Patent ID: 7963051

Claim:
A method of removing a T-type fence post embedded in the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator, wherein a portion of the fence post projects from the earth, the method comprising: a) attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantially vertically from the lift arm and can move in an arc relative to the lift arm, the plate having a rectangular opening therethrough, the opening having a top wall and a bottom wall; b) moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment into proximity with the T-type fence post such that the rectangular opening of the plate is adjacent an upper end of the T-type fence post; c) moving the powered, mobile piece of equipment in a first direction to pull the plate over the T-type fence post such that the plate moves over the T-type fence post and an upper portion of the T-type fence post enters the rectangular opening and projects through the opening with the bottom wall of the opening adjacent the cross bar of the T-type fence post; d) engaging a stud projecting from the cross bar of the T-type fence post with the bottom wall of the rectangular opening and engaging the flange of the T-type fence post with the upper wall of the opening with sufficient force to retain the post in the opening when the post is pulled from the earth; and e) raising the lift arm and pulling the T-type fence post in a substantially vertical direction to remove the fence post from the earth.