Pallet truck adapter

Abstract

A pallet truck adapter having side by side shoes for fitting over pallet supporting tines, in which the shoes are of different heights. This facilitates locating one pallet on the higher shoe, lifting it slightly off of the supporting surface, and then moving to and lifting another pallet on the lower shoe. The adjacent pallets can then be moved together and off loaded at different locations, unloading the pallet on the lower shoe first, and the pallet on the higher shoe thereafter.

1 . A pallet truck adapter comprising: at least two shoes for fitting over pallet supporting tines; said shoes having bottoms, tops and sides, said shoe bottoms being in approximately the same plane, and said shoes being of different heights, such that the taller shoe can be located beneath a first pallet resting on the floor, lifted slightly off of the supporting surface by raising said adapter, such that said first pallet can be moved about, and the lower shoe can still be located beneath a second pallet resting on the floor, and said adapter raised further to also lift said second pallet off the floor, such that both said first and second pallets can be moved about, and deposited in the same location, or deposited in separate locations, by lowering said adapter such that said second pallet makes contact with the supporting floor first, and then said first adapter makes contact with the supporting surface. 
     
     
         2 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 1 , in which each said shoe includes retractable legs which can be raised or lowered; said legs being sufficiently long that, when lowered, they leave a gap between the bottom of said shoes and the floor on which said adapter is resting, said gap being tall enough that the tines of a walkie rider, pallet jack or like device can slide underneath said adapter to facilitate said adapter being raised and lowered with said tines. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 2  which includes a pair of spaced bottom guide rails on the bottom of said adapter, spaced sufficiently far apart to engage the outer sides of the tines of a pallet truck inserted below said adapter; and at least a first interior guide rail located within the interior of each of the said shoes located at the outer sides of said adapter, near the top wall thereof and towards the outer sidewall thereof, such that said first interior guide rails embrace there between the tines of a pallet truck, each of which has been inserted into one of said shoes. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 3  in which there is a second interior guide rail located in the interior of each of said shoes, near the top wall thereof and towards the inner side wall of said shoe, whereby a tine entering the interior of each said shoe is guided between said first and second interior guide rails. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 4  in which each of said bottom guide rails is adjustably mounted at the bottom of its respective shoe, such that the spacing there between can be adjusted to accommodate wider or narrower sets of tines; at least one of said first and second sets of interior tines being adjustably mounted such that the space between each pair of said first and second interior guides can be adjusted to accommodate individual tines of different widths. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 5  in which said adapter includes a quick disconnect member facilitating ready engagement to and disengagement from a pallet truck. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 3  in which each of said bottom guide rails is adjustably mounted at the bottom of its respective shoe, such that the spacing there between can be adjusted to accommodate wider or narrower sets of tines; said first interior tine in each said shoe being adjustably mounted such that the space there between can be adjusted to accommodate tines of different widths. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 2  in which said legs in each of said shoes are pivotally mounted within said shoe, and are joined at their tops by a control rod which is configured such that it can be readily manipulated to pivot said legs into their retracted or extended positions. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 8  which includes at least a first interior guide rail located within the interior of each said shoe, near the top wall thereof and towards the outer sidewall thereof, such that said first interior guide rails embrace there between a pair of tines, each of which has been inserted into one of said shoes; said legs, said pivotal mounting thereof, and said control rod are all located between said guide rail and said outer sidewall of said shoe, whereby said guide rail acts to protect said leg, leg mount and control rod from damage by a tine entering the interior of said shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 8  which includes a detent which engages at least one of said legs in each pair joined by a control rod, to help hold said legs in their retracted or extended position. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 1  which includes a pair of spaced bottom guide rails on the bottom of said adapter, spaced sufficiently far apart to engage the outer sides of the tines of a pallet truck inserted below said adapter; and at least a first interior guide rail located within the interior of each of the said shoes located at the outer sides of said adapter, near the top wall thereof and towards the outer sidewall thereof, such that said first interior guide rails embrace there between the tines of a pallet truck, each of which has been inserted into one of said shoes. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 11  in which there is a second interior guide rail located in the interior of each of said shoes, near the top wall thereof and towards the inner side wall of said shoe, whereby a tine entering the interior of each said shoe is guided between said first and second interior guide rails. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 12  in which each of said bottom guide rails is adjustably mounted at the bottom of its respective shoe, such that the spacing there between can be adjusted to accommodate wider or narrower sets of tines; at least one of said first and second sets of interior tines being adjustably mounted such that the space between each pair of said first and second interior guides can be adjusted to accommodate individual tines of different widths. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 13  in which said adapter includes a quick disconnect member facilitating ready engagement to and disengagement from a pallet truck. 
     
     
         15 . A pallet truck adapter comprising: side by side shoes for fitting over pallet supporting tines; said shoes having bottoms, tops and sides, each said shoe includes a pair of retractable legs which can be raised or lowered; said legs being sufficiently long that, when lowered, they leave a gap between said bottom of said shoes and the floor on which said adapter is resting, said gap being tall enough that the tines of a pallet truck can slide underneath said adapter to facilitate said adapter being raised and lowered with said tines. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 15  which includes a pair of spaced bottom guide rails on the bottom of said adapter, spaced sufficiently far apart to engage the outer sides of the tines of a pallet truck inserted below said adapter; and at least a first interior guide rail located within the interior of each said shoe, near the top wall thereof and towards the outer sidewall thereof, such that said first interior guide rails embrace there between a pair of tines, each of which has been inserted into one of said shoes. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 15  in which said legs in each of said shoes are pivotally mounted within said shoe, and are joined at their tops by a control rod which is configured such that it can be readily manipulated to pivot said legs into their retracted or extended positions. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 17  which includes at least a first interior guide rail located within the interior of each said shoe, near the top wall thereof and towards the outer sidewall thereof, such that said first interior guide rails embrace there between a pair of tines, each of which has been inserted into one of said shoes; said legs, said pivotal mounting thereof, and said control rod are all located between said guide rail and said outer sidewall of said shoe, whereby said guide rail acts to protect said leg, leg mount and control rod from damage by a tine entering the interior of said shoe. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 18  which includes a detent which engages at least one of said legs in each pair joined by a control rod, to help hold said legs in their retracted or extended position. 
     
     
         20 . A pallet truck adapter comprising: side by side shoes for fitting over pallet supporting tines; said shoes having bottoms, tops and sides; a pair of spaced bottom guide rails on the bottom of said adapter, spaced sufficiently far apart to engage the outer sides of the tines of a pallet truck inserted below said adapter; and at least a first interior guide rail located within the interior of each said shoe, near the top wall thereof and towards the outer sidewall thereof, such that said first interior guide rails embrace there between a pair of tines, each of which has been inserted into one of said shoes; in which each of said bottom guide rails is adjustably mounted at the bottom of its respective shoe, such that the spacing there between can be adjusted to accommodate wider or narrower sets of tines; said first interior tine in each said shoe being adjustably mounted such that the space there between can be adjusted to accommodate tines of different widths. 
     
     
         21 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 20  in which there is a second interior guide rail located in the interior of each of said shoes, near the top wall thereof and towards the inner side wall of said shoe, whereby a tine entering the interior of each said shoe is guided between said first and second interior guide rails. 
     
     
         22 . The pallet truck adapter of  claim 21  in which said adapter includes a quick disconnect member facilitating ready engagement to and disengagement from a pallet truck. 
     
     
         23 . A pallet truck adapter comprising: side by side shoes for fitting over pallet supporting tines; said shoes having bottoms, tops and sides; a pair of spaced bottom guide rails on the bottom of said adapter, spaced sufficiently far apart to engage the outer sides of the tines of a pallet truck inserted below said adapter; and at least a first interior guide rail located within the interior of each said shoe, near the top wall thereof and towards the outer sidewall thereof, such that said first interior guide rails embrace there between a pair of tines, each of which has been inserted into one of said shoes; said adapter including a quick disconnect connector facilitating ready engagement to and disengagement from a pallet truck. 
     
     
         24 . A method for moving pallets from place to place on a pallet truck, wherein said pallets are sufficiently small in width that two can be moved on a set of pallet truck tines, said method comprising: providing a pallet truck adapter comprising having at least a pair of shoes for fitting over pallet supporting tines; said shoes having bottoms, tops and sides, said shoe bottoms being in approximately the same plane, and said shoes being of different heights; manipulating said pallet truck to locate the taller shoe beneath a first pallet resting on the floor, lifting the pallet adapter slightly off of the supporting surface by raising said the pallet truck tines; moving said first pallet, and locating the lower shoe of said adapter beneath a second pallet resting on the floor, and raising said adapter further to also lift said second pallet off the floor; moving both said first and second pallets about, and depositing them in the same location, or in separate locations, by lowering said adapter such that said second pallet makes contact with the supporting floor first, and then said first adapter makes contact with the supporting surface.