Patent ID: 8453993

Claim:
A post removal device, comprising: a rigid support which defines a fulcrum; a lever which is rotatable about the fulcrum through a substantially vertical plane; the lever extending on either side of the fulcrum to define a first portion on one side and a second portion on the other side, whereby downward rotational movement of the first portion results in upward rotational movement of the second portion; the second portion is connected to a gripping mechanism which includes a pair of post grippers; the post grippers are movable relative to each other during rotation of the lever, from an open condition in which there is a space between the grippers sufficient to accept a post, and a gripping condition in which the grippers grip the post; and the extent of rotational movement of the lever is sufficient for the grippers to move from the open condition to the gripping condition and for the gripping arrangement to be lifted with the grippers in the gripping condition for lifting a post, wherein the gripping mechanism includes a pair of arms each having a pivot connection to the second portion of the lever and another pivot connection respectively to a respective one of the post grippers, each post gripper having a rotatable mounting at a position spaced from the pivot connection with the respective arm, whereby the post grippers are driven to rotate about the rotatable mounting by the arms during a portion of the rotational movement of the lever.