Low friction skid bars for material handling equipment

Inventors: David Danner (Charleston, SC); McReskar Lyons (Ridgeville, SC)

B66F9/12 B62B3/0606

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12679707
App. No.: 18/481,281
Granted: Jul 14, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A low friction construct attached to a top plate of forks of a material handling device. The low friction construct is positioned under the forks and inboard of downwardly extending sides of the forks. The low friction construct has an elongated low friction material that extends below the downwardly extending and spaced apart sides of the forks. The low friction material contacts a pallet as the pallet is engaged. The low friction material tends to slide over the lower frame of the pallet, reducing the likelihood of pushing the pallet away.

Claims (27)

1 . A low friction construct for a material handling device, comprising:

a first elongated support frame,

a fork of a material handling device having a first downwardly extending side, wherein the first downwardly extending side has an inner surface and an outer surface;

a first elongated member formed of low friction material, wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is attached to the first elongated support frame, and wherein the first elongated support frame and first elongated member formed of low friction material are constructed and arranged to be positioned beside and generally parallel to the inner surface of the first downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device, and wherein the first elongated support frame is constructed and arranged to be attached to the fork of the material handling device, and wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material extends below a bottom surface of the first downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device.

2 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 1 , further comprising:

a second elongated support frame,

a fork of a material hand device having a second downwardly extending side, wherein a second downwardly extending side has an inner surface and an outer surface;

a second elongated member formed of low friction material, wherein the second elongated member formed of low friction material is attached to the second elongated support frame, and wherein the second elongated support frame and second elongated member formed of low friction material are constructed and arranged to be positioned beside and generally parallel to the inner surface of the second downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device, wherein the second elongated member formed of low friction material is spaced apart from the first elongated member formed of low friction material, and wherein the second elongated support frame is constructed and arranged to be attached to the fork of the material handling device, and wherein the second elongated member formed of low friction material extends below a bottom surface of the second downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device.

3 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 2 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is positioned generally parallel to the second elongated member formed of low friction material.

4 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated support frame is constructed and arranged to contact the inner surface of the downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device.

5 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is constructed and arranged to contact the inner surface of the downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device.

6 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is a thermoplastic having an ASTM coefficient of friction of 0.25 or less.

7 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

8 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is tapered along its length to extend further beyond a bottom surface of the first downwardly extending side of the fork near a rear of the elongated member formed of low friction material than the first elongated member formed of low friction material extends below the bottom surface of the first downwardly extending side of the fork near a front of the elongated member formed of low friction material.

9 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 1 , wherein the first elongated support frame is constructed and arranged to be attached under a top surface of the fork of the material handling device.

10 . A low friction construct for a material handling device, comprising:

a first elongated support frame,

a fork of a material handling device having a first downwardly extending side, wherein the first downwardly extending side has an inner surface and an outer surface and a second downwardly extending side, wherein the second downwardly extending side has an inner surface and an outer surface;

a first elongated member formed of low friction material constructed and arranged to be positioned beside and generally parallel to the inner surface of the first downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device, and wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material extends below a bottom surface of the first downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device; and

a second elongated member formed of low friction material, wherein the second elongated member formed of low friction material is constructed and arranged to be positioned beside and generally parallel to the inner surface of the second downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device, and the second elongated member formed of low friction material is spaced apart from the first elongated member formed of low friction material, and wherein the second elongated member formed of low friction material extends below a bottom surface of the second downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device; and

a bridge constructed and arranged for positioning under a top surface of the fork of the material handling device, wherein the bridge connects the first elongated support frame to the second elongated support frame.

11 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 10 , wherein a first elongated support frame for the first elongated member formed of low friction material is constructed and arranged to contact the inner surface of the downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device.

12 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 10 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is constructed and arranged to contact the inner surface of the downwardly extending side of the fork of the material handling device.

13 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 10 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is positioned generally parallel to the second elongated member formed of low friction material.

14 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 10 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is a thermoplastic having an ASTM coefficient of friction of 0.25 or less.

15 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 10 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

16 . A low friction construct for a material handling device as described in claim 10 , wherein the first elongated member formed of low friction material is tapered along its length to extend further beyond a bottom surface of the first downwardly extending side of the fork near a rear of the elongated member formed of low friction material than the first elongated member formed of low friction material extends below the bottom surface of the first downwardly extending side of the fork near a front of the elongated member formed of low friction material.