What we think of as new has probably been done before if you take time to search for it. Google patents is the easiest way to search the USPTO content. We use patents as a time stamped proof of design activity which is of course traceable and a legal document.

Some Material Handler History

The rough terrain material handler is called a number of different names around the world but the below patents should resonate with people who know the industry and look at photos on chat rooms of some of the older machines found rusting in the far corners of farmers fields. These material handlers are known as telehandlers, telescopic handlers, telescopic forklifts, shooting boom handlers (when they have a telescopic boom), a reach forklift truck, a teleporter (I recognise this as a Sanderson tradename)

The machines include an ability to travel over rough terrain, pick and place heavy loads from ground level up to height and also at reach.

Le Grand Henry Lull

You can see strong elements of the Pettibone pantograph loader arm design in this patent below giving the machine forward reach.

The telehandler type extending boom is clearly shown below in 1965 including the wear pads. The extending boom being an I beam in section.

LOED Corporation (Combined names of Lois K. and Edward R. Drott)

Inventors Eugene Olson & Salvatore F. Aiello

The below image from the LOED patent clearly shows what we call a "Telehandler" today. The extra rotation axis of the forks after the boom nose is the only unusual feature not found on most modern telehandlers.

The LOED model 534 machine was the first telehandler type machine to market in the US in around 1977.

Liner Concrete Machinery Company

Inventors Stuart Pugh & Ridley Stokoe

Ridley Stokoe was the Works / Engineering Manager of the Liner Concrete Machinery Company Ltd in Gateshead Tyne and Wear.

This Giraffe 243 model was the first Telehandler to market in the UK. The machine was ahead of its time with equal sized tyres, 4 wheel drive and 4 wheel steering all the way back in 1977. These features are key to a modern telehandler.

You can find images of the machine on the internet (which I cannot show without permission) but despite being unique and highly functional its price being around double that of a rough terrain forklift meant it was not a commercial success.

JCB High Mobility Variable Reach Truck - Lars Kyhlberg

Lars Kyhlberg designed the JCB HMVRT (High Mobility Variable Reach Truck) in 1999 along with other team members mentioned on the patent shown below. The machine was a highly advanced and functional example of a telehandler designed specifically for military logistical use as it was able to road at 50mph in a convoy.

The machine was also able to stuff and de-stuff shipping containers as it had an variable ride height suspension system. More information about this remarkable machine is available on line but again although ahead of its time I do not believe the machine was a commercial success.

Moffett Ltd Truck Mounted Reach Truck - Peter Drake

Peter Drake has created many different models of construction equipment over his long career, and as is often the way with very creative people most of those models are not captured within the patent system as the creator would rather be busy designing than going through the time consuming patent process. Luckily the below patent for a truck mounted telescopic forklift shows some of Mr. Drakes experience combining his extensive Industrial forklift knowledge with his equally extensive Telehandler knowledge. The image shows how a telescopic boom mounted to the forklift enables an 8ft wide road trailer to be loaded from just one side making the operation faster and probably safer in a tight yard.