US 12,421,058 B2
Interface apparatus for fork lift and containers
Fabien Lavoie, Shawinigan (CA); Alain Hamel, Shawinigan (CA); Carl Paille, Shawinigan (CA); and Jean-François Roy, Shawinigan (CA)
Assigned to MOVEX INNOVATION INC., Shawinigan (CA)
Appl. No. 17/435,459
Filed by MOVEX INNOVATION INC., Shawinigan (CA)
PCT Filed Feb. 28, 2020, PCT No. PCT/CA2020/050273
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 1, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/176979, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 10, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/812,486, filed on Mar. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0127087 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 65/23 (2006.01); B65F 1/12 (2006.01); B66F 9/19 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 65/23 (2013.01) [B65F 1/122 (2013.01); B66F 9/19 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An interface apparatus for coupling a vehicle to a container, comprising: a base engageable by the vehicle; a frame connected to the base and detachably securable to the container, the frame pivotable relative to the base for pivoting the container from a lifting position for maintaining the container leveled relative to a horizontal level ground to a discharging position in which the container is angled relative to the horizontal level ground for discharging the container; an actuation unit between the frame and the base for pivoting the frame relative to the base; and a latching mechanism for removably attaching the container to the apparatus, the latching mechanism including a first portion secured to the frame and a second portion securable to the container, the first portion movable relative to the second portion in a mating direction being substantially normal to the horizontal level ground from a disengaged configuration in which the first portion is detached from the second portion to an engaged configuration in which the first portion is engaged with the second portion via a movement of the frame relative to the container, the movement being substantially vertical to the horizontal level ground.