Push-pull load handler for forklift truck

Claim 1

A push-pull device adapted for mounting on a vertically-movable forklift truck carriage having a horizontal, transversely-extending fork-mounting member at the top of said carriage with an upwardly-facing surface for detachably supporting transversely-spaced forks having elongate upstanding portions and elongate load-supporting portions extending forwardly from the bottoms of said upstanding portions, said push-pull device comprising: (a) a push-pull assembly including an upright frame, a push plate, and powered means mounted on said frame for selectively extending and retracting said push plate with respect to said frame, said powered means comprising elongate, forwardly-extending links pivotally connected to said frame and said push plate, respectively, for pivoting with respect to each of said frame and push plate about respective horizontal, transversely-extending, vertically-spaced upper and lower pivot axes said upper and lower axes of pivoting with respect to said frame being located in a substantially vertical plane; (b) engagement means on said frame having a downwardly-facing surface for detachably supportably resting atop said upwardly-facing surface of said forkmounting member; and (c) transverse mounting means affixed to said frame, having resepective fork-supporting upwardly-facing surfaces adjacent to and forwardly of said downwardly-facing surface of said engagement means, said upwardly-facing surfaces being positioned vertically above the lower pivot axis and below the upper pivot axis about which said links pivot with respect to said frame and being located substantially in said plane, for detachably engaging said upstanding portions of said forks and thereby supporting said upstanding portions vertically on said frame in transversely offset relation to said links.