Forklift scale attachment

{
  "publication_number": "US12098946B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Forklift scale attachment",
  "abstract": "The present disclosure describes a lift truck attachment system that includes a lift truck carriage with an upper carriage support and a lower carriage support secured between two support brackets. The lift truck carriage is dimensioned to fit at least partially between opposing masts of a lift truck, such that the upper and lower carriage supports do not extend substantially beyond a forward surface of the mast. A device assembly, is mounted to the lift truck carriage, the device assembly including a base portion removably secured to the upper and/or lower carriage supports via one or more attachments. The device assembly can include a carriage scale removably secured to the base portion, the carriage scale configured to support load handling fixtures, such as a lift fork. In some examples, a single carriage support is used.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A lift truck attachment system comprising: a lift truck carriage comprising: one or more support brackets; an upper carriage support rail secured to the one or more support brackets; and a lower carriage support secured to the one or more support brackets and spaced from the upper carriage support rail, wherein the upper carriage support rail and the lower carriage support are arranged between masts of a lift truck; and a weighing device comprising: a base portion, the base portion configured to be removably secured to one of the upper or lower carriage supports of the lift truck carriage via one or more attachments; and a carriage scale removably secured to the base portion, the carriage scale configured to support one or more load handling fixtures.",
    "2. The lift truck attachment system of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachments extend into a space between the masts of the lift truck to secure the weighing device to the lift truck carriage.",
    "3. The lift truck attachment system of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachments comprises an upper attachment and a lower attachment, the upper attachment including a hook to mate with the upper carriage support rail to support the weighing device.",
    "4. The lift truck attachment system of claim 3, wherein the lower attachment including a hook to mate with a rail of the lower carriage support.",
    "5. The lift truck attachment system of claim 4, wherein the hook of the lower attachment is oriented upward to mate with a downwardly oriented rail of the lower carriage support.",
    "6. The lift truck attachment system of claim 4, wherein the hook of the lower attachment is oriented downward to mate with an upwardly oriented rail of the lower carriage support.",
    "7. The lift truck attachment system of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachments are secured to the base by one or more fasteners.",
    "8. The lift truck attachment system of claim 1, wherein the one or more attachments are secured to the base by a weld.",
    "9. The lift truck attachment system of claim 1, wherein the one or more support brackets are dimensioned to fit and move within a channel of the masts.",
    "10. The lift truck attachment system of claim 1, wherein the one or more support brackets include first and second support brackets, the upper carriage support rail being secured to both the first and second support brackets.",
    "11. A lift truck attachment system comprising: a lift truck carriage comprising: first and second support brackets; a carriage support rail secured to the first and second support brackets, wherein the lift truck carriage is dimensioned to fit at least partially between masts of a lift truck; and a device assembly comprising: a base portion, the base portion configured to be removably secured to the carriage support of the lift truck carriage via one or more attachments; and a device removably secured to the base portion, the device configured to support one or more load handling fixtures wherein the one or more attachments extend into a space between the masts of the lift truck to secure the device assembly to the lift truck carriage.",
    "12. The lift truck attachment system of claim 11, wherein the device is a carriage scale to measure a load supported by the one or more load handling fixtures.",
    "13. A lift truck attachment system comprising: a lift truck carriage comprising: one or more support brackets; an upper carriage support secured to the one or more support brackets; and a lower carriage support secured to the one or more support brackets and spaced from the upper carriage support, wherein the lift truck carriage is dimensioned to fit at least partially between masts of a lift truck; and a weighing device comprising: a base portion, the base portion configured to be removably secured to one of the upper or lower carriage supports of the lift truck carriage via two or more upper fasteners and one or more lower fasteners wherein the two or more upper fasteners include a hook to mate with the upper carriage support to support the weighing device; and a carriage scale removably secured to the base portion, the carriage scale configured to support one or more load handling fixtures.",
    "14. The lift truck attachment system of claim 13, wherein the two or more upper fasteners and one or more lower fasteners extend into a space between the masts of the lift truck to secure the weighing device to the lift truck carriage.",
    "15. The lift truck attachment system of claim 13, wherein the two or more upper fasteners and one or more lower fasteners are secured to the base by one or more fasteners oriented through one or more holes in the front of the base.",
    "16. The lift truck attachment system of claim 13, wherein the two or more upper fasteners are arranged on the base to accommodate one or more of wiring, electronics, centering pins, information or identification plates for the carriage scale.",
    "17. The lift truck attachment system of claim 13, wherein the upper carriage support includes a rail to support the weighing device.",
    "18. The lift truck attachment system of claim 13, wherein the one or more lower fasteners includes a hook to mate with a rail of the lower carriage support.",
    "19. The lift truck attachment system of claim 18, wherein the hook of the one or more lower fasteners is oriented upward to mate with a downwardly oriented rail of the lower carriage support.",
    "20. The lift truck attachment system of claim 13, wherein the one or more support brackets are dimensioned to fit within a channel of the masts."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Attachments to lift trucks can be added to a standard carriage that normally carries the lifting forks. This offsets the position of the lifting forks an additional distance from the front of the lift truck, extending the profile of the lift truck and potentially reducing the lifting capacity of the lift truck. Some attachments can include a scale to measure a load of a lift truck scale. However, additional attachments can further extend the profile of the lift truck, reduce the lift capacity, and make removal and/or repair of the scale difficult. Accordingly, there is a need for an attachment to be mounted to a lift truck that reduces the profile of the attachment and an associated device that is easy to install and remove.\n\nDisclosed is a lift truck attachment system that includes a lift truck carriage. The lift truck carriage includes one or more support brackets, an upper carriage support secured to the one or more support brackets, and a lower carriage support secured to the one or more support brackets and spaced from the upper carriage support, wherein the lift truck carriage is dimensioned to fit at least partially between masts of a lift truck. A weighing device includes a base portion configured to be removably secured to one of the upper or lower carriage supports of the lift truck carriage via one or more attachments. A carriage scale is removably secured to the base portion, the carriage scale configured to support one or more load handling fixtures. In some examples, the one or more attachments extend into a space between the masts of the lift truck to secure the weighing device to the lift truck carriage.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01G 19/083",
    "B66F 17/003",
    "B66F 9/07504",
    "B66F 9/12"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B66F 17/00",
    "B66F 9/075",
    "G01G 19/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "SUKALSKI ANDREW JAMES",
    "JOHNSON THOMAS HOWARD",
    "JANSSEN SCOTT RAY"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-12-21",
  "publication_date": "2024-09-24",
  "grant_date": "2024-09-24",
  "priority_date": "2019-03-25",
  "application_number": "US-202218085843-A",
  "family_id": "72605593",
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}