Seat deck assembly or compartment cover for a materials handling vehicle

Abstract

A materials handling vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises a main body, a seat deck assembly including an operator seat, and structure for movably mounting the seat deck assembly to the main body. The seat deck assembly moves relative to the main body along a varying radius path.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A materials handling vehicle comprising:
 a main body; 
 a seat deck assembly including an operator seat and a compartment cover; 
 a substantial portion of said compartment cover positioned below said operator seat; and 
 structure comprising at least one four bar linkage including a link having an angled portion for movably mounting said seat deck assembly to said main body such that said seat deck assembly moves relative to said main body along a varying radius path. 
 
     
     
       2. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 1 , wherein said structure for movably mounting said seat deck assembly to said main body comprises:
 at least one fixed bracket mounted to said main body; and  
 at least one movable bracket coupled to said seat deck assembly; and 
 at least one linkage assembly coupled to said fixed and movable brackets. 
 
     
     
       3. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one linkage assembly comprises at least one four-bar linkage. 
     
     
       4. A materials handling vehicle as set out in claim  3  2, wherein said four-bar linkage comprises a frame link defined by a portion of said fixed bracket; a first substantially linear grounded link; a second grounded said link having an said angled portion and defining a second grounded link; and a coupler link defined by a portion of said movable bracket, each of said first and second grounded links being coupled to said frame and coupler links. 
     
     
       5. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 2 , wherein said main body comprises:
 a base; 
 first and second B-posts fixedly coupled to said base; and 
 a cross member extending between and fixedly coupled to said first and second B-posts. 
 
     
     
       6. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one fixed bracket comprises first and second fixed brackets fixed to said cross member, said at least one movable bracket comprises first and second movable brackets coupled to said seat deck assembly; and said at least one four-bar linkage assembly comprises first and second linkage assemblies four-bar linkages, said first four-bar linkage assembly being coupled to said first fixed bracket and said first movable bracket and said second four-bar linkage assembly being coupled to said second fixed bracket and said second movable bracket. 
     
     
       7. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 6 , wherein said seat deck assembly further comprises a frame coupled to said first and second movable brackets, said cover coupled to said frame and wherein said operator seat is coupled to said frame. 
     
     
       8. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 1 , further comprising a fork assembly coupled to said main body. 
     
     
       9. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 1 , wherein said structure comprises at least one four-bar linkage which provides for movement of said seat deck assembly through an angle greater than about 87 degrees. 
     
     
       10. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 1 , wherein said structure comprises at least one four-bar linkage comprising a first element that moves through an angle greater than about 45 degrees relative to a second element of said at least one four-bar linkage. 
     
     
       11. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 1 , wherein said structure comprises at least one four-bar linkage. 
     
     
       12. A materials handling vehicle comprising:
 a main body; 
 a seat deck assembly including an operator seat and a compartment cover; and 
 structure including at least one four-bar linkage including a link having an angled portion for movably mounting said seat deck assembly to said main body such that said at least one four-bar linkage enables said seat deck assembly to traverse through an angle greater than about 87 degrees when traveling between closed and open positions so as to allow optimal access to a compartment positioned beneath said seat deck assembly. 
 
     
     
       13. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 12 , wherein said structure for movably mounting said seat deck assembly to said main body further comprises:
 at least one fixed bracket mounted to said main body; and 
 at least one movable bracket mounted to said seat deck assembly. 
 
     
     
       14. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 13 , wherein said at least one four-bar linkage allows said seat deck assembly to traverse through an angle from about 92 degrees to about 99 degrees when moving from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
       15. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 13 , wherein said four-bar linkage comprises a frame link defined by a portion of said fixed bracket; a first substantially linear grounded link; a second grounded said link having an said angled portion and defining a second grounded link; and a coupler link defined by a portion of said movable bracket, each of said first and second grounded links being coupled to said fixed and coupler links. 
     
     
       16. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 13 , wherein said seat deck assembly further comprises a frame coupled to said at least one movable bracket, said cover coupled to said frame and wherein said operator seat is coupled to said frame. 
     
     
       17. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 16 , wherein said cover has side portions which are low in profile height near an end of said frame coupled to said at least one movable bracket and are tall in profile height near an end of said frame opposite said end coupled to said at least one movable bracket. 
     
     
       18. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one four-bar linkage comprises a first element that moves through an angle greater than about 45 degrees relative to a second element of said at least one four-bar linkage. 
     
     
       19. A materials handling vehicle comprising:
 a main body; 
 a seat deck assembly including a frame, a cover coupled to said frame and an operator seat; 
 structure for mounting said seat deck assembly to said main body; and 
 wherein said cover of said seat deck assembly includes a curved recessed front section extending between upper and lower surfaces and is recessed inwardly towards a center of said cover, and said lower surface is spaced further away from said center of said cover than said upper surface and said lower surface is located nearer to said main body than said upper surface. 
 
     
     
       20. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 19 , wherein said curved section is defined by upper and lower inwardly curved portions, wherein the upper portion extends at an angle to the lower curved portion. 
     
     
       21. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 20 , wherein said seat deck assembly traverses through an angle from about 92 degrees to about 99 degrees when traveling between closed and open positions so as to allow maximum access to said compartment positioned beneath said cover assembly. 
     
     
       22. A materials handling vehicle comprising:
 a main body having a compartment; 
 a cover assembly for said compartment; and 
 structure for movably mounting said cover assembly to said main body such that said cover assembly moves relative to said main body along a varying radius path through an angle greater than about 90 degrees when traveling between closed and open positions so as to allow maximum access to said compartment positioned beneath said cover assembly. 
 
     
     
       23. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 22 , wherein said structure for movably mounting said cover assembly to said main body comprises:
 at least one fixed bracket mounted to said main body; 
 at least one movable bracket mounted to said cover assembly; and 
 at least one four-bar linkage assembly coupled to said fixed and movable brackets. 
 
     
     
       24. A materials handling vehicle as set out in  claim 22 , wherein said structure comprises at least one four-bar linkage.