Forklift shipping and handling apparatus

Abstract

A shipping and handling system for a fork lift truck that has a cab and rails extending vertically above the cab. A first bracket is secured to the back of the rails and a second bracket is secured to the back of the cab. One bracket is provided with wheel while the other is provided with legs so that the truck is able to rest on the brackets when it is tipped over upon its back. A special adaptor is provided that allows a second fork lift truck to hitch onto the unwheeled bracket and lift the bracket off the support surface whereupon the first truck can be easily maneuvered from place to place.

1 . A shipping and handling system for a motorized fork lift truck having a front and a back, a cab including an operator's compartment and lifting rails having a located in the front of the truck and extending upwardly beyond a top of the cab, wherein said system includes:
 a first bracket that is connected to said lifting rails;   a second bracket that is connected to said cab;   a set of wheels mounted upon one of said first and second bracket and supporting legs mounted upon said other of said first and second bracket so that said fork lift truck is place in a prone position and rests on said wheels and said support legs.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said brackets are fabricated of metal. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said brackets are removably attached to said truck. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  that further includes an adaptor for coupling said unwheeled bracket to a dolly. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said set of wheels includes a pair of spaced apart wheel units each of which contains a pair of wheels that are in parallel alignment with said rails. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said support legs are a pair of spaced apart angle irons. 
     
     
         7 . A shipping and handling system for a motorized fork lift truck having a front and a back, a cab including an operator's compartment and lifting rails having a located in the front of the truck and extending upwardly beyond a top of the cab, wherein said system includes:
 a first bracket that is connected to a back of said lifting rails;   a second bracket that is connected to the back of said cab;   a set of wheels mounted upon one of said first and second bracket and supporting legs mounted upon said other of said first and second bracket so that said fork lift truck is place in a prone position and rests on said wheels and said support legs.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said first bracket is connected to the back of said rails by a protective shield that overhangs said cab. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said brackets are fabricated of metal. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said brackets are angle irons each having legs joined at a right angle corner. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said brackets are removably attached to said truck. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said fork lift truck includes a truck frame mounted upon a set of wheels enabling said truck to move about a work place. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said fork lift truck is motorized to drive the set of wheels of said truck frame. 
     
     
         14 . A method for shipping and handling a motorized fork lift truck having a front and a back, a cab including an operator's compartment and lifting rails having a located in the front of the truck and extending upwardly beyond a top of the cab, said method comprising:
 attaching a first bracket to said lifting rails;   attaching a second bracket to said cab; and   repositioning said fork lift truck such that said that said fork lift truck is placed in a prone position wherein it rests on first bracket and said second bracket.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  including the steps of;
 transporting the fork lift truck from a first location to a second location; 
 repositioning said fork lift truck in an upright position; and 
 removing the first and second bracket.