Claims
- 1. A method for handling retaining wall blocks comprising the steps of:
a) forming a retaining wall block having front, rear, left and right sides, a top and a bottom with fork lift grooves formed in said left and right sides to extend from said rear side and to stop short of said front side; and b) engaging said fork lift grooves with the tines of a fork lift for lifting and moving said formed retaining wall block.
- 2. A method for handling retaining wall blocks, as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said retaining wall block is formed in a form with said front side down and with a lifting loop embedded in said retaining wall block to extend form said rear side, and further including the steps of lifting said retaining wall block from said form using said lifting loop, and setting said retaining wall block down with said bottom down prior to engaging said grooves with the tines of a fork lift.
- 3. A method for handling retaining wall blocks, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fork lift has first and second generally parallel tines each having a free end, and further including the step of securing a spear hook to the first tine to angle generally towards the free end of said first tine and away from the second tine, and wherein said retaining wall block is lifted from said form by engaging said lifting loop with a hook on said spear hook and operating the fork lift to raise said spear hook.
- 4. A method for handling retaining wall blocks comprising the steps of:
a) forming a retaining wall block having front, rear, left and right sides, a top and a bottom in a form with said front side down and with a lifting loop embedded in said retaining wall block to extend form said rear side; b) securing a spear hook to a first of two tines on a fork lift to angle generally towards a free end of the first tine and away form the second of said tines; c) engaging said lifting loop with a hook on said spear hook; and d) operating the fork lift to raise said spear hook to lifting said block from said form.
- 5. A method for handling retaining wall blocks, as set forth in claim 4, and further including the steps of operating the fork lift to set said block down with the bottom down, and disengaging said spear hook from said lifting loop.
- 6. A method for handling retaining wall blocks, as set forth in claim 5, and after setting said block down and prior to disengaging said spear hook from said lifting loop, further including the step of manipulating said spear hook to position said block with its bottom down.
- 7. A method for handling retaining wall blocks, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said retaining wall block is formed with a fork lift groove formed in each of said left and right sides to extend from said rear side to a location short of said front side, and further including the step of engaging said fork lift grooves with the tines of a fork lift for lifting and moving said retaining wall block with its bottom down.
- 8. Apparatus adapted for use with a fork lift having first and second tines for handling retaining wall blocks, said apparatus comprising an elongated shaft having first and second ends, at least one bracket adapted to secure said shaft to the first fork lift tine with said shaft extending at an angle generally towards a free end of the first tine and away from the second tine, and a hook formed on said second shaft end adapted to engage a lifting point on a retaining wall block.
- 9. Apparatus adapted for use with a fork lift for handling retaining wall blocks, as set forth in claim 8, and wherein said at least one bracket includes a first bracket adapted to secure said first end of said shaft to the first tine, and a second bracket adapted to secure a point on said shaft between said first and second ends to the first tine.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable. Applicants claim priority to United States Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/232,526 filed Sep. 15, 2000 and No. 60,232,701 filed Sep. 15, 2000.
Provisional Applications (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60232526 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
|
60232701 |
Sep 2000 |
US |