Tractor mounted forklift

Claim 2

A forklift assembly for use in conjunction with a vehicle of the type having hitch means moveable in a generally vertical direction, the forklift assembly comprising: a frame; means for mounting said frame to the hitch means; tine assembly means including a generally horizontal extension member moveably mounted parallel to a generally vertical first path along said frame; roller means rotatably mounted to said frame; a first cable having one end attached to and wrapped around said roller means in a first direction and having its other end attached to a point on said vehicle, said first direction chosen so that raising said frame along a generally vertical second path by the hitch means causes said first cable to unwind from said roller means; and means operably coupling said roller means and said tine assembly means for raising said tine assembly along said first path when said roller is rotated in a second direction, said second direction being opposite said first direction.

Claim 3

The forklift assembly of claim 1 wherein said tine assembly raising means includes a second cable, one end of which is attached to said roller and the other end of which is attached to said tine assembly means, so said second cable winds onto said roller means to raise said extension member relative to said frame along said first path when said roller is rotated in said second direction.

Claim 4

The forklift assembly of claim 1 wherein said extension member includes a plurality of horizontally extending tines.

Claim 5

The forklift assembly of claim 2 wherein said roller means includes a cylindrical roller around which said first and second cables are wrapped.

Claim 6

The forklift assembly of claim 2 including a plurality of second cables.

Claim 7

A forklift assembly for use in combination with a tractor of the type having a hitch including power driven lift arms, the outer ends of said arms being movable along a generally vertical, typically arcuate path, the forklift assembly comprising: a frame including a generally vertical path means; means for mounting said frame to the outer ends of said arms; at least one generally horizontally extending product support member; means for slidably mounting said product support member to said frame for movement along said path means; a roller rotatably mounted to said frame; a first cable, one end attached to said roller and wound around said roller in a first direction, the other end attached to an attachment point on said tractor vertically below said roller, said first direction chosen so said first cable unwinds from said roller when the distance between said roller and said attachment point is increased; and a plurality of second cables each having one end attached to said roller with the other end of each attached either to said slidable mounting means or to said product support member, said second cables adapted to wind onto said roller when said first cables unwind from said roller, whereby upward movement of the arms of the hitch moves said frame therewith causing said first cable to unwind from said roller as the distance between said roller and the attachment point increases so said second cables are wound onto said roller thereby raising said product support member along said path means on said frame.

Claim 8

A forklift assembly for use in combination with a tractor of the type having a hitch including power driven lift arms, the outer ends of said arms being movable along a generally vertical, typically arcuate path, the forklift assembly comprising: a frame including a generally vertical path means; means for mounting said frame to the outer ends of said arms; at least one generally horizontally extending product support member; means for slidably mounting said product support member to said frame for movement along said path means; a roller rotatably mounted to said frame; a first cable, one end attached to said roller and wound around said roller in a first direction, the other end attached to an attachment point on said tractor vertically below said roller, said first direction chosen so said first cable unwinds from said roller when the distance between said roller and said attachment point is increased; and a plurality of second cables each having one end attached to said roller with the other end of each attached either to said slidable mounting means or to said product support member, said second cables adapted to wind onto said roller when said first cables unwind from said roller, whereby upward movement of the arms of the hitch moves said frame therewith causing said first cable to unwind from said roller as the distance between said roller and the attachment point increases so said second cables are wound onto said roller thereby raising said product support member along said path means on said frame.

Claim 9

The forklift assembly of claim 6 including a pair of tines and a pair of second cables.