Granted Patent B2

US 12,612,240 · App. 18/147,552 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Inventors: Eric Fletcher (Canyon Lake, TX); Luke Voigt (Saint Hedwig, TX)

Assignee: The Raymond Corporation

B65D85/68

Abstract

Claims (66)

1 . A cradle system for a material handling vehicle, comprising:

at least two legs configured to removably attach to a mast of the material handling vehicle; and

at least two sleighs configured to removably attach to a base of the material handling vehicle, wherein:

the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to support the material handling vehicle above a surface when the material handling vehicle is in a horizontal position; and

the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to be nested to combine into a singular unit for storage.

2 . The cradle system of claim 1 , further comprising a crossmember, wherein:

each of the at least two sleighs comprise an opening defined in a body of the sleigh, wherein:

the openings in the at least two sleighs are aligned and configured to receive the crossmember when the at least two sleighs are removably attached to the base of the material handling vehicle.

3 . The cradle system of claim 1 , further comprising a brace configured to removably attach to the at least two legs.

4 . The cradle system of claim 2 , further comprising a brace configured to removably attach to the at least two legs.

5 . The cradle system of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of each of the at least two sleighs comprises a first portion, a second portion perpendicular to the first portion, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion of the outer surface defining a curved shape.

6 . The cradle system of claim 5 , wherein the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to, when removably attached to the material handling vehicle:

support rotation of the material handling vehicle from an upright position to a horizontal position, wherein:

the second portions of the outer surfaces of the at least two sleighs contact the surface below the base of the material handling vehicle when the material handling vehicle is in an upright position; and

the at least two legs and the first portions of the outer surfaces of the at least two sleighs contact the surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.

7 . The cradle system of claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of the at least two sleighs is configured to receive a fork of the material handling vehicle.

8 . The cradle system of claim 5 , wherein each of the at least two legs comprises a bracket at a first end of each leg, wherein:

each bracket is configured to removably couple the leg to the mast; and

each bracket comprises an extension piece, wherein the extension piece is perpendicular to the bracket and is configured to retain a movable portion of the mast.

9 . The cradle system of claim 1 , wherein:

a first leg of the at least two legs is positioned on a second leg of the at least two legs;

the at least two sleighs are positioned on the first leg; and

each of the first leg, second leg, and at least two sleighs are coupled to form the singular unit, wherein the first leg is coupled to the second leg, and the at least two sleighs are coupled to the first leg.

10 . The cradle system of claim 2 , wherein:

a first leg of the at least two legs is positioned on a second leg of the at least two legs;

the crossmember is inserted into one of the at least two legs;

the at least two sleighs are positioned on the first leg; and

each of the first leg, second leg, and at least two sleighs are coupled to form the singular unit, wherein the first leg is coupled to the second leg, and the at least two sleighs are coupled to the first leg.

11 . The cradle system of claim 3 , wherein:

a second leg of the at least two legs is received within the brace;

a first leg of the at least two legs is positioned on the second leg received within the brace;

the at least two sleighs are positioned on the first leg; and

each of the first leg, second leg, brace, and at least two sleighs are coupled to form the singular unit, wherein the second leg is coupled with the brace, the first leg is coupled to the second leg, and the at least two sleighs are coupled to the first leg.

12 . The cradle system of claim 8 , wherein each of the at least two legs comprise a roller.

13 . The cradle system of claim 12 , wherein each of the at least two sleighs comprise a pad disposed on the first portion of the outer surface of said sleigh.

14 . A cradle system for a material handling vehicle, comprising:

at least two legs configured to removably attach to a mast of the material handling vehicle;

at least two sleighs configured to removably attach to a base of the material handling vehicle, wherein:

the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to support the material handling vehicle above a surface when the material handling vehicle is in a horizontal position;

the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to combine into a singular unit, and

each of the at least two sleighs comprise an opening defined in a body of the sleigh, wherein:

the openings in the at least two sleighs are aligned and configured to receive a crossmember when the at least two sleighs are removably attached to the base of the material handling vehicle.

15 . The cradle system of claim 14 , wherein an outer surface of each of the at least two sleighs comprises a first portion, a second portion perpendicular to the first portion, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion of the outer surface defining a curved shape.

16 . The cradle system of claim 15 , wherein the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to, when removably attached to the material handling vehicle:

support rotation of the material handling vehicle from an upright position to a horizontal position, wherein:

the second portions of the outer surfaces of the at least two sleighs contact the surface below the base of the material handling vehicle when the material handling vehicle is in an upright position; and

the at least two legs and the first portions of the outer surfaces of the at least two sleighs contact the surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.

17 . A cradle system for a material handling vehicle, comprising:

at least two legs configured to removably attach to a mast of the material handling vehicle; and

at least two sleighs configured to removably attach to a base of the material handling vehicle, wherein:

the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to support the material handling vehicle above a surface when the material handling vehicle is in a horizontal position;

the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to combine into a singular unit, and

at least one of the at least two sleighs is configured to receive a fork of the material handling vehicle.

18 . The cradle system of claim 17 , further comprising a crossmember, wherein:

each of the at least two sleighs comprise an opening defined in a body of the sleigh, wherein:

the openings in the at least two sleighs are aligned and configured to receive the crossmember when the at least two sleighs are removably attached to the base of the material handling vehicle.

19 . A cradle system for a material handling vehicle, comprising:

at least two legs configured to removably attach to a mast of the material handling vehicle; and

at least two sleighs configured to removably attach to a base of the material handling vehicle, wherein:

the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to support the material handling vehicle above a surface when the material handling vehicle is in a horizontal position;

the at least two legs and the at least two sleighs are configured to combine into a singular unit;

a first leg of the at least two legs is positioned on a second leg of the at least two legs;

the at least two sleighs are positioned on the first leg; and

each of the first leg, second leg, and at least two sleighs are coupled to form the singular unit, wherein the first leg is coupled to the second leg, and the at least two sleighs are coupled to the first leg.

20 . The cradle system of claim 19 , further comprising a brace configured to removably attach to the at least two legs.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (11)