Abstract:
A device for extracting stumps and poles from the ground. The device includes a pair of legs each having an upper end and a lower end. A pivot pin, adapted to suspend a winch above the ground, hingedly joins the legs together at their upper ends. A pair of ground-engaging feet are secured to the lower ends of the legs and extend laterally therefrom. A flexible connector selectively connects the feet together and may be retracted into one of the legs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force and, more particularly, to portable implements for extracting stumps or poles from the ground. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wooden fence posts are often anchored to the ground by concrete. After prolonged exposure to the weather, these posts rot necessitating removal of the concrete “stump” so that replacement posts can be installed. Unfortunately, concrete stump removal is a backbreaking task most often performed by first digging a hole around the stump and, then, lifting the stump from the hole and onto a truck for off-site disposal. A pair of laborers can perform this procedure in several hours using hand tools like shovels and pry bars. Inadvertently dropping the stump onto the foot or leg of a laborer is not uncommon and can result in a serious injury. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the problems associated with the prior art, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a lifting device that may be used to extract concrete stumps and other objects such as poles, pipes and shrubs from the ground with great ease, speed, and safety. Use of the device does not place the operator in direct contact with the object being extracted from the ground. The device is, thus, a cost-effective alternative to hand tools. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the type described that can be: set up, used, and taken down by a single person without resort to special tools or extensive training. In some instances of use, these steps can be performed in a few minutes. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a stump and pole extraction device whose height and width are adjustable to suit local terrain and space limitations. The device can also be folded flat for compact storage. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a stump and pole extraction device for the purposes described which is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use. 
     Briefly, the stump and pole extraction device in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a pair of legs hingedly joined at their upper ends by a pivot pin suspending a winch above the ground. One of the legs has an interior cavity therein and an aperture located between its upper end and its lower end that provides access to the interior cavity. A pair of ground-engaging feet are secured, respectively, to the lower ends of the legs and extend laterally therefrom. One link of a chain is affixed within the interior cavity whereas another of the chain links is adapted for releasable attachment to the foot on the opposite leg. The chain is adapted for positioning within the interior cavity for convenient storage and for selective extension through the aperture for use. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stump and pole extraction device in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top of the device of FIG. 1 with portions broken away to reveal details thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the device with portions broken away. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the FIGS., a stump and pole extraction device in accordance with the present invention is shown at  10 . Device  10  includes a pair of legs  12  and  14  hingedly joined together at their upper ends by a pivot pin  16  from which a winch  18  is suspended. Affixed to the lower ends of legs  12  and  14  are ground-engaging feet  20  and  22 . Feet  20  and  22  are joined by a flexible connector  24  that serves to set the position of feet  20  and  22  on the ground and prevents the collapse of device  10  during use. 
     Leg  12  includes two, tubular members  26  and  28  positioned side-by-side. The tops of tubular members  26  and  28  are provided with axially aligned apertures as at  30  for receiving pivot pin  16 . The bottoms of tubular members  26  and  28  are fitted into angle brackets  32  and  34  that join tubular members  26  and  28  to the center portion of foot  20 . Brackets  32  and  34  are held in place by a plurality of threaded fasteners  36  penetrating brackets  32  and  34  and tubular members  26  and  28  as well as threaded fasteners  38  penetrating brackets  32  and  34  and foot  20 . 
     A pair of side-by-side, tubular members  40  and  42  comprise leg  14 . Axially aligned apertures as at  44  are provided in the tops of tubular members  40  and  42  for pin  16 . Angle brackets  46  and  48  are affixed by means of threaded fasteners  50  to the bottoms of tubular members  40  and  42 . Threaded fasteners  52  secure brackets  46  and  48  to foot  22 . 
     Tubular members  26 ,  28 ,  40  and  42  and feet  20  and  22  are formed of lightweight, metallic tubing. Tubular members  26 ,  28 ,  40  and  42  all measure about 7 feet (2.1 m) in length and 1{fraction (5/8 )} inches (4.1 cm) in diameter. As shown, tubular member  26  has an interior cavity  54  and an aperture  56  at a predetermined height above foot  20  which provides access to interior cavity  54 . Each foot  20  and  22  is about 2 feet (61 cm) in length and has a diameter similar to that of the tubular members. Caps  58  are secured to the upper ends of tubular members  26 ,  28 ,  40  and  42  as well as the opposed ends of feet  20  and  22  to prevent the entry of dirt. 
     Pivot pin  16  passes through apertures  30  and  44  to hingedly join legs  12  and  14 . To prevent legs  12  and  14  from binding against one another, set screw-retained collars  60  are positioned on pin  16  between tubular members  26 ,  28 ,  40  and  42 . Similar collars  62  are secured to the opposed ends of pin  16  to lock tubular members  26 ,  28 ,  40  and  42  therebetween. 
     A link  64  suspends a pulley  66  from pin  16  at a set distance from feet  20  and  22 . A cable  68  extends from the rotatable drum  70  of winch  18  over pulley  66  and back to the drum-carrying frame  72  of winch  18  where it is securely fastened. By manually reciprocating winch lever  74 , a user  76  of device  10  can selectively extend or retract cable  68  from drum  70  to raise and lower winch  18  with a mechanical advantage. A hook  78  secured to the bottom of winch  18  retains a sling  80  which may be wrapped around an object to be lifted such as concrete stump  82 . 
     Flexible connector  24  is preferably a retractable chain formed from a plurality of interconnected links. One link at  84  is affixed at the bottom of interior cavity  54  by a threaded fastener  36  running through its center. The chain extends upwardly away from link  84 , out aperture  56  and through a ring  86  fastened to bracket  32 . Another link  88  at the opposite end of connector  24  has a rotatable nut  90  that permits such to be selectively opened into a C-shape for releasable attachment to a ring  92  carried by bracket  46 . 
     When use of the chain is not required, it may be fed under the influence of gravity through aperture  56  and into interior cavity  54  for storage. Interior cavity  54  is, of course, dimensioned to receive the entirety of the chain. Nonetheless, by providing link  88  with a somewhat larger size than aperture  56 , a stop feature can be provided to the chain that permits one end thereof to always be accessible. Thus, the chain can be easily extended from interior cavity  54  when its use is required. 
     Use of device  10  is straightforward. First, user  76  positions feet  20  and  22  on opposite sides of an object being lifted from the ground like stump  82 . Then, flexible connector/chain  24  is extended from interior cavity  54  by pulling link  88  away from aperture  56  and through ring  86 . Next, link  88  is attached to ring  92  by rotating nut  90  to open and, later, close link  88  on ring  92 . Afterward, pulley  66  and winch  18  are suspended from pivot pin  16  and sling  80  is wrapped around stump  82 . When sling  80  is secure, stump  82  is lifted from the ground by reciprocating winch lever  74 . The elevated stump  82  can now be positioned on a cart (not shown) for transport off site. The entire process requires just minutes to finish and can be performed in complete safety. 
     While the invention has been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto. For example, each of legs  12  and  14  could be provided with one tubular member rather than the pairs  26 - 28  and  40 - 42  shown. Also, a cable or rope could be substituted for the preferred chain used in flexible connector  24 . Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.