Maintenance Log Book, Holder for Log Book, and Method of Using Both

Abstract

A maintenance log book and maintenance related items are held in a case that includes a top cover which can be opened to remove the book and a tag holding arrangement provided inside the case. There is also an elongate, interior wall arrangement located inside the case and defining a passage for receiving and holding a flexible connector suitable for attaching a tag to a vehicle. The log book for use with material handling equipment includes a plurality of pages containing inspection checklists. There are additional pages provided in duplicate which are maintenance request forms. Prior to use of the equipment, the operator completes one of the checklists, each of which lists working parts and components, and fluids to be checked. If maintenance is required, the user completes one of the request forms in duplicate and then removes a detachable copy from the log book to request maintenance.

1 . A holder for holding a maintenance log book and maintenance related items for a commercial or industrial vehicle, said holder comprising:
 a case having spaced apart, front and rear walls, a bottom, two side walls extending between and connecting the front and rear walls, and a top cover movable between open and closed positions, said case forming an enclosed chamber when the cover is in the closed position and being adapted to receive and hold the maintenance log book;   a tag holding arrangement provided inside said case and connected to at least one wall of the case, said arrangement allowing a maintenance tag to be placed in or removed from said holding arrangement through an open top of the case when said top cover is in the open position; and   an elongate, interior wall arrangement located inside said case and connected to said case, said wall arrangement defining an elongate, narrow passage suitable for receiving and holding an elongate, flexible connector for attaching said maintenance tag to the vehicle when vehicle maintenance is required.   
   
   
       2 . A holding according to  claim 1  wherein said case is a molded plastics case and said top cover is integrally and pivotally attached to said rear wall. 
   
   
       3 . A holder according to  claim 1  wherein said tag holding arrangement comprises two, elongate ribs formed on one of said front and rear walls, said ribs being spaced apart and forming grooves having open sides which face each other, each groove being adapted to hold a respective side edge of said maintenance tag. 
   
   
       4 . A holder according to  claim 1  wherein said interior wall arrangement includes two, elongate divider walls located adjacent a corner of said case formed between one of said side walls and one of said front and rear walls. 
   
   
       5 . A holder according to  claim 4  including a notch formed at a top end of said one side wall and adjacent top ends of said divided walls, said notch being adapted to and sized to receive a connecting head provided at one end of said flexible connector. 
   
   
       6 . A holder according to  claim 2  wherein said top cover includes a front flap pivotably connected to a remaining section of the top cover and said holder includes a magnetic strip closure for detachable connecting said front flap to said front wall. 
   
   
       7 . A method of tracking inspections and maintenance of material handling equipment, said method comprising:
 providing a holder containing equipment maintenance forms on said material handling equipment, said maintenance forms being removable from said holder and including a book having a plurality of pages having printed thereon inspection checklists listing working parts, components and fluids to be checked on a regular, predetermined operating schedule;   having an operator of said equipment carry out a predetermined equipment inspection covering said parts, components and fluids and filling out one of said inspection checklists prior to operating said equipment a period of time, said book being removed from said holder prior to completion of said checklist; and   if maintenance is required after said equipment inspection, having said operator complete a maintenance request form which is one of the provided equipment maintenance forms;   upon completion of said maintenance request form, if required, delivering a copy thereof to a person responsible for maintenance of the equipment; and   placing said book back into said holder.   
   
   
       8 . A method of tracking inspections and maintenance according to  claim 7  wherein said book also includes a plurality of carbonless maintenance request forms including non-detachable duplicate copies thereof and a plurality of carbonless accident report forms including non-detachable duplicate copies thereof and wherein said method includes the additional step of completing one of said accident report forms in duplicate if an accident involving the material handling equipment occurs during its operation. 
   
   
       9 . A method of tracking inspections and maintenance according to  claim 7  including providing a lock-out tag in said holder, removing said lock-out tag from said holder and attaching said tag to the material handling equipment if said equipment inspection determines that the equipment cannot be used or cannot safely be used until the equipment has been repaired or certain necessary maintenance has been completed. 
   
   
       10 . A method of tracking inspections and maintenance according to  claim 8  wherein said material handling equipment is a forklift truck and said holder is mounted on said truck. 
   
   
       11 . A method of tracking inspection and maintenance according to  claim 7  wherein the step of filling out said inspection checklist includes recording a start time for operation of the equipment by said operator and includes the additional steps of removing said book from said holder after the operator has finished operation of the equipment for said period of time and recording an end time on said inspection checklist. 
   
   
       12 . A method of tracking inspections and maintenance according to  claim 7  wherein said book also includes a maintenance log for recording time and type of routine maintenance on said material handling equipment, said maintenance log being one of said equipment maintenance forms, and wherein said method includes the additional step of recording a routine maintenance job performed on said equipment after completion of said routine maintenance job. 
   
   
       13 . A method of tracking inspections and maintenance according to  claim 7  wherein said book includes a plurality of maintenance request forms including non-detachable carbonless duplicate copes of said request forms and wherein, after completion of one of said maintenance request forms in duplicate, the duplicate copy of the completed request form remains in said book. 
   
   
       14 . A log book for use with material handling equipment for the purpose of conducting inspections of said equipment and maintaining said equipment, said book comprising:
 a plurality of printed pages bound together, each page containing at least one inspection checklist for completion by one or more operators of said equipment;   a plurality of additional printed pages arranged in pairs in order to provide duplicate copies with one of the two copies being detachable and the second of the two copies being non-detachable from the log book, said additional printed pages being maintenance request forms,   wherein during use of said log book and prior to use of said equipment, a user of said equipment can check off one of said checklists, each of which lists working parts and components and fluids to be checked by the user, and if maintenance is required after said equipment inspection, said user can complete one of said maintenance request forms in duplicate and remove said one detachable copy from the log book in order to request maintenance for said equipment.   
   
   
       15 . A log book according to  claim 14  including accident report form pages arranged in pairs in order to provide duplicate copies with one of the two copies of each accident report form page being detachable and the second of the two copies of the accident report form page being non-detachable from the log book. 
   
   
       16 . A log book according to  claim 14  including at least one maintenance log page having printed columns for recording the date and nature of maintenance jobs carried out on said equipment, said at least one maintenance log page being non-detachable from said log book. 
   
   
       17 . A log book according to  claim 16  wherein said log book is for use with a forklift truck and the inspection checklists on said printed pages each list forklift components including forks, mast, lift cylinder, and overhead guard. 
   
   
       18 . A log book according to  claim 17  wherein each printed page containing at least one inspection checklist has a plurality of columns for completion by an operator of the forklift truck, each column being usable for a respective single forklift truck inspection. 
   
   
       19 . A log book according to  claim 14  wherein said additional printed pages comprise two part carbonless forms for making duplicate copies. 
   
   
       20 . A log book according to  claim 19  including a movable flap member which can be inserted by a user of the log book behind a selected one of the two part carbonless forms in order to prevent data being recorded on said selected two part form from being transferred wholly or partially to any two part carbonless form underlying said flap member.