifted and transported; a forwardly extending latch link pivotally supported upon said mount plate adjacent its upper end, loosely and pivotally mounting said drum support plate; and a third arcuate drum grip depending from the forward end of said latch link adapted to operatively and retainingly engage over and against the interior of said drum.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

In the drum lifter of claim 1, spring means upon said mount plate adjacent said latch link and interposed between said mount plate and the upper end of said drum support plate normally urging said upper end outwardly of said mount plate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 77 words

In the drum lifter of claim 2, said latch link including a transverse latch plte adjacent said third drum grip normally retaining the upper end of said drum support plate against outward movement; upward pivotal movement of said latch link disengaging the upper end of said drum support plate for outward pivotal movement thereof relative to said mount plate; said latch link pivoting upwardly to a cocked position moving said third grip to a drum disengaged position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

In the drum lifter of claim 1, said mount plate including a pair of spaced angle plates with opposed parallel spaced webs; and plates spanning and interconnecting said angle plates intermediate their ends and at their upper ends.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

In the drum lifter of claim 2, said spring means including a torsion spring at one end connected to the pivotal mounting of said latch link with said mount plate, its other end being connected to said drum support plate at its pivotal connection with said latch link.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 75 words

In the drum lifter of claim 1, the pivotal mounting of said drum support plate upon said latch link including an elongated slot through said latch link, and a pivot pin upon said support plate and extending through said slot, whereby the upper end of said drum support plate is adapted to pivot outwardly, and the free end of said latch link and associated third grip is adapted to pivot upwardly to a cocked position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 70 words

In the drum lifter of claim 3, the pivotal mounting of said drum support plate upon said latch link including an elongated slot through said latch link, and a pivot pin upon said drum support plate and extending though said slot, whereby the upper end of said support plate may pivot outwardly of said mount plate and the free end of said latch link pivot upwardly to said cocked position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

In the drum lifter of claim 1, the pivotal mounting of said drum support plate upon said mount plate including a link at its ends pivotally connected respectively to said mount plate and said drum support plate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

In the drum lifter of claim 1, said drum support plate including a pair of spaced plates; said first and second drum grips spanning and secured to said plates.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

In the drum lifter of claim 9, the pivotal mounting of said drum support plate upon said latch link including an elongated slot through said latch link, and a pivot pin supported upon spanning and secured to said mount plates and extending through said slot.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

In the drum lifter of claim 1, a wing bolt adjustably threaded into an end portion of each fork tube for operative retaining engagement with said forks.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

In the drum lifter of claim 11, said fork tubes being rectangular in cross section; said forks being similarly shaped for snug cooperative securing within said fork tubes.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

In the drum lifter of claim 1, a reinforcing angle plate interposed between said fork tubes adjacent their said one ends and secured thereto.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 88 words

In the drum lifter of claim 3, the lowering of said forks a limited amount after the drum retained by said three grips is resting upon a support surface, causing said latch link to pivot upwardly disengaging the third drum grip from said drum and permiting disengagement of the drum lifter from said drum on retraction of the fork lift truck, said latch link and the third grip being automatically elevated to a cocked position ready for interlock and gripping of the next drum for transporting the same.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 47 words

In the drum lifter of claim 1, the means fixedly securing the mount plate to said fork tubes including a pair of reinforcement tubes at their upper ends secured to said mount plate, diverging downwardly and rearwardly and at their lower ends secured to said fork tubes.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 148 words

A drum lifter adapted for attachment to a lifting device comprising a base and an upright mount plate supported upon and secured to said base; an upright drum support plate parallel to and arranged forwardly of said mount plate, pivotally mounted intermediate the ends upon said mount plate; a first arcuate drum grip at the lower end of said drum support plate; a second arcuate drum grip adjacent the upper end of said drum support plate, said frist and second drum grips adapted to operatively engage the exterior of a drum to be lifted and transported; A forwardly extending latch link pivotally supported upon said mount plate adjacent its upper end, loosely and pivotally mounting said drum support plate; and a third arcuate drum grip depending from the forward end of said latch link adapted to operatively and retainingly engage over and against the interior of said drum.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 148 words

A drum lifter adapted for attachment to a lifting device comprising a base and an upright mount plate supported upon and secured to said base; an upright drum support plate parallel to and arranged forwardly of said mount plate, pivotally mounted intermediate the ends upon said mount plate; a first arcuate drum grip at the lower end of said drum support plate; a second arcuate drum grip adjacent the upper end of said drum support plate, said frist and second drum grips adapted to operatively engage the exterior of a drum to be lifted and transported; A forwardly extending latch link pivotally supported upon said mount plate adjacent its upper end, loosely and pivotally mounting said drum support plate; and a third arcuate drum grip depending from the forward end of said latch link adapted to operatively and retainingly engage over and against the interior of said drum.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 42 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 16, spring means upon said mount plate adjacent said latch link and interposed between said mount plate and the upper end of said drum support plate normally urging said upper end outwardly of said mount plate.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 77 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 17, said latch link including a transverse latch plate adjacent said third drum grip normally retaining the upper end of said drum support plate against outward movement; upward pivotal movement of said latch link disengaging the upper end of said drum support plate for outward pivotal movement thereof relative to said mount plate; said latch link pivoting upwardly to a cocked position moving said third grip to a drum disengaged position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 16, said mount plate including a pair of spaced angle plates with opposed parallel spaced webs; and plates spanning and interconnecting said angle plates intermediate their ends and at their upper ends.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 17, said spring means including a torsion spring at one end connected to the pivotal mounting of said latch link with said mount plate, its other end being connected to said drum support plate at its pivotal connection with said latch link.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 75 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 16, the pivotal mounting of said drum support plate upon said latch link including an elongated slot through said latch link, and a pivot pin upon said support plate and extending through said slot, whereby the upper end of said drum support plate is adapted to pivot outwardly, and the free end of said latch link and associated third grip is adapted to pivot upwardly to a cocked position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 71 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 18, the pivotal mounting of said drum support plate upon said latch link including an elongated slot through said latch link, and a pivot pin upon said drum support plate and extending througb said slot, whereby the upper end of said drum support plate may pivot outwardly of said mount plate and the free end of said latch link pivot upwardly to said cocked position.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 16, the pivotal mounting of said drum support plate including a link at its ends pivotally connected respectively to said mount plate and said drum support plate.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 29 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 16, said drum support plate including a pair of spaced plates; said first and second drum grips spanning and secured to said plates.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 45 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 24, the pivotal mounting of said drum support plate upon said latch link including an elongated slot through said latch link, and a pivot pin supported upon spanning and secured to said mount plates and extending through said slot.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 88 words

In the drum lifter of Claim 18, the lowering of the lifting device a limited amount after the drum retained by said three grips is resting upon a support surface, causing said latch link to pivot upwardly disengaging the third drum grip from said drum and permitting disengagement of the drum lifter from said drum on retraction of the lifting device, said latch link and the third grip being automatically elevated to a cocked position ready for interlock and gripping of the next drum for transporting the same.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-01-06	1984-07-07	1985-01-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-01-06	1988-07-07	1989-01-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-01-06	1992-07-07	1993-01-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Drum lifter for fork lift truck

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag