Order picker truck with a zoned operator platform covering

Abstract

A vehicle including a chassis and an operator platform for use by an operator. The operator platform is fixed to said chassis, and vertically movable relative to said chassis for lifting the operator. A covering is fixed to the operator platform, such as to a horizontal surface of the platform, where the operator stands. The covering has a driving zone where the operator stands while driving the vehicle and a picking zone where the operator steps when the operator picks an item from a location adjacent the operator platform.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a chassis;    an operator platform fixed to said chassis, and vertically movable relative to said chassis for lifting an operator; and    a covering fixed to a horizontal surface of said operator platform, said covering having a driving zone for standing on by an operator driving the vehicle and a picking zone for stepping on by the operator when the operator picks an item from a location adjacent the vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle as in  claim 1 , in which said driving zone cushions the operator from at least some vibrations created by movement of said vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicle as in  claim 1 , in which said driving zone has a spring constant and said picking zone has a spring constant, wherein said driving zone spring constant is less than said picking zone spring constant.  
     
     
         4 . The vehicle as in  claim 1 , in which said covering is a floor mat frictionally engaging said operator platform.  
     
     
         5 . The vehicle as in  claim 1 , in which said covering is a floor mat adhesively fixed to said operator platform.  
     
     
         6 . The vehicle as in  claim 1 , in which said driving zone is formed in a molded mat fixed to said operator platform, and said driving zone formed in said molded mat includes resilient bumps which cushion the operator from at least some vibrations created by movement of said vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . The vehicle as in  claim 6 , in which said picking zone is formed in said molded mat, and extends from said driving zone toward edges of said mat, said picking zone formed in said molded mat includes resilient bumps which supports the operator when the operator steps on the picking zone to pick an item from a location adjacent the vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The vehicle as in  claim 6 , in which at least one of said resilient bumps define a cavity therein which provides a bump spring constant that is less than a spring constant of a like dimensioned solid bump.  
     
     
         9 . The vehicle as in  claim 1 , in which said covering is formed from a material selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, silicone, and rubber.  
     
     
         10 . An operator platform suitable for use on an order picker lift truck, said operator platform comprising: 
 a horizontal surface for supporting an operator;    a covering fixed to said horizontal surface, said covering having a driving zone for standing on by an operator and a picking zone for stepping on by the operator when the operator picks an item from a location adjacent the operator platform.    
     
     
         11 . The operator platform as in  claim 10 , in which said driving zone cushions the operator from at least some vibrations created by movement of said operator platform.  
     
     
         12 . The operator platform as in  claim 10 , in which said driving zone has a spring constant and said picking zone has a spring constant, wherein said driving zone spring constant is less than said picking zone spring constant.  
     
     
         13 . The operator platform as in  claim 10 , in which said covering is a floor mat frictionally engaging said horizontal surface.  
     
     
         14 . The operator platform as in  claim 10 , in which said covering is a floor mat adhesively fixed to said horizontal surface.  
     
     
         15 . The operator platform as in  claim 10 , in which said driving zone is formed in a molded mat fixed to said horizontal surface, and said driving zone formed in said molded mat includes resilient bumps which cushion the operator from at least some vibrations created by movement of said operator platform.  
     
     
         16 . The operator platform as in  claim 15 , in which said picking zone is formed in said molded mat, and extends from said driving zone toward edges of said mat, said picking zone formed in said molded mat includes resilient bumps which supports the operator when the operator steps on the picking zone to pick an item from a location adjacent the operator platform.  
     
     
         17 . The operator platform as in  claim 15 , in which at least one of said resilient bumps define a cavity therein which provides a bump spring constant that is less than a spring constant of a like dimensioned solid bump.  
     
     
         18 . The operator platform as in  claim 10 , in which said covering is formed from a material selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, silicone, and rubber.  
     
     
         19 . An operator platform covering suitable for use on a horizontal surface of an operator platform of an order picker truck, said covering comprising: 
 a driving zone; and    a picking zone extending from said driving zone toward edges of the covering, wherein said driving zone has a spring constant and said picking zone has a spring constant, and said driving zone spring constant is less than said picking zone spring constant.    
     
     
         20 . The operator platform covering as in  claim 19 , in which said driving zone includes resilient bumps.  
     
     
         21 . The operator platform covering as in  claim 20 , in which at least one of said resilient bumps define a cavity therein which provides a bump spring constant that is less than a spring constant of a like dimensioned solid bump.  
     
     
         22 . The operator platform covering as in  claim 19 , in which said picking zone includes resilient bumps.  
     
     
         23 . The operator platform as in  claim 19 , in which said covering is formed from a material selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, silicone, and rubber.