MINI-SKID STEER LOADER EXTRACTOR

Abstract

A tool or extractor which is lightweight and portable. The tool includes a plate which is mountable to a mini-skid steer loader. The tool includes a first jaw member which is fixed. The first jaw member is preferably welded or otherwise attached to or engaged with the plate. The tool also includes a second jaw member. The second jaw member is moveable, such as via a hydraulic cylinder, and is pivotably connected the plate. The hydraulic cylinder is also preferably pivotably connected to the plate, and is controlled in order to affect a grip on a thing to be extracted. The mini-skid steer loader is then operable to pull up on the thing, and extract the thing from the ground.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to post pullers, i.e., devices which are configured to be used with a pulling device for extracting something out of the ground, such as a pole, a tree, etc.

There are devices, such as the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,382,594 and 7,926,786, which are configured for use with machinery in order to pull things out of the ground—things such as poles, trees, etc. Such devices are typically complex, involve a lot of parts, require heavy machinery, and/or do not provide a very good grip on the thing to be extracted.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,594 discloses a post puller which is relatively complex in terms of the number of parts involved. The post puller requires a heavy skid steer loader, and has multiple moving parts—parts that are moveable using hydraulics which are part of the post puller. The overall device is very heavy, complex, and involves a multitude of parts and hydraulic chambers.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,926,786 discloses a more simple post puller, where the post puller is configured for use with a forklift. In operation, the post puller is engaged with the forks of the forklift, and thereafter the forklift is driven in order to move the post puller into engagement with the thing which is desired to be extracted from the ground. The forklift is then operated to pull up on the thing, while the post puller supplies the grip on the thing. None of the parts of the post puller are configured to be actively moved to engage and grip the thing to be extracted. Instead, the forklift is operated to contact and engage the post puller with the thing to be extracted. While the post puller does include two doors which are capable of movement, these doors are not actively moved by any component of the post puller. Instead, the doors merely move upon being forced by the thing to be extracted. By not providing any part which can be actively moved into gripping engagement with the thing to be extracted, the post puller is very limited with regard to the effectiveness of the grip that can be achieved. Additionally, the post puller requires a forklift, which is typically not a good option for a homeowner who wants to avoid harming his or her lawn or grassy area. Finally, the device is complex, heavy and includes a multitude of parts.

Such devices are not configured for use by, for example, a homeowner to safely remove brush, shrubs, small trees or fence posts, without tearing up one's yard or grassy area. Instead, such devices are configured for use with heavy equipment, and are more configured for use by construction workers without regard to whether or not the ground below is negatively impacted.

SUMMARY

An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a tool that enables a home owner or landscaper to remove brush, shrubs, small trees and fence posts using a mini-skid steer loader without tearing up yards and gassy areas.

Briefly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a tool which comprises a plate which is mountable to a mini-skid steer loader. A first jaw member is fixed, and is engaged, such as welded or otherwise attached, to the plate. A second jaw member is moveable, such as via a hydraulic cylinder, and is pivotably connected the plate. The hydraulic cylinder is also preferably pivotably connected to the plate, and is controlled in order to affect a grip on a thing to be extracted. The mini-skid steer loader is then operated to pull up on the thing, and extract the thing from the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tool shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is end view of the tool shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

While this invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a tool or extractor which is lightweight, has few parts, provides exceptional grip on a thing to be extracted, and which is configured to be used with a mini-skid steer loader. The tool can be used by a home owner or landscaper to remove brush, shrubs, small trees and fence posts using a mini-skid steer loader, without tearing up yards and grassy areas.

The tool 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-4 and will now be described, in association with a representative thing 12 (see FIG. 2) to be extracted. As shown, the tool 10 comprises a mini quick attach plate 14 which is configured for easy mounting to a mini-skid steer loader 16 (see FIG. 2).

The tool 10 also comprises a pair of jaw members 18, 20 which are configured to grip the thing 12 which is to be extracted. The jaw members 18, 20 include a first jaw member 18 which is fixed. The first jaw member 18 is preferably engaged, such as welded or otherwise attached, to the plate 14.

The jaw members 18, 20 also include a second jaw member 20 which is moveable, angularly generally toward and away from the first jaw member 18. Preferably, the second jaw member 20 is pivotably connected to the plate 14, such as via two hinges 22 which are provided by arms 24 (see FIG. 1) which are connected to the plate 14. Preferably, the second jaw member 20 is moveable, angularly generally toward and away from the first jaw member 18, via a hydraulic cylinder 30. As shown, one end of the hydraulic cylinder 30 is preferably hingedly connected to an arm 32 which is connected to the plate 14, while an opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder 30 is preferably hingedly connected to an arm 34 of the second jaw member 20.

As shown, preferably both jaw members 18, 20 include teeth 36 which are configured to engage and grip the thing 12 (see FIG. 2) which is to be extracted. Preferably, the hydraulic cylinder 30 is controllable by a user interfacing with a controller 40 (see FIG. 2) having one or more buttons and/or switches for moving the second jaw member 20 relative to the first jaw member 18, to grip the thing 12 desired to be extracted from the ground. As such, the jaw members 18, 20 can effectively be opened and closed to clinch on the thing 12 to be extracted. Once the thing 12 to be extracted is clinched tightly by the tool 10, the mini-skid steer loader 16 can be operated to lift up (i.e., vertically) on the thing 12 being gripped by the tool 10, causing the thing 12 to become extracted from the ground.

The tool is beneficial in that it is quite portable and lightweight. It also does not include very many parts, and can be readily used with a pulling device such as a mini-skid steer loader. By providing one fixed jaw and one moveable jaw, the tool provides an exceptional grip on a thing to be extracted, without having to include a multitude of moving parts. The tool can be used by a home owner or landscaper to remove brush, shrubs, small trees and fence posts using a mini-skid steer loader, without tearing up yards and grassy areas.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hydraulically-operated post-pulling apparatus adapted to be mounted to a mini-skid steer loader, said apparatus comprising: a plate configured to be mounted to the mini-skid steer loader; a first, fixed jaw member engaged with the plate; and a second jaw member mounted to the plate and moveable relative to the first, fixed jaw member.

2. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first, fixed jaw member is attached to the plate.

3. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first, fixed jaw member is welded to the plate.

4. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second jaw member is pivotably connected the plate.

5. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second jaw member is moveable, angularly generally toward and away from the first, fixed jaw member.

6. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second jaw member is hydraulically operated.

7. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second jaw member is pivotably connected to the plate, via two hinges which are provided by arms which are connected to the plate.

8. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an arm connected to the plate, and a hydraulic cylinder, wherein one end of the hydraulic cylinder is hingedly connected to the arm which is connected to the plate, while an opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder is hingedly connected to an arm of the second jaw member.

9. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first, fixed jaw member and the second jaw members comprises teeth.

10. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic cylinder connected to the second jaw member, and a controller which is configured to control the hydraulic cylinder and move the second jaw member relative to the first, fixed jaw member.

11. A hydraulically-operated post-pulling apparatus adapted to be mounted to a mini-skid steer loader, said apparatus comprising: a plate configured to be mounted to the mini-skid steer loader; a first, fixed jaw member engaged with the plate; a second jaw member mounted to the plate and moveable relative to the first, fixed jaw member; and a controller which is control movement of the second jaw member relative to the first, fixed jaw member.

12. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the first, fixed jaw member is attached to the plate.

13. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the first, fixed jaw member is welded to the plate.

14. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the second jaw member is pivotably connected the plate.

15. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the second jaw member is moveable, angularly generally toward and away from the first, fixed jaw member.

16. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the second jaw member is hydraulically operated.

17. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the second jaw member is pivotably connected to the plate, via two hinges which are provided by arms which are connected to the plate.

18. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising an arm connected to the plate, and a hydraulic cylinder, wherein one end of the hydraulic cylinder is hingedly connected to the arm which is connected to the plate, while an opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder is hingedly connected to an arm of the second jaw member.

19. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the first, fixed jaw member and the second jaw members comprises teeth.

20. The post-pulling apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a hydraulic cylinder connected to the second jaw member, wherein the controller is configured to control the hydraulic cylinder and move the second jaw member relative to the first, fixed jaw member.