Board holder support device for a materials handling and lifting appliance

Abstract

A support device for a materials handling and lifting appliance of boards or panels including a mast, a board or panel holder support frame a pedestal and a support base articulated on the pedestal. The pedestal fits on an end of the mast, and the support frame is positioned on the support base in its mounted position. The pedestal has a U-shaped section that accommodates, between its side pieces, a first hinge pin that ensures articulation of the support base and a second pin on which there is a freely swiveling pawl that swivels into its locked position due to the distribution of its mass. The pawl has a head that forms a hook intended to cooperate with and fit around a third pin forming a finger that protrudes the support base, a straight rear surface forming a limit stop for said finger when the pawl is unlocked, and a control lever an end of which has an unbalanced shape.

1 . A support device for a materials handling and lifting appliance for boards or panels comprising: a mast, a board or panel holder support frame, a pedestal and a support base articulated on said pedestal, said pedestal being adapted to mount on an end of said mast, the support frame being positioned on the mounted support base wherein said pedestal comprises a U-shaped section that accommodates, between side pieces of said section, a first hinge pin that facilitates articulation of said support base and a second hinge pin on which a freely swiveling pawl swivels into a locked position due to distribution of mass of the pawl, said pawl having: a head that forms a hook to cooperate with and fit around a third fixed pin forming a finger that protrudes from the support base, a straight rear surface forming a limit stop for said support frame when the pawl is unlocked and a control lever having an end that has an unbalanced shape.  
   
   
       2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a bottom of said pedestal is attached to the mast and the pedestal is located horizontally with an exposed surface facing upwards in a position of use, said first and second hinge pins are located between parallel, vertical side pieces of said pedestal, said first pin is located to a rear and said second pin is located to a front of the pedestal, said support base being in a form of a U-shaped section with side pieces fitted on said first pin and inserted into a space between the side pieces of the pedestal, said support base accommodating said third fixed pin that has a protruding part to one side and is fitted between said side pieces of the support base, the protruding part of the third pin acting as the finger.  
   
   
       3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an L-shaped control handle with one end attached to said support base and a part that is to be gripped is in a plane that is at right angles to and opposite an operator.  
   
   
       4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a front part of the pedestal accommodates said second pin on which said freely articulated pawl is off-centered to ensure unbalance so that the pawl tends to make a swiveling movement, an end of said pawl that is inside the pedestal having said head in the shape of a hook facing opposite an other end and said rear surface of the head being straight and positioned in a plane that is perpendicular to a horizontal bottom of the pedestal and to a horizontal bottom surface of the support base, said head of the pawl being sufficiently tall to protrude from a horizontal plane of the support base when the pawl hooks on the finger of said third pin in order to constitute a limit stop surface for the support framed.  
   
   
       5 . A device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the head has, beyond said rear surface, an upper part with a curved shape that constitutes a support surface.  
   
   
       6 . A device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the pawl has an opening for fitting the pawl on said second pin.  
   
   
       7 . A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a bottom surface of the pedestal has a clearance gap that allows articulation of the lever, swiveling and clearance through said bottom surface.